We fished Mille Lacs this past weekend as well. The fishing was atrocious. I too blame the weather. Though we might have been to deep(26 feet) We caught 8 fish Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning. 5 of those fish on coming in a 2 hour stretch on Friday night. We stayed with Ice Camp Outfitters. The house was well equipped and we were fairly well taken care of. A few minor issues but nothing that couldn’t be worked around. Their on ice crew is always great to us. They always have rattle reels with fly line, long flouro leaders and even light up when a fish hits.

Dave maze wrote:

6 is a small hook. Bump that up to a #2 if your not in gin clear water.

We will be on Mille Lacs. My understanding is that lake is very clear. Recommendation?

We used size 6 octopus hooks brand new out of the package a small split shot and a swivel. We hooked the shiner just through the skin of the back below the dorsal fin. The hooks ran through perpendicular to the shiner.

I did buy some size 4 wide gap hooks for this year think that will help?

We rented a house from someone else last year, it was our first time ever ice fishing. Everyone assumed we knew everything already. Talk to your clients about what to expect. Be clear and honest if you’ve got lots a few groups close together let them know that, heck introduce them. If fishing has been tough let them know. First-timers on the ice talk to them about what sounds to expect. have someone who’s never been ice fishing read your website, and then ask questions. Then update your site.

As has already been stated check on your clients frequently. Also little things like a washtub for doing dishes, a rug for inside and outside the door, the glow inserts for the holes, the grated catch covers, appropriate cookware, good electronics(for rent). Lastly just include everything in the price gas, generator, propane, etc…

Honestly the best advice I can give is before you have clients go out put your wife or girlfriend up in one of your houses for 24 hours. She will find all of the weak spots in your game. Fix them and customers will be extatic.

We stopped at 65 bait and tackle and they had shiners and everything else we needed.

Thanks for the tips! We are watching the covid recommendations and directed health measures closely. We will make sure we have a regs book with us. We aren’t particular about what fish we catch we just want to catch some and we don’t have any problem releasing them.