Mille Lacs Report- 6/4/2011

My fishing club was up on Mille Lacs lake in early June for our monthly Outing. My partner Mike and I went up on the Friday before to scout around and be ready for an early Saturday morning, but didn’t get the boat wet Friday.

The wind was forecast to be pretty strong out of the west so we drove around to the west side early morning Saturday and stayed over there all day and evening. Turns out to have been a Great idea. I was able to find shallow prespawn fish in 3 feet to 5 feet of water. With the wind, it was still difficult fishing, but it is where we had to be. What worked for us was 4 inch Senko’s in watermelon, rigged texas style on a 2/0 EWG hook. Overall with the wind conditions, boat control being a little difficult, and visibility into the water make it all challenging, but as you can see, VERY worthwhile. I ended up in my Club limit, Smallmouth of 20″, 20, 20, 19, 19, 19 inches. When I caught my third 20, I was able to cull out my 4th 19 incher. I’ve never been able to do that before, cull a 19.

What made it even more diffucult hooking up the Smallies, was the number of Rock Bass that hit the same baits. The Rockies were HUGE, not one under 1 1/2 pounds, we caught over 20 of them. Mike’s new name is Rocky Raccoon.

The next picture is our best fish of the day which I coached Mike into catching, a 21 inch Smallie. What a great fish and gave Mike all he could handle, but we got it boated and able to get a few quick pictures before the release. Way to go, Mike.

We also did some evening slipbobbering on a long rocky point. Actually quite a few boats did pick up some nice Walleyes. I only had one, but Mike ended up with three, including this nice 25 incher.
Pre summer time is around the corner and there should be some pretty good, multi-species fishing to be had around the state.

I know someone will ask, how we can have a tournament on this lake with the Smallmouth size restriction of 21 inches, so will give a quick answer here.
We are a multi-species club, and keep a point scoring system for our caught fish. Each fish is measured, then immediately released back where it was caught from (paper tourney). No fish are weighed at the end of the day or kept in the livewell. It’s a great time, and the fish stay where they are caught from.
Be safe on the water.
Jack

Overall a Great day to be on the water, Thank-you Mike for an unbelieveable time.

Jack