I’m almost afraid to type this for fear of jinxing myself BUT MAYBE, just MAYBE, the fishing is on a noticeable up-swing and headed towards some hot fishing for the coming weekend!
We’re getting fair numbers of fish with more "over 25’s" mixed in these last two nights but we’re still not seeing that all out 50 fish night bite that we keep looking for and have grown quite accustomed to during these fall night trips on Mille Lacs. Last night ended with a bang so I’m optimistic that tonight might be the night she busts loose. 
I fished with Mike Westman & his buddy Richard from Mora, MN last night. We stuck to the north and west sides of the lake and got started a little after sundown. Right away the 18" – 22" fish were on the prowl on the inside of the weedlines on the west side. We fished a number of different baits and found that the #7 shallow shad raps in chartreuse n’ pearl (with a little doctoring but I’ll get to that later 
)were still the ticket.
Mixed in with the eaters we found a rather plentiful number of 10" – 12" fish that certainly lead a guy to feel good about the health of the fishery in the future but these little scrappers were not what we were looking for so a change of course was in order.
Almost immediately after relocating to slightly deeper water right at the edge of the first major break (in this area the depths went from 7.5′ – 14′ in a short distance) we got into some better fish. First a 21.5" then a 24". Next pass a 26" followed by a nice eater. Up until this particular night our best action had been inside the weedlines on gravel and we were seeing very little success in water deeper than 8′ but on this night we saw a decent number of bigger fish coming from the areas where we normally see them this time of year! 
Even though the nights have been cool to almost cold up here the last two nights the water temps have fallen VERY slowly. From 63 degrees 3 nights ago down to 61.5 degrees at the end of the night last night. The nights have been plenty chilly but the days have been warm and sunny which has prevented us from making any substantial changes in water temp.
Our most productive trolling speeds last night were a touch faster than in past nights. 2.2 – 2.5 mph was best. As I mentioned earlier our most productive crank last night was the #7 shallow shad rap in chartreuse n’ pearl BUT a slight modification made in the last minutes at the landing made a huge difference in catch rates for both Dustin’s boat and mine last night.
Just prior to launching Dustin and I were talking about the bite, the best cranks and some ideas on how to improve our catch rates. I can’t remember who said it but one of us said "wouldn’t it be nice if these cranks came with dark bands along the sides to improve the contrast?"
Dustin responds by digging into his glove box in his truck, produces a marks-all marker and did a little quick art work on both sides.
To make a long story a little shorter, all but one fish over 24" caught between the two boats last night came on these doctored baits even though we both ran them side by side against the unmodified jobbies. 
What a difference such a little addition can make and I’m left wishing we would have tried this sooner! I’d guess a full 80% of the fish caught in my boat last night came on the baits with that tiny little mod.
My next report will be on Friday. If anyone else has been out don’t hesitate to drop your findings and photos here after my report or in the Mille Lacs Lake Forum.
James – please come dig through my tackle box. Bring Dustin, a magic marker, crayola crayons, a #2 pencil, whatever it takes. I wanna catch some of what you guys are gettin’!
P.S. Nice Report!
Thanks for the trip last night James. Light winds, full moon, good company and some nice fish to top it off. Made for a great trip.
See you again next year.
I also need to give you a thumbs up for your aproach to finding these walleyes this year. The constant searching for quality fish you put into your trips is great. Changing lures, changing areas, changing the small details keeps the night very interisting. This payed off for us at the end of the night with some quality fish coming in.
We caught close to 20 fish last night with a few in the 25″ range. Way to make a bite that is a little off work for us James.
Hi James, I met you Monday evening(had a moose of a shorthair with me) Wondering if you have any luck on the Knox pt rocks or the weedbed to the east of it. Have not made it out there yet this fall and was thinking about giving it a shot as I am still in search of a better bite. Nothing doing on Pike pt or the weedbed off St. Albans bay. Did you have much luck Monday. I was surprised to see your rigs long gone by 11:15 when I got back to shore? Tuesday was poor as well.
Great Report James…wish I could say that I had similar luck last night…fished the east side from 11 till 2….only caught 6 with the largest being 24 1/2.
Hey Eyefishing
I have done fairly well up on Knox this year… over the weekend I guided those areas and had fish each night but with the winds a little gusty and out of the south the last few days I’ve opted to fish south and west to get out of the rollers.
From the point back west to Ray’s Boat Harbor is the area producing best for me… run the 5′ ridge that runs east and west (parallel to shore) and I try and stay on the south side of this ridge to take advantage of any wind and waves that might be coming in to these rocks out of the south.
I had a scheduled trip on Monday but my customers were unable to make the trip due to some last minute circumstances but Dustin did guide and put together some decent numbers and some big fish that night if I remember correctly.
Every night has basically been the same story… 20 – 25 fish. Some biggies but no super hogs. The locations change EVERY night and we’re really scrambling to pick up little details that make the difference between 5 fish and 25 fish.
Last night at 1 AM central time Mille Lacs Lake water temps dipped to 59.999999999 degrees! WooHoo!
Thank you it might be worth a shot. Haven’t been there since last fall and it was poor for me then. From the point west is pretty much nice rocks if I remember right. Did you get a chance to check the thick weedbed from the point east? If the winds hit nw 15-30 tomorrow night like they are saying I will probably have to chicken out and fish the north end again. Fished neon weed bed(pretty sure you know the spot I mean) and did nothing a couple nights ago even ran the lure you were nice enough to tell me about overtop 8-10 feet. Anyway good luck, and with bad weather I might be back to be on your end of the lake again.
Also it sure would be fun to start a big fish posting like you folks had here last fall. I still remember the pic you posted of a client with a 29 1/2 absolute pig. I believe it was the only fish I saw all fall that was a true 10+ pound fish. That was a really special fish.
Yup… we should start a Fish Photo post in the Mille Lacs Lake forum so it doesn’t get lost in the reports. We did have some dandy fish last season… they’re all still out there swimming and hopefully an inch longer and a half pound heavier!
Hey James, thanks alot for the posts and reports. I am heading to Mille Lacs on Saturday night. Sounds like you have been spending most of your time North, have you done anything in the SE part of the lake? (on a side note, we should be all set for 11/5 on pool 4, check was sent…)
Terry M.
No, I tend to stick west of the point for some odd reason. There’s usually a handful of baots right on the point and that will keep me out of there for obvious reasons so I guess I usually spin around as soon as I get near the point coming from the west.
So much water so little time!
Terry,
No, to be honest I try and stay away from the south and east sides of the lake when guiding just for the simple fact that the prevailing winds come most often west and north. In the past I would find dandy fish on reefs in the south or on the east side only to be forced to fish elsewhere by the winds. I’m willing to bob around in some pretty big waves but my customers just don’t go for that… lol
I had 2 customers get seasick in the same week fishing the east side during one of my first years guiding up on mille lacs in the fall and I learned my lesson.
Most nights on the west and north sides we fish in a VERY moderate chop and still catch plenty of fish.
When I’m “fun fishing” that east and south side is fair game though!
James and Dustin,
Let me know if you get low on markers.I’ll be glad to send Cade’s marker collection to you guys.
Best of luck on the water,those 59.9 temps sounds like things will only get better for you guys.
Ryan Hale
James it was nice to finally put a face to the name last night! Just wanted to thank you again for all the great reports that you continue to provide to us less fortunate everyday fisherman like yourself..
Thanks again!
