Ice fishing on Mille Lacs Lake should be in full swing this weekend! The cold weather that we have experienced this past week has created some very good conditions for this early in the season. Ice thickness on the eastside of the lake is anywhere from 6-8 inches. At this time only ATV and snowmoblie use maybe allowed. No large vehicle use at this time.
I have been out the last two evenings fishing a shallow break off Picard Point. Today this area had 7-8 inches of ice. Hunters Point has roads staked out and has started to pull some smaller rentals out on the main lake with ATV’s! Call them at 320-676-3227 for more information on house rentals for this weekend.
I managed a few walleye the past two outings along with quite a few perch. The perch are pretty active in the late afternoon. I have been jigging with a JB jigging spoon in a orange/green color along with a green glowing Northland Buckshot jigged just off the rock bottom. The depth I fished yesterday was 17 feet. Tonite I went a little shallower up in 15 feet. I missed acouple of fish tonite….guess I might not have my timing down yet.
The lake has a number of cracks from the constant changes in temperature we have been having. We experienced one this noon that rocked our house. I might add that it was our house on shore and not on the ice!
If you are planning a trip up to Mille Lacs, please call or check with your local resort for the most current ice/lake conditions. Good luck and be safe
Excellent first-ice fishing report Bobber. Between you, Steil and the rest of the guys, there should be some excellent coverage from the pond this winter.
I’ve got to imagine that with all the “under 20 inch” walleyes we caught this fall that this winter should be a banner year for mille lacs lake anglers.
Your right James about the dandy slot fish that were around this past fall!! Although I have only found smaller fish so far……It’s just great to be back on the ice
How’s the size on the perch?
acouple of nice keepers….put most have been in the 5-7 inch range. Which is really good to see, as they are our future jumbo’s!! Need to spend some time with the underwater camera and see just how many of them are around…..
Bob, if the crack shook your house, could you buzz across the highway and check on my place ?!!!
g
G…..your funny! you know untill you experience it you won’t think much of it. I have felt/heard it many times over the years……..I know I won’t like living in where they have earth quakes
Nice report Bob.
Your website banner isn’t working but looks nice!
Ooooh, I can’t wait!
12-09-05 update!!!
Tonite I fished another spot which was on the SW end of Flamingo Reef on the eastside. I found the ice to be around 8 inches in the area I drilled holes. I headed out today at 1pm to allow some time to look for my spot. Had my first perch in just a few minutes. Well thats when all heck broke lose! I hooked a huge walleye only to lose it just under the hole. This fish may have been one of the biggest I’ve had on in some time! I might even say that it could have been the biggest, Bummer……..oh well. I did catch a few other fish, one nice 25 incher,17 and a little dink. The perch went nuts at around 3-4 pm….I was fishing in 18 feet, just off 75 feet form the top break of 13 ft.
I’ll be heading back there tomorrow and try again!
Sure Bud, keep rubbing it in for us guys who were at work today.
Just kidding Bud, keep the reports coming. 
Great to see you are having fun. 
Thanks, Bill
12-11-05 update
Today I went out on the ice at 11:30am thinking I would listen to the Vikings and fish a while. I went back to my spot on Flamingo thinking that the fish might go again in the early afternoon. Well they did’nt…..I did manage a few perch and two walleye between 4-5pm…….The ice in this area was now just under 10 inches! thats almost 2 inches since Friday. This pic is of a walleye going back to fight another day! It was around 24-25+ give or take….did’nt measure it as it wanted to go back down the hole!!!
I wished I would have had someone fishing with me the last couple of trips to take pictures! Got to get them pic’s anyway you can when your alone……….