This past Friday afternoon I had the opportunity to fish with Jeff Scott. We had a plan to get out and give it a try for some smallies. I had’nt been out in some time so we both were ready for some action. We worked some shallow areas without any luck, so we spent some time in alittle deeper water around 8-12 feet. I mangaged this 16 inch smallie caught on a black and silver K-Grub from B-Fish-N Tackle.
The deeper water was a bit better action as Jeff caught this 17 incher on a Mepps in 10-12 feet just off a rocky reef area on the eastside of Mille Lacs. We spent around 1 1/2 hrs with just these two bass. I had one other on for a while only to lose it on the second leap!
The Smallmouth action has slowed some from the past months but the fish are there if you are willing to put in the time. I would look to the deeper breaks off the reefs any where you might have larger boulders on the bottom. These Mille Lacs smallmouth are really a blast to catch, If you hav’nt given them a try you really need too!!!!!
The walleye bite was dead cold this morning. Hook got out just after 3:30AM and picked me up on the dock at around 4:30AM….I needed just a bit more sleep I quess?
We trolled shad raps along the shallow shoreline here on the eastside. We managed to catch around a dozen perch,one small pike, and a rock bass…….no walleye. The perch are definitely on the return here on Mille Lacs. We caught perch from 4-9 inches long this morning. The water temperature needs to cool down from the 78 deg. today. September is just around the corner, the days are getting shorter and the walleye will be more willing to chase our crank baits!!!!!!! Lets hope for a good fall bite here again this fall.
Hey Bob
Thanks much for the word on the water temps up there. I was about to e-mail you or Hooks to get the latest. 78 degrees is WAY too warm… much like last fall I’m afraid. Things didn’t really start hammering until the temps fell into the middle 60’s. With the short-term forecast calling for warm nights and day time highs in the 80’s, the fall trolling bite early in Sept. will likely start off slowly.
The rocks up along Knox Pt. on the north shore have always been VERY good to me late in the summer for smallies. Even up shallow. Last fall, even into October, a guy could expect big numbers up shallow. If you check it out, definitely let us know how it goes.
James,
you are right on with the water temp’s……..It’s the key to when our walleye turn on in the spring and again in the fall. The 78 deg. right now is like “bath water” way to warm. Once we get into these shorter days and maybe some cool rains???? the water temperature should drop some.
Did we wish for cooler temps? Did you say something about a cold rain?
Thursday 8/28 Couple of showers, t-storms
High 79° F / Low 54° F
Friday 8/29 Clouds and sun
High 76° F / Low 50° F
Saturday 8/30 Partly sunny
High 71° F / Low 49° F
That’ll work nicely!
Hey Bob, you are right about the perch!
(Quote)
“The perch are definitely on the return here on Mille Lacs. We caught perch from 4-9 inches long this morning.”
This weekend I couldn’t keep the small perch off the line while pulling crawler/spinners on the rocks. Had a few on cranks too. There are a ton of these fish everywhere I dropped a line! (See pix below) Also caught a few keeper size in the 9-11+ range along with one keeper walleye.
Nice weekend to be on the lake, it was as though I had the place to myself….hardly any one out. 
Must have been at the Fair.
Jon J.
awesome picture Jon !!!
Looks walleye-sized to me. Crud! Gonna be a tough nut to crack… although I do like a challenge.
Hey Bob, or anyone else for that matter, would you be willing to post any updated water temps you get over the next couple weeks here on this thread. It will help me pull my game plan together before I get there on the 6th Sept. Thanks much.
I was out yesterday, had 75.4 on the garmin 240.
Well at least it’s headed in the right direction. To take a page from a discussion the bass guys had earlier this month, the downward “trend” of the water temp seems to be as important as the actual temp itself. I mean, a quick, hard cold snap dropping surface temps to the low 60’s 3 days before the full moon will pull less fish shallow than a slow downward fall of temps into the mid-60’s over a period of a couple weeks.
The forecast looks cautiously promising. Thanks for keeping me posted guys.
Here’s the forecast for Brainerd, MN for the next week or so:
Tonight Aug 29 Clear 46°
Sat Aug 30 Sunny 73°/49°
Sun Aug 31 Sunny 78°/48°
Mon Sep 01 Partly Cloudy 74°/47°
Tue Sep 02 Partly Cloudy 73°/52°
Wed Sep 03 Partly Cloudy 76°/48°
Thu Sep 04 Sunny 77°/51°
Fri Sep 05 Sunny 75°/49°
Sat Sep 06 Partly Cloudy 75°/51°
Sun Sep 07 Mostly Sunny 75°/54°
Things look good and the water temps should fall slowly with those colder temps at night. No rain to speak of to fuss with. It’s looking good guys!
I just off the lake checking out some spots for tonite. I found that our surface water temp has dropped down a litte with the cooler weather the past few days!
The temps I found were from 72.8 in 4-6 feet and as low as 71.6 out off the breaks in 12-15 ft………
The weather forecast that H20 just posted should only help these temps drop a bit more in the next weeks time.
I’ll try and post a night crank bait report tommorow!!!!!
How about a temp update Bob? Anyone? Thanks in advance.
Saturday nite I had 70 deg’s +- Today while out looking for some smallmouth it went up a bit to 72. We have had some flat water the last 36 hrs or so……that did’nt help much.
It’s better when the wind is blowing and we have clouds covering up that sun shine.
Lets hope that this forecast helps lower our water temps…
Tonight
Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms late in the morning and in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy. Highs near 70.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.
Thursday
Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s.
Thursday Night
Clear. Lows near 50.
Friday
Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
Saturday
Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s and highs in the upper 70s.
Sunday
Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s and highs in the upper 70s.
Monday
Partly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s and highs in the upper 70s.
I saw the saw the same temps on the west side of the lake. 69 in the morning and got up to 71 in the afternoon. The Aqua view was showing 68 in 8 feet of water though.
This will help some! The forecast for the next two days… in Brainerd, MN.
Wed Sep 03
Partly Cloudy / Wind
HI – LOW 68°/40°
Thu Sep 04
Sunny
HI – LOW 73°/47°
Guys I just had to take a picture of the moon on the lake tonite!! hoped it would of turned out a bit better……
This should get your juices flowing!!!!!!
I need a little howling wolf graemlin! Aaaaa Woooooo!
I love these somewhat crisp mornings we have been having lately. Even Bailey likes the temps, its funny to see how much energy she has on our morning walks.
Lets all wish for a nice long fall starting soon
When do you guys start night fishing usually? (The water temps and the usual time of the year) I only got into it last year and I would like to make sure I get all the time that is possible out there.
thanks
alphid…..I’ll give it a try this Sept.full moon on the 10th. I like to fish 4 days prior and 4 days after the full moon. I am wondering if the lake will cool down in time for this Sept. ?????????
Jon J…….do you have sound with that pic???????
No, I’ll leave the audio to James.
J.
Hey Bobber
Run on down to your dock and stick you toe in the water and tell me what the water temps is!…lol
Anyone been out over the last couple days to get a water temp? An update would be very much appreciated.
The full moon is coming and with the cool nights the bite should be turning on any day.