Recent walleye attempts upon lake Mille Lacs have proven slightly challenging due to an enormously successful perch hatch. The young of the year perch are providing the lake with more than abundant forage for fish. However frustrating this may be for anglers, it proves the degree of quality of this fishery in terms of the lakes ability to provide for itself. Lake Mille Lacs thrives on its main source of forage, perch. The available walleye are obtainable through persistence and patience; however, regular Mille Lacs anglers are having a difficult time adapting to the abrupt change in the active walleye bite. The biggest factor affecting the walleye harvest is the homogenous perch dispersion. Feeding walleye currently have forage at nearly every location within the lake. This is causing very little movement among walleye, which in turn breaches the “textbook” walleye feeding patterns.
Finding myself falling victim to the above scenario, It was clear I needed to take on a defensive role in the plentiful forage of lake Mille Lacs targeting the trophy perch the lake has to offer.
Early in the perch season the active fish can be found harboring in deep water near places of safety. Early season, this means one of two things apply: The Jumbo perch are found mingling with the smaller baitfish or stationed in deep water plateaus. Applying these two scenarios held currently by the lake, the choice to target deep water plateaus was an easy option due to the over abundant small fish concentrating on shallow portions of structure. When I speak of deep water plateaus, I’m referring to the small tongues which protrude from a structures edge. Many anglers have encountered successful days on the water fishing this type of structure as shown in the picture aside. LakeMaster’s one foot contour’s make these areas stand out. Many of these “tongues” happen to be deep water scattered boulders at the bottom edge of flats or mud mounds containing the blood worms perch thrive upon. In my most recent excursion, myself and Doug and Glenn Ertl located active jumbos in the scattered rock scenario.
Early morning found us in a state of solitude anticipating the rarely hungry Mille Lacs walleye while setting up near a likely perch haunt. Doing so allows for an occasional walleye and the opportunity for lower back pain in search of perch. The morning passed with the anticipated few small walleye, which was then followed by the infinite purr of a Strikemaster in search of perch.
Within three hours of a dull Mille Lacs lull, The excitement of this lake came alive once again as 13 inch perch clogged the holes. It was then I remembered why I loved the lake, Not for the walleyes, but for the football like form of these giants.
Keep in mind that these fish are not yet even close to February schools. They will be found scattered in these areas previously mentioned, with no ambition to be on the run as they will within the next month.
Lure of choice was an 1/8 once Custom Jigs and Spins fire tiger demon spoon tipped with a minnow head.
Travel conditions still require a snowmobile off road if traveling alone.
Pleasure to fish you guys Big D and Big G (Doug and Glen Ertl)
And an occasional walleye in the way
What a great read Matt.
It is great seeing you guys get out and 
some fish, during a relatively slow period. 
Ya hey, thanks for the invite Matt. Sorry I just can’t get away from home right now.
Great report!!
Good job! I bet their was some football talk with the bigs being there…
It was a pleasure fishing with you Matt… the guy ran his auger out of gas, locating the bite for us !!! He is persistent. On saturday, he ventured out looking for the active fish, at one point, I could hear an auger in the distance, popped a window open, and it was Matt, about a 1/2 mile away, searching for the fish !!! He found em too !!! I did see alot of walleyes on my camera, but they were stuffed with perch, and had little interest in my offering. Again, a great weekend, we will have to do it again soon
big g
Sure was,….Football fish and football weekend.
Great pics and great fish Matt, thanks for posting.
Layne Monroe
Did Big D wear that hat on purpose???
I bet when he fishes with Derek he wears the Black and Red Marcum hat.
Great report Matt- See ya soon.
John
Way to go guys!! I leave that area and look what happens!!! glad you drilled enough holes and found some active biters Matt.
Nice clip of the Lakemaster Pro software!! just so everyone knows that is not the structure where they were fishing!!! it looks much like it though!!!
Very well done report!!! I need to take some lessons from you my friend!!! guess thats the difference between a College education and my Isle education!!
I’m not sure what his deal is
Great read Matt…I know nothing of that lake for perch fishing- or for walleye fishing for that matter, but after reading your post, I feel like I would be successful angling for perch, either that, or I would run my auger out of gas as well.
See you in a couple of weekends… 
Great report Matt. Nice perch,
Have gas & will travel! LOL
Did Big G climb a tree for the last pic?
Nice report Matt!
Very nice, informative, report Matt.
No we just have really big trucks
Thanks for a great report Matt.
Nice report Matt!
Love those pics of nice perch.
Boog
Great report Matt, lets just say..that is a good sign
Nice report. I can even understand it. Long time lurker, first time poster. Gotta love IDA
Welcome to IDO Wade
Welcome to IDO Wade! Good to see some Iowa guys signing up more often!
thanks for the report. a group of us are going up tomorrow. I hope we can find them.
Welcome Wade, you lurker, what part of NE Iowa???
Mark
Mark, I’m about 10 miles from the Minnesota border and about half way between the Mississippi and Clear Lake.
Matt great report, those are some nice perch.
Nice perch guys. Wish I could get into some like that. Poor luck so far this year for me.