Lake Mille Lacs freezes “all the way,” with ice reaching thicknesses of 2 to 4 feet. In most years anglers can find safe walkout ice by early December.
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How many ice houses are on Mille Lacs?
Check the DNR’s current spearing regulations, including limits, here. In recent winters, the number of ice houses on Lake Mille Lacs has exceeded 5,500.
Is Mille Lacs open for ice fishing?
Muskellunge: The muskie season closes Tuesday, November 30, 2021 and will reopen in early June 2022. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass: The largemouth bass harvest is open through Sunday, February 27, 2022; all largemouth bass greater than 17 inches must be immediately released.
Where can I ice fish on Lake Mille Lacs?
Especially during the early ice season, the southern bay areas are the place to be if you want to catch pike on Mille Lacs. The areas around Garrison, along the northwestern shoreline, are another hot spot for winter pike. You can catch them jigging big spoons or Rapala Jigging and Rap Slabs.
How late can you ice fish in MN?
Ice fishing usually continues through March with permanent fish houses being pulled off the ice by March 31st.
What is the walleye limit on Mille Lacs Lake?
As announced by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in March of this year, the one-fish walleye limit will resume on Mille Lacs Lake on Sept. 1. In an expansion of the harvest slot, anglers will be able to harvest one walleye 20-23 inches or one longer than 26 inches, with fishing allowed 6 a.m. to midnight.
How many walleye can you keep in Minnesota?
A person’s possession and daily limit for walleye and sauger is six in the aggregate, of which not more than four may be walleye and not more than one walleye may be over 26 inches in length.
How do you catch walleye on Mille Lacs?
Lake Mille Lacs has many rock points and reefs, which can be productive any time of year. Anglers have also found walleye on the mud flats on opening weekend. Right after spawning, the big females head out to these flats until late August when the fish head back to shore to the rocks and sand breaks again.
Can you fish Mille Lacs at night?
Smallmouth and largemouth bass: All bass greater than 17 inches must be immediately released during the harvest season. Limit of three in combination. Angling seasons follow statewide fishing seasons. May 16-June 3: No fishing for any species from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Is walleye fishing open on Mille Lacs Lake?
Walleye fishing will be catch-and-release from Wednesday, June 1 through Thursday, June 30. A two-week closure – implemented to reduce hooking mortality — will be in place from Friday, July 1 through Friday, July 15. Catch-and-release walleye fishing will resume on Saturday, July 16 and continue through Wednesday, Aug.
Where do you catch smallmouth bass on Mille Lacs?
If you’re coming to Mille Lacs to fish bass, start shallow, but if you’re not catching then move right away to those deeper edges and you’ll contact fish. By deeper edges, I mean the 12- to 18-foot range that’s adjacent to that same shallow rock structure.
Is 3 inches of ice safe to walk on?
As a general rule of thumb, ice is safe to walk on when there is 4 inches or more of clear ice. It is important to understand that different types of ice varying in their strength. Clear blue or black ice is the strongest. This ice is formed from the lake water freezing.
How much ice is safe for ice fishing?
Guidelines. With 4 inches of new, clear ice, an average-sized angler is generally safe to venture out on foot. Anything less than 4 inches is considered too risky. Many avid ice anglers look forward to first ice as the fish are often eager to bite.
What is the best month to ice fish?
March is my favorite month for ice-fishing. The days are longer, the weather isn’t as cold, and the fish like to get caught in March. Following are some things to keep in mind to catch more fish through the ice until the end of the ice season.
How many holes can you ice fish in MN?
Ice Fish in a Heated Fish House (Or, since one angler can legally drop a line in two holes at once, fish one hole each way.
Can you ice fish at night in Minnesota?
Your ice fishing adventures in Minnesota do not have to stop at dusk, as you actually can do overnight ice fishing on certain lakes.
What happened to Mille Lacs walleye?
The DNR says in June of last year, 7% of walleye caught died from hook mortality. That number jumped to 16% in July as water temperatures increased. Jensen says the walleye population on Mille Lacs has been declining since the late 90s when phosphorus levels in the lake started to get cleaned up.
What is the deepest part of Mille Lacs Lake?
Mille Lacs is Minnesota’s second-largest inland lake at 132,516 acres (536 km2), after Red Lake. The maximum depth is 42 feet (13 m). Much of the main lake has depths ranging from 20- to 38-feet. Gravel and rock bars are common in the southern half of the lake.
Does Mille Lacs have eelpout?
The eelpout past Growing up ice fishing on Mille Lacs Lake back in the 70’s and 80’s I have vivid memories of the ice being literally littered with frozen eelpout left to rot.
What color attracts walleye?
The most basic and most productive colors for targeting walleye are purple and green. These colors come in a variety of shades and can be used in a large range of depths. For sunny days, select bright or flashy purple or green, and for cloudy days try a solid, darker green or purple.
What lake has the most walleye in Minnesota?
When it comes to the best walleye fishing in Minnesota, few lakes enjoy the great reputation Lake Winnibigoshish has as Minnesota’s premier world-class walleye fishing lake. Lake Winnie offers great structure and has large numbers of Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Muskie, Crappie, Jumbo Perch and panfish.
How do you catch perch on Mille Lacs?
How do you fish smallmouth on Mille Lacs?
Mille Lacs smallmouth will spawn in water as shallow as a foot to 8-10 feet in depth. Popular lures for this time of year are lipless crankbaits (pre-spawn), hard and soft stick baits, tube jigs, spinnerbaits and finesse worms.
Can you keep smallmouth on Mille Lacs?
Beginning May 25, Mille Lacs’ daily bag and possession limit will be three bass per angler. All smallmouth and largemouth bass between 17 and 21 inches must be immediately released. Anglers may keep only one bass over 21 inches. In a change this year, smallmouth bass are catch-and-release only on Mille Lacs from Sept.
What month is best for walleye fishing?
Walleye fishing season is the best in spring during and after the spawning season. However, summer nights and fall months are just as good for fishing for walleyes.