3 trips, Indiana and Lake Mille Lacs

[Limit_Out]

Fished a local lake early in the ice with mixed success.  Caught a lot of shorts, a few perch and 4 walleyes over 16.  1 was 19". 






Drove all day last Thursday leaving Indy at 330 am and 65 degrees.  Picked up a friend in Chicago and arrived at Mille Lacs to a -18.  Starting fishing Friday morning at -24!  Caught a lot of fish and some really nice ones.  Dropped a camera down and have some cool footage on this link.  Somehow My buddy filmed this walleye I caught.  It was awesome.

http://s60.photobucket.com/user/mvon/media/3FF9B9A6-7024-4EBA-B92A-6D191610C09A_zpsqb2gf6lv.mp4.html

Driving out the first time on 20 plus inches.

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A few picks of another Great Lake Mille Lacs trip!

















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40 minute drive from the shore to our spot!  Crazy smooth ice and little snow, perfect for inexperienced guys like us to travel.  Awesome trip.

[tater140]

Sounds like an awesome trip.  I would love to get to Mille Lacs someday.  My internets giving me troubles at the moment, but I will be checking out that video as soon as I can.

[CWlake]

Looks like an awesome trip! How long was the drive to get there? Thanks for the fish porn while I'm at work!

[Limit_Out]

Thanks it was about 11 hours from Indy with a stop in Chicago.  Stopped at the Dells for cheese curds and sausage.  About 8 hours from west suburbs.

[wax_worm]

Nice pics and video.  Is there still big restrictions on Mill Lacs for the walleye?  I knew in the softwater they reduced the limit to one per person or something like that.  Did you get into any perch?

[slabslayer77]

I need to find a couple guys in my area to plan a trip north soon. This weather sucks. Invested way to much cash in equipment to have it sitting in the garage. Looks like a great trip.

[Limit_Out]

No perch but did see some micro perch on camera.  One 23"er puked up a perch in my buddies shack.  Slot for keepers is 19-21 which basically don't exist.  We didn't get a keeper.

[Pryvtpyle]

Awesome pics.  Im actually going up to Mille lacs from feb1-9th. Never been up there before so I was wondering if u had any tips or hotspots.   We r renting a cabin with mottoes on hunters point.   Beyond excited   Thanks in advance

[Jigmup]

Great report!
Glad you had a good time. Keep sticking the Eye's!

[fishinagain]

Got to go there last February, awesome experience! We got on some great perch, some tulabee (cisco), and a few walleye. The perch we got on were plentiful, however were small compared to the ones being caught about 6 or more miles further out on the big mud flats. Crazy how big that lake is at over 207 square miles, and it is the second largest lake in MN.

Driving out on the ice roads.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

Nice report. Looks like a great place to fish. One day. 

[Ranger619]

Awesome pics of the trip ! We just got back from South Dakota it wasn't one our most successful trips but still fun. That's about 11-12 hrs with stops for us and we're right on I-80 South of Chicago. Would love to try Mille Lacs someday. 

[SuzyQTpie]

Awesome pics.  Im actually going up to Mille lacs from feb1-9th. Never been up there before so I was wondering if u had any tips or hotspots.   We r renting a cabin with mottoes on hunters point.   Beyond excited   Thanks in advance

That is a crazy slot.  You can only keep fish within those two inches?

[wax_worm]

That is a crazy slot.  You can only keep fish within those two inches?

Correct.  The Indians net the walleye there during the spawn, but because of some treaty and over harvest they have created the slot on regular anglers to try to save the walleye population.  That area survives from tourism dollars and lots of places are hurting bad because many people are no longer going there because they can't keep any fish. 

[Limit_Out]

Lots of politics involved.  Don't even get a local started unless you've got some time on your hands.  They are very passionate about the "use" some have of the resource.  Sadly there seems to be no middle ground compromise.  Still though, it's tough fishing to beat within reasonable drives.  Who the hell wants to clean a fish when it's -24 anyway?  Lol not me.

[wax_worm]

Lots of politics involved.  Don't even get a local started unless you've got some time on your hands.  They are very passionate about the "use" some have of the resource.  Sadly there seems to be no middle ground compromise.  Still though, it's tough fishing to beat within reasonable drives.  Who the hell wants to clean a fish when it's -24 anyway?  Lol not me.

LOL at cleaning fish in -24...that would be no fun.  Even though they have reduced the quota the tribes are allowed to take, I don't think the quota is the issue.  The issue is when they net them and now spear them.  They do it during the spawn and in the prime spawning areas on the lake.  I don't think anyone can argue that taking nearly 12 thousand pounds of walleye from the spawning areas + an unknown other amount they are allowed for 'ceremonial' purposes has had no impact on the population when done year after year.  It is a large lake and I am sure there are other factors that have contributed to the downfall in the population, but taking the fish when they are trying to spawn year after year has to have an impact.  Add in the fact that walleye are known to have spawning success that varies wildly from year to year, and it compounds the issue.  Hopefully the DNR can come up with a plan, even if it involves stocking a few million fry per year to try to bring the lake back to what it used to be. 

[pondbear52]

AWESOME! im jealous. did you stay in a cabin or a resort or what? im thinking of making a trip up north too because this weather sucks!

im on the west side of indy as well(eagle creek)

[river_scum]

great fish n pics! thanks for sharing your adventure.