Mille Lacs

[Agronomist_at_IA]

So where is this lake as a fishery today?

[ICEMAN73]

Good question.  Thinking of going up to get some Eyes !

[Gunflint]

The story is that it is on the upswing and rebounding from horrific abuse.

Not as good as in the past but better than the immediate past. Red Lake seems to have taken its place in the past few years.

The slots, limits and regulations seem to change with the weather so I have still avoided it.

[matzilla]

its in Minnesota...

1 fish slot is probably helping but it seems to be that the lake will never be in the shape it was long ago - but not to many are. I'd still book a trip up there to catch fish, it just wouldn't be as high on my list as it once was.

year class info here: https://www.swnewsmedia.com/prior_lake_american/news/sports/one-winter-walleye-harvest-on-mille-lacs/article_b4082373-5b97-5755-b448-9606fc0bbea2.html

[MinnesotaPike]

1 fish slot is probably helping but it seems to be that the lake will never be in the shape it was long ago - but not to many are.

It'd be nice if everyone had to obey the limits. Until the commercial fishing is actually regulated, everyone else will keep paying for that privileged group to keep their "right" to commercial fishing.

[Gunflint]

Yup....it is in Minnesota alright!

[Agronomist_at_IA]

its in Minnesota...

1 fish slot is probably helping but it seems to be that the lake will never be in the shape it was long ago - but not to many are. I'd still book a trip up there to catch fish, it just wouldn't be as high on my list as it once was.

year class info here: https://www.swnewsmedia.com/prior_lake_american/news/sports/one-winter-walleye-harvest-on-mille-lacs/article_b4082373-5b97-5755-b448-9606fc0bbea2.html

I went years ago, through Fisherman's WARF.......1 fish it 2-3days. Wasn't great, but thinking of trying it again. Are the perch decent?

Was thinking of switching my NE SD trip to something like Mille lacs.

Last few trips with the ice castle to bitter/waubay area have been pretty average to disappointing. I think the area has gotten hit so hard that the main public lakes have been fished down. Private and small unknown slews seem to be hot up there with good fish, but a pita to find and get on.

[Hawks222]

I went years ago, through Fisherman's WARF.......1 fish it 2-3days. Wasn't great, but thinking of trying it again. Are the perch decent?

Was thinking of switching my NE SD trip to something like Mille lacs.

Last few trips with the ice castle to bitter/waubay area have been pretty average to disappointing. I think the area has gotten hit so hard that the main public lakes have been fished down. Private and small unknown slews seem to be hot up there with good fish, but a pita to find and get on.

I went to the wharf a few times also. I loved the place. Nice sleepers, set up well. Restaurant/bar, delivered food to sleeper. Fishing was always ok, nothing spectacular. Found out the last time we were there that the bite was from 1-3am. We were at bar and everyone started to leave saying it was time to fish. We thought they were crazy. We went back and slammed buckshots off the bottom like they told us too. We caught a few. Too bad it’s closed.

I had a friend go up last early summer in boat. Said they caught 50-60 walleyes a day. Most were 20”+ he said. I’m down in iowa also so it’s half the distance to lake of the woods.

[bigfoot86]

What happen to this lake?  I always thought it was still one of the top destinations.  Did it just killed from the fishing pressure?

[Gunflint]

What happen to this lake?  I always thought it was still one of the top destinations.  Did it just killed from the fishing pressure?

Depends upon who you talk to. Facts:
- The Native Americans began increasing commercial netting
- Anglers were busy fishing

At the same time Red Lake that had been essentially decimated began to recover. Facts:
- The Red Lake Band reduced commercial netting.
- Anglers began returning

http://www.startribune.com/what-s-the-deal-with-the-walleye-crisis-on-mille-lacs/320774571/

[Agronomist_at_IA]

What happen to this lake?  I always thought it was still one of the top destinations.  Did it just killed from the fishing pressure?

From what I heard it had a "fish collapse" of the walleye.....they had some pretty stupid  theories and other crap....what it seemed to amount to is closing down on harvest and limiting harvest.....now it suposidly is on the rebound.

[hawg]

No sex-no babies. Put nets in all the spawning areas and no sex-no babies. Too simple for the DNR.

[MinnesotaPike]

No sex-no babies. Put nets in all the spawning areas and no sex-no babies. Too simple for the DNR.

Pretty sure they know that's the problem, they're just afraid to say it. Even when they catch them selling walleye outside their quota the court does absolutely nothing. Local media always regurgitate exactly what the tribal PR firms tell them no matter how obviously false it is because they're afraid of not looking as woke as their competitors. Its a tough spot to be in for the DNR because there's not much public support outside of fishermen because most people don't understand what's going on.

[Gunflint]

Pretty sure they know that's the problem, they're just afraid to say it. Even when they catch them selling walleye outside their quota the court does absolutely nothing. Local media always regurgitate exactly what the tribal PR firms tell them no matter how obviously false it is because they're afraid of not looking as woke as their competitors. Its a tough spot to be in for the DNR because there's not much public support outside of fishermen because most people don't understand what's going on.

Careful what you say....they might be listening. 

[Gunflint]

One thing that might bode well is that it seems as if the casino managers realized that if there are no crowds because the fishing is rotten because of their netting, then the casinos don't make the same revenue that they used to.

Someone probably did a cost/benefit analysis to quantify the casino revenue lost per pound of walleye netted.

Money will likely settle the matter somehow.

It also appears that the Red lake band carried out the same cost/benefit analysis and reduced their netting - and their casino revenue jumped.

[MinnesotaPike]

Red Lake band stopped netting, they claim their harvest is done entirely by hook and line. I think part of the problem on Mille Lacs is the out of state tribes have no concern for the lake because they'll just move on to Vermillion or wherever they want to destroy next. Its worked for them before, why stop now?

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Well......

For you guys in the area, can you tell me if it is worth fishing? I'd like to get some eyes and would love some nice 12in + perch. I'm just wondering if the lake is decent for fishing now, or if it's a Dead Sea on the rebound......

[JaminWI]

If you want to come up and sport fish, it can be a blast. Just don’t plan on catching one in the allowable slot to fry up. So I guess it depends on what your goal is.

In re to the perch, I personally haven’t caught any “jumbos” on that lake. When people talk about fishing ML, perch usually isn’t the fish they talk about. But maybe it’s a dark kept secret in some bay and I’m not in the know.

[MinnesotaPike]

Definitely worth the trip if you aren't looking to fill your freezer. There are definitely still plenty of trophy class walleye and pike. There are big perch but I've never found them myself. One of the resorts hosts a perch contest each year so you see some big ones in that. When the bite is on its an amazing place for sure.

[ran7ger]

 haha "no sex no babies" i want that on a shirt for more than one reason 

[hawg]

It’s still good fishing, just no slot fish. Too many big fish. There is still strong feelings up here about the whole thing. Now they are taking homes and cabins that families have had for generations. It’s bad.

[Gunflint]

It’s still good fishing, just no slot fish. Too many big fish. There is still strong feelings up here about the whole thing. Now they are taking homes and cabins that families have had for generations. It’s bad.

How are they taking the cabins? Were they on leased land?

[minnow_master]

Tis a sensitive subject, but back to the point as others as pointed out, don't expect to fill the freezer.  I fish it regularly and I've only ever caught 1 slot fish  and let it go because it was such a surprise.  With that said, plenty of 22"+ fish and we catch at least a 25"+ fish every year.  PB is a 28" beauty on a tip up and she's still swimming as far as i'm concerned.  A good day for us, if you are hunkering down and no running and gunning is around 8-10 fish.  If you are running and gunning you can expect exponentially more fish in relation to your effort.  You can realistically expect to get a PB on this body of water and a nice picture for the wall.  Northern fishing is fantastic with many large fish and the limit is generous if you are into that sort of thing.  I've seen a growth in the spear fishing community here because of its clear waters.  Perch is decent, not what it used to be but we do run into some jumbos every now and then, never consistently, but they always get em on the fishing shows   The open water smallie and muskie fishing scene is still strong here.  Overall a great fishery and can be awesome at the times.  Mostly just pounding beers waiting for the "power hour".

[joemx1825]

How are they taking the cabins? Were they on leased land?

I haven't heard of any land/cabin seizures on Millacs (tribe is legally buying up alot of the abandoned cabins and closed resorts though) they did do that to a small portion of Leech Lake that was on leased land, but the owners knew many years in advance on what could happen when their lease came up (why would you build permanent structures on leased land?)  so it's a moot point in my book...

I personally think the Millacs issues has alot to do with increased overall fishing pressure with better equipment over the past decades and most fisherman who drive up to Millacs for some reason feel like they MUST bring back their limit or it's a wasted trip vs the keep a few for dinner and release the rest...

It still produces trophy Walleye, Smallmouth Bass and Muskie....