Mille Lac trip a dud so far

[T-Hawker]

Rented a sleeper shack on Mille Lac.  Arrived yesterday about 1pm.  Still waiting on our first bite 😠 (including soaking minnows on rattle reels overnight)

Have tried a large tip up spread, rattle reels in the shack and jigging every lure I can think.  Flutter spoons, kastmasters, small jigs, full minnows, minnow heads, waxies, spikes, etc.

We are on the SE end of the lake.  Plan to start roaming and punching holes in 26-32fow to maybe find a few perch.  Tough to drive 5 hours and spend the money when I could have done better at home.

That said, wife, daughter and I are having a lot of laughs.  This mornings excitement was hearing a rattle reel go off...only to realize our dog hooked her hair on one of the unused rattle reels hooks and was spoiling out line as she walked around the shack.

[tbern]

Good at least your still having some fun even though lousy fishing. Hopefully the fish will start to cooperate for you soon!

[mjk67]

Yeah, I've been reading Lyback's reports. It has been hit/miss for awhile. 

At least you are spending quality time with your family 

[Hawks222]

What resort? Hunter Winfield’s?

[quickco]

you have a fish finder? last deep lake i was in all fish were 15 feet in 32 foot of water.

[Whopper Stopper]

Things get tough this time of year up there.

               WS

[T-Hawker]

We are with Macs Twin Bay... the sleeper shack is very nice/ clean.  I used my Helix 5 with lake master card to find some likely perch spots yesterday.  Covered about 5 miles and tried 7 different spots.  One 5” perch was the result.  I did manage to get a 20” keeper eye late afternoon yesterday jigging outside the shack.  Wife and I are jigging this morning but not marking anything yet.

[eriksat1]

We are in the dog days of mid winter up here. The feeding windows are short.

[FishingPhotographer]

Is shallow an option on a nice edge? Like a steep rise from 20’ - 5’ for eyes at night? Just a thought.

[mjk67]

Are you using extensions up there?  I was out on Lake Minnetonka yesterday, and had my powerhead right on the ice before punching through.

Unless we get rain and weird heat, March could be a good month this year!

[Mrpike1973]

Just got back from up there too. wife got 1 18 inch eye me one tullibee. 4 days over 60 holes lousy time. I have only been up there 3 times but I think I will stay closer to home cheaper and better luck. I just don't see what all the hype is. At least you got family time that's more important than fish but I feel for ya.

[T-Hawker]

Are you using extensions up there?  I was out on Lake Minnetonka yesterday, and had my powerhead right on the ice before punching through.

Unless we get rain and weird heat, March could be a good month this year!

Yes, used the extension on my Ion X and needed it.  I would say I was 5" or so from bottoming out the auger with the extension installed.

[T-Hawker]

Just got back from up there too. wife got 1 18 inch eye me one tullibee. 4 days over 60 holes lousy time. I have only been up there 3 times but I think I will stay closer to home cheaper and better luck. I just don't see what all the hype is. At least you got family time that's more important than fish but I feel for ya.

Yeh, can't see going back to Mille Lac and will stick around home (North Central Wisconsin).  Friend of mine went on a lake 1.5 hours from my house this weekend and they slayed the Northern and did well on perch, gills and a few crappies.

Being border line crazy about ice fishing, after 2 full days of fishing Mille Lac and driving 4.5 hours back home my wife checked her phone and said the pressure was dropping so we did a quick unload at home and hit our normal lake... skunked again.  This mid-winter stuff dead zone is killing my confidence.

[TheCrappieFisherman]

Compared to last year, I have mostly heard slow reports from Mille Lacs this year. Last year it was on fire at times. Baitfish numbers must be rebounding.

[Sylvanboat]

When the going gets tough, the tough start drinking.

[Sylvanboat]

How about hiring a guide??

[eriksat1]

If I was going to take a trip to mille lacs it would be early to mid January for walleye, or mid to late March for big panfish.

[Hard Ice]

Quick tip : find the mud and pound the bottom with small Swedish pimples  tipped with ether wax worms for small shinners.

Good luck !