What's Hot!

...(5-12-08) Success was mixed on Saturday's walleye opener at Mille Lacs - while some folks limited-out on "keepers", others struggled to catch even a few. The common thread for most of the successful folks was that they were all in shallow (12 feet or less) water. Shiners were the top bait (jigging, rigging), followed closely by modestly-sized leeches (bobber fishing). A few were caught trolling crankbaits during the overnight too. Surface temperatures remain in the middle 40's. Starting today (5-12-08) the night ban goes into effect on Mille Lacs - No one may fish for any species or possess fishing gear on the lake from 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. starting at 10 p.m. on May 12 and ending at 12:01 a.m. on June 9.

(5-8-08) Here it is - the weekend we've all been waiting for! All the ice is off Mille Lacs and everyone is looking forward to another year on the "big lake". Many of the hazard markers have been placed and all the docks are in at the public accesses... we're set to go. The surface temperature was 45 degrees this morning - several degrees cooler than what we've enjoyed over the past few years. Look for most of the fish to be in 15 feet or less water. Traditional opening day favorites like the north end, Vineland Bay and Big Point will likely take a lot of pressure. With the water temperature this cool, it might be a good time to break out the minnow bucket and try running a few minnows this weekend. Leeches and crawlers are an option too, but they usually fare better after the water has reached the 50's.

The 2008 Mille Lacs regs read as follows: Walleye: Release immediately all walleye 18.0" through 28.0". Possession limit is 4, with only one over 28.0".
Northern Pike: Release immediately all from 24.0" through 36.0". Possession limit is 3, only 1 over 36.0". No spearing.
Smallmouth bass: Release immediately all less than 21.0". Possession limit is 1.
Tullibee (Northern Cisco): Possession limit is 10.
Muskellunge: Release immediately all less than 48.0". Possession limit is 1.
Other species: Follow statewide regulations.
No Culling.
Night closure: No one may fish for any species or possess fishing gear on the lake from 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. starting at 10 p.m. May 12 and ending at 12:01 a.m. June 9.