Mille Lacs is Smokin Hot!!!

[Mayfly]

I love this time of year on Mille lacs. The bite is in full swing right now. People are catching fish EVERYWHERE. Although I did not make it up to the Mud I have heard nothing but good reports from the mud. I have also heard good reports from people pulling cranks just about everywhere. I can attest the the rock and gravel bit as that is where I spent the last couple days. I fished with my new found favorite fishing partner, my 3 year old daughter. I have never had so much fun in the boat in a long time. She also put back a part if fishing that I had forgotten about. Don't get me wrong, I have fun everytime I am out but this was a different kind of fun only those with children can understand. Watching her get excited when the bobber went down or watching her reel in her first walleye was awesome. The bobber went down and I set the hook and handed off to her. She reeled it in all the way to the boat and as I grabbed the net the fish shook off. As soon as we relized that we lost the fish she shed a tear and whimpered a bit. I felt horrible, but told her she did better than a lot of fisherman I know. I told her that the fish was just really smart and when he got to the boat he spit the hook out at us because he did not want to become our dinner. When we weren't watching bobber she had her hands in the live well and the leech bucket. At one point she had about 5 leeches out and was playing with them, they were her "friends". When one leech wrapped itself around her fingers she said "Look Daddy, its a ring!!" She is a natural! What a treat to spend that much time in the bot with my daughter. I brough snacks and two bags of different toys to occuopy her. The toys she did not touch but the snacks we both ate, I have not ate that good in the boat in a long time! Our best night was last night we anchored on one of my favorite bobber spots and we caught 9 walleyes in 2 hours. That is not counting the fish she lost reeling in and the missed bites due to being pre-occupied. The bite did't start really going until about 830pm so there was about an hour of constant action which was cool for her. I would not reel that 8th fish in for our limit. That was her job and although she never got it in she gave it great effort and learned a lot for next time. I could go on and on...we had a blast!!!!

[Mayfly]

[Benny]

Awsome Tim, looks like she is off to a great start.

Back in 1998  or 99 when the eye's on Mille Lacs were snapping any thing we put down, Melissa broke two snoopy poles in one night off Agate Reef.

Had to run down to Pat's and buy a "big girls" fishing rod for her so she could bring in those 22 inch eye's with out breaking the rod in half.

I never did get her to pick up the leaches though, minnows and crawlers are ok.

Benny

[Mayfly]

Awsome Tim, looks like she is off to a great start.

Back in 1998  or 99 when the eye's on Mille Lacs were snapping any thing we put down, Melissa broke two snoopy poles in one night off Agate Reef.

Had to run down to Pat's and buy a "big girls" fishing rod for her so she could bring in those 22 inch eye's with out breaking the rod in half.

I never did get her to pick up the leaches though, minnows and crawlers are ok.

Benny

Sounds like a heck of a trip! I noticed Pats was closed this year. Kinda bummed since Johnsons is the only place close that has leeches in an emergency. I ran out and had to get some there for the first time in years. I don't understand that place. The quality of leeches is ridiculous and always has been. I bought a 1/4 lb and just for the heck of it I should of put them on a scale, no way was it a 1/4lb and about 1/2 of the leeches looked like panfish leeches. Won't make that mistake again!

[GirlGuide]

Looks like you two had a blast Tim!  I can't wait to get back up there, your story reminded me of last summer when we decided to take our kids out on Mille Lacs for their first walleye experience.  It was a perfect calm summer evening, and the walleye could not have possibly been biting any better.  We caught one after another, and not just eaters either, we threw back quite a few that were in the 24" - 28" range.  We came back to the cabin that night and had a big fish fry.  It was so much fun for them, and now whenever we drive by the "big lake" they are always saying "mom, dad, Let's go fish the big lake again"!  It is one night I will never forget, it was absolutely incredible fishing~

It looks like your daughter is now hooked!  And lucky for you....somebody's got to show you how to catch some fish!! 

Your pictures are awesome!!  Thanks for sharing them and for your report!! 

gg 

[PJ Maguire]

I like the pics Tim! I am headed up to fish Mile Lacs this evening with my dad. Man I am pumped.

[Mayfly]

I like the pics Tim! I am headed up to fish Mile Lacs this evening with my dad. Man I am pumped.

Hope to see a report. I will get your article up soon.

 

[PJ Maguire]

We boated a few fish, not quite as hot as I was expecting, but with a few storms moving through the fish were not consistent. However, my dad did catch a nice 27 incher, we got a couple 25's and enough walleyes in the slot for breakfast! Good times.