Bass fishing's great - but ....

[Lee Borgersen]

Bass fishing's great - but will it fill the void? Local businesses are depending on it

 Sep 24, 2016 at 7:14 p.m.



 


 

Bassmaster annually announces the top 100 bass lakes in the country and Mille Lacs Lake earned 10th place in 2015. That's its best placing following a 69th place in 2014, 74th in 2013 and 35th in 2012.







That placement comes from a huge group of pollsters including the fisheries agencies of each state, over 630,000 B.A.S.S. Facebook fans, and a 3,500-member panel of bass fishermen.

What has this placement and one of the most successful Bassmaster tourneys of the season done for Mille Lacs Lake area business?

According to a few businesses, the boom has not yet hit and what has come has certainly not filled the void left by another walleye season stopped short earlier this month. But they maintain hope for the future.


"We certainly received some amazing national press in the bass fishing world and I would say it was fun to learn about the bass fishing world," Linda Eno of Twin Pines Resort said.

Tina Chapman, owner at Chapman's Mille Lacs Resort & Guide Service in Isle, was impressed at how well all the anglers did during the tournament, and noted that many didn't just catch bass. It showcased that the lake's many species are far from dead.

"The guys did so well—not only bass but muskie, walleye and northerns were caught," Chapman said.

She noted that they did not have any anglers staying at their resort from the Bassmaster tournament, but they did have a few fans stay that went to the weigh ins and other festivities.

"They were like kids in a candy store," Chapman said.


Will the bass fishermen fill the void?

"I think we will see more bass anglers—it won't be enough to replace my walleye fishermen, but there will be people coming to bass fish," Chapman said

"I will still contend there are not enough bass fishermen, muskie fishermen and northern fishermen to make up for the walleye fishermen that I have lost," Eno said.

Outside of Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Eddy's Resort, Twin Pines in Garrison is the next closest resort to the tournament host site, according to Eno, who has owned and operated the business for 22 years with her husband. She said with some 60 businesses gone that once flourished around the lake, the effect of the legendary bass fishing so far has been little more than a trickle. She is hopeful word will get out about how good fishing has been for all species and traffic will increase.


"Fishing has been phenomenal," Eno said.

Chapman said she is hopeful the bass fishing action brings in more business to the lake and since they always guide for all species, they remain ready to serve all anglers.

"We guide for everything," Chapman said.

Eno also notes they guide for all species but they have several boats that remain dry in a time when they should be guiding troves of anglers. But without a walleye season, Eno said, the business is hurting.

Prepared for change

Sarah King, fourth generation member of the Tutt family at Tutt's Bait & Tackle, said the bass fishing traffic has been small at their shop, but appreciated.

"Probably next year is when we will see the biggest increase in bass fishing, people coming that didn't think it was as good as everybody was saying until they see it on TV," King said.

To prepare, they've revamped their store in recent years. Tutt's has been serving the anglers on Mille Lacs Lake for about 90 years.

 

"We've already started the last four years because of the regulations on the lake, we've had to," King said. "We've probably increased (bass fishing inventory) 200 percent," King said.

Over half their store is now devoted to bass fishing.

They've been in communication with pros in southern states that know what's working for bass and what they prefer to use so that when they hear of the bass haven of the north, they can get what they need on the site.

King noted that some lure companies in Minnesota have even begun upping their game on bass lures to capitalize on what may become the new trend.


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