This past weekend my fishing club was up on Mille Lacs lake for our monthly Outing, and my partner, Jeff, and I fished all day Monday.
Saturday and Sunday was quite windy and made conditions pretty tough for getting out onto the main lake. Monday's wind really died down, and made traveling anywhere on the lake very easy, especially during the afternoon and evening.
Jeff and I stayed at Hunter's Point Sunday night, and started our day Monday morning on the water at 6am. We thought we would try some rock reefs during the morning, then fish for Walleyes during the afternoon.
On the reefs the lures that we used that we had success with was jerkbaits, jigs with craw platics, and 4 inch Senko's rigged texas style. I am pretty much a visual fisherman, and I really like watching fish crush a bait. I caught 18 and 19 inch Smallies using the jerkbait. I was very cool watching a bruiser Smallie come racing up behind the jerkbait and slam it. As soon and the lure mostly disappeared, I'd set the hook, the fish would turn sideways, and the battle was on. These fish are SO strong, and made good runs, would coming flying completely out of the water, crash back in, and takeoff in another direction. Sure was exciting. After thinking about it for the last two days since our trip, we might have been able to catch a few more fish, if we had fished deeper and used a more bottom presentation like jigs or tubes, but we would have missed the visual excitement that shallower fishing provides.
Jeff's 17 incher
Occasionally Jeff and I pushed off to just slightly deeper water 5 to 8 feet, and used jigs with a crawdad body. Most of the time in these depths we could not see cruising fish, but could see larger boulders that we would pitch the jigs to. We could not always feel the bites, but when your line starts to move sideways, you better be swinging. One particularly strong fish, came flying out of the water and threw my jig and 'dad combo back at me over my shoulder. After it crashed back into the water in front of us, all I could do was look at Jeff holding the net. All he could say was, "WOW, that was a BIG Smallie." That was the only fish I hooked and lost on the reefs this day. This pic is Jeff with his nicest fish of the day, a solid 17 incher.
20 1/8 inch Smallie
Also what caught some quality fish was the 4" Senko rigged texas-style on a 2/0 EWG hook. This was cast to larger rock and boulders that the fish seemed to want to hold around during the afternoon. Again you could not feel most of the bites, and you really had to watch your line. This last picture was our largest Smallmouth of the day, it measured 20 1/8 inches. It was not weighed, but was a solid 5 pounder plus, that hit the Senko. My line weight was only 8 pounds, so I was very careful in fighting this fish. After a strong battle Jeff slipped the net under her.
By 3pm, we thought we had better try and catch a few Walleyes. To say that effort was frustrating would be an understatement. We tried four or five different flats, drive around, see some arcs, and drop down some leeches on long snelled rigs, and keep moving. I had one bite that I missed, and we were NOT able to catch ANY Walleyes. We decided to head back to our best reef, where Jeff finished out his Smallie Club limit.
Thanks Jeff for sharing the day on the water, I really had a great time.
Jack..
click on pics to enlarge....
Another nice report Jack! Looks like you and "Hoss" had your way with the Smallies once again! Too bad the Walleys had their lips buttoned... I'm heading up to Crane,Sand Point & Namakan Lakes tomorrow, with my buddy Jim. Hope we can do as well on the Smallies, as you guys did! Wish me luck... MikeyBoy
Great pictures of you & Jack, "Hoss"! Sounds like you guys had a great day on the water (after two not so great). Too bad about Walleye bite...I heard it has been spoty... I'm headed north tomorrow with a friend of mine..to Crane, Sand Point and Namakan Lakes, for Wallies & Smallies. Wish me luck...I know I'm going to have a good time! MikeyBoy
Steve DeZurik
IDA Pro Staff
Reged: 06/11/01
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Loc: Champlin, Mn
Re: Mille Lacs Lake Minnesota Smallmouth Report 6/30
Mille Lacs Lake Minnesota Smallmouth Report 6/30
Re: Mille Lacs Smallmouth 6/30/08
