C.B. Bylander 2021-12-15 11:02:26
NOTHING TOPS LAKE MILLIE LACS FOR BASS Make tracks to Mille Lacs. That’s my advice for outstanding smallmouth bass fishing. Named the nation’s number one bass lake in 2017 by Bassmaster Magazine, Mille Lacs continues to deliver high-quality fishing experiences. For those who have never fished this central Minnesota lake, what follows is advice from a former Minnesota Department of Natural Resources professional who has fished the lake for more than 30 years. Scout from home: Hit the web before you hit the water. You can net a boatload of insightful information by reading the blogs of local fishing guides Tony Roach, Jim DeRosa, Brad Hawthorne and others. Mille Lacs can be daunting due to its size–132,516 acres–so arrive with a plan. Bait wisely: You may have tackle galore, but a quick stop at a local bait shop is smart. Tutt’s Bait and Tackle in Garrison is a particularly good source for up-to-date fishing information, including the lure colors, sizes and styles currently producing the best results. Reeds Sport Shop at Onamia and Johnson’s Portside at Isle are also fine places for gear and advice. Fish the rocks: You’ll find smallmouth bass along rocky reefs, scattered boulders and wherever crayfish, a preferred prey, are located. Presentations that mimic crayfish are very effective. The Ned Rig, a jig and plastic body combination, is a go-to lure. So is a drop shot rig. Topwater lures can be hot at times, including calm evenings. Stay and play: Fishing resorts with food service are on all sides of the lake. For additional amenities, check out Appledorn’s, McQuoids, Eddy’s, Izatys and Grand Casino Mille Lacs. Campers will find modern facilities at Mille Lacs Kathio and Father Hennepin state parks, the latter featuring a boat ramp into the lake. The Mille Lacs Area Tourism Office in Isle is your best source for recreation information, including options for where to rent boats. My last trip to Mille Lacs was a good one. It was August. Hot. Barely a breeze. As the sun sank into the treetops, fishing partner Grant Becker suggested we cozy-up to a rocky shoreline to toss topwater lures. Soon a near-football-sized bass rocketed from below, smacked my Spook and arched into the air. It leapt two more times before surrendering to the net. As I released the brute, I thought again about how Mille Lacs makes memories, and excellent ones at that. TOP TO BOTTOM, MINNESOTA IS FISHING PARADISE With more than 10,000 lakes and dozens of rivers, Minnesota offers an abundance of places to wet a line. »Northern Minnesota: Take a fishing charter out of Duluth, Two Harbors, Silver Bay or Grand Marais to catch salmon, lake trout and other lunkers at Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake. Or head to Lake of the Woods, nicknamed the Walleye Capital of the World, and ply its depths for Minnesota’s state fish. » The Mighty Mississippi: While the Mississippi River starts out as a tiny creek barely big enough for a kayak to navigate, America’s most renowned river is home to great fishing for small mouth bass, walleyes and even the hardfighting channel catfi sh, everywhere from Lake Bemidji to Lake Pepin and further south. River fish like flowing water, and good results can be had where streams enter the channel, and downstream from locks and dams. »Minneapolis, the City of Lakes: Pulling in a flopping panfish with a view of the Minneapolis skyscrapers is truly one of those “only in Minnesota” experiences. Places like Lake Harriet, Bde Maka Ska and Lake of the Isles are hot spots for bluegills, crappies and even the occasional tiger musky, thanks to stocking by the Minnesota DNR and a prohibition on non-electric motors. MORE MINNESOTA FISHING Start planning your trip with helpful fishing information, maps and tips on where to go. ExploreMinnesota.com/Fishing
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