Opener is almost upon us!

The time is near and I am not the only one thinking about the 2017 open water season on Mille Lacs Lake.  Big walleyes, giant smallmouth and muskies that are world class in size are a common occurrence in my dreams. On May 13th, 2017 Mille Lacs will open the doors for another season, and I always get excited wondering what memories will be made out of her water this year. This spring has produced some unusual weather, but I think the fish will still be in their normal spring areas.

Here is the 2017 Mille Lacs Opener preview.

Guide Tim Hanske with a very nice Mille Lacs Walleye

Walleyes

Let's start off with the walleyes.  We have from May 13th-July 6th for the spring, early summer bite, then fishing is closed from July 7th-July 27th, the season re-opens July 28th-September 4th 2017.  During the open season, walleyes will be catch and release only.  Catch and release may scare some anglers away, because they may not keep any walleyes, but for those who like catching lots of fish and big ones, Mille Lacs is a no brainer.

Walleyes will be using their ideal spring locations. Look for the North End sand to have a friendly population of walleyes. These fish can be found anywhere from 2-24 feet of water, depending on the weather. When the waves are pounding into the North End, you can bet the fish will be shallow and snapping. When it is flat and sunny, normally they will be on the deeper breaks, and less active.

Tim Hanske with a nice Walleye

Drifting a KenKatch Jig and shiner minnow is always a good way to start fishing for walleyes virtually anywhere in the spring.  Shiner minnows are spawning, and hungry post-spawn walleyes need to eat.  Drifting a jig/shiner or pitching it shallow and fishing it back slow anywhere from 5-12 feet of water will put your bait in front of all Mille Lacs has to offer, so it is usually a fun way, as each hook set could be a different fish.  Over the last couple years, I have fallen in love with the Berkley Ripple Shad and a 1/8th-ounce KenKatch jig.  This combo is easily cast for hours, easy to fish, and most importantly, it catches fish.

Smallmouth

Moving onto to the world famous smallmouth bass of Mille Lacs Lake.  I know for a fact, that last year I have seen more people fishing bass than in the previous three years!  Great to see for our local shops and businesses, but the bass have also noticed this presence as well.  Typically spots for the catch and release only season are just outside of spawning areas with beautiful rocky/transition areas.   These fish can be incredibly spooky with the ultra clear water, so I like to use the lightest jig possible, and a slow moving plastic to keep it in their strike zone.

If the fish are not found in 5-10 feet of water, don't be afraid to switch to Rapala X-raps and fan cast them all over the place.  Many times if these bass feel pressure, they will relocate, and without giving too much away, they will still be nearby.

Panfish

Straight-Wire Mag Green lantern

Looking for some food to catch and fry up?  Well, Mille Lacs offers some pretty excellent crappie and panfish action.  In the springtime, all over the entire lake, these pelagic unicorns some call crappies move into harbors and dock systems to spawn.  Fishing in these harbors is relatively straightforward; cast a bobber with a jig/plastic under it and fan cast the whole area until you locate a school.  Once you catch your desired species, there will be more around, and normally the sunfish will be a hair shallower than the crappies.

Northern

If you want to chase some big toothy critters, who also make excellent table fare, then Northern Pike is your target species.  Pike will be hanging around transitions that have rock/emerging weeds looking for food as they recover from their spawn.  The perfect go-to, easy to fish Straight Wire Spinner and the Straight Wire Mini from Bigtooth Tackle is a great option for this time of year.  This Bigtooth bait can be fished fast, slow, or in-between and it slides through reeds, weeds, rocks, and everything but the teeth of pike.  Fish the transition areas in 6-15 feet of water, and do not forget to fish around the walleyes or perch schools as this is where the large pike tend to be hanging out.

Opener 2017 is upon us!

Despite all the press, Mille Lacs has been getting lately, it is an incredible fishery, that holds a chunk of my heart.  I will make the annual trek to the "big pond," just as have been doing for 20 years with my Dad.  He will most likely want to fish the traditional way of slow bouncing a jig off the bottom, and I will oblige, but then five minutes later I will be slinging Berkley Ripple shads, crankbaits, and other lures because that is what I love.  If you do head up to Mille Lacs, don't forget to stop in at Tutt’s Bait Shop for all the right jigs, bait, line, and everything else you need to make memories on a unique lake.

Capt. Tim Hanske
Leisure Outdoor Adventures Premier Fishing Guide Service
1-855-LOA-HOOK
www.leisureoutdooradventures.com