Weekend Opener: We'll Give It a B+ For Fishing

Talking with guides and fisherman around the lake Sunday evening, the fishing reports were mixed. Many experienced fishermen had limits by 11 Saturday morning.  Others struggled to find fish that would bite.  Where you found seas of humanity on the water, you didn't see alot of nets being lowered.  An early morning slight wind from the SW vanished and Mille Lacs was like glass for much of the weekend -- not your ideal walleye chop.  Coupled with sunny skies, it worked for those seeking sun, running small boats and for consuming beverages on the water.

But there were many who did well, too!  Give a the weekend a B+ as anglers probably spent more time on the water than any recent openers I can recall.  Sunburns and trips for more leeches and fuel were the norm.

I personally caught and released a 24 and 25 yesterday at 10 am by Carlsona.  My partner caught one on Sloppy Joes Saturday.  I didn't see those fishing Izatys Reef doing well Saturday evening.  For the most part, I found fish on the graph all weekend.  The interesting thing to me was the dispersal of fisherman.  They were thick as thieves in Wahkon Bay, out in hordes on gravel, sand, rock and mud -- many of the spots fished later in the year. 

A neighbor group found success up on the sand, getting 13 keepers on the first day in 18-24 feet of water on seven-inch snells and red gamatsu hooks.  The group got 20 on the second day (eight fishermen) and released more.  Folks talked of a sporadic bite on Sloppy Joe's in 28 FOW.  I heard a report of one of our guides catching 40 fish in Vineland area on Saturday.  He will be checking in with details later today.  Stay tuned for pictures and a report from our guides each Monday evening, detailing the weekend successes on Lake Mille Lacs.