Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Guide: Catch Walleye & Bass
Experience Mille Lacs Lake fishing with pros Jeff Simpson and Mike Hehner. Perfect your walleye and smallmouth bass fishing techniques with experienced anglers.
Fishing on Mille Lacs Lake
A Midwestern Anglers Paradise
Mille Lacs Lake, located in central Minnesota, is especially known for its large populations of walleye and smallmouth bass, making it a favorite destination for anglers. In the spring, as the water warms up and fish become more active, fishing experts Jeff Simpson and Mike Hehner set out to discover the best spots on the lake.
Pro Fishing Techniques
Jeff and Mike try different techniques to catch walleye and smallmouth bass. They used a mix of old-school methods and modern tools to make the most of their fishing experience.
Live Bait vs. Artificial Lures
For walleye, which can be hard to catch, they used live bait rigs with leeches or nightcrawlers. They presented the bait slowly to attract the fish, a technique that works well in the spring when walleye are slower and more sluggish.
When it came to smallmouth bass, the pair switched to artificial lures like jerkbaits, Ned rigs, and soft plastic swimbaits (like Keitech). These lures mimic the smallmouth’s natural prey, and when used correctly, they can provoke aggressive strikes from the fish.
Following the Fish
In spring, fish move into shallower waters. Jeff and Mike focused on these shallow zones, especially those with rocks and new plant growth, since they provide great places for both walleye and smallmouth bass to gather. They mainly fished in depths between six and eighteen feet to catch the fish as they moved closer to shore.
Using Technology: Forward-Facing Sonar
This key tool gives them live, detailed images of the underwater environment, helping them see fish and structures clearly. With this technology, they could watch how the fish reacted and adjust their fishing techniques in real-time, making their efforts much more effective.
The Right Boat for Comfort and Versatility
For any fishing trip, having a reliable boat is crucial, and Jeff and Mike relied on a Lund 1875 Impact XS for their day out on the water. Known for its sturdy build and comfortable design, the boat made their time on the water easier. It had plenty of storage for their gear and provided a stable platform for fishing, making it an excellent choice for long days on the lake. Build and price your perfect boat today, or visit your local Lund dealership.
Watch Jeff and Mike, plus their team, fish for pike and trout at Reindeer Lake in Northern Saskatchewan.
