John Odle makes similar moves and starts with the shallow rocks and then moves to deeper rock transitions. “We have a lot of good fish-holding structure on our end of the lake including Rocky Reef and the transition where the reef flattens out and the big boulders change to a lot more rubble and then drops into the main lake basin. We also have some deeper rock humps that we set up on as soon as we can, but you can never overlook the shallows. There are fish on the shallow rocks in the 7-foot-deep range all season long, but you had better be stealthy if you plan on catching any. Shallow fish can be extremely spooky, especially if they’ve already been worked over. That means being quiet, staying put, and leaving the lights off. There’s usually a good bite between 6 and 9 a.m. and then again just before dark, but most anglers either don’t know it’s happening or are looking for something else.”

While McQuiod and Odle move to deeper rocks, many of the resorts head for the mud flats, including Hunter’s Point, Fishers, Terry’s and MyrMar. The flats are basically mid-lake clay/marl structures that rise up quickly out of deep water and are relatively flat on top. Most are surrounded by 35 to 37 feet of water and top out at about 24 feet and all can produce walleyes at any given time, but some of the favorites include the Boot, Seven Mile, Sliver, Eight Mile and Seguchie. The thing is you can always get away from the crowds and you don’t have to fish where everybody else is. Most fishermen are where they are because the more popular spots are easy to find (plenty of houses). With a good map (and there are some excellent ones including the ReelBottom map) and a GPS, you can find your own hotspot, and have at least some of it all to yourself.

Most of the fish turn on
an hour or so before dark and you might want to get out early and get set up and then wait them out. Walleyes will start to show up a little earlier, though, and in a dark house, you can actually see them by getting down on the ice and takinga look for yourself.

The mud can be counted on for steady daytime action (especially early on), and usually starts as soon as you can safely get there. The top edge is a great place to start looking for fish and it may require drilling quite a few holes and making some moves before you find enough of them to make it worth your while. Look for points, inside turns, and anything different than the rest of the flat to hold the concentrations. As we head into midwinter and beyond, start working down the deeper edge of the flat, all the way to the base where it flattens out.

Although you don’t have to go through a resort to get on the lake, the resorts mentioned are those that usually plow a road to mud. The ability to drive to a flat on a plowed road can save you plenty of time and is your safest option.

Deep-water tactics
Jigging spoons are again the top choice for working deeper water, but you might have to go a little heavier to get the job done. Spoons in the 3/8- to 1/2-ounce range are the ticket, and should be tipped with a minnow head, a tail, or maybe a whole minnow like a smaller fathead. A bobber or set rig is another good option and a combination of both is a good way to get started, that is until you determine just what it is the fish are looking for. Another good option is the use of a tip-up, especially later in the season. Some of the major rock bars and mud flats are massive in size, and a tip-up will let you explore different areas and depths all at the same time. Fisheries Department area manager Rick Brueswitz stated that, “Overall, the lake is in good shape. There’s a good representation of walleyes in the ‘02, ‘03 and ‘05 year-classes as well and a huge ‘06 class. What it means is there are plenty of 18- to 26-inch fish, and larger. We have to manage the lake within a “safe harvest level” and the steady action and heavy fishing pressure forced us midseason to restrict the keeper slot from 16 to 18 inches. Right now, we are looking at relaxing the slot Dec. 1 to a total of four fish of which one can be over 28 inches and the rest under 20, but that can change, so be sure you have the latest info before hitting the lake.”

Brueswitz also suggested that although good winter action will usually carry into the summer, a great open-water season doesn’t always mean a great winter. “The variable is the spring perch hatch which shows up late in the summer and has more influence on the fishing than anything else.”

For more lake information, go to www.dnr.state.mn.us and click on fishing and go to Lake Finder, or call the Fisheries Department at (218) 678-2629.

That being said, the outlook is still promising for what could be a banner year for Mille Lacs anglers working the hardwater season. If you’ve ever thought about trying the Dead Sea, now’s the time. Whether you’re in a rental house, or in a portable pulled behind an ATV, or even out in the open (if you’re crazy), it might be high time to try the Dead Sea.

Contact info: Agate Bay Resort, (320) 684-2233; Fischer’s Resort, (320) 684-2221; Hunter’s Point, (320) 676-3227; Mac’s Twin Bay, (320) 676-8709; Myr Mar Resort, (218) 678-2629; Rocky Reef Resort, (320) 532-3431; Terry’s Boat Harbor, (320) 692-4430. For lodging info, call the Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council at (888) 350-2692 or go online to www.millelacs.com./”