Located about an hour and a half north of the Twin Cities, Mille Lacs is one of the most popular lakes in a state where lakes are in no short supply. At over 200 square miles in size, this lake has a reputation as one of the better freshwater fisheries in the northern half of the nation. But, if drowning worms doesn't sound appealing, there are plenty of other things to do at this vacation destination.
Fishing on One of Minnesota's Favorite Lakes
Plain and simple, Mille Lacs is a fishing factory. Everything that is needed to produce numbers and size of fish can be found in this lake. The structure of the lake bottom ranges from mud flats to rocks and sand. There is an abundance of food in this lake, which allows different species of fish to thrive. With a maximum depth of around 45 feet, the water temperature will be fairly consistent from one part of the lake to another.
Several species of fish can be found in Mille Lacs, with a few attracting more attention from anglers:
- Walleye – In a normal year, 200,000 to 400,000 walleye will be pulled from Mille Lacs. These are some of the best eating fish in freshwater, and many Master Angler sized walleye are found in this lake each year.
- Northern Pike – Sometimes called the "Water Wolf," northern pike fishing can provide heart pounding action. These fish will attack almost anything that gets in front of their noses, even each other. These fish can be caught throughout the fishing season, and many are landed through the 2-4 feet of ice that covers the lake during the robust Minnesota winter.
- Muskie – Probably the top predator in Mille Lacs, the muskie is a member of the pike family and resembles the northern pike in appearance. Muskie tend to grow bigger than pike, and have better eyesight, which makes them tougher to catch. "The fish of 10,000 casts," a trophy sized muskie is one of the most prized fish in freshwater.
It is always advisable to have the proper fishing licence and know the legal limit for size and numbers of each species of fish.
Vacation Opportunities on a Minnesota Lake
Not all family members are drawn to boating and fishing, and Mille Lacs probably has something to cater to their desires as well. Eight different communities have sprung up around the lake, and they offer everything from fast food to medical facilities. The community of Isle, Minnesota offers an 18 hole golf course. Grand Casino Mille Lacs is located 10 miles north of Onamia, Minnesota, which is at the southwest corner of the lake.
Other vacation opportunities include shopping, snowmobiling, camping, hiking and hunting, to name a few.
Many people would like a family vacation to a world class fishing lake, but not every family owns a boat. This is not a problem at Mille Lacs. Like many lakes in Minnesota, boat rental is available, and novice anglers can even hire a guide to help make sure that they don't get skunked at this fabulous lake.
So, when planning the next family vacation, pack the boat, or jet ski, or both, or neither. Just enjoy the trip to Mille Lacs, Minnesota, where the fish of a lifetime might be just a cast away. (Give or take 9,999 casts.)
Dave Lovejoy - Dave is a graduate of the University of Nebraska. He is involved in farming and has a custom made furniture business that has customers ...
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