Mille Lacs

[MOstreamer]

If you're not taking a boat you can go out with one of the marina operators up there. They take you out on big boats that handle the waves and go after both walleye and smallies. 

Terry's Boat Harbor is a good place https://terrysboatharbor.com/ or Johnson's Portside is bait shop/general store right by the lake in Isle.

[Smithvillesteve]

Yea i went on TackleWarehouse a couple of weeks ago to buy some Powerbait MaxScent Flat Worms. No chance on there. So I went to Berkley's website and they didnt even have them listed. I did buy a couple of bags of the flatminnows and i have seen where some pro's are catching fish with those. I was down at Table Rock a couple of weeks ago and couldnt get much working with the dropshot however. Now, I am just learning that technique. I am using braid to floro and have learned a nice knot for that. Let me ask you boys: Do you cast your dropshot out and work it back or do you verticle fish it? I make short casts with it but get hung up quite a bit. Pain in the butt to retie that technique! Once again, I sincerely appreciate  all the input you boys are willing to share. 

[rps]

1 hour ago, Smithvillesteve said:

Yea i went on TackleWarehouse a couple of weeks ago to buy some Powerbait MaxScent Flat Worms. No chance on there. So I went to Berkley's website and they didnt even have them listed. I did buy a couple of bags of the flatminnows and i have seen where some pro's are catching fish with those. I was down at Table Rock a couple of weeks ago and couldnt get much working with the dropshot however. Now, I am just learning that technique. I am using braid to floro and have learned a nice knot for that. Let me ask you boys: Do you cast your dropshot out and work it back or do you verticle fish it? I make short casts with it but get hung up quite a bit. Pain in the butt to retie that technique! Once again, I sincerely appreciate  all the input you boys are willing to share. 

Simplify. Use a very small barrel swivel to link the braid to the floro. Put it about 4' from the weight with the hook about a foot above that.

I use that method for spoon jigging as well. Fish don't seem to care.

And yes, the Crazy Alberto is tedious to tie.

[snagged in outlet 3]

10 minutes ago, rps said:

And yes, the Crazy Alberto is tedious to tie.

I practiced it until it's all I use.  Love that knot.  Either it's good or it pulls apart...

[Quillback]

1 hour ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I practiced it until it's all I use.  Love that knot.  Either it's good or it pulls apart...

Yeah it is what I use too.  

I'll usually bring a few extra spinning reels with the leader attached as I try and avoid tying that knot on the water.  

As far as fishing a drop shot, I usually fish it vertically, I look for fish near the bottom in 20-30 FOW and when I see some I'll either drop it straight down or cast if out a short distance and it fall, it's not unusual for fish to hit it on the drop.

[snagged in outlet 3]

15 minutes ago, Quillback said:

Yeah it is what I use too.  

I'll usually bring a few extra spinning reels with the leader attached as I try and avoid tying that knot on the water.  

As far as fishing a drop shot, I usually fish it vertically, I look for fish near the bottom in 20-30 FOW and when I see some I'll either drop it straight down or cast if out a short distance and it fall, it's not unusual for fish to hit it on the drop.

I can tie it in a little over a minute but rarely have to on the water.  

[Smithvillesteve]

I watched a video last night on Youtube of Freider fishing a drop shot on Mille Lacs. Really good video. Uses his depth sounder with sidescan to go across points and locate rocks he wants to fish. Usually the more isolated rocks hold fish. Then he watches his Hummingbird and when the bottom goes from yellow to red he drops his bait vertically! Works it very patiently. Claims these big smallies are fat and lazy!! Wont chase. I'm not a big pro fisherman follower like most of you guys but i really liked this guy!! 

[Quillback]

3 hours ago, Smithvillesteve said:

I watched a video last night on Youtube of Freider fishing a drop shot on Mille Lacs. Really good video. Uses his depth sounder with sidescan to go across points and locate rocks he wants to fish. Usually the more isolated rocks hold fish. Then he watches his Hummingbird and when the bottom goes from yellow to red he drops his bait vertically! Works it very patiently. Claims these big smallies are fat and lazy!! Wont chase. I'm not a big pro fisherman follower like most of you guys but i really liked this guy!! 

Feider would be a good source for fishing Mille Lacs, he's from Minnesota, probably has fished that lake a lot.