Size
128,164ac
Boat Launch
Carry-in Launch
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Species in Mille Lacs Lake
Walleye
Smallmouth bass
Perch
Crappie
Muskellunge
Bluegill
Rock bass
Northern pike
Pumpkinseed
Largemouth bass
Rainbow trout
Sturgeon
Overview
Minnesota's walleye factory and second largest inland lake. Add to that a trophy muskie and smallmouth bass fishery. In winter the frozen water resembles a small town, complete with a road system. 132,516 acres
Mille Lacs Lake Map
Fishing Regulations
Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.
Location: including all tributaries from the mouth upstream to posted boundaries
- Burbot (Eelpout): All burbot must be immediately released.
- Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass: Beginning May 9, 2026, through May 22, 2026, all bass must be immediately released. Beginning May 23, 2026, all bass greater than 17 inches must be immediately released. Limit of three in combination. Smallmouth harvest ends Sunday, Sept. 7. Largemouth harvest ends Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.
- Northern Pike: Beginning Dec. 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, all northern pike greater than 30 inches must be immediately released. Limit of five. Same regulations for spearing, which concludes Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.
- Tullibee (Cisco): Possession limit is five.
- Walleye: Beginning Dec. 1, 2025, and continuing through Feb. 22, 2026, the daily and possession limit for walleye is three fish, which must be greater than 17 inches in length and only one of which may be greater than 20 inches in length.
- Yellow Perch: Daily and possession limit 5.
- Exceptions:
- Beginning June 6, 2026, muskellunge and northern pike may be targeted with artificial lures longer than 8 inches or sucker minnows longer than 8 inches. While fishing during the night closure, you may not possess or target any species other than muskellunge or northern pike.
- Beginning June 1, 2026, bowfishing is allowed but you may not possess angling equipment while bowfishing, and only non-game fish may be in possession.
- May 11 - Aug. 31, 2026: No fishing for any species from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. except for below exemptions
- Night Closure:
- No culling or live-well sorting: Fish taken into possession are considered part of an angler’s bag limit and cannot be exchanged with another fish. However, when the season for bass is open, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass may be culled following statewide culling rules.
- Sept. 1: All night restrictions removed.
Features
Mille Lacs Lake is the second largest inland lake within the State of Minnesota, and is regarded as one of the premier walleye and perch destinations in the country. The term “walleye factory” is fitting for Mille Lacs considering the natural reproduction and the lakes biology. Nearly 1.1 million walleyes are available to anglers to catch yearly. Not only is Mille Lacs a great walleye destination, but the lakes muskie and smallmouth bass fishery is also outstanding. Since the mid-80’s, Mille Lacs has been designated as an experimental lake and has been managed for trophy fish with special regulations. A voluntary catch-and-release program is sponsored by the Mille Lacs Lake Advisory Association and the Minnesota DNR, along with new management and changing regulations are in place to help improve the fishery. There is also a six-week ban on night fishing which begins the first Monday after opening day. Maximum depths barely exceed 40 feet in Mille Lacs, and much of the main lake falls into the 20 to 38 foot depth ranges. While the north half of Mille Lacs contains most of the lake’s mud flats, the southern portion of the lake offers more gravel and rock bars. Deep-water angling takes place on the southern deep gravel and rocks as well as on dozens of mud flats in the north half of the lake. Shoreline break fishing occurs all around the lake. The weed line usually is around the 10 foot depths. Mille Lacs is also an outstanding winter fishery for perch, walleyes and northern pike. It is one of Minnesota’s most popular winter fishing lakes, ice fishing shanty huts can number in the thousands. Many of the resorts will offer ice house rentals and maintain plowed roads. It is always a good idea to stop into a resort or bait shop to check the ice conditions before venturing out on the ice.
Forage
Juvenile perch, cisco, spottail shiner, mimic shiner, trout perch, pearl dace, bluntnose minnows, darters and logperch. Mayflies, midge larvae and crayfish also provide forage. Perch is the primary forage for walleyes, while ciscoes and trout perch offer forage for muskies and northern pike.
Seasonal Movements
Walleyes and perch will move to rocks, sand and shallow shorelines early in the year to spawn. Spawning usually takes place from early May to mid-June. As summer progresses fish will move throughout the lake. Smallmouth bass will also move into shallow gravel and rock areas during the spring to spawn.
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Top Fish Species
Walleye
8-27 in
Length Range
17 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Understanding Abundance
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
Sep
