Mille Lacs Lake fishing conditions · Minnesota

Today, 6 am–7 pmMuskellunge

The bite peaks at 80. Wind builds to 20 mph out of the east by tonight at 11:00 pm.

Right now: 71 for muskellunge, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Muskellunge, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

712 am
71
71
715 am
76
76
808 am
80
76
7611 am
76
80
802 pm
76
76
765 pm
80
73
738 pm
66
66
4311 pm
43Tue
47
472 am
23
23
235 am
23
23
238 am
23
34
5011 am
53
76

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 10 mph
Flow: 10.12 ft gauge height
Light: Dark
Sky: Slight Chance Light Rain
Air: 44°F
Barometer: Rising
Moon: 100% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Minnesota regulations for these waters.

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

80Worth the tripToday, 6 am–7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Muskellunge bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Muskellunge feeds aggressively under full moon. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

54" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 54" minimum, 1 a day. Season is the first Saturday in June through Nov 30 (Jun 5–Nov 30, 2027).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Season here: Jun–Sep, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on muskellunge

Walleye

Sander vitreus

74Worth the tripNow until 9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 6 walleye and sauger a day combined, only 1 walleye over 20". Season runs from the opener (Saturday two weeks before Memorial Day weekend) to the last Sunday in February. Many lakes have their own limits.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Season here: Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

74Worth the tripNow until 9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Catch and release only today. Minnesota Southern and North-central zones: 6 bass a day combined. Smallmouth are catch and release from Mar 1 to the Friday before Memorial Day and again from the second Monday in September.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalNow until 9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

20 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 20 yellow perch a day, 40 in possession, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Season here: Apr–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalNow until 9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: carp have a continuous season and no limit. Carp may not be taken by spear, archery or dip net in designated trout lakes and streams.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
River10.12 ft gauge height · steady
Barometer30.50 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:46 am
Sunset today6:10 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Minor solunarToday 8:00 am–9:00 am
Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm
Minor solunarToday 5:30 pm–6:30 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Minnesota DNR publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

Minnesota's walleye icon — a 132,000-acre lake two hours north of the Twin Cities, also a world-class smallmouth and muskie fishery. Walleye regulations are set tightly each year, so confirm the current slot before keeping any.

2026–27: 3 walleye a day, every one over 17" and only 1 over 20". Bass under 17" only, 3 a day, in the harvest season; perch 5 a day. No fishing 10 p.m.–6 a.m. from May 11 through August, except for muskie and pike with big lures or baits.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesMinnesota
WhereAitkin County · 46.2500, -93.6500

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Leech Lake72 mi · MinnesotaBest today 6 am–10 pm

80Worth the trip

Lake Minnetonka91 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 6 am

86Go

Lake Vermilion128 mi · MinnesotaNo window clears the bar

45Sit it out

Rainy Lake (International Falls)164 mi · MinnesotaBest today 6 am to tomorrow 7 am

80Worth the trip

Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay)190 mi · MinnesotaBest today 6 am to tomorrow 6 am

80Worth the trip

Spirit Lake207 mi · IowaBest now until 6 am

87Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Mille Lacs Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Mille Lacs Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Mille Lacs Lake?

Mille Lacs Lake is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Yellow Perch, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Mille Lacs Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Mille Lacs Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Mille Lacs Lake have?

Mille Lacs Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. 2026–27: 3 walleye a day, every one over 17" and only 1 over 20". Bass under 17" only, 3 a day, in the harvest season; perch 5 a day. No fishing 10 p.m.–6 a.m. from May 11 through August, except for muskie and pike with big lures or baits.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Mille Lacs Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Mille Lacs Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Mille Lacs Lake tidal water?

No. Mille Lacs Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.