Mill

Mill Lake has no designated public boat ramp but boat access can be obtained from Lake Melissa via the Pelican River. Shore fishing is popular through much of the summer near the outlet dam (Buck's Mill). Technically, the lake is a reservoir since the dam maintains the water level about six feet higher than would otherwise be the case. Without the dam, Mill Lake would be a marsh with a four foot deep river running through it. The east half of the lake is almost entirely filled with dense plant growth except where the river channel flows through. The west basin has more open water but has a maximum depth of just ten feet.Largemouth bass and bluegills are probably the most common fish caught on the upstream side of the dam (Mill Lake itself). Northern pike, black crappie, bullheads, and a few other miscellaneous species including muskie and walleye can also be caught. Bass sampled during the survey averaged just over 12 inches in length while bluegills averaged about half that. Some bluegills over nine inches were also found. Northern pike were relatively abundant and the average length was 19.7 inches. Yellow bullheads in this lake tend to be larger than half-pound and are also of interest to some anglers in Mill Lake.

AN ABUNDANCE OF CENTRARCHIDS COMPRISES THE BULK OF THE FISH COMMUNITY. MOST SPECIES TEND TO BE SMALL IN SIZE. NORTHERN PIKE ARE ALSO ABUNDANT, AND SIMILARLY, THEY TEND TO BE SMALL. COMPARISION WITH THE ONLY PREVIOUS SURVEY, CONDUCTED IN 1966, INDICATES A GENERAL INCREASE IN NUMBERS AND DECREASE IN SIZE FOR MOST SPECIES. ONE NOTEWORTHY EXCEPTION IS BLACK CRAPPIES; WHILE ABUNDANT IN 1966, THEY ARE NEARLY ABSENT FROM CURRENT TEST NETS. A SIZEABLE YELLOW BULLHEAD POPULATION ATTRACTS SOME LOCAL ANGLERS. FISH ARE FREE TO MIGRATE IN AND OUT OF THE LAKE VIA THE PELICAN RIVER AND POPULATIONS CAN VARY CONSIDERABLY AS A RESULT.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Pumpkinseed in Mill. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Mill. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Mill has a maximum depth of 10 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Mill is from 2005. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Yes — Mill has confirmed flowering rush and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.