Mille Lacs

Sampling Programs Mille Lacs Lake is one of ten lakes in Minnesota's Large Lake Program. These lakes have annual sampling of the fish populations, and frequent creel surveys. Specific to Mille Lacs Lake, sampling programs focusing on Walleye, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike are conducted annually. Additionally, we have annual summer and winter creel surveys to document angler use and fish harvest. Walleye Walleye management on Mille Lacs Lake is conducted cooperatively with the eight Tribes signatory to the Treaty of 1837. A safe harvest level for Walleye is determined annually and is based on information collected through various sampling programs. For the 2026 fishing year (December 2025 through November 2026) the state's allocation of the safe harvest level was set at 105,300 pounds, which is around a 7% decrease from 2025 and is based on a similar percentage of decrease in the lake's adult Walleye biomass over the same time period. The reduction in Walleye biomass occurred, in part, due to a weak age-class (2023) of fish recruiting into the fishable stock and a reduction in condition (plumpness) for medium sized (14"-20") Walleye due to reduced levels of forage for small and medium sized fish. By agreement, neither the Tribal nor State fishery harvest may exceed their respective quota. Fishing regulations are selected that offer the maximum opportunity to participate in the fishery (minimize likelihood of closures) and to offer opportunity to harvest, when possible, while staying within the quota. Despite the reduction in quota, summer Walleye regulations were actually liberalized because we were observing relatively low 2026 winter Walleye harvest rates. Regulations for the summer are a three fish bag limit, with a minimum size of 17 inches, with only one fish over 20 inches. During mid-summer of 2025 we began observing angler Walleye catch rates begin to increase. It is more common to observe Walleye catch rates decrease in July due to new forage that becomes large enough for Walleye to easily find and consume, so observing the opposite where catch rates are increasing is a strong indicator that new forage in the form of age-0 Yellow Perch is not available. Forage gill nets that were set in early September showed age-0 Yellow Perch levels in the fall of 2025 were the lowest observed. The same forage gill net assessment confirmed a high abundance of age-1 Yellow Perch and age-1 Tullibee. The age-1 fish are suitable forage prey for Mille Lacs Walleye over 20 inches, although previous diet studies have indicated a preference for the age-0 Yellow Perch, if available. Angler reports in the summer creel indicated that the majority of Walleye catch was from fish under 12 inches; another sign that age-0 forage was lacking and that larger Walleye were likely still feeding on age-1 Yellow Perch and Tullibee. Walleye catch rates continued increasing to the highest ever observed during the winter of 2025-2026; however, most of the catch again consisted of fish from the 2024 year-class that were under 13 inches. Winter Walleye catch rates are highly correlated to catch rates observed the following spring, therefore, the increased winter catch rates suggest that 2026 spring fishing for Walleye is also likely to be relatively high but will consist of mainly smaller fish. Anglers should expect to catch Walleye ranging in size from 6 to 28-inches long due to respectable numbers of fish from all year classes, with the exception of the 2023 cohort. Anglers are likely to see exceptional numbers of smaller 6-12 inch Walleye in their catch from the strong 2024-year class, which were sampled in the fall as at a level near the highest observed. This year class was commonly reported as being caught by winter anglers, in part, due to their high abundance, but also because they are the first age class of Walleye to run low on forage due to gape limitations restricting the abundance of prey that can be readily consumed. Fall electrofishing and fine-mesh forage gill net sampling indicated that 2024 median age-1 Walleye length was relatively small for the fall, due to the absence of forage. Harvestable sized fish in the 17-20 inch range will also likely become easier to catch earlier in the open-water season as the smallest 2024 year-class Yellow Perch continue to be cropped off as forage and as the remaining fish continue to grow beyond the gape limitations of moderate sized Walleye. We are unable to predict age-0 forage availability which typically becomes available in July. If the forage hatch is relatively normal, we would expect to see Walleye catches decline into the latter summer months; however, if new forage does not develop, we should see catch rates dramatically improve on the larger (>20") Walleye and continue increasing on the smaller Walleye. Yellow Perch Yellow Perch from the 2018 through 2024-year classes were sampled near or well above median in the fall survey nets with the age-1 fish being sampled at the highest ever recorded. Anglers begin to harvest Yellow Perch when they attain lengths over 9 inches. We've been sampling more of these larger sized fish since 2021; however, catch rates had remained relatively weak overall, until the winter of 2025, when anglers had good ice conditions and were able to harvest fish from the deeper offshore areas of the lake. In fact, the 2025 winter harvest of Yellow Perch was the highest observed since 2011. The winter Yellow Perch harvest in 2025 exceeded the state's annual quota, which prompted a more conservative regulation change to a five fish bag limit that will remain in place through November 2026. We expect additional fish from the 2022 through 2024 year-classes to continue to grow into the fishable stock over summer which should help continue providing fish for harvest. Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Bass are managed to provide a high-quality fishery, and they are the second most common fish species that anglers pursue on Mille Lacs Lake. Current Mille Lacs regulations require anglers to release Smallmouth Bass longer than 17-inches. Spawning Smallmouth Bass are usually sampled during late May/early June using electrofishing gear. This is a sampling technique that allows fish to be released unharmed after they have their length measured. Smallmouth Bass were sampled from 7 May through 30 May in 2025 and ranged in length from 3.5 inches to 22.2 inches. Most fish were between 13 and 20 inches and showed an indistinct mode at 19 inches, presenting an impressive balance in length that indicates new fish that are available to recruit to quality size and older fish that compose a large trophy component that attracts anglers from across the country. Smallmouth Bass are also sampled in the annual fall gill nets, which are set in the latter half of September. Although the gill nets are not particularly efficient at sampling bass over 15 inches, we did observe several fish from 16 to just under 21 inches, indicating that we continue to maintain a high-quality population that appears to be still increasing in Mille Lacs. Northern Pike Like Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike are managed to provide a high-quality fishery. Pike are managed with a 30-inch maximum size limit. Northern Pike are sampled in the spring, during spawning, using trap nets. Sampling fish with trap nets allows us to release the fish unharmed after we collect length and sex. We have found that very few male pike grow longer than 30-inches, while females will grow to be longer than 40-inches, with the largest specimens growing to over 45 inches. Of the 259 fish sampled in 2025 the largest male was just under 33 inches, and the largest female was 41.5 inches. About 24% of the fish we sampled were over 30-inches long, and 2% were trophy sized at over 40-inches in length. Zebra Mussels, Rusty Crayfish, and Zooplankton Zebra mussels were first observed in Mille Lacs in 2005. Peak density occurred in 2012 after which abundance began decreasing. By 2017, densities had declined to about one half of their peak abundance, and for the last several years abundance has been at about a quarter to a third of their peak. Zooplankton abundance began dropping in 2010 but then showed increasing numbers from 2017 to 2021; however, in 2022 we again saw densities begin to decrease. While all functional groups of zooplankton have shown declines in abundance, small cladocerans, cyclopoids, and calanoids have shown the most acute decreases in density. These smaller sized zooplankton are important components in the food web, particularly for larval game fish as well as many of the smaller forage species. Much of the declines in zooplankton can be attributed to Zebra Mussels and Spiny Water Flea. Zebra Mussels remove mass quantities of phytoplankton (algae), which is the main food for smaller zooplankton. Spiny Water Flea are an active predator that preys directly on the smaller zooplankton and thus competes with larval and smaller fish for this food supply. Rusty crayfish eDNA from water samples taken in 2021 indicated that this aquatic invasive species was now in Mille Lacs. Visual confirmation occurred that same year when two specimens were observed near the Father Hennepin State Park swimming beach. In 2023 we observed our first specimen in DNR sampling gear (standard fall gill nets) in the southwest quadrant of the lake and continued to observe relatively low numbers in the 2024 and 2025 fall sampling. A total of seven Rusty Crayfish were observed in the 2025 gill nets. Our population of Rusty Crayfish appears to still be relatively small; however, as the population continues to increase, we may see aquatic plant beds consumed throughout the lake by this invasive crustacean.

Sampling Programs Mille Lacs Lake is one of ten lakes in Minnesota's Large Lake Program. These lakes have annual sampling of the fish populations, and frequent creel surveys. Specific to Mille Lacs Lake, sampling programs focusing on Walleye, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike are conducted annually. Additionally, we have annual summer and winter creel surveys to document angler use and fish harvest. Walleye Walleye management on Mille Lacs Lake is conducted cooperatively with the eight Tribes signatory to the Treaty of 1837. A safe harvest level for Walleye is determined annually and is based on information collected through various sampling programs. For the 2024 fishing year (December 2024 through November 2025) the safe harvest level was set at 201,600 pounds, which is a 28% increase from 2024 and is based on a similar percentage of increase in the lake's fishable Walleye biomass over the same time period. The boost in Walleye biomass occurred, in part, to a new age-class of fish recruiting into the harvestable stock; however, most of the increase in new biomass occurred due to plentiful forage aiding in a significant improvement in fish condition (plumpness) across all size ranges of Walleye. The 2025 State fishery portion of the safe harvest level is 113,600 pounds. By agreement, neither the Tribal nor State fishery harvest may exceed their respective quota. Fishing regulations are selected that offer the maximum opportunity to participate in the fishery (minimize likelihood of closures) and to offer opportunity to harvest, when possible, while staying within the quota. Because we were observing relatively low 2025 winter Walleye catch rates along with the increase in fall 2024 fish condition, regulations were liberalized for the 2025 open-water season to a two fish bag limit, with a minimum size of 17 inches, with only one fish over 20 inches. Our fall 2024 forage gill net assessment confirmed a high abundance of age-0 Yellow Perch and age-0 Tullibee. Both are suitable forage prey for Mille Lacs Walleye, although previous diet studies have indicated a preference for the age-0 Yellow Perch, if available. Age-0 Yellow Perch levels in the fall of 2024 were near the highest observed and during mid-summer of 2024 we began observing angler Walleye catch rates decreasing from the relatively high catch rates that occurred earlier in May and June. It is common to observe Walleye catch rates decrease in July due to new forage that becomes large enough for Walleye to easily find and consume. Walleye catch rates continued declining to the lowest ever observed during the winter of 2024-2025. Winter Walleye catch rates are highly correlated to catch rates observed the following spring, therefore, the decreased winter catch rates suggest that 2025 spring fishing for Walleye is also likely to be low. Anglers should expect to catch Walleye ranging in size from 13 to 25-inches long due to near median (or better) numbers of fish from all year classes, with the exception of the 2023 and 2018 year-classes. Anglers are likely to see large numbers of smaller 6-10 inch Walleye in their catch from the 2024-year class, which were sampled in the fall at a level near the highest observed. This year class was commonly reported as being caught by winter anglers, in part, due to their high abundance, but also because they are the first age class of Walleye to run low on forage due to gape limitations restricting the abundance of prey that can be readily consumed. Fall electrofishing and fine-mesh forage gill net sampling indicated that 2024 median age-0 Walleye length was relatively normal for the fall; however, we observed an extremely wide range of sizes from around three inches to over nine inches in length. In fact, 2024 had the largest age-0 Walleyes ever measured in our annual sampling, which was due to an early spring (March 16 ice-out) providing an extra month of growing season, along with abundant forage. Yellow Perch Yellow Perch from the 2018 through 2023-year classes were sampled near or well above median in the fall survey nets with particularly strong numbers of 9-to-12-inch fish from the 2021 year-class. These larger sized fish have been available for several years; however, catch rates had remained relatively weak overall, until the winter of 2025, where anglers had good ice conditions and were able to harvest fish from the deeper offshore areas of the lake. In fact, the 2025 winter harvest of Yellow Perch was the highest observed since 2011. The winter Yellow Perch harvest in 2025 exceeded the state's annual quota, which prompted a more conservative regulation change to a five fish bag limit that will remain in place through November. We expect additional fish from the 2022 and 2023 year-classes to continue to grow into the fishable stocks over summer and to help continue to provide fish for harvest. Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Bass are managed to provide a high-quality fishery, and they are the second most common fish species that anglers pursue on Mille Lacs Lake. Current Mille Lacs regulations require anglers to release Smallmouth Bass longer than 17-inches. Spawning Smallmouth Bass are usually sampled during late May/early June using electrofishing gear. This is a sampling technique that allows fish to be released unharmed after they have their length measured. Smallmouth Bass were sampled from 9 May through 29 May in 2024 and ranged in length from 10.7 inches to 21.6 inches. Most fish were between 13 and 20 inches and showed no distinct mode, presenting an impressive balance in length that indicates new fish that are available to recruit to quality size and older fish that compose a large trophy component that attracts anglers from across the country. Smallmouth Bass are also sampled in the annual fall gill nets, which are set in the latter half of September. Although the gill nets are not particularly efficient at sampling bass over 15 inches, we did observe several fish from 16 to just under 21 inches, indicating that we continue to maintain a high-quality population that appears to be still increasing in Mille Lacs. Northern Pike and Muskellunge Like Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike are managed to provide a high-quality fishery. Pike are managed with a 30-inch maximum size limit. Northern Pike are sampled in the spring, during spawning, using trap nets. Sampling fish with trap nets allows us to release the fish unharmed after we collect length and sex. We have found that very few male pike grow longer than 30-inches, while females will grow to be longer than 40-inches, with the largest just over 45 inches. Of the 605 fish sampled in 2024 the largest male was just over 35 inches and the largest female was 45.5 inches. About 20% of the fish we sampled were over 30-inches long, and 1% were trophy sized at over 40-inches in length. Muskellunge are periodically sampled about every five years to evaluate the quality of the adults. Our sample size was relatively low in our 2024 sampling, where we were able to examine 52 fish and was likely adversely affected by cooler temperatures that protracted the sampling period and failed to concentrate the adult fish in their typical spawning areas. Lengths ranged from 33.9 inches to 54.9 inches with the modal catch at around 45 inches. Further, 13.5% of the fish were over 50 inches. Despite the quality of Muskellunge available in Mille Lacs, anglers tend to fish the lake less than in the past; mainly due to low catch rates from a relatively low population of fish. In order to boost catch rates, beginning in the fall of 2025 eight hundred yearlings, if available, are proposed to be stocked annually. Yearling Muskellunge have at a minimum, a stocking equivalent to fingerlings of 1:5, which should improve population abundance both through the annual yearling stocking when compared to the past stocking of 3,000 fingerlings every other year along with the improved survival realized by stocking yearling fish. In addition to stocked fish, we have been able to genetically confirm successful reproduction of Muskellunge in Mille Lacs. In order to better evaluate the ratio of stocked fish to naturally reproduced fish in the lake, all stocked fish will be implanted with PIT (passive integrated transponder) tags to differentiate the two groups in future sampling events. Zebra Mussels, Rusty Crayfish, and Zooplankton Zebra mussels were first observed in Mille Lacs in 2005. Peak density occurred in 2012 after which abundance began decreasing. By 2017, densities had declined to about one half of their peak abundance, and for the last few years abundance has been at about a quarter to a third of their peak. Zooplankton abundance had appeared to be slowly increasing the last several years; however, in 2022 we again saw densities begin to decrease. Rusty crayfish eDNA from water samples taken in 2021 indicated that this aquatic invasive species was now in Mille Lacs. Visual confirmation occurred that same year when two specimens were observed near the Father Hennepin State Park swimming beach. In 2023 we observed our first specimen in DNR sampling gear (standard fall gill nets) in the southwest quadrant of the lake and continued to observe relatively low numbers in the 2024 sampling. Our population of Rusty Crayfish appears to still be relatively small; however, as the population continues to increase, we may see aquatic plant beds consumed throughout the lake by this invasive crustacean.

Sampling Programs Mille Lacs Lake is one of ten lakes in Minnesota's Large Like Program. These lakes have annual sampling of the fish populations, and frequent creel surveys. Specific to Mille Lacs Lake, sampling programs focusing on Walleye, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike are conducted annually. Additionally, we have annual summer and winter creel surveys to document angler use and fish harvest. Walleye Walleye management on Mille Lacs Lake is conducted cooperatively with the Tribes signatory to the Treaty of 1837. A safe harvest level for Walleye is determined annually and is based on information collected through various sampling programs. For the 2024 fishing year (December 2023 through November 2024) the safe harvest level was set at 157,500 pounds, which is a 10% decrease from 2023 and is based on a similar percentage decrease of the lake's fishable Walleye population over the same time period. The State fishery portion of the safe harvest level is 91,550 pounds. By agreement, neither the Tribal nor State fishery harvest may exceed their respective quota. Fishing regulations are selected that offer the maximum opportunity to participate in the fishery (minimize likelihood of closures) and to offer opportunity to harvest, when possible, while staying within the quota. During the fall of 2023 we began observing angler Walleye catch rates increasing to almost double what occurred in fall 2022. Walleye catch rates continued increasing to the highest ever observed during the winter of 2023-2024, resulting in a relatively high harvest of Walleye, at the same time we observed the lowest angler effort ever recorded. In fact, angler pressure decreased about 75% from the previous year, while Walleye catch rates had increased by more than 10-fold. The high angler catch rates were due, in part, to the low levels of forage, particularly age-0 Yellow Perch, which are the primary dietary item for Walleye in Mille Lacs. Low abundance of forage items has consistently been shown to increase Walleye angling success on Mille Lacs Lake. The increased winter catch rate suggests that spring fishing for Walleye will also be relatively high which often results in increased angler effort, though the timing of inclement weather patterns can impact angling pressure. Anglers should expect to catch Walleye ranging in size from 12 to 24-inches long due to above average numbers of fish from the 2021, 2017, and 2013-year classes. Anglers will also likely see good numbers of smaller Walleye around 8-10 inches from the 2022-year class. These fish were very abundant in the fall survey, and they were also commonly reported as being caught by winter anglers, likely because of the low forage levels. Fall electrofishing and fine-mesh forage gill net sampling indicated that age-0 Walleye lengths were the second lowest observed for both gears, further suggesting low forage fish levels and making it less likely that the 2023 year-class will survive their first winter. Yellow Perch Yellow Perch from the 2020 through 2022-year classes were highly abundant in the fall survey nets with relatively strong numbers of 10-to-12-inch fish from the latter two year-classes. We have observed some anglers picking up these larger fish during the 2024 winter; however, catch rates remained relatively weak, overall. We expect additional fish from all three year-classes to continue to grow into the fishable stocks over summer. Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Bass are managed to provide a high-quality fishery, and they are the second most common fish species that anglers pursue on Mille Lacs Lake. Current Mille Lacs regulations require anglers to release Smallmouth Bass longer than 17-inches. Spawning Smallmouth Bass are usually sampled during late May/early June using electrofishing gear. This is a sampling technique that allows fish to be released unharmed after they have their length measured. However, Smallmouth Bass were not sampled in the spring of 2023 due to effort instead being directed toward a Walleye mark-recapture population estimate that occurs every five years, which overlapped the time when spawning bass would have been available for spring sampling. Smallmouth Bass were still sampled in the annual fall gill nets, which are set in the latter half of September. Although the gill nets are not particularly efficient at sampling bass over 15 inches, we did observe several fish from 16 to just under 21 inches, indicating that we continue to maintain a high-quality population that appears to be still increasing in Mille Lacs. Northern Pike Like Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike are managed to provide a high-quality fishery. Pike are managed with a 30-inch maximum size limit. Northern Pike are sampled in the spring, during spawning, using trap nets. Sampling fish with trap nets allows us to release the fish unharmed after we collect length and sex. A mark-recapture estimate was performed in spring 2023, which occurs every five years in conjunction with the Walleye population estimate. This meant increased effort was expended tagging Northern Pike and we examined just under 2,000 fish, despite heavy spring melt adversely impacting our ability to sample the stream spawning fish. We have found that very few male pike grow longer than 30-inches, while older females will grow to be longer than 40-inches, with the largest just over 45 inches. About 18% of the fish we sampled in the spring of 2023 were over 30-inches long, and 2% were trophy sized at over 40-inches in length. Zebra Mussels, Rusty Crayfish, and Zooplankton Zebra mussels were first observed in Mille Lacs in 2005. Peak density occurred in 2012 after which abundance began decreasing. By 2017, densities had declined to about one half of their peak abundance, and for the last two years abundance has been at about a quarter to a third of their peak. Zooplankton abundance appeared to be slowly increasing the last several years; however, in 2022, the last year for which samples have been analyzed, we again saw densities decrease. Rusty crayfish eDNA from water samples taken in 2021 indicated that this aquatic invasive species was now in Mille Lacs. Visual confirmation occurred that same year when two specimens were observed near the Father Hennepin State Park swimming beach. In 2023 we observed our first specimen in DNR sampling gear (standard fall gill nets) in the southwest quadrant of the lake. Our population of Rusty Crayfish appears to still be relatively small; however, as the population continues to increase, we may see aquatic plant beds consumed throughout the lake by this invasive crustacean.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Largemouth Bass in Mille Lacs. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Mille Lacs has a maximum depth of 42 feet and a mean depth of 28.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Mille Lacs is from 2025.

Yes — Mille Lacs has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil, spiny waterflea, and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.