It’s a fishing day

Mille Lacs Lake fishing conditions · Minnesota

Now until 7 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 100. Wind builds to 20 mph out of the west by tonight at 11:00 pm.

Log a trip here
Right now: 96 for walleye, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, 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.

  1. 963 pm
  2. 100
  3. 96
  4. 966 pm
  5. 82
  6. 82
  7. 829 pm
  8. 82
  9. 63
  10. 63Sun
  11. 59
  12. 59
  13. 593 am
  14. 59
  15. 59
  16. 596 am
  17. 63
  18. 59
  19. 599 am
  20. 82
  21. 86
  22. 8612 pm
  23. 82
  24. 82
  25. 823 pm
  26. 86
  27. 82
  28. 826 pm
  29. 82
  30. 72
  31. 729 pm
  32. 72
  33. 76
  34. 86Mon
  35. 86
  36. 82
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
10 mph

From the south-southwest

Flow
10.36 ft gauge height

steady

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:52 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
48°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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.

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

100GoNow until 7 pm

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

17" minimum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 3 walleye a day, every one over 17" and only 1 over 20". Night closure 10 p.m.–6 a.m. from May 11 through August.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Mille Lacs (2026–27)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 5 yellow perch a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Mille Lacs

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

17" maximum · 3 a day

Catch and release only today. Only bass under 17" may be kept, 3 a day combined, and only in the harvest season; every other bass must be released.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Mille Lacs

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Muskellunge

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Muskellunge is here Jun–Sep. 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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here Jun–Oct. 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 20 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
  • River10.36 ft gauge height · steady
  • Barometer29.88 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:52 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:05 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:20 am–7:20 am

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.

Nearby

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

Leech Lake72 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm
82Worth the trip
Lake Minnetonka91 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm
100Go
Lake Vermilion128 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm
65Marginal
Rainy Lake (International Falls)164 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm
59Marginal
Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay)190 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm
82Worth the trip
Spirit Lake207 mi · IowaBest now until 7 pm
90Go

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.