Mille Lacs Lake

Mille Lacs lake

A central Minnesota gem

This 132,516 acre-lake covers 207 square miles and is Minnesota's second-largest inland lake. Located just an 1½ to 2 hours from the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, Mille Lacs provides a quick opening for a fun weekend getaway.

Mille Lacs Lake is best known for its phenomenal walleye catch rates but also offers several other trophy fishing opportunities. During the winter, venture out on the lake for a fast-paced walleye bite, catch a few tullibee or fish for some trophy northern pike. During the summer, you may hook into a trophy smallmouth bass, muskellunge or northern pike.

Management plan meeting & comments

People splashing in the water on a beach at Mille Lacs Lake. Learn about and comment on fisheries management goals and objectives for Mille Lacs Lake. Comment online and attend a virtual meeting on March 23.

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Mille Lacs Lake's citizen advisory committee

Close-up of Mille Lacs Lake area on a road map Learn about and follow the activities of the Mille Lacs Lake fisheries advisory committee, a group of citizens that advises the DNR on issues that are relevant to the state’s management of Mille Lacs Lake.

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Regulations

Angler with a walleye. Mille Lacs Lake has special fishing regulations that are unique to the lake. These regulations change for the winter season, which begins Dec. 1, and the open water season, which begins in May.

View current regulations »

Report a tagged fish

Tags sticking out of near the top fin of a fish. You might catch a fish with one or more tags sticking out near the fin on its back. If you do, help us keep track of the fish we've tagged.

Report a tagged fish »

#DoTheLake

Mille Lacs Lake and its surrounding communities offer visitors fish and a whole lot more.

Plan your trip »

Court decisions & legal information

A list of official court documents that stipulate the exercise of Ojibwe treaty rights in the 1837 ceeded terriorty of Minnesota.

View the documents »