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
DNR staff are reviewing comments on fisheries management goals and objectives for Mille Lacs Lake. The draft plan for Mille Lacs Lake includes species-specific goals for walleye, northern pike and bass.
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Mille Lacs Lake's citizen advisory committee
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
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
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 »
Mille Lacs committee documents
The following documents are available from meetings of the 1837 ceded territory's fisheries technical committee:
Agendas: Jan. 2020 • Oct. 2019 • July 2019 • Nov. 2017 • Aug. 2017
Minutes: Jan. 2020 • Oct. 2019 • July 2019 • Jan. 2019 • Oct. 2018 • Aug. 2018 • Nov. 2017 • Aug. 2017