Lake · Mille Lacs, Minnesota
Mille Lacs Lake near Garrison
Current Lake Rating
Point-in-time lake rating — separate from the trip recommendation below.
Fair
This condition rating is estimated because current on-water monitoring is not available.
Estimated Conditions
Estimated from available current readings, weather, seasonal patterns, destination characteristics, and historical conditions. Some important on-water measurements may be unavailable.
Rating confidence: Low
Should I Go?
Consider
Fishing guidance for this destination based on available lake conditions, weather, and seasonal context. It is not a boating, swimming, ice, or access-safety rating.
Recommendation confidence: Low
Why
- Current water-level and water-temperature observations are not available.
- StrikeTracks is showing a provisional Estimated Conditions rating from accepted secondary evidence.
- Available atmospheric evidence is favorable for provisional Estimated fishing suitability; the public rating is capped by the accepted Estimated evidence path and confidence policy.
Current Readings
- Gage height
- 10.43 ft
- Change over 24 hours
- 0.00 ft
- Trend
- Stable
- Last updated
- 1 hr ago
Source: USGS · MILLE LACS LAKE NR GARRISON, MN · 05284000 · Gage height
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Weather Near Lake
Current Weather
Fog
Temperature
64°F
Feels like
66°F
Wind
7 mph E
Wind gust
10 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 2:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this lake
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this lake.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 4 AM
Fog
Temp 64°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Sat 8 AM
Fog
Temp 64°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 10 mph
Sat 12 PM
Overcast
Temp 66°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 10 mph
Sat 4 PM
Clear
Temp 74°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 11 mph
Sat 8 PM
Clear
Temp 69°F
Chance 6%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 13 mph
Sun 12 AM
Overcast
Temp 66°F
Chance 7%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 12 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Fog
High 74°F / Low 63°F
Chance 8%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 19 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Rain
High 78°F / Low 65°F
Chance 32%
Precip 0.20 in
Max gust 22 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Showers
High 85°F / Low 62°F
Chance 67%
Precip 0.10 in
Max gust 39 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Drizzle
High 90°F / Low 64°F
Chance 72%
Precip 0.14 in
Max gust 44 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this lake's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence lake level and access, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, and reservoir operations where applicable.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Gage Height History
Loading historical gage height…
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Mille Lacs Lake.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Mille Lacs near Garrison is Minnesota's flagship inland walleye fishery. StrikeTracks keeps this existing public identity and publishes complete static fishery. USGS 05284000 is stage, not same-lake water temperature, so live lake conditions are not Monitoring-Backed. 1837 treaty and special walleye rules apply. Distinct from Leech Lake. Hatch Match publishes general fly suggestions only.
Target species
Walleye
Sander vitreus
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MNDNR Mille Lacs walleye. USGS 05284000 stage only.
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MNDNR Mille Lacs pike.
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
MNDNR Mille Lacs smallmouth.
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
MNDNR Mille Lacs yellow perch.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Large inland Mille Lacs at Garrison, not Lake Superior and not Leech Lake.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Fly fishing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public landings are documented by MNDNR around Mille Lacs. Catalog coordinates are USGS 05284000. Treaty and reservation rules are not unrestricted statewide access.
Stocking information
MNDNR manages Mille Lacs walleye and mixed species under special annual notices. Confirm current official regulations.
Official sources
MNDNR Mille Lacs walleye and 1837 treaty rules are highly specific and change. Distinct from Leech Lake. Confirm current MNDNR LakeFinder / special regulations.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Popper-style surface flyGeneral warmwater surface family. Not an insect Hatch event.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral warmwater streamer family. Not a baitfish Hatch event.
- Crayfish-style flyGeneral subsurface family. Crayfish forage is not a Hatch insect.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Mille Lacs, Minnesota
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
County
Mille Lacs
Management Category
Inland walleye lake
Regulation Scope
Mille Lacs Lake near Garrison
Regulation Summary
Mille Lacs near Garrison: MNDNR special inland lake rules. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
walleye, northern-pike, smallmouth-bass, yellow-perch
Public Access
Public
Description
Mille Lacs Lake near Garrison, Minnesota. Existing public lake. USGS 05284000 reports live stage, not same-lake 00010. PATH B static fishery is populated. Not Monitoring-Backed. Not Lake Superior.
