--- type: lake name: "Mille Lacs Lake" county: "Mille Lacs" nearest_town: "Garrison" lake_type: "lake" acres: 128250 max_depth_ft: 42 latitude: 46.23874 longitude: -93.64361 lake_score: 81 dnr_lake_id: "48000200" url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mille-lacs-county/mille-lacs-lake --- # Mille Lacs Lake Lake in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, near Garrison - **Surface Area**: 128,250 acres - **Max Depth**: 42 ft - **Average Depth**: 29 ft - **Shoreline**: 105.5 miles - **Water Clarity**: 11 ft - **Lake Type**: lake - **Public Access**: 11 public boat launches (concrete) - **Lake Score**: 81/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating) ## About Mille Lacs Lake is a 128,250-acre lake near Garrison in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota. It reaches 42 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 29 feet, and has roughly 105.5 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 11 feet, clearer than most lakes in the state. Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 21 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and black crappie. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. Special fishing regulations apply to burbot (eelpout), largemouth bass, northern pike, and smallmouth bass, and they override the statewide limits. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025. There are 11 public boat launches (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. OpenStreetMap shows a swim beach on or beside the lake. Pete's Retreat Campground & RV Park and Lakeview Campground are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays. The lake is listed as infested with Eurasian watermilfoil, spiny waterflea, and zebra mussel — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 24, based on 106 years of DNR ice-out records. ## Access - **Public access**: 11 public boat launches (concrete) - **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR - **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses ## Fishing - **Species on DNR survey**: 21 - **Stocked**: Yes - **Last DNR survey**: 2025 - **Special regulations**: Yes - **Ice fishing**: Yes ### Special Regulations - **Burbot (Eelpout)**: All burbot must be immediately released. - **Largemouth Bass**: The catch-and-release season for largemouth bass is continuous on Mille Lacs Lake but there is a specific period where bass may be harvested. Beginning May 23, 2026 through Feb. 28, 2027, largemouth bass under 17 inches may be kept. Limit of three in combination with smallmouth bass. The remainder of the year all largemouth bass must be immediately released. - **Northern Pike**: Beginning May 9, 2026, through March 31, 2027, all northern pike greater than 30 inches must be immediately released. Limit of five. Same regulations for spearing, which concludes Sunday, Feb. 28, 2027. - **Smallmouth Bass**: The catch-and-release season for smallmouth bass is continuous on Mille Lacs Lake but there is a specific period where bass may be harvested. Beginning May 23, 2026 through Sep. 13, 2026, smallmouth bass under 17 inches may be kept. Limit of three in combination with largemouth bass. The remainder of the year all smallmouth bass must be immediately released. - **Tullibee (Cisco)**: Possession limit is five. - **Walleye**: Beginning May 9, 2026, and continuing through Feb. 28, 2027, the daily and possession limit for walleye is three fish, which must be greater than 17 inches in length and only one of which may be greater than 20 inches in length. - **Yellow Perch**: Daily and possession limit 5. - No culling or live-well sorting: Fish taken into possession are considered part of an angler's bag limit and cannot be exchanged with another fish. However, when the season for bass is open, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass may be culled following statewide culling rules. - Night Closure: ## Activities Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling, Swimming, Camping ## Amenities Boat Ramp, Swim Beach, Campground ### Campgrounds - Pete's Retreat Campground & RV Park - Lakeview Campground - Maple Grove Campground - Father Hennepin State Park Campgrounds ## Fish Species Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Burbot, Tullibee (Cisco), Rock Bass, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead ## Invasive Species Eurasian watermilfoil, spiny waterflea, zebra mussel. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving. ## Ice-Out - **Median ice-out**: April 24 - **Years of record**: 106 - **Earliest**: 2024-03-16 - **Latest**: 2013-05-16 ## Nearby Lakes - [Whitefish Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/whitefish-lake-garrison) - 8.6 miles, 709 acres - [Ogechie Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mille-lacs-county/ogechie-lake) - 8.9 miles, 409 acres - [Holt Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/crow-wing-county/holt-lake) - 9.3 miles, 164 acres - [Shakopee Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mille-lacs-county/shakopee-lake) - 9.8 miles, 584 acres - [Round Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/round-lake) - 10.1 miles, 737 acres - [Big Pine Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/big-pine-lake) - 10.2 miles, 638 acres ## Links - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.23874,-93.64361) - [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=48000200) - [All lakes in Mille Lacs County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mille-lacs-county) --- *Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/mille-lacs-county/mille-lacs-lake)*