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There’s something about Mille Lacs in winter that keeps pulling us back.
Maybe it’s the knowledge that some truly big walleyes live beneath that clear water. Or maybe it’s optimism.
It could also be the thrill of the chase that fishing is built on in the first place.
Either way, every winter we find ourselves loading up the truck and pointing it west. Even when the fishing is tough, the experience is always worth it.
This past weekend marked another return trip to Mille Lacs in partnership with Eddy’s Resort. What started as a single trip has quickly become a winter tradition for us. We first started coming here together in 2024. Since then we’ve been chasing fish, sharing meals, and getting into the friendly fun long ice weekend trips bring.
This was a non-paid collaboration trade of services and one we’re genuinely grateful for. Eddy’s Resort continues to be wonderful hosts. Working with Ramona and their social media team has been nothing short of great.
Where We Stayed: Eddy’s Resort & Grand Casino Mille Lacs
Our weekend started at Grand Casino Mille Lacs on Friday night, where we were set up in a presidential-style suite. The Scandinavian suite stood out for its thoughtful design and amenities. It includes a private sauna, steam showers, soaking tubs, and a spacious living area with a wet bar and fireplace. With plenty of room to unwind, it was a comfortable and relaxing way to kick off the weekend. (disclosure: these rooms are not available for regular bookings)
Amenities matter on an ice fishing trip, and Grand Casino checked all the right boxes. Easy parking for trailered vehicles like our group with ATV and SxS trailers, quick access to the casino floor and dining, and proximity to west-side lake access all made logistics simple.
Saturday and Sunday nights were spent at Eddy’s Resort, where we transitioned into more of a classic ice fishing basecamp setup. Eddy’s continues to stand out for how welcoming and easy the experience feels. From friendly staff to convenient amenities, everything is geared toward anglers. There’s excellent parking for trailered vehicles here as well, quick access to multiple launches within 10–15 minutes, and if you stay at the resort, you receive complimentary access to their ice road. There’s also a restaurant (The Launch) downstairs with outstanding food!
A newer addition since our last visit was the self-serve vending area near the front desk. Snacks, light sandwiches, and drinks available via card or mobile pay were a small but very appreciated touch after long days outside.
One of the best perks of staying at Eddy’s is access to the casino pool and hot tub via shuttle. After hours on the ice, there’s nothing better than thawing out and unwinding with jets on a sore back and body.
We also spent a few hours in one of Eddy’s ice houses on Saturday. While the structure we were on didn’t produce much beyond small walleyes, having the option to fish comfortably for a stretch was a nice change of pace before moving on.
Friday: Early Arrival, First Fish, and a Casino Dinner
Friday started early. We left home around 4:00 a.m. and arrived at Mille Lacs just before 6:45 a.m. Jimmy and Dori had driven through the night and met us at the Shah-bush-kung launch, along with friends Tia and Chris.
We fished Friday morning on nearby flats, then broke midday for a quick McDonald’s run and a stop at Tutt’s Bait to restock rainbows, fatheads, and sucker minnows. Friday night fishing followed, though results were similar to the morning. Small walleyes, plenty of flags, but nothing committing in size aside from one big girl caught by Jimmy. (picture below in recap)
Dinner that night was at 1991 Kitchen inside the casino, and it deserves a highlight of its own. We were comped a $200 dinner credit for the four of us and made the most of it. Prime rib for Jimmy, Jay, and myself, sirloin for Dori, plus deep-fried sweet potatoes, cheese curds, and desserts that included raspberry cheesecake and bread pudding. Every bite was finished, and our server was outstanding.
Between 1991 Kitchen and Plum’s, the casino food options continue to impress. Jay had grabbed food at Plum’s while watching the Packers game and commented on the value and quality, making it a great option for quick meals during a busy fishing weekend.
Saturday: Grinding It Out on the West Side
Saturday was a grind.
We spent the morning fishing the north west corner of Mille Lacs, covering ground from north to south across mostly mud flats with a few gravel areas mixed in. We leaned heavily on onX Fish to study contours and elevation changes, which helped guide decisions on where to set up and when to move.
The morning bite was extremely tough. We saw a couple of flags and watched large fish cruise beneath us, but they simply would not commit. By the end of the morning, we had landed roughly 30 small walleyes, with little flag action and little payoff.
A notable moment came when we encountered a large pressure crack that had broken apart after we crossed in the morning darkness. It was a good reminder that ice conditions can change quickly, and safety always comes first. We got off safely another way, regrouped, and made adjustments without pushing our luck.
After flip-flopping from Grand Casino to Eddy’s and settling into King Lakeside Suites, we popped out to the Ice House for a few hours as mentioned, and then headed to Garrison. We launched from Pike Landing and fished just before the pressure crack. Jay managed to catch two eater-sized walleyes, both released. TT and TW had joined us that evening as well and caught some small-eyes. (see what I did there)
Sunday: Dividing, Conquering, and Fishing with Friends
Sunday, the group split up to cover water. Jimmy and Dori headed out around 6:00 AM toward the northeast corner and found more consistent eater-sized fish. Jay and I slept in a bit and met up with TT and TW. We got some snacks and beverages at Circle K before heading up about 9:00 a.m. to the north. We took Red Door Resort / North Mille Lacs Ice Fishing’s ice road out to chase a tip about perch activity.
That move paid off with a couple of jumbo perch, including one I caught that was 13 inches (pictured below), along with a few small walleyes. Later, using OnX Fish elevation data again, we moved to another spot where Jay landed and released a beautiful 22–23” walleye. As much as I’d like to share this spot with you, I’d love to save it for a future trip.. but make sure to use code KOZ to save 20% on an OnX Fish subscription!
Big fish were clearly present, but perhaps conditions made the bite unpredictable. Still, fishing alongside friends, sharing laughs, and working through the day together made it memorable regardless of results. The sunset didn’t disappoint either.
Monday: One Last Stop Before Heading Home
By Monday morning, we were beat. Three days of early mornings, late nights, and nonstop movement took its toll, so we opted to head home instead of fish.
We grabbed breakfast at Tobie’s in Hinckley (a travelers tradition!) on the way home and made a final stop at Grand Casino Hinckley, where we added another $200 win to the weekend. A fitting end to what we jokingly call our “Grand Casino story.”
Mille Lacs Ice Fishing Report
My bare bones report for readers:
Target species: Walleyes, perch as a backup
What we caught:
– Approximately 200 small, stocker-size walleyes (5–9”)
– A couple quality fish, including a 25” walleye and a 22–23” walleye
– Jumbo perch on the north end up to 13”
– One large pike Jay lost on a dead stick (I put it at 32-34″ from seeing it below the ice)
Bite summary:
The bite was tough overall. Smaller fish were aggressive and plentiful, while larger fish were present but extremely selective.
Depths fished:
Most success came between 14–20 feet, with some deeper exploration in the 24–28 foot range. Reports later suggested a shallow weed bite in the 4–6 foot range that we did not explore but may be worth checking.
Takeaway for anglers:
The fish are there. Patience, movement, and flexibility are key. Cold weather and pressure likely played a role, but the strong presence of young walleyes is encouraging for the future of the lake.
Why We Keep Coming Back
We come back because this trip has become a tradition.
Fishing with close friends, grinding through tough conditions, sharing meals, and laughing through the slow moments is what this weekend is really about. Mille Lacs is a beautiful lake, and I’ll always argue that its sunrises and sunsets are some of the best you’ll ever see.
Eddy’s Resort and Grand Casino make an ideal home base for ice anglers. Between comfortable accommodations, easy access to launches, ice road convenience, great food, and amenities like the hot tub and casino entertainment, it’s easy to settle in and focus on the experience rather than logistics.
Closing Thoughts
This weekend wasn’t easy, but it was worth it as always.
We gave it everything we had, spent quality time with people we care about, and left knowing we’d do it all again. That’s the beauty of trips like this. Sometimes the reward isn’t measured in fish on the ice, but in the memories made along the way.
If you’re considering a Mille Lacs ice fishing trip, Eddy’s Resort and Grand Casino offer a comfortable, convenient, and welcoming place to call home while you chase whatever the lake decides to give you.
As always, thank you for reading friend.
Sarah
Book YOUR Eddy’s Resort trip by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4sBNbxg
Read last year’s Eddy’s trip blog HERE
