Mille Lacs is one of the best-known fisheries in the Midwest. The lake holds walleye (what most anglers come for), smallmouth bass (Mille Lacs is consistently ranked among the top smallmouth lakes in the country), northern pike, muskie, perch, tullibee, and some panfish.

Smallmouth fishing has gotten especially strong in recent years, and the lake regularly produces trophy-class fish for both species.