Fast starts common at Mille Lacs

Over the past two tournament days, there have been some blazing starts on Mille Lacs Lake. Keith Combs signaled things to come when he caught a 20-pounds-plus limit on five casts around 7 a.m. Thursday. Skeet Reese caught 31-8 in less than 30 minutes Friday from 6:49 to 7:16, and 27-8 of that came in 16 minutes.

“This morning was pure nuts,” Reese said Friday. “I felt like I’d run a marathon, I was breathing so hard.”

Russ Lane reported catching 20 pounds in 10 casts first thing Friday.

Reese is doing it again today. He had a limit of 16 1/2 pounds by 6:56.