Missisippi - Sartell to Elk River

[fischer69]

Just wondering if any1 fishes this stretch. I grew up in St. Cloud and fished the [PoorWordUsage] out that area. I now live in Becker and fish the river when I can. Tried a few times in Elk River and Monti and a bunch in Clearwater. Curious if any1 else has any spots they like.

[Stick in Mud]

This is a great stretch to fish, but the seasonal water levels make it difficult to be specific about where to catch fish. It doesn't really take much knowledge about rivers to find the fish in this area--river channel, fallen trees, current breaks, etc etc etc. The fish are everywhere, and they're not particularly hard to find or make bite. If you grew up on the river, I can't imagine you'll struggle finding places to fish.

[UncleKes]

Carmike: In high water the fish are usually confined to areas of the river that are outside of the main current. Simple Physics dictate that the more water the more current since water has weight and currents have forces which act against any thing swimming or standing in the way of that force.

In high water situations fish will seek shelter behind wing dams, logs, rocks scour holes, creeks, etc. Since fish don't like to swim because swimming burns calories they will get out of the current and stay out until the high water is gone.

This is more than just a get out of the current thing for large fish. It is a food thing too. Minnows and small things that live in the water cannot withstand the force of the high current either. SO the food travels toward the banks to escape the current as well and the big fish follow the food inshore as well.

After the water has gone down the fish will scatter over the river but they will almost always be found in or near the structure I mentioned above.

If more fishermen stopped concentrating on the fish they seek and thought more about the food the fish eat they would improve their catches dramatically in my opinion.

Its simple, high water, low water, sun, rain, freezing blizzard, moon light, no light! FISH HAVE TO EAT! Think about what the fish are eating and go to where the things they eat are and you will find more fish! Yu will find them in rivers, ponds, lakes, impoundments, creeks and mud puddles. If there is food there the fish will be there sometime during the day or night!

Good topic!

Tight Lines!

Uncle Kes

[Stick in Mud]

I agree with everything you say, but I wasn't only talking about high water periods....and the middle of the river can be dynamite later in the summer as the water levels drop. There doesn't even need to be any current breaks; just hit the middle of the river (with a topwater, even) and you'll often catch some of the biggest fish in the system.

[Daze Off]

Just the section from Elk River to Monticello is anough to keep a guy busy for a LONG time. Access is the problem. Unless you float it or have a jet or jonboat with extreme trolling motor then you are pretty much not getting to some of the better spots.

[Shack]

We are starting off with the river very, very low. This will translate into tough launching conditions at some places and keeping the speed very low, or a new hull or prop might be in your future.

Good luck..

[Grant]

shack- no kidding...

a guy could darn near drive a truck in the river better than a boat these days. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ludicrous amounts of rain for the next several months myself. hopefully like '05 where it was so wet until June I thought I'd moved to Seattle....

[Stick in Mud]

That's good news for waders like me!!!! It keeps all those guys in the fancy boats out of my spots!

[UncleKes]

Carmike! In such low water/low current situations a float tube might be a good way to go. Just so long ans you don't plan on floating down to Anoka in one. I have worked the river in Fridley in low water conditions in my float tube. I usually will anchor my feet against a convenient rock so I don't float away and then sit in comfort all day casting for smallies or eyes. If by chance I hit a hole I just float backward till I hit the next sandbar. Usually not a problem in low water conditions.

I would NOT want to be in a float tube in high water/high current conditions. You will end up in the Gulf of Mexico with no way to get back. However if the water is 4 or 5 feet deep out in the middle as it sometimes is late in the year, like I said, it is a very lazy way to fish.