Kettle River Area

[ejl]

How about the Kettle River Any info on fishing that ? Haven't been in the area long.

[sparcebag]

I used to put in at the old dam,Its gone but if ya ask in sandstone,I'm sure you'll get directed to the landing at old dam or if it moved to the park,For the first 2 miles down stream all the smallies & nice walleyes ya want,cat fish at night,Nice canoe trip from sandstone to St.Croix,the last few miles are shallow and only caught cats at night.

[JBMasterAngler]

Are there any fish at all in the kettle from where the dam used to be upstream to the first set of rapids at the old launch in the park in sandstone? Granted, I've only fished it twice, but have never caught anything with lures or live bait. Is it possible all the fish washed downstream and none from upstream ever migrated into that stretch?

[sparcebag]

Up before Askov on HWY23 where it goes over the Kettle I fished from there upstream,never fished the dam up to HWY23.The deeper holes are great for eyes lots a smallies and again cats at night Also the not uncommon Sturgeon sometimes BIG ones in deep holes,The area you speak of is hellshole rapids I avoided it.

[picksbigwagon]

Could a guy canoe from sandstone to the st. croix in two days? Looking for a good two day paddle, okay I mean fish and float....thanks

[sparcebag]

Ya and its great,every june I'd do it park a truck in the park on the St.Croix and drive the 2nd truck back to Sandstone with the canoe,I said before if ya want to fish the first few miles are great fishin then just before the grindstone river entry it shallows to a sand bottom and poor fishin till the last 2-3 miles.The trip could be one day paddle but I always did it for fishin and the overnight camp & catfish.Try it.I dont know what the traffic is now but last time I did it 1998 saw no one.A fact is anytime I did it I never saw anyone once out of Sandstone.

[JBMasterAngler]

When the dam was up "hellshole rapids" were easily passable in a canoe, but yeah, it's quite a drop now. Nice hole below (where I soaked nightcrawlers), if there's no fish in there than there CAN'T be any at all in the stretch!

[ejl]

How About from Moose lake to Sandstone on the Kettle. I fished it years ago from the bank but never floated it. Would like to do more of it this year. Just moved into the area so now I have the means to fish it more. Any good reports ?

[sparcebag]

 Originally Posted By: ejl

How About from Moose lake to Sandstone on the Kettle. I fished it years ago from the bank but never floated it. Would like to do more of it this year. Just moved into the area so now I have the means to fish it more. Any good reports ?

Thats my post above HWY23 before Askov

JB I think I misnamed it I think now its Hellsgate??

[JBMasterAngler]

Hellshole...hellsgate...whichever...at least we know we're talking about the same place.

[picksbigwagon]

sounds like we might be skipping the St. Croix trip and trying this one instead. Is there islands or sand bars to camp on at night time? or designated campsites?? either the northern section from askov down or from banning down?

[JBMasterAngler]

I know you can camp at the mouth of the grindstone...that's a bit farther downstream though.

[sparcebag]

No designated sites,when I'd do it.Depending on water level there are bars,but like most rivers there's a bank find a nice lookin spot on top,a little rain up stream on the Kettle could ruin your night,The grindstone? I dont think I'd camp there,too woodsie BUGS.Besides once ya hit the grindstone it is shallow sand bottom.I see you have a email add,If I can I'll try to send a google sat view with good fishin spots,there all before the grindstone,and the grindstone is almost 1/2 way to the St.Croix,At the Croix we'd take out at Maple Island From there to the Croix is all unfishable rapids.

[bassphish2005]

The Kettle is a nice float,did part of it in a jonboat last fall..........shallow but made it through and lots of fishy action.And all of the wild critters [ducks/deer ect] using the river made it tough to keep my focus on the fishing@@@Very enjoyable.

[Walterwontfalter]

Quote:

How about Moose Lake so Sandstone on the Kettle

That might be kind of tough since the Kettle River doesn't run through Moose Lake

[Tom7227]

Try this from the DNR

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/canoeing/kettleriver/index.html

[ejl]

Runs within a few miles of it thats close enough for me

[sparcebag]

Runs within a few miles of it thats close enough for me

Just north of the town of Willow River 2-3 miles, a fork in the Kettle take the NE fork its the MooseHorn that takes you to MooseLake.Thats acctually where the 96 lb stuergon state record was caught,Its if not better fishing than the kettle more fish caught.Smallies

[ironman]

I've never canoed it but I used to wade it alot. I would park at the wayside rest on 35 just before the bridge crossing. I would work my way up stream and did well for walleyes, smallies and pike. I imagine if you put in upstream from that you could float all the way to Banning State park there is a landing right before you hit the rapids. Right under the 35 bridge is a great spot. As a side note, where I always turned around and headed back downstream is a portage around some small rapids..which I'm pretty sure you could shoot if you wanted, however up the portage is a nice campsite. Not sure where you would launch however you'd have to do some more research. Hope this helps.

[ejl]

I live in Willow ( new to the area )I have never fished any of the rivers and was just looking for some walleye and smallie info. Where to go and what to expect.

[bassphish2005]

Lots and lots of great info!!!

[ejl]

Has anyone fished the Kettle yet this year ?

[Walterwontfalter]

I've fished the Kettle River all my life. Walleyes, Northern and plenty of smallmouth. If you are into river fishing head to Sturgeon Lake out West toward Denham...I think it's County Road 46. There are a couple rivers that cross that road, the Kettle specifically. It's pretty good fishing up there as well just under the bridge. I usually fish from there North toward Cromwell. Or should I say from Cromwell south.

[not_nuf_time]

My inlaws live right in Sturgeon, so my father in law and I have done the float from Sturgeon to Rutledge in a 12 foot boat with a trolling motor. Lots of fun with walleyes and smallies and northern, stop at any bend fallen trees or drop offs and should get some action. Do bring a river type anchor so you can spend time at good spots. This is a good day trip and wont be dissapointed. You live there, use it.

[tcbrookston]

Just so there isn't any supprises when you head from Sandstone to Maple island in St Croix park. The Mouth of the Grindstone is far from the half way mark. Sandstone to Hwy 48 is right at 8 miles. Nice trip for a relaxing overnight.

As of last weekend, the water was getting low. The first set of little rapids south of the old dam is the a bit of a pain. Plan on dragging yourself off the rocks. After that, there is a batch about a mile long that can be fun or a pain, depending on the water level. Go to the right on the very first little set and stay right after that. We used to run that stetch with a 17.5 foot flat back aluminum canoe. That thing stuck to the rocks and sand like velcro. Now we use sporting kayaks. They run as smooth as it can get.

Last weekend, I checked all of my old camping spots and didn't see any sign that anyone had been down overnight.

You can fill up a full trip with eight miles. Take your time for the first two miles. Hit every hole and rock with gigs of you choice and you will have plenty of action. Eyes can run from 10 inches to 20 inches. Last weekend, we didn't fish for eyes much, but we did catch two that were about 18 inches which are not very common in the river.

For those that like fishing the rapids, camp about a 1/4 mile into the rapids about 4 miles down. There is a small island smack dab in the middle of the river between two small rapids. Walk those rapids up and down about a 1/4 mile with jigs hittling behind every rock. It is a blast. Bring lots of bug dope and dryer sheets for the deer flies. They can be brutle. At night, go for cats off of the tip of the island. Night crawles and liver will catch you lots of fish, but smelt, fresh dead sucker minows, or a chunck of steak will get you the big cats O plenty.

After that strech of rapids, the river dies to a trickle in low, slow water. Flat, shallow and sandy. Two inches makes a huge differance. You may end up walking half of that 4 mile strech if it is real low. If it is 2 inches higher, it will be a nice drift.

Keep in mind that if you catch any Sturgeon, they are not legal to fish for on the Kettle. They are the local DNR's babys. They have been fishing them and tagging them since the early ninties. They haven't had much luck netting or shocking them, so they use hook and line. Most you catch will be tagged and some have tracking devices. When the season was open, one of the locals would fish them a dozen times a year and bring home a fish or two every time he went. When the numbers went down, the DNR closed the season. They have a huge amount of time invested in the fish and will prosicute to the limit.

BTW, as noted above, the record is 94.4 rather than 96 and it was caught by Kim Bangston. It was not caught above Sandstone.

[slodge77]

hey man whas up i live in willow as well my name is steve dracy just looking at your post is old but from banning to sandstone is amazing walley, pike bass