Another question (or two)

[zpinca]

I have never been to the Rainy, but I am planning on going the 6th of april. I have heard that fishing can be bad if the water gets muddy. I have caught walleyes in the Red River, which is always muddy. Can't a person just use brighter lures with more vibration? What about sturgeon? Do they shut off like the walleyes if the water gets cloudy? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Travis

[Tim_Anderson]

Travis,

The problem with the Rainy is that often it's one extreme or the other. This is a huge watershed. Lots of snow. And now, lots of rain. Lots of tributaries dumping into the Rainy. When it goes muddy, it usually happens very fast. I have seen it happen overnight many times. Catch a hundred plus walleyes one day, come back the next and get nothing.

So what I am saying is that it is usually not "cloudy". It is either clear, or it is muddy. And when it is muddy, the bottom is rolling with mud, sticks, pine needles, leaves and all kinds of debris. It becomes difficult for the fish to find your bait, but even if they do find it, odds are that it will be fouled within a few seconds of being down there anyway.

I have seen the cloudiness that you are asking about. It usually doesn't last more than a day or two. It is usually the precursor to the mud and debris that I was talking about.

Hopefully you will be ok on the 6th, but with all the rain we are getting right now, I am beginning to get a little worried. Sounds like the river is opening very fast according to reports. We'll just have to watch and see what happens.

[zpinca]

Tim, thanks for the update. if the water is muddy, would it be worth trying to fish for sturgeon? or is debris still the major issue?

[_point_5]

Tim, if it were to turn really muddy, can it clear after a week or so? If so, would the Walleye fishing pickup again? Thanks!

>>>.5

[Tim_Anderson]

If the water is just muddy, you can still catch a few eyes and sturgies, but usually with the mud comes debris. Usually it's a waste of time to try and fish either species under those conditions. Just my opinion. I go up there to really whack the fish, rack up some numbers, and catch some hogs. If there's lots of mud and debris, I would tend to just skip it.

And to answer the other question, when it gets so it's muddy and the debris is rolling on the bottom, it usually takes at least a week or two to clear...that's been my experience. More rain and runoff complicates things further, and lets face it, that's what April is known for.

In the past ten years, I have seen lots of different scenarios, but I have never seen a year where I just plain never went up there because it was muddy from the get-go. I sure hope this ain't the first!

[fishuhalik]

Hey tim, if i went up there and the water is muddy, is there any other options for open water in the area? I'd just hate to drive all the way up from the cities and have to turn around and drive back!

[Tim_Anderson]

You should be able to keep up by watching this area. Fishermen should be posting reports as to their fishing success and river conditions. If you're really wondering, call me as I'll be up there as long as the fishing is decent. If I've got tower, I'll give you the report.

But if you should get up there and find it muddy, you may find it less muddy the farther east you go. There is an access at Pelland, and another below the dam in IFalls. These two accesses will get you upstream of the Little and Big Fork rivers, and should get you some clearer water.

[fishuhalik]

Thanks a ton tim. Everyone on here really appreciates your input!

[Walleyehunter82]

I was just reading that Birchdale is open to big boats now. But they also commented on the Little Fork river being weak and ready to give. If that happends, is Birchdale and Frontier gonna be wreacked for the season? I have been up there the past 3 seasons and done very well each time, but I have never really dealt with the water getting muddy yet or the forks giving out while I was there. Plus they also commented on 2 more gates opening at International Falls, whats that gonna do for river conditions? To me it starting to sound like its gonna be over before it gets going!!! IDK Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank You