Options?

[Lostbay]

Looking for some veteran opinions...Coming up the weekend of April 2-4. If the melt proceeds quickly and the river muddies prior to that, is there fishing above the forks worth trying (ie. east of Pelland)? I'll be there anyway so even if its not the best option it beats looking at the boat in the driveway. Thanks

[walros]

Abolutely great fishing right below the dam in international falls. Been there myself when the forks let loose and I get tired of cleaning debris off my hook. You will need heavier jigs and i all ways used stinger hooks there.

[ANYFISH2]

I agree with walros, the dam is a good place as a back up, smaller size fish but great numbers. Have been able to have decent fishing between pelland and I. Falls also.

[Lostbay]

Is there an access closer than Pelland? Never have launched close to the dam, so not sure if there is any available. When you say bigger jigs, I assume you mean the current is much more considerable obstacle? Thanks

[WalleyeGod]

West of Hardees in IFalls.

WG

[bassbuster1]

The entire strech of river from the dam down to the forks holds walleye's.The dam has the most fish .I have done well jigging or trolling.The two island just down stream of the dam can hold some big eye's.As you continue down stream past the landing and the first big bend,there is a huge rock pile this also holds nice fish,past that there is a huge flat.Lots and lots of water between the dam and the forks.The landing is in the west end of town on shorewood drive right by Hardee's

BB1

[walros]

If you are going to fish by the dam bring a good anchor, 75 foot anchor rope, 3/4 to one ounce jigs, lite northern suckers and stinger hooks. Be sure to get a couple plastic bottles for the end of your anchor rope when you have to cut loose to chase your sturgeon.

I always fish where the deep water starts to break upwards, seems i mark the most fish there, sometimes pigs sometimes eaters and sturgeon. Anything is better than working.

[caster]

I have a project at the papermill next week and I was wondering if there are any shore fishing spots near town I could hit after work. What would you recommend using? Thank you.

[walros]

Fish right behind the plant from shore. It gets deep real fast there (25+) and there is a back current. You lucky dog, a job there during the day. Sheesh some people have all the luck. You could cast shad raps, slip bobber, bottom fish, they do not allow the use of dynamite though.

[Dock Boy]

I have never fished the river. Myself and a buddy are heading early tomorrow morning. Thinking of putting in at Vidas. We have 3/8, 3/4 oz jigs and also throwing in a heavy weight rod for sturgeon. Any tips? What size minnow do you guys use. Thinking about vertical jigging or drifting with the 3/4 oz jigs. Any tips to help out a rookie? Not looking for spots just a head up on what to use. What type of minnows? Thanks

[shamrock7]

We use chubs, others use rainbows and still others use suckers. For sturgeon, use a bunch of crawlers but last Wednesday no one had crawlers so we just put about 6 minnows on the hook and it worked fine.

[DrStizo]

first off, if you are going to "experience" the rainy river spring fish wait a week, you are not going to catch the numbers or size of fish that you will closer to April 1st. Just because the river is open does not mean the walleyes are in there, remember they go in the river system to spawn and its to early for them to make that migration. To many folks focus on the ice out/water temp, im not saying water temp doesnt play an important part but it is only one varaible that turns the switch. It just happens that most years the ice out n the migration are close to the same time and people forget its up to the eyes when they come n not the ice. Low water levels in the fall, above avg temps for the winter resulted in a smaller layer of ice on the river allowing for an easier melt.The snow pack is gone up there so we should be fine for clarity as the month finishes up unless heavy rain hits. Anyone heading there today or for that matter the next 5 days dont expect much, the lake eyes are not there......yet....i judge by the ice fishing reports and how deep, where and what structure the ice fishermen are having success to determine the migration pattern and timeline. I'm confident we are in for an excellent river season upto it closes, but anyone thinking it was going to be anything more than a couple weeks is dreaming, and well, nothing wrong with dreaming, just dont get mad when you wake up.

ps - ive already been up once, im a dreamer too

lastly please think about releasing all females caught, they are in the river full of eggs so our great great grandkids can enjoy what we do. Plenty of pesky males running around.

[gizmoguy]

I agree fully. Until they start killing the fish just out side Pine Island there won't be much movement into the river.

[Boar]

I think alot of guys have open water itch an there are alot of resident river fish to contend with. Boar

[deerwoody]

Rite on Boar.There is a reason there are fishhouses out there all winter.

[DrStizo]

it was one of the slower ice seasons ive ever had on the river, i got no issue with people going up now, was just offering advice, personaly i hope everyone is up there now

[Random guy]

I just spent three days on the river sturgeon fishing and it is slow, not very many boats around and a few crabby walleye guys. Sounds like the walleye bite is slow yet but it won't take long for that to change. Friday we only seen five rigs all day. Two local boys I knew, the old timers in 14' that I see often, Tim Anderson I believe and one guy in a Ranger that cicrcled me twice and zoomed away.

[Lostbay]

In the falls fishing below the dam:

Can someone give me an idea of how it is different than fishing downstream? How close to the dam do you actually fish? How much current are we talking? Dangerous? I have a small aluminum boat with a 15hp.

I know it depends on how open the dam is, just looking for a baseline. I got the bigger jigs part and know that it must then be much harder to stay vertical with them if the water is moving?