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Anybody wanna take a guess?


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As usual, March is teasing us with really nice days, followed by cold, blowing snow, and bitterly cold winds.

With spring just around the corner though, I find my mind often wandering to thoughts of the river, enjoying warm summer nights with good friends around the campfire, and fishing for cats and walleyes under the stars.

I think I've finally figured out how I'll build my dock for the river this spring. This is a huge challenge with the constantly fluctuating river levels, floating debris, and powerful side currents below the dam. But I'm pretty sure I've got it figured, and I'll try and post pics as the build proceeds.

Anyone wanna venture a guess when we're going to see the river open up this spring?

I'm gonna say we won't see open water till the second week of April. The forecast isn't calling for any significant warm up for at least another 10 days. I sure hope it goes out, and calms down enough for the fishing opener!

I'll try to continue river fishing reports on a regular basis again this year, and hopefully I'll be able to include some pics this year as well. Hope to have some species specific posts that will include smallmouth fishing, walleyes, catfish, etc..and of course reports from the backyard honey hole, and how the kids are measuring up with their fishing trips!

Anyone interested in a another Northwest Minnesota Summer League again this year?

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We'll I am very slowly working on the second year of the league. My brother now lives in town and wants to fish in all the events this summer so I am waiting on his schedule before I throw out some dates. As for the river my guess is right in the middle of April for ice out.

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Hi Travis. You know I'll be up for another league this summer. Last summer was fun. I think you should shoot for one event, per month, on a different body of water, for maybe 5-6 months? May, June, July, August, Sept, and Oct?

Probably pretty much impossible to try and mesh with everyone's best schedule time, so just lay something out there and folks will show up if they can, and won't if they can't. Last year we gave up too much fishing time trying to figure out which dates and times might work best for everyone.

Unless we see some significant warming soon, mid-April might even be a little early for a river break up! It's NASTY out there today! frown

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The 60-70 hour work-weeks have me dreaming...at best! I still have most of my ice gear ready to rock if I find an afternoon one day, but I am determined to get my wife up to the Rainy to do some sturgeon fishing again this year. Now that I have side imaging I was intrigued by a clip on the show We Love It when the kid from the Lindner program located schools of sturgeon with side imaging. Either way, last year was historic for late ice out and we are behind schedule from last year! A good stretch of 50 degrees would change that quick though!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Well, I'll be dog-gone! My first prediction for river ice-out was right on!

Had the great pleasure of watching the ice go out yesterday behind our place. Not sure yet if the ice has gone out above the dam in town as I haven't been up there yet, but it's always cool to see the ice go, and stand next to the river witnessing all that power! I never get tired of watching those huge chunks of ice crash together, roll over in the current, and rip the shoreline to shreds as it moves down river.

Now we wait for the water to warm, and the fish to cooperate! Looking forward to the first time I can prop the long rods in the holders, sit back by the campfire and roast the first dogs, fruit pies, and smore's of the season! wink

Good to see open water again after such a long tough winter! Happy times!

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I haven't been out the Red Lake River, but I drive past a few spots of the Thief daily. There's a couple spots where the river is running pretty freely--mainly where there's bigger drainage ditches coming in.

The ice was still solid in town as of this morning, the water is just running under it.

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  • 3 weeks later...

If I still lived there, I would be fishing this league for sure... It's good to see someone is starting something like this finally. Always thought it would be cool, just never had the motivation to do it myself. Way to go.

Sam, how are things up your way?

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Hey Shannon! Things are shaping up pretty good. Yeah, this league is kind of a nice deal. Really laid back, and just kinda fun to fish a little new water now and again. Hoping to see a few more boats this year.

River is wide open now, and the water levels have stayed up nicely over the last couple weeks, so I'm anticipating a pretty good opener. Surprisingly, we've already had crawlers up at our place, so that's a really good sign. Think I'll go down to the honey hole this weekend and see what'll bite on a crawler.

How's everything in Ohio? Find any catfish over there yet?

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
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