st louis river St.Louis River fishing report

[Jarrid Houston]

Spent the better half of Saturday chasing fish on the ole riv... WOW, its dead, was only able to pick up a few rough fish, in a 100% fish spot.  Not what we wanted to do, but we could not find crappies of walleyes anywhere.  Oliver to Harbor.  River has been dead for me..

 

[BuckShot11]

Saw an earlier report of many portables out behind the Bong Center yesterday.  Any word on how much ice they were on?  

[Jarrid Houston]

Not good, dangerous.  I was out Sunday for a couple hours (first time this year).  I noticed where I was now has water near by.  I thing the strong winds from yesterday moved the ice sheet.  Been checking it. 1-5" and always changing.  Id say another week or 2 for safer conditions.  Stay safe..

[riverrat21]

Has anybody been out on the harbor or up river at all lately???just wondering if ice conditions have improved.....

[Jarrid Houston]

Not really..  Was up river earlier this week and it is still pretty sketchy in areas..  Extreme caution should be taken.  I would say after this weekend and the extreme cold we are expecting things will start to escalate as far as ice thickness.  gd luck

[riverrat21]

Tried the river this morning...only had about 3.5"s  of solid ice...use caution out there

[DLD24]

Do any of you guys find crappies outside the bays this time of year, I'm going to bring the boat to the river to test it out and was thinking of maybe trying to find some slabs while I'm out and about....I'm going to launch at Clyde...

[Odonata]

Is anyone fishing?......Anyone catching walleyes on the St. Louis?

[DLD24]

I was out Monday and Tuesday 3-7pm got 4 one day and 3 the next....Caught them from Oliver to Arrowhead.

[Odonata]

I fished earlier this week, got 5, all males, but one female.  Seems like they're either still spawning or well into post spawn.

Any reports from above 23?  

[arctic_scrap1]

For current St Louis River Fishing Reports - Click Here.

 

I'm looking for some pointers on where to go in the river without worrying about damaging my new to me boat. I bought a 1998 Smokercraft 17ft deep V with a 90hp motor. I have very little time fishing the river and never with my own boat. I have the navionics app on my ipad that I'll bring along but I'm sure it doesn't show everything.

[Jarrid Houston]

Best advice I can give is stay cautious until you learn the river.  Having a track system is super key for navigating, believe me I speak for most river rats when I say we have learned the hard way a few times.  sticking to channel edges can put fish in the boat anyway.  But of course there will be times where you will want to key in on shallow water.  Buoys north is pretty easy, but up past alley and them areas, be careful.  Good luck

[Northlander]

Right now pulling spinners and crawlers on any flat will catch you fish. I would start at Arrowhead flats and then work down river on the other flats. Fish are all the way to the entries already.

[Northlander]

Water temp was key this weekend. 60 degrees seemed to be the areas the fish were biting in.  Top of arrowhead flats all the way to Oliver seemed best yesterday.

[RyMal]

Any late summer tips for fishing the river? Going for our work fishing league next week, looking to target any and all species! Thanks in advance!

[osok]

Trying to keep this site alive... Fished the Harbor for the 1st time this ice season yesterday. The ice was about 12" thick and VERY slippery ( and I forgot my cleats).

 The bite was very light, I thought I was out of practice until I talked w/ 2 other fishers and they agreed. I swear the fish would bite, and as soon you go to set the hook, they'd spit it out. Same thing dead sticking, no matter how much line I'd let them take...they'd spit it out. 

 Anywho, ended up with one keeper, and 2 sub slots, all are still swimming.