Orwell

[Guest]

fished Orwell Dam wednesday, caught about dozen smallies at or around 2lbs, also lost one that had to be pushing 5 when it jumped out of the water, it was a blast. Also landed an 8# northern. It was kind of a strange day, however. Usually out there I catch a lot of little smallies (1/2#-1#) only caught 2 or 3. I was out there from 10am to about 5p so it wasn't exactly hot and heavy. The strange this is that the only thing I could get em to hit on was topwater. usually topwater lures don't work at all out there, but yesterday it was all that would work. They'd hit a buzzbait hard for about an hour, then stop. Then I'd throw a pop'r and they'd hit that for awhile and stop. Everytime I switched to a new type of topwater they'd hit it for a little while then they'd stop. Sure was a lot of fun though, not much better than smallies hitting topwater baits and then getting into the current and giving you a battle. That big northern hit a popr real hard as it hit the water when I casted it, came right out of the water, I had seen it (or another northern nearly as big), hit a barn swallow as it swooped into the water earlier in the day, must have thought my lure was another bird. What a blast!!

[Guest]

DARK30-

if you get down to the area sometime this summer, let me know, I can usually get off work and would enjoy fishing Orwell (or other nearby areas) with you.

[Gissert]

on2stik -

How much water was being discharged while you were there?

Any catfish?

[Guest]

a lot of water coming over the dam, water was high as I've seen it, but this is the earliest in the year I've been down there, thus my reference may not be good. A couple guys were catching catfish, seemed to be biting pretty good for them. Also saw one swimming in the shallows that was huge.

[Guest]

The catfish bite has been good at Orwell, cut bait and frogs are working well. Not a problem to catch all the goldeye you need at Orwell.

Expect the best bite to be at or after dusk in the clear water of that section of the river. You catch some very nice eater cats in that area this time of year.

I had a chance to test out the Millenium Look-A-Like Fingerlings on the Otter Tail River recently. I am new to this style of plastics so I was a bit skeptical at first but that changed quickly.

I found them very productive on walleye, SM bass & LM bass, even caught 2 cats on them.

I used them on a jig and also on a drop shot rig, they both worked great. They appear to work best on an ultra-light style specialty jig like the Owner Ultrahead so they fall slowly. I also played with a tiny bass weight and a long leader worked across the faster water of the dam, this is how I found the walleye and the cats.

I am very impressed with this style of Millennium plastics and will mess around with them more that is for sure. I can sure see how drift jigging/rigging near dams would pay off big with these baits.

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Backwater Eddy..><,sUMo,>

Backwater Guiding
"Ed on the RED"
(701)-281-2300

[email protected]

http://home.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/index.html

[DARK30]

So this is where the Otter Tail River talk is! I don't usually click this thred.

The wife wants to get up to her folks for a visit in August so I'll be hitting the river then....Date unknown at this point but I want to harvest a few small eater Channels. Maybe we can have a little party?

I've been wanting to float the Otter Tail from Orwell down to the next bridge. I bought a little inflatable twin kyak (sp?) for just that but I think a regular raft would be the ticket. I just know there would be some good water down that way!

WET NETS!

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cast,cast,cast,cast......

[Guest]

was up on Orwell again on the 4th, didn't have a lot of luck, caught a couple decent smallies. Did see a 10# eye pulled out right at the dam, nice fish.

[Guest]

Hey Dark,

I'll be in the area Aug 21-26 and plan on spending some time on the river looking for a few smallies. I'll be with my neighbor & another bud, but could spring loose to fish with you if the timing works out.

Anyone?

What are the odds that the smallmouth have made their way up to "Red River Lake" or locally known as "Smith's bridge" on #3 just a few miles NE of Fergus Falls? I'm certain it's just a matter of time, but this stretch of the river could end up being a dynamite smallmouth fishery considering the wintering areas and all. It's one of my favorite fishing holes, especially East of the bridge.

FLB

[DARK30]

Fish cannot get past Fergus Falls without wings but they do stock Smallmouth around town. I don't know how far upstream the stocking effort is and its all C&R only.

As soon as I know when I'll be in the area I'll post....I hate calenders so it could be anytime. I do want to hook up with a certain guide that fishes the Otter Tail around Fergus etc. mostly for Catfish.

WET NETS!

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cast,cast,cast,cast......

[Gissert]

I do not think that smallies are above the Diversion Dam in Fergus Falls.

To get to Red River Lake, they would have to get over Diversion Dam, and the much larger Friberg Dam which creates the red River Lake impoundment.

[CPRBASS]

I am thinking of heading over to Orwell this weekend to give the Smallies a try, but I have never fished it before. Any tips or suggstions?

How about the rest of the Ottertail River for smallies?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

[Guest]

I've had my best luck this year with top water, running buzz baits in the slack water near the bridge or cross stream from the rocks off the little playground. I've also had good success with skitter pops in the slack water. Last year, cranks seemed to work better, shad raps and rat'l traps right up at the dam, I'v also had some success with texas rigged plastics at the dam. The bigger fish seem to be nearer the dam in the eddies. Be prepared to lose a lot of cranks if you're going after the big fish near the dam. The walleye I saw caught on the 4th was on a Rat'l trap

Good luck, let us know how you do.

[CPRBASS]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll post the outcome if I get a chance to make it over there.

[Guest]

A buddy & I fished Orwell for the first time Friday afternoon and had such a good time we went back yesterday morning and worked it again.

We Caught several smallies between the bridges, mostly during the heat of the day on Friday. Presentation didn't seem to matter much...the fish were chewing.

Saturday morning I started at the dam and slowly worked my way west throwing Risto Raps. I caught several channel cats ranging from 19 to 25 inches...what a blast! I seemed to get the most strikes throwing all the way across the river to the vicinity of the "launch" or whatever the concrete bars are for on the north side of the river. I ended up losing a lot of cranks...good thing you can buy Ristos cheap!

Just East of the Concrete bridge there is a large boulder along the South side where I caught a dandy carp that was 32" long. What a battle in the fast water!

The thing that amazed me the most was that we had the place almost entirely to ourselves, even on Saturday morning.

My buddy lost a "4 pound" smallie with a leap and a head shake while using a buzz bait. I'm certain he's seeing that in his sleep.

No walleye, though. I really expected to have them mixed in with the channel cats. Don't get me wrong...I'm not disappointed, just surprised.

Have any of you guys used side planers for catting in the river? I'm guessing it would work great below the dam.

I'm hooked. I'm hoping to be back in a couple more weeks.

FLB

p.s. - all fish were released, but next time I might keep a couple of those smaller cats for the grille!

[Dano2]

Anyone fish the Friberg dam this time of year,
I understan it can be good for walleye,
and a guy I work withs son caught alot of crappie there early season.
If its any good this time of year, can I get some input on what to use and whats biting?
thanks,

Oh, by the way, where is this Orwell?
what would you suggest using for walleye,
and what time a day would be best? Supper time I would imagine.
Any specific spots I should concentrate on?

seems folks are cathing alot of smallies,
are they eaten?

thanks, much

[Guest]

all smallmouth are catch and release only at Orwell.

As for the walleyes, I've spent many hours fishing out there and have only caught 2 and seen 3 others caught, all but one have been right at the dam. Crankbaits would probably be the best bet. rat'l traps are my favorite.

I've also had the experience of losing huge smallies to the jump. I lost the biggest smallie I've ever seen to one last year, I gaurantee it was 5+, probably pushing 6. I use buzzbaits on Orwell a lot. I recommend using a trailer hook, however, you tend to miss a lot of fish without one.

if any of you guys are going to be on Orwell anytime soon, you should drop a line on here, I can usually get down there on short notice and always enjoy fishing with and meeting new people.

[Guest]

Fished Orwell twice again this weekend. Pretty much a repeat, except there were quite a few more smallies mixed in with the channel cats by the dam. The rocks are still hungry for cranbaits!

I might stop again next weekend with my wife and kids to do a bit of casting. There's a great playground there the girls should enjoy.

FLB

[CPRBASS]

Hello again,
Sorry it took so long to inform you of my fishing report. In the past few weeks, I have made it down to Orwell about 4-5 times and done well everytime. At least a dozen smallies each time. The biggest ones being about 17in., but I have had larger ones on. I have manage to catch a number of small walleyes, at least one everytime out. The best spots have been accross from the playgroud, along that shorline to the road and from the **** downstream until you get to the trees. The first time out topwaters worked the best (buzzbaits with a trailer and a jitterbug), since then small fat raps or risto raps have worked well. Rattle Traps have worked too, but the best lure is a #3 Mepps (probably any color, I was using yellow or brown with a gold or silver blade). Good Luck to everyone and if I can provide any suggestions or advice just let me know and I'll do my best.