Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

What's best area for size and numbers for smallies on the Sissippi?


Recommended Posts

Just wondering what everyone thinks about their favorite stretch of river for smallies.
I fished the stretch from Ripley to just below the Crow Wing and I got one 17".

So what's the best? Sartel, Monti, Anoka, or Little Falls, Ripley, Brainerd. Anyone go more north than Brainerd.

My friend has a cabin in Atkin and the river is pretty small and fast there. Just curious.

Thanks for any replies riverrats. I have a Jonboat now so I want to explore.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Aitkin is good for numbers with an occassional 20". North of Brainerd...same. I think each area you mentioned has the potential for a 20"+ fish. Even trib's (like the crow) that meet the Miss. have the potential of producing big smallies. Just my 2 cents...Nav

------------------
Jon Navratil
Navigator Guide Service
www.naviguides.com
Serving Central MN rivers & lakes

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ooooooh! There's just too many to choose from. Under the Sauk Rapids Bridge. When the water was down I caught 15-20 of them below the Sartell dam, biggest was 17".
Just north of Wilson park in St. Cloud has given up a couple of 20" fish too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the replies so far. Nav, I read the article you wrote. Very nice, where's the link to the report about the tracking of smallies? I just need to get out there and spend some time on the water. I'll try her out this weekend up north somewhere.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is the smallmouth bass telemetry link.
Very interesting info.
There was an article in the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer this month as well.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/montrose/smbtelem.html

I fished the Dayton and Anoka area a lot. Very good area. I am just getting to know the St Cloud area, but without a jetdrive, I wont be up there much. I can say the St Cloud area below the dam is some amazing area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Over the last 17 years, I've made it mission to fish as much of the Upper Miss as possible. That being said, the best for "me" without a doubt, is between ST. Cloud and Coon Rapids.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I get to fish the area from st cloud to satrell a lot and it's been a good spot over the years. Got out 5 times last week. I was in heaven heehee. 19 incher was the biggest with a fair amount of smallies from 12 to 18. They all go back in so I can get em again. Had my son out last night and thought we thought he hooked a pig. Ended up being a 5 pount kitty cat. He was very impressed with the size of the 2 18 inchers I put in the boat. He'd never seen a smally like that. I keep trying to get him addicted. haha

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks fellas. I'm going to try to make it out there on Sat. I still don't know where. Sartel this Sartel that, so it might be Sartel. Unless I get an itch and want to go up nort further

Changed my mind and going to the Croix this weekend. But I'm still going to get there soon.

[This message has been edited by EBass (edited 07-16-2003).]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Navigator-
I read your Smallie article on the main page, great article. I fish that stretch near little falls a lot. You said you caught at 23 inch smallie in that area, that's a nice fish. I know the DNR fisheries biologist in Little Falls and according to him about the biggest a smallie will get near Little Falls is 21 inches. This is due to the water tempatures. In all the years of electro fishing they have done there, where 100s of smallies are measured each year the biggest ones have been just over 21 inches. Below the dam at St. Cloud down to the cities is where there are 22 inchers.

I'm sure the DNR would be interested to know that there are a few 23 inchers around near little falls.

If you have a picture of that fish you should post it because I'm sure it looked like a football. The 21 inchers I have caught look massive and a 23 would be huge compared to a 21.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Mille Lacs Guy for the compliments...and that 23 incher was a blast! She jumped a couple of times..I'm still amazed that the plug didn't fly out of her mouth. Unfortunatley, I was ultra-cheap when it came to purchasing cameras when I was younger and the pictures I have are all pink??? Not sure why and the negatives are no where to be seen. It was a tough lesson to learn about cameras and film.

I have one picture of that 23" where the fish is laying on the my livewell lid with the tape measure in the background. Even though the pictures are pretty much toast, it still brings back memories smile.gif Nav

ps I caught a 21.5" right in front of a DNR researcher in the Clearwater area...he nearly had a heart attack. His comment was, "I didn't know the smallies got that big around here??" Now that one I got pics of..along with a couple of 22's. My website has a pic of one 22" smallie.

------------------
Jon Navratil
Navigator Guide Service
www.naviguides.com
Serving Central MN rivers & lakes

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Having fished from St. Cloud down to the cities for 20 years now, the single best spot i have ever found is close to downtown mpls. Not very scenic but i can catch smallies their like crappies. normal day would be between one to two hundred fish and some pigs, up to 21". Its tough to beat the stretch between Little Falls to Elk River. There are stretches that are better for sure, for instance the otsego area produces many big smallies. I have one 21" this year and my son has 20 3/4" which i consider big for that area and lots of 20's. There are also areas i don't care for, such as the stretch below the coon rapids ****, lots of fish, but at least for me big smallies are rare. ( over 20" )But this area has big muskies and some nice walleyes. It's all good, but some areas are better then others

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey, By the way its Sartell with a pair of L's. Anyways I have grown up in Sartell and speaking from experience the St. Cloud dam up to about Blanchard dam near Rice is home to some very nice smallies. You can catch them consistantly on just about anything from live bait to topwater lures. Its a nice stretch of river to fish because the current doesnt get to strong in most places. Just watch out for the rocks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dang, you guys are making me change my mind. I don't know where to fish this weekend now. Sippi or Croix, Sippi or Croix, Finkle and Eihorn, Finkle and Eihorn. (Yep Ace Ventura)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I don't know if this got a mention some where or not; but Mr. Kevin Turner is featured in an In-Fisherman article about smallmouths that is on the newstands now. Nice job Kevin!

mm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My son and I got out today. Netted 23 dandy smallies. Had 9 spit the mepp in mid flight. What a day!! Man I love that Mississippi!!! My friend fonz 58 had his 2 boys out yesturday and they had a blast also.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Two years ago I caught a 24.5 inch smallmouth from land by Blanchard Damb. The fish was also full of eggs and in legal season. I didn't have a scale to weight that fish, but I got some pictures. After a few short picts I released it. Any one have any idea what it might have weighed. I was thinking about 7.5 to 8.5 lbs.(state record 8lbs ?)
I caught it on a tube jig. It made five or six good runs before I got it in. My uncle, his son and my brother saw me catch it. A week after that fish my uncle caught a 25 incher by blancher, he released that fish also. His fish was caught on a white spinnerbait. I have also caught two 22 inchers by Blanchard.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since the topic didn't specify, I'd have to give pool 4 and 5 up for a nomination!

I've fished the upper near Sauk Rapids only one time, but managed some nice bruisers!

Like to get up there again!

Jim W

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • 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.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.