tamarack river

[grpd]

My wife and I will be staying on island lake just south of

northome from June 9 thru june 19 and curious to know if we went to red lake and fished the river beween the bridge or the state campground and say hillman's would there still be walleyes and crappies in the river and if so would you fish for them under a bobber or just jig? thank you for any info

[grpd]

not even one little hint

[cookie129]

The river will slow down but there should still be some fish in the river.I like a floating jig as there are a few snags. Crappies may bite if there in there early in the morning or more towards dark. If you bobber fish for walleye try and get your bait just off the bottom.Will you be putting in at the old steel bridge and floating down from there?From the hwy bridge to the lake would not be much of a float.Couple hundred yards at best.I will assume your bringing a canoe?If you would like me to give you a ride up to the old steel bridge just track me down

[grpd]

I was thinking about landing at the public landing by the bridge fishing up river for a ways, maybe to hillman's or farther, i do not know where the steel bridge is, but anyway then just floating back down to the landing, just was not sure if any fish in the river now or they left for the lake. Also would be in a 16' alumacraft with 40 honda and maybe the river is to low to even take this boat up river, not sure

[Scott K]

You will be fine with your boat, there should be plenty of fish in the river to entertain you, it may slow abit, but you will catch some. I took my 115 hp 18ft boat up the river past the steel bridge a couple weeks ago, plenty of water.

Good luck, enjoy the fishing!

[cookie129]

With a boat and motor the lake will be the place to be. Watch for one of those calm windless days and enjoy the lake while your in the area

[grpd]

Thank you both very much for the information and cookie thank you for your generous offer of bringing us to the steel bridge, I hope I get to fish the main lake but thought if it was windy or something the wife and I could leave island lake for the day and go up the tamarack and fish, i was from the public access to the state campground but never fished it or gone any farther, I have read in these forums so much about going up to the steel bridge that I am looking forward to seeing it just so I understand what the locals or river users are talking about

[deja vu]

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...I hope I get to fish the main lake but thought if it was windy or something the wife and I could leave island lake for the day and go up the tamarack and fish, i was from the public access to the state campground but never fished it or gone any farther, I have read in these forums so much about going up to the steel bridge that I am looking forward to seeing it just so I understand what the locals or river users are talking about

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grpd, the easiest way to see the steel bridge is to drive across the next time you're in Waskish. You'll have difficulty launching your boat anywhere near the bridge, without permission.

I am probably misreading your posts... but if it is too windy to fish on Island Lake, it will certainly be too windy to fish on URL.

If you then decide to fish the Tamarac River, you'll probably find some walleyes... but the odds are, they will all be over 17". You might find some sheepshead and northerns... Crappies, probably not...

If you feel the winds will keep you off of Island Lake, why don't you consider trying for walleyes and panfish on Seretha Lake or Dark Lake, both near Gemmell? At least you'll be able to keep what you catch in those small lakes.

Good luck.

[grpd]

thanks deja vu for the info, i am saying if to windy to fish island i would fish the tamarack and was curious as to any fish in it this time of year, was not sure if it got real low or what but does sound like fish in it, the steel bridge i have no idea where it is at, all i know i have read posts about it but the only bridge i know is the one by the landing so i was hoping to run up river and see it, would not know how to get there by road

[Random guy]

The steel bridge is a smaller bridge about twenty minutes by boat up river, not to be confused with the "highway bridge" that is by the landing. The steel bridge is somewhat of a navigtional marker as it is just about the end of deeper water in the river. Once past the bridge the river starts to get smaller and shallower and another mile up river it becomes almost dangerous to try and navigate with the current low water conditions. Not to crash any fancy thoughts but the steel bridge is just that, an old steel bridge with wood pilings and a wood deck, not a real eye catcher unless you are into bridges and swallow nests.

Look in the deep holes between the mouth of the river and the steel bridge and you should find some fish.

[deerwoody]

We took the boat to the last of the deep water a little past the steel bridge it was good fishin and a nice trip.And yes there are a couple swallows under the bridge.

[Slabby]

How deep is 'deep water' in the river?

I haven't been up there--

[deja vu]

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...the only bridge i know is the one by the landing so i was hoping to run up river and see it, would not know how to get there by road

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grpd, many years ago there was yet another logging railroad bridge, or trestle, that crossed the Tamarac River several miles upstream from Waskish and the current Highway 71 bridge.

You can still easily drive to within a quarter-mile of this old logging railroad trestle, using the Lost River state forest road and other connecting state forest roads that have been recently improved by wild rice paddy operators. The Lost River forest road intersects with Highway 71 about halfway between Waskish and Kelliher… You need a good map or detailed instructions to travel these roads and visit this site.

You have to walk that last quarter-mile on the old railroad grade in order to get to the location where the trestle actually crosses the Tamarac River. (If you’ve used Google Earth, or one of the many other mapping programs, here are the GPS coordinates for that old trestle: 48 degrees 09’ 49.05” N, 94 degrees 22’ 58.43” W.) The trestle foundations are still standing…

A team of macho adventurers, wearing permethrin-treated clothing and with DEET lotion applied to neck, wrists and hands, could carry a canoe along the old railroad grade from the rice paddy road to the old trestle foundations, slide the canoe into the headwaters of the Tamarac River, and paddle and pole their way down the several miles of winding river to the public landings near the Highway 71 bridge. I have no doubt you’d see many interesting birds and animals; if you made this trip in early May, you might well see spawning gamefish.

Such a canoe trip would require serious planning and equipment review. If the water levels were high, the trip might be completed in a few hours; if the water levels were low, however, the trip might well degenerate into hell on earth…

The Waskish Chamber of Commerce should investigate sponsoring a multi-canoe event… call it the Tamarac River Wilderness Canoe Race. Schedule it for the weekend before the opening of walleye season, and have the local resorts and businesses sponsor canoe teams in the initial event…

Visualize Jeff and Cookie as a team representing Agassiz Lodge, Doug and John representing the state park, the Petrowske’s, father and son, representing Hillman’s… other teams representing West Wind, Hudec’s, Mort’s, Rogers, et al…

Start at the dock of the public launch site just west of the Highway 71 bridge. Have the contestants run to their pickups, each loaded with their canoe, and drive south on Highway 71 to Lost River forest road, then east and north to the old railroad grade. Unload and carry the canoe along the old railroad grade to the headwaters of the Tamarac River, slip the craft into the water and paddle and pole as fast as possible downstream, to finally be greeted by a crowd of loyal supporters at the dock of the public launch site just west of the Highway 71 bridge…

Minnesota’s answer to Alaska’s Iditerod? I can hardly wait!

[Random guy]

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the Petrowske’s, father and son, representing

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The Petrowskes would represent the Petrowskes and travel that region in the same style boats and methods the Petrowske family used 80+ years ago. You guys can have your canoes and paddles, we know what goes on in those parts...we will have motors, case of bug spray, anti itch everything and a small arsenal of good firearms, the critters are hungry and could very well mistake dangerous humans as harmless upright steak. There is a good reason locals wait for a hard frost before heading into those parts.

As for the question about depth in the river; during normal wind conditions you will have seven foot holes and 4 foot flats past the bridge until you get to what some call the river meadows or end of the trees then it averages one foot straights with three foot holes on the corners. If you get through the meadows you come into patches of hardwoods along the river standing out of the surrounding bog country, now you have super shallow water, downed trees and very busy beavers working in the hum of a million mosquitoes.

[deja vu]

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The Petrowskes would represent the Petrowskes and travel that region in the same style boats and methods the Petrowske family used 80+ years ago.

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OK, we've got one team onboard, only need 3 or 4 more.

Don't hold back, cookie... You and Jeff would make another great entry.

Shouldn't be difficult to persuade the Waskish Chamber to open up the watercraft type to square-stern sportcanoes, jon boats, inflatables... powered by paddles, oars, poles, even an outboard?

But remember, the Sierra Club will have monitors along the course, to insure that the racing teams do not totally destroy the beaver dams as they pass by...

Maybe a chain saw should also be allowed?

[cookie129]

We did a hunting canoe trip a couple of years back. It was quite the adventure but my old tired body could not handle that trip/race.I have made that trip on sled and many chain saws would be needed.

[swamptiger]

Sounds like sort of a short trip to me...

For a true adventure, try putting in at the headwaters of the Lost River where it starts north of Gemmell.

We tried going through the Lost River snowmobile trail in the summertime once with an Argo. We got about halfway through, and got hung up on a log. (the machine was actually sort of floating and churning through the muck up to that point) That's when we decided to turn around...

[deja vu]

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For a true adventure, try putting in at the headwaters of the Lost River where it starts north of Gemmell.

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swamptiger, if you can pinpoint the source of the Lost River you should be famous... like Schoolcraft, who allegedly discovered the source of the Mississippi.

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We tried going through the Lost River snowmobile trail in the summertime once with an Argo.

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I used to hunt grouse on the first 'island' on the Gemmell pit side of that trail. I actually was able to drive in with a 4x4 and a small boat on a trailer last fall, to the first open water, just before the 'island'. Like cookie, decided I was too old for that adventure. Hell turning around, but I got back out to dry land without getting stuck.

The 'pine islands' are probably my favorite part of Minnesota.

[swamptiger]

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I actually was able to drive in with a 4x4 and a small boat on a trailer last fall, to the first open water, just before the 'island'.

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Last fall was probably about as dry as it ever gets in there.

The actual source of the Lost River is generally the swampy area near Gemmell, but I know of two main "arteries" - one to the south of Gemmell, and one to the north. The one on the north side is what we refer to locally as "the off-take" ditch north of Gemmell. Follow that, and you will be led into that mysterious area in the bog where the Lost River ends and the Tamarack River begins....

As I said, it would be a true adventure...

[kelly-p]

What always amazed me about the Lost River was that the spawning fish have to go completely underground for about a mile to get where they end up.

As far as a canoe trip down the Tamarac? I spent a big part of my life trapping along the Tamarac and I have too many memories of being wet, cold and miserable and with a long walk or boat trip home to go to go back in there for fun.

[swamptiger]

I hear ya...

Back in the 1930s, one of my uncles ran a trapline on skis from Gemmell along one of those drainages out to the bog. When he reached the bog, he turned north and hit the Dinner Creek flowage up by Margie. Then he followed the Dinner Creek drainage back to the Gemmell Ridge and back home - all in one very long day.. Doesn't sound like much fun to me, but I guess those furs were what kept the family going during the Depression years..

[grpd]

I am sure glad I inquired about the tamarack river and fishing it, it turned into quite a very interesting topic for me to read, seems like you folks that answered have been in the area for a long time and have lots of history there

[deja vu]

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I hear ya...

Back in the 1930s, one of my uncles ran a trapline on skis from Gemmell along one of those drainages out to the bog.

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You know, swamptiger, I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you about when the walleyes will migrate to the deeper water in the west end of Dark Lake?

And, have the walleyes fully recovered from the last winterkill on Seretha?

I promise not to pass your information on...

[swamptiger]

I believe the walleye population is presently down in Seretha. The lake is presently full of bluegills, bass, northern, and a few walleye.

It took me 40 years to figure Dark Lake out, so - that - my friend, is what I would consider to be classified information....

[pike fisher 02]

we tried going on dark lake once in the winter by the creek but there was about 150ft of open water dose anyone put there boat in by the creek or do the locals kinda claim it as there lake another thing i noticed was there was a screen in front of the culvert is there trout or somthing in there or are they trying to keep something in/out ??

[pike fisher 02]

sorry wrong dark lake

[deja vu]

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I believe the walleye population is presently down in Seretha...

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Thank you kindly for the information, swamptiger. It's far more than I ever expected to receive...

I've often tried to follow the advice I offered to grpd earlier in this thread. Every time I cruise through beautiful downtown Northome, I see the extra two cents per gallon posted at the local gas station, and I don't stop until I reach Highway 73. I always turn right towards Gemmell, but my hands usually turn the pickup left when I hit the Kelliher cutoff.

Sometimes I steadfastly continue north on 73, only to unconsciously turn left at Mizpah. I come to my senses in beautiful downtown Kelliher, and I need to get gas.

If you ever see a white Toyota pickup towing a black Grumman sportcanoe drive by, toot your horn. Like to meet you...

[swamptiger]

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and I don't stop until I reach Highway 73

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Highway 71.

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If you ever see a white Toyota pickup towing a black Grumman sportcanoe drive by, toot your horn. Like to meet you...

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Next time you pass through take the time to stop & say hello.. Just out of curiousity, for someone who is apparently not from the area - some of your comments have been surprisingly on the mark - you talk like you're either a "native" or else well-aquainted with the area - either first-hand, or through someone else who is...???

[deja vu]

swamptiger wrote:

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Next time you pass through take the time to stop & say hello...

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Was up on LOTW last week. On my way south this past Saturday afternoon, I detoured through beautiful downtown Gemmell, stopped at the local restaurant/bar to inquire where the 'swamptiger' was to be found. To my surprise, neither the young lady behind the bar nor the two customers had any idea who the 'swamptiger' might be...

Not wanting to admit defeat so easily, I searched a bit for other local residents. The streets were empty... Finally, I knocked on the door of the house (parsonage?) adjoining the Gemmell Community Church. A smiling young man opened the door. Unfortunately, he didn't know who the 'swamptiger' might be, and he doubted that his absent father would know, either.

The young man admitted to being an avid fisherman, so I asked him how many walleyes he had caught recently in a certain nearby lake. It is my experience that sons of ministers are sometimes truthful when unexpectedly asked such a question. He reluctantly told me he had been out recently, and had brought home a very nice walleye, thank you.

A frown replaced his pleasant smile. I could tell he was shocked, shocked to learn that another person in the town was aware of his secret fishing hole. I thanked him for his courtesy, and quickly departed.

[swamptiger]

Quite the piece of detective work....

Did you go fishing, then?