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.

Riverbend Sleeper 1/10-1/12


Recommended Posts

Thought I'd shoot out a quick report while I have time and it may help out some folks...

Four of us fished a sleeper from Thur afternoon - Saturday in about 34 feet for our annual LOTW trip. We ended up with 47 fish for the 2 and half days of fishing. Probably 20 of those were keepers. Had two nice slot fish at 23" and 24" and also had 2 nice 12" perch. The rest of the keepers were 14-17 inch eyes and 12-15" sauger. The remaining 25 or so fish were small saugers. Best day was probably Saturday thanks to a flurry of suspended walleyes (10-20 ft. below the ice) that came through between 5 and 6pm. All in all a good trip and our first time in a sleeper. It was not a bad way to go and will definitely will consider that option in the future.

Oh yeah - Most fish were off the bottom with 50/50 mix of jig and deadstick action. Didn't really seem to be preferential to shiners or fatheads. gold/red were better than other colors for jigs of course.

Good luck to all!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the report. River Bend is top notch, so much so

that I bought a trailer there. They are fishermen thats for sure. Much hard work is done before the customers are hauled

out to a Lake of the Woods adventure.

There are several "world class" operations taking people fishing on LOW. Charlie, Judy, the guides, cooks, waitress's, work crew,

Max and Wilson too are fine examples.

Glad you had a good trip

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salmonjedi: Thanks for the report. I'm leaving in exactly two hours for Riverbend. Have been fishing with them for the past 8 years and they have always done a great job. Hopefully the fish are still thinking about biting when I get there. Good luck and hang on. Bill

Curt: Which trailer is yours in case I run out of beverages...LOL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes - it was my first time using Riverbend and I was real happy with their service. Talked with Charlie awhile while we were having breakfast(also very good by the way) and got some good advice about timing and thing as far as how the fishing goes year to year. He's a nice guy as are the other folks.

Bill - good luck on your trip! I'm jealous!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

SalmonJedi, does Riverbend let you drive your own vehicle out to their sleepers, I'll be going up next Mon-Tues. and am wondering if it's a possibility? Thanks for any feedback.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We did drive out to the sleeper... They hook you up with a road pass from Adrians and follow their road most of the way. Then we split off onto a smaller road for a mile and a half or so that I believe was maintained by Riverbend. I would recommend a 4 wheel drive though to be safe.

Good Luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wolfman thanks for asking that question. I will be up the same days as you at Riverbend however I am using the daytime houses and staying at the resort. I am hoping to drive out. I will be in a Red Explorer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Eurolarva, I'll be driving a red extended cab Dodge Ram with a topper & a HotSpots Oudoors sticker on the tailgate. Stop by if you're in the area. Sounds like it's going to be chilly! Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I will be looking for you. I hope we can drive out. I want to take a portable with and move around.

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.