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.

Mississippi River North Fishing Reports


Joe

Recommended Posts

If you are looking for a place on the river that is 100% safe you wont find it till north of the Royalton dam. Above the St. Cloud there are a few places where people fish but I wouldnt put a lot of trust in river ice. Just too many bad things can happen when you mix river current and ice fishing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I echo the others' comments. If you need more corrobation, just check out the St Cloud Times today--there's a story about a fellow who fell in by Heims Mill. Had to hang onto the ice until the rescue squad got there.

I see guys out all the time around Sartell, and I'm sure the ice above the dam is mostly safe. Not sure where to fish, though....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah you couldn't catch me any where from Little Falls to the cities ice fishing the river. Even in the spots that look alright, the ice can change over night

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guy the other day at Gander told me there was ice on the river south of Monti. I don't believe that, but thought I would check. I thought I might hit the river for a little smallie action this weekend with a slight warmup expected.

Let me know if anyone has been out (doubtful with the temps), but you never know. I've fished it in Feb on warm days with some success, but never in Jan. Below 30 gets a tad cold for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

hey river runner what about the section above the sartell dam to rice thats pretty solid ice arount that section, i now u have sum spots that bad but i fish it alot ands its pretty safe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hey river runner what about the section above the sartell dam to rice thats pretty solid ice arount that section, i now u have sum spots that bad but i fish it alot ands its pretty safe

If you can find an area with not much current you'd probably be alright. I can think of a couple areas but even around those areas it can be kind of shaky. I used to fish a few areas but the river ice just varys so much. On the river if you fall through its gonna be that much harder to get out with the current.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

Thinking about heading up to the Miss this weekend. Anybody been up there recently, wondering if I can wade in and do some fly fishing?

Usually go out between Monti and Dayton...

If anybody feels like sharing a few spots that would be swell, I have heard good things about the St. Cloud area. Wondering if there are any good places near Clearwater...seems like there wouldnt be too much traffic, not a lot around that area.

Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Clearwater isn't my favorite area...lots of sand and slow current. There are fish there, of course, but I think the Monti stretch or the St Cloud stretch will be more productive. Just my .02.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Has anyone been wading up at Montisippi lately? I've been thinking about getting out there some time this weekend.

Are there any other good places to access near there? Is there any fee or anything to park?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the water on the river is high dont know how much wading you can do, i wouldnt be doing any if it was me the water is really movin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gotcha, I checked the flows out of st cloud, 5.4Kcfs. Looks like I'll be checking back next week.

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

just spent 4 hours south of st. cloud, good for cats and smallies, never had a bite on any but live bait. I work everything i had, plastics, cranks, spinners, just Leeches for smallies and cut sucker for channel cats, good bite below the dam on channels.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

current wasn't horrible. pretty shallow and easy. But will wear you out over time if your not in shape.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Not sure about that section. North of the Sartel dam there are plenty of rock bass. Hmmmm...if only all those would have been Walter's... grin wake up... frown

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you are finding the nasty little red eyed rock bass then you should be close to the walleyes. The last couple weeks I have been getting a mixed bag of cats, rockies, smallies, suckers and walleyes above Blanchard. 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig heads and crawlers have worked best for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

you have caught channels north of blanchard? I have yet to catch one that side of the dam.

Were you bouncing across the bottom, or was it more of a lindy rig setup?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just keeping the jig near bottom with short hops every couple seconds. I find better numbers of fish on the down current side of downed submerged trees in the 12-18ft depths. I like the jig and crawler thing because when I try pulling lindys through the woody areas I get hung up alot more often. The channels I get up there are on the small side never one over 5or 6 lbs. but there are a few of them up in that section of river.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

nice i will have to give that a try. i fish below the dam a lot, and it has great channel fishing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

Wow! Spent Fri. & Sat. night, right after dark till about 11pm trying various tactics for fall walleyes that have produced in the past. This would be the Dayton to Monti stretch. The river is crazy high for this time of year. Just seems to be throwing everything off of what I had become accustom to from years past fishing for walleyes in the fall. Should be back out this week though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i was out last week and found a new spot for redhorse for next season for cats and a bunch of smallmouth but no eyes

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was just curious, ive heard its pretty good for carp at the cr dam, where do u usually fish there? any luck lately?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

alright so im fishing on saturday october 9 on the river, above the sartell dam. I got into what i thought was a snag, then the snag started pulling back.. so i get the "snag" into the boat and it was about a 15 inch EELPOUT! ive never ever caught an eelpout in open water, anybody else ever caught one in the river during open water?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Srfishin10 I have never caught them in the river but caught back to back pout on leech lake two weeks after opener some years ago. one was about 8lbs and the other about 12lbs blew me away

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The colder the water gets the more active they become. I will usaly get one or two a year out of the river just before freeze up. There is a pretty good population of them that winter in the deeper river holes. I have no problem handling my own catfish and the odd bowfin now and again but I turn into a little girl and reach for the pliars when I have to unhook a pout blush

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've got a few in open water in the river--mostly in spring and fall. We catch a ton of them in the winter, but that isn't quite as surprising.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
    • 11-87
      Looking for recommendations on scope or red dot    I basically hunt turkey and whitetail, live in southern MN. So it’s all deer/ shotgun    looking to add a scope/ red dot as my eyes don’t work like they used to to with the open sights.    my gun options are 11/87 12. Browning BPS 12    not looking for the most expensive or the cheapest    pros and cons of one over the other
×
×
  • 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.