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

My neighbor swears by the dip bait. He also ties his weight on the line, but he still catches channels. 24.5" is a big cat for that area. What's your biggest? I saw (netted) an 8lb channel yrs ago by the Camden Bridge.

my personal best for a channel cat from this area is 25". the average length range of the channels I catch in the elk river to clearwater area is 20 to 25 inches. I did see a really big one that another person hooked and lost at the pier where we were fishing at the time. I would have guessed that fish to be close to 8lbs+(not so long just really fat and round). baits of choice include cut up suckers, chicken liver, crawlers, dip baits, and even shrimp(even thou I have yet to catch one on it but have heard of others that have).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Any reports? Anyone, anyone...Bueller, Bueller?

I was out for a little bit yesterday with little luck, caught a few but they were as fickle as I've ever seen. Guy at the bait shop said business has been steady, but I got the impression that people aren't having much luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

my personal best for a channel cat from this area is 25". the average length range of the channels I catch in the elk river to clearwater area is 20 to 25 inches. I did see a really big one that another person hooked and lost at the pier where we were fishing at the time. I would have guessed that fish to be close to 8lbs+(not so long just really fat and round). baits of choice include cut up suckers, chicken liver, crawlers, dip baits, and even shrimp(even thou I have yet to catch one on it but have heard of others that have).

I've only pulled one channel out of the river but it was 29". Caught it while fishing smallies last November in Monticello. Not sure what it weighed but it was a fun catch. Took about 10 minutes to land.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep, my last two times out there we've caught nice channel cats on a live suckers under a bobber while smalie fishing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Well I absolutely slaughtered the eel pout last night...Couldn't keep them off the hook, and I used both cutbait and crawlers. I should say that "slaughter" is a relative term. I caught four in as many casts in just a few minutes. After that, I figured I'd find something else to do. smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Catching pout durring open water, what the heck? You must have done something to anger the mighty Miss awful bad for her to send those nasty thing's your way grin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, I get quite a few of them up here, especially in the early spring when the water is still cold. I always just think of them as flathead catfish, and that makes me feel better. smile

full-18483-18900-pout.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I always just think of them as flathead catfish, and that makes me feel better. smile

What ever works for you buddie grin ugly catfish for sure grin If they looked like that I think I might fish for something else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Where is the love? Caught a mid teen pig on LOW less than 3 weeks ago that was the highlight of my ice season....as well as the reason my previous phone/camera is sitting 30 ft under water right now crazy Also cooked up a few straps from some smaller ones that tasted better than any sauger or eye that we brought home wink

Link to comment
Share on other sites

never tried pout but sure the hell would love too!!! I eat catfish all the time its amazing all the times ill be fishing from shore and people see me string a catfish and look at me like im crazy are you joking me catfish is pretty dam good. Had a buddy of mine wouldnt eat it then one day grilled some up and it was delicioius and he tried it and everytime he comes over he asks if I have any in the freezer. If i were to ever catch a pout I would probably keep it and eat it!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

got a chance to get out today and try for some catfish. let's just say the cats are winning. I didn't get one bit. The river is lower than normal for this time of the year. did see alot of carp up shallow close to shore. the thing that upset me thou was that there was a dead 24 inch channel cat laying on shore. who ever caught it should have put it back if they didn't want it. another thing is some people need to read the regulation book. there was this guy that came after me and he started to throw a spinner bait. I kindly walked over to him and suggested that he might not want to be throwing a spinner bait this time of year. his response was that he tought that if you don't keep them it was okay . I reminded him that fishing for fish out of season is illegal. he ended up just leaving. from now on I plan to carry extra regulation books with me and give them to the clueless.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yup, I LOVE eating pout....but the ones I catch in this part of the river are pretty small and not worth cleaning. When I was younger, we'd catch tons of the on Mille Lacs, and we cleaned a few up one weekend and were amazed at how good they taste. Unfortunately, over a few years on the Pond, we've only caught one. The ones on the river are pretty small and not worth cleaning, so they're still swimming. smile

For what it's worth, I caught two tonight, both about the same size as the photo. Catching them this time of year(well, shortly after ice out...which is usually later than this) is usually pretty easy, but none of them are of any size.

I also did get my first catfish of the year on Friday night (though none tonight), so the pout bite should slow down about now, for whatever reason.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yup, I bet I've caught more than almost everyone else fishing the stretch of river between here and Itasca. That takes some skill!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I caught another northern strain of the barbless flathead catfish.

full-18483-19089-pout2.jpg

I did also catch one real (channel) catfish, but it was getting cold outside and they weren't biting well enough to keep me away from a good book and late-season NHL hockey. The bite should pick up soon, though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Carmike,

could you set me up with a place to fish for thoses northern strain barbel less flatheads(pouts). that is one of the species I haven't caught yet. they look like they could be a fun fight on light gear.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brad they are a blast on lite gear.

I have caught a couple on Leech Lake while fishing eyes they were in the 7-8 pound range and they put up quite a battle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll send you a PM, Brad.

These fish are tiny....maybe a foot long, and they don't pull all that hard. When I'm fishing off the dock for cats, I use my sunny rod, with a Medium Light action and 4 lb. test. It works just fine....but these little guys aren't all that fun to catch even on my light gear.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I caught the biggest flathead (pout) of the year so far....

full-18483-19143-king2.jpg

And a red-eyed crappie, too (on cutbait...first time that's happened). No cats, though. frown

full-18483-19144-partycrappie.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I caught the biggest flathead (pout) of the year so far....

full-18483-19143-king2.jpg

And a red-eyed crappie, too (on cutbait...first time that's happened). No cats, though. frown

full-18483-19144-partycrappie.jpg

don't you mean a red eyed party crappie(rock bass). I have caught a few of these over the years but this past winter I got my first one while ice fishing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Yup, that's a party crappie (I only learned this from Dtro and Aanderud while ice fishing the Chain this winter).

Went out tonight, but once again, nothing for catfish for me in my spot. I know people are getting them, but off the dock is about as far as I travel. They're usually down there, but I haven't found any yet this year. Maybe they'll start biting soon, but if you're planning on fishing off my dock, don't plan to catch anything besides party crappies and the northern strain of barbel-less (spotted) flathead catfish. smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Those p crappies have been crazy sofar this year. Was up at Blanchard yest tryin for suckers, We could only catch small rockies and the northern strain of big toothed golden crappies whistle , we decided not to stick around too long.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Yeah, I'm doing something wrong (or right?). Can't catch nothin' but those barbel-less spotted catfish (or crappies?).

full-18483-20102-pic1.jpg

I must be doing something right (or wrong?).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Put in at the Dayton access on Saturday 5/19 and headed up the Crow in search of cats...until the lower unit started bouncing off rocks. Good thing I was only going fast enough to make progress upstream. Found a spot to try on the Crow before heading back to the Miss. Had one run that I yanked out of the fish's mouth. I didn't find any areas that I wanted to try for cats on the Miss, so I trolled a crankbait in the channel for a while with no takers.

I decided to try and find a different place to launch the boat on the Crow on Sunday. I was able to do a little shore fishing in the process and hit a couple channel cats and a nice eater sized eyeball.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How was the landing? Rivers do wonders for the lower unit. I put 2 on the past couple years. What other landing on the Crow did ya use? Rockford? Is there one closer to the Sippi but not Dayton?

Early April the cats were on fire and have slowed down since. After being skunked 4 times in a row I kinda gave up for a bit, but want to try again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How was the landing? Rivers do wonders for the lower unit. I put 2 on the past couple years. What other landing on the Crow did ya use? Rockford? Is there one closer to the Sippi but not Dayton?

Early April the cats were on fire and have slowed down since. After being skunked 4 times in a row I kinda gave up for a bit, but want to try again.

I believe there is one in Hanover in the county park but I can't recall the quality of it as far as launching boats.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The landing in Dayton was OK but shallow. Had to back in to where my exhaust pipe was almost in the water to launch a 14 ft duck boat. Not much muck on the slabs when I was there.

There is a canoe access on the Crow in Riverside Park in Hanover. You might be able launch a small boat there, but it's very steep. I wouldn't launch a boat there alone because I wouldn't trust the parking brake on that incline. It would be nice to get an actual public boat launch somewhere on the Crow near Hanover, but I don't think there's enough demand out there to actually get funding for it. It wouldn't be that much work to level out the canoe access in Riverside Park and add some slabs. There's basically a small parking area already there too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Made it out the last few days on the river above and below the St. Cloud dam. Water temp is in the upper 60s, the river is moving real high and fast right now. Most of the fish I have caught have ben holding tight to any curent breaks, no matter how small. Night crawlers have out produced everything else we threw at them. I think this might be due to all the runoff washing a large amount of worms into the river causing a feeding bindge on them.

I saw the north fishing pier was underwater in the Sauk Rapids park taday. Also the docks inWilso have a 3-4ft span of water between the dock and shore now, makes it tough not to get wet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Man, is this water ever going to go down? Made it out for a few hours this afternoon above St. Cloud, Fishing was pretty tough for us this outing. Tried crankbaits, plastics and live bait with most of the fish we did somehow manage to catch coming on plastics pitched to the shorelines. Water temp was 75 and moving quick wink. Lots of big trees and branches coming down river yet so keep an eye up streem if you decide to anchor somewhere.

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.