Minnesota River Fishing Report

[Joe]

post your MN river fishing reports here.

[dsm95]

I'm seeing permanent ice houses outside of New Ulm on the 15 bridge now after the last cold snap.

[harvey lee]

I agree Capt. I have always wanted to fish the Minneosta during the winter but I'm so worried about the ice being safe I don't go.

[Scott K]

I will be fishing it on Sunday and make a report. I usually fish the river quite often in the winter. As was said becarefull, the ice can change alot. The ice can change from 12" to open water over night, also from 12 inches of ice to open water in just a few feet. Always check the ice when walking out there! If you find a nice hole with little current, off of the edge of fast current it can be very rewarding, with a lot of larger fish. Good luck and stay safe if you do go out there!

[DTro]

If you find a nice hole with little current, off of the edge of fast current it can be very rewarding, with a lot of larger fish.

I have just the spot and did a little recon the other day. Now I just need to put a line down. Maybe Sunday for me too.

[ec30_06]

I have had some good days out there on the ice. I haven't ice fished it in a couples years though.

[Scott K]

Well I gave it a try on Sunday afternoon. I tried a couple different spots, I fished with shiners and fatheads, with no luck. There were a few others out there that told me they had good luck a little while back, but nothing recently. I fished a spot in 13 feet of water just off a deep hole that the current was dumping the river slush into and made it impossible to get a line down.

Just an example of how unsafe the river can be, I was drilling holes around the deep hole all with a good 18 inches of ice, I went towards the outer edge of the deep hole where the current dumps into it and there was about 3 inches of ice, where 20 feet away there was 18+ .

I have a few more spots I will try during the next week or so and will report back, hopefully with a better report!

[hamrej23]

I hear ya there.. gotta be careful.

Last year the one time I went on the river I seriously could not keep the eyes off my line.

Caught probably 50 of them nothing bigger than 11 inches though.

Still fun... its amazing on how clear it can get in the winter time.

[dan z]

I am going to give a go this evening in a deep hole,this is the first time going fishing on the river with ice. I hope I can get a couple tips before I go. will a 1/4oz wt be enough? should I try ne jign raps/CD's or just dead stick. shiners/ fatheads/chubs/ small suckers. I am wanting to catch an eye or two. thanks in advance for tips and tricks!!!!

[mskyfshntchr]

Well here are my river ice fishing experiences which all come on the Mississippi.

Jigging raps are the #1 bait thru the ice. River fish want movement and these give it. Plus with the # of hooks the hooking % is high. Tip the treble with a minnow head. #5's are top, try 7's for a change up.

A rocker minnow is a close second. Tip the hook with a minnow head also. Chartruese is great.

Never have much luck with deadsticking for walleyes. It works for crappies, but not for me with the walleyes.

You say deep hole. How deep? Is there current there? If you can find a current break (wingdam) the fish can stack up on the up river side in the deep water.

The raps work fine in 30 FOW and more. If there is a lot of current there- you will want a #7 or to move to a more slack area.

Good luck!

[dan z]

I am hoping its 18ft or so its like 30 in the summer time I will give your tips a try thanks.

[dan z]

well my efforts were 100% the water was only 5% of what I thought is was going to be deepest spot I found was 5.5ft guess I wont be fishing there again! How deep is minicon park?

[hunter101]

ive found about 14 fow at minicon, but there could be deeper spots

[walleye08]

i found 18 last week

[SHAQ]

The mn needs her rest boys, were lucky shes sustains the pressure she gets already, just my personal take.

[delta hunter]

It can take the pressure a lot more than any lake around here. Plus its just certain area that are easier to access that get what pressure there is!

[SHAQ]

The mn gets pounded up in my parts

[hamrej23]

Where is that?

[ec30_06]

It is an open system that can take some pressure. It gets little to none in the winter around here.

[SHAQ]

i know shes a definate producer but to risk your life for some fillits

[Green Hornet]

idk what your talking about dude that river goes for miles with holes in it most people dont even know about.....

[sparcebag]

The mn gets pounded up in my parts

Dent by Perham

[hamrej23]

i know shes a definate producer but to risk your life for some fillits

Ah, you gotta die from something, mine as well be with a fillet of fish from the river and a cold beverage.

[riverrat56]

I haven't been down to Minicon this year, but you should be able to find close to 30' in that stretch, not sure on the river levels though. In the spring right after walleye opener we found a few spots that pushed 40'.

[hamrej23]

I have always wanted to fish over in the New Ulm area with a boat, I have a infinity time on in the Granite falls area, but nice to try something new as well.

River Rat-

Is there alot of bends and holes in and around the new ulm area, per say from Redwood to New Ulm?

Any falls or Dams in that area?

[riverrat56]

From New Ulm upstream to Highway 4 is a great stretch, lots of nice deep holes, big bends and tons of cricks flowing in. Heading downstream of New Ulm it starts to get wider, narrower and shallower, especially past the Cottonwood river. I do not believe there is any dam in the area, I know alot of people run snowmobiles in the winter over that stretch.

[duckman84]

It gets up to 23 at minicon and i believe its past 30 fow at the cut just below minicon

[SHAQ]

idk what your talking about dude that river goes for miles with holes in it most people dont even know about.....

i know most of em

[SHAQ]

Originally Posted By: SHAQ

The mn gets pounded up in my parts

Dent by Perham

yes dent by perham, but i travel & also live in the southern metro

[icecold]

The bite is on at da minicon