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Minnesota River Fishing Report


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Dang, I'd like to get into some daytime flatties. Especially with this nice weather. We were out last night, got out there fairly late and only spent 4 hours on the water. One small channel cat on cutbait and one good thump/run on a 9 inch bullhead that I swung and missed on.

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Was on the river last week thursday night to friday morning. 9pm to 10am.

OH JOY THE BUGS WERE OUT!! Pretty much ran up the river blind. Turned off all lights except the front flood light, which had so many bugs in front of it there wasn't much light hitting the water. I'd turn on my spotlight for 2 seconds and it was like it started sleeting the bugs were so bad...Such is life on the muddy ditch!! Still a very enjoyable, relaxing night...well after the fog rolled in and the bugs disappeared!

full-26433-11094-img_3718.jpg

full-26433-11095-img_3716.jpg

And about midnight the fog rolled in thicker than the bugs, so visibility was still zero, but at least i wasn't picking mayflies out of every orfice!

Ended up missing 6 on the night. 5 on cut bait (Fresh sucker), channel cats ran with the bait, and as soon as i touched the rod to set the hook the baits were dropped. This i thought was odd. Once, the bait pulled out of the mouth. And the other missed fish was my 10" bullhead got crushed, but nothing ever took it. I noticed the bully stopped jerking my rod, so i gave it another ten minutes and reeled in a squashed bully. Good sight to see even though there wasn't a fish attached.

Turned out to be a beautiful sunrise and morning though! full-26433-11096-img_3722.jpg

I spent the morning suspending a large sucker under a floatn in a backwater area that was full of carp. Though it would produce a late feeding flathead, but no luc

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Bust out the shopvac - I wonder if a channel destroyed that bully? Sounds like it. Cool sunrise pic!

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Truth its a drag cleaning up the boat after a bug night but IMO well worth it.

I have a friend that would always get in my boat barefoot he hates shoes and its not a problem but when the bugs are thick its bad enough walking thru your boat listening to the bugs snp crackle and pop but he did it barefoot and always was kinda gross with the bugs squished in his toes or on his feet sick

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Barefoot on "Pops"... laugh

As a kid i would walk around the cattle yard barefoot, i think i'd do that again before i'd take my shoes off on a buggy night on the river eek

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Very, very foggy out there last night. Saw a few others who said F it and were waiting it out on sandbars like we were.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Cought my first cat of the year last night, 15lb channel. It had been so long since I caught one I let it bite up my hand some. Fog and bus came in round ten and I was wearing shorts, phone died and I too said f-it and went in.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Northerns, northerns, northerns, I've never caught so many and been cut off on the river as I have this year. Even got a large mouth the other day, talk about never knowing what your going to get. It's been a strange year.

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Northerns, channel cats, walleyes, and of course sheep head. Trolling/casting/jigging the rip rap especially by feeder creeks and outside bends. Has been great since the river has gotten low. Caught and released 28 & 29 1/2 inch marble eyes:-)

Love this time of year........fishing....hunting......and football:-)

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We out fishing with my girlfriend on Sept. 10th. We were fishing a woodpile with nightcrawlers when she thought she was snagged for a moment. Then the rod bent over and she felt the fish. After a nice fight we boated a 16 pound flathead. She was really excited especially since it was her first catfish. I have been out twice since then and been skunked.

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Went out today with my brother who flew in. We fished about 4 hours and caught some sheephead, small channels and a 3 lb. largemouth. The bass was the first one I have caught on the MN River in the 15 years I've been fishing it. I usually target cats and carp on the river. Glad the crummy weather blew over and we had a fun day on the water.

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Thanks Elwood......Just got back from Lake Superior.....Wonderful Lake Trout trip:-) Looking forward to somemore time on the Minnesota River......after whatever bends the rod!!!!! Ahh the beauty of river fishing during the fall........just fishing boats.......no more pleasure cruisers;-) (no offense)

P.S. Elwood nice flathead!!!!!

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The river is getting pretty low now, so if you adventure out, be prepaired to get out and push if your not driving a jet boat.

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Iffin I wasnt going to the dead sea this weekend I would head down with the mud motor for cast and blast maybe the weekend following.

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I will be in sconsin this weekend for the youth deer hunt. Hoping my son throws a little lead into this full-17556-12762-pict0967.jpg

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^^Nice Fish!

Was out on Mon tossin a jig around. We caught feesh. wink

I gave jigging the minnesota a whirl once last fall when the river was WAY high, I would like to spend some hours this fall chasing after a few feesh as well smile.

My question for you rushing, is when jigging, what is your preferred test of line, and do you use braid or some type of mono. I ask because i got the bright idea of using 20# fireline for my 1 trip last year, and after i broke a brand new rod (Yeah it was a cheapo) i didn't thinkg the 20# was a good idea.

So assuming that you get snagged a lot, what is you line preference?

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TW I use 6-8lb and have been known to use 4lb test when jiggin the river I do lose a few jigs but I fish the spots that are not log laiden and try and pick good clean spots. this spring I did a bit of jiggin and was using 4lb test and put the smack down an a bunch of FEEESH and never broke off..

I guess I would rather break off easy than spend the presious time tring to get unstuck in the snag but thats just me.

Nice eye hondaman

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I guess I would rather break off easy than spend the presious time tring to get unstuck in the snag but thats just me.

Thanks, That is what i was looking for!

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I believe I am spooled with 20lb power pro. I get snagged constantly but I have yet to break off in the last two times out.

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Nice, SO are you just straightening out your jigs then? That is why i thought it would be a good idea to use 20#, but matched with a cheap rod was....well short lived. grin

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I use a 10lb/2lb diameter braid on most of my river rods now, maybe one is 20 # braid, I can't remember without looking. BUT- I highly recommend the hi vis line. The one I still have green power pro on is worthless when the light starts to get low and have to switch rods to see what I'm doing. I switch some over to mono spools then for any winter fishing out of the boat.

The thing with the braid is saving the time not tying a new jig on. Most jigs you can pull out and bend back a couple times with the needle nose before you need to toss em.

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The thing with the braid is saving the time not tying a new jig on. Most jigs you can pull out and bend back a couple times with the needle nose before you need to toss em.

Thats another great way to look at it Alagnak and will try it also I do use braid in the spring but more often than not I use monno for other types of FEEESH

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Well it appears the Mn River has broke the all time top 5 low water mark in the past few days. Unbelievable how within 12 months we can have an all time high water mark, then within 12 months, we have a top 5 low water level, with top 2 lowest very easily be attained. We are at 714.52 now and the records are

Low Water Records

(1) 701.00 ft on 01/01/1950

(2) 713.29 ft on 11/16/2001

(3) 713.36 ft on 10/11/2000

(4) 714.40 ft on 09/25/1998

(5) 714.60 ft on 10/16/1996

With the lowest water level never going to be obtainable due to the river filling in so much in the past 60 years. These crazy water level swings have sure put a hurtin on my summer fishing.

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  • 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
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