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St Cloud Fishing Reports


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@Rick G

 

have you changed your approach or how you are fishing with no snow cover this year? It seems to really have changed things. Fish are spooky to  any movement above the ice.  Even just jigging a rod with your hand etc. spooks fish. Weed lines are not dying off etc., fish are staying up shallower etc.

 

I have had a lot more luck just dead sticking and bobber fishing and being away from holes or intentionally drilling holes in slush pockets or drifts to eliminate shadows etc.

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On 2/22/2024 at 9:19 AM, rundrave said:

@Rick G

 

have you changed your approach or how you are fishing with no snow cover this year? It seems to really have changed things. Fish are spooky to  any movement above the ice.  Even just jigging a rod with your hand etc. spooks fish. Weed lines are not dying off etc., fish are staying up shallower etc.

 

I have had a lot more luck just dead sticking and bobber fishing and being away from holes or intentionally drilling holes in slush pockets or drifts to eliminate shadows etc.

Just trying to make as little noise as possible once holes have been drilled.  

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Being we had a few hours of weather cold enough to make ice I decided to check out one of the small shallow lakes in the St Cloud area.  Ice was in surprisingly good shape this morning, had about 6-7 inches of hard ice again.  

Found a pretty decent bite in 8-11 ft of water.  Crappies were riding high in the water colom while sunfish remained close to the bottom for the most part.  Best bait for me was a 3mm motoroil/chrome with a impulse mayfly.

By mid afternoon we could definitely tell the ice wasn't as firm as it was in the morning. By the time we left at 4pm I had put all thoughts of returning tomorrow morning out of my mind.  At no point did I feel unsafe, we were prepared for whatever, floatation suits, ropes and ice picks at the ready😏😁

Today was definitely my last day on the ice for the yr...next stop, spring carp/suckers😁

 

IMG_20240229_100802816_HDR.jpg

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yea that ice looks like its about on its last leg!!!!

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  • 1 month later...

Spring is here😆 Finally got my first open water outing of the yr.... Surprisingly, fish are actually shallow and biting....for now anyway.  

 

IMG_20240406_133402865_HDR~2.jpg

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
5 hours ago, Rick G said:

Spring is here😆 Finally got my first open water outing of the yr.... Surprisingly, fish are actually shallow and biting....for now anyway.  

 

IMG_20240406_133402865_HDR~2.jpg

Nice but not today, looking at the snow outside the window right now!  :D

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4 hours ago, leech~~ said:

Nice but not today, looking at the snow outside the window right now!  :D

Didn't get any snow in St. Cloud, just  needed rain.  

Hopefully back out next Tuesday for suckers and wed for panfish again...time to go pick some nightcrawlers 😁

Edited by Rick G
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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
1 hour ago, Rick G said:

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

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Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭

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  • 2 weeks later...

Been out couple times this last week. Between the rain and wind there really was only one day this past week where it was actually warm out fishing.  Water temps are low mid 50s yet, not much change from last week.  Fish are still holding out off the first break on some area lakes and right up in the boat channels and back bays of others.  

Been keeping it pretty simple as far as tackle used. Having the best luck with the lil hustler tubes under a small float or throwing the Bobby Garland baby shads with a 1/32 jig head.  The Bobby's have definitely been my big fish catcher this spring.

IMG_20240430_151140918_HDR~2.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Don't get too many opening weekends with weather like we are having for this one😁

Opted to hit the river late morning looking for whatever would cooperate.  Bass seem to be either right on the beds or real close, most of my fish came from under 5 ft of water. 

 

IMG_20240511_114114739_HDR~2.jpg

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
5 hours ago, Rick G said:

Don't get too many opening weekends with weather like we are having for this one😁

Opted to hit the river late morning looking for whatever would cooperate.  Bass seem to be either right on the beds or real close, most of my fish came from under 5 ft of water. 

 

IMG_20240511_114114739_HDR~2.jpg

Rick, you need to take some tips from eyeguy and fish pictures! 😆

582556703_IMG_20240511_114114739_HDR2.thumb.jpg.2f73062d9601b8c678c509f1642c4f37.jpg

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
2 hours ago, Rick G said:

Figured it was safe to post pics with landmarks here😁. Probably only 6-8 people left that still look at this site🥴

Just saying. 😄

20240512_164216.jpg

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3 hours ago, leech~~ said:

Just saying. 😄

20240512_164216.jpg

Yep, that's where I was🤪. Best fish were way up in the shallow boulders...  

And.....if the 3 or 4 people that read this want to fish it.... go right ahead😁😏 

My bass spots are no secret....trophy panfish spots, that's another story🤪

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
1 hour ago, Rick G said:

Yep, that's where I was🤪. Best fish were way up in the shallow boulders...  

And.....if the 3 or 4 people that read this want to fish it.... go right ahead😁😏 

My bass spots are no secret....trophy panfish spots, that's another story🤪

I didn't pick Leech~~ for no reason!  :P

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  • 3 weeks later...

Took my dad out Sunday afternoon SW of St Cloud. Spot Locked in 8-9 ft on weed edge.  Caught several crappie and sunfish in just the one spot.  Also caught several 3 inch bass.  Pesky little things. Both crappie and sunfish  had eggs. I expected the crappie to be done, as I know sunfish need warmer water yet.  Temp on locator was 65. First fresh fish since last fall. Very tasty. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Went out on the chain this morning. Water temp almost 70. Only landed a 10 in walleye and a decent size cat. Missed a fair amount. Fighting with my minkota too much.  I think the shop just used the wiring I had from my old trolling motor.  I see minkota recomends 6 guage and looks like I have about 12 in their now.  Not sure why the marine dealer didnt replace it, but it should be an easy fix as long as I can find wire somewhere.  I had it in there last fall for 2 months and all they did was replace the remote. Said that bad remotes can cause issues.  First time out this spring it acted up right away.  Took it back, and after 2 weeks all they came up with is a bad power issue in boat. Said my plug on boat and trolling were too small so they replaced it with bigger one.  It helped first time out but not completely.  Next two times out was terrible again, but if I play with the wiring I can get it to work great til I move spots.  So this time I’ll fix it myself. Being without the boat both those times was tough. 

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That wasn't In-tune marine by chance??🤔

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No unfortunately it was the other one in Richmond. I really like them, but this time I guess wasn’t their best.  I ordered the wire on Amazon today. Went to 5 places in St Cloud after work and no one had it. 

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Anyone here willing to recommend a good launch or town to find some smalie’s next week on the big river? Looking for somewhere preferably closer to Duluth, I’ve fished rivers around here this week and only have a couple 14” fish to show for it and a few skunks :/ . Only place I’ve found fish up here is right up on creek mouths, nothing else seems to work, really muddy water. Will be fishing out of a shallow hull 14’ boat with a 15 hp tiller, looking at anywhere from Grand Rapids to St. Cloud and trying to narrow it down, pretty inexperienced smallie and river angler but I have some time off next week and wouldn’t mind spending another day on the water, and hopefully end up with some decent fish to show for it (will be released). Thanks for any input 

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This is a St Cloud forum check out something up near Duluth 

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Sorry I do not river fish much. I know the Mississippi near Baxter\Brainerd is good as the Linders fish it.  Good luck.

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22 minutes ago, fishingstar said:

This is a St Cloud forum check out something up near Duluth 

Yes I know, I am wondering about spots from St. Cloud and north, along the Mississippi, I am from Duluth and just thought I’d mention it

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The Miss gets tough when the water is high and dirty.  Your entire range you’re considering can be good but I think right now you’re gonna need to fish tight to the bank in the eddys.  Or maybe the downstream ends of islands.  They probably won’t be in the main flow much.

 

I’ve been tempted to get out there myself but she looks like she needs to settle down a bit first.

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I agree with Wanderer, the rivers are high, murky, and swollen right now.  Give it a week or two.

 

Look for current seams, large isolated boulders, undercut banks, and shoreline wood or overhanging trees when we get into more of a "summery" pattern.  Above and below deeper holes would also be a good idea once we get further into summer.

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Made it back to the chain today. Sunfish are spawning but finding them in the thick weeds is nearly impossible. My main reason to get out was to test my minnkota after rewiring it. It definitely made the difference. Never shut down once and I ran it for several hours.  Now I just need to relearn how to catch fish.😂

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On 6/7/2024 at 8:28 PM, Fishguy24 said:

Yes I know, I am wondering about spots from St. Cloud and north, along the Mississippi, I am from Duluth and just thought I’d mention it

St Cloud has a good access at Wilson park,  Sartell has a nice access off NE River Rd,  another access above Blanchard dam on East side off Hilton Rd  and at Lindbergh state park...Little Falls  has a access right above the dam.  

Water is pretty high and dirty.  Crayfish colors have been good again this week.  Smallies have been using anything available that breaks the current so finding them most days has been pretty easy

IMG_20240520_110824587_HDR~2.jpg

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