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.

St Cloud Fishing Reports


Recommended Posts

Cats were crazy again today. Caught one every cast. Largest over 5 pounds. Average size 2.5 pounds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

full-26589-53203-20150503_150014.jpg

full-26589-53204-2015_05_0320.42.12.jpg

Andrea and I made it out this afternoon. Did pretty well on crappies and a few nicer gills.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are the cats worth putting on a table or just catch and release? Taht could be find for a friend to practice rigging on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

they are the best tasting this time of the year. Gets worse as the temps go up. Some people love them. I am currently smoking another dozen of them.

Don

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

thought I smelled something

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How do you fish for them this time of the year? I've got very limited experience targeting cats. I wanna grab a few for the fryer before the temps get too warm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My best method is a white tube jig, crappie minnow, and bobber. They will bite on anything. Yes anything in the summer.

Don

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would like to take my son fishing for some catfish but not familiar with the St. Cloud area. Feel free to PM me if you don't mind sharing some info. Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For cats, I generally use an egg sinker held up by a split shot about 14 inches above a plain worm hook. Then, thread a nightcrawler on the hook and use a Lindy worm blower to put a puff of air into it so it floats.

Hook: http://www.eagleclaw.com/sites/all/themes/eagleclaw/images/products/162EL.jpg

Blower: http://cdn3.volusion.com/cmqk9.qo7cd/v/vspfiles/photos/LAC370-2.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was sight fishing Clearwater last night for a couple hours. Finally got into some sunfish. Got a few big girls pushing 9 1/2 inches with great colors...didn't get a pick, released all. Still scratchin my head where the crappies are out there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I knew there was a tourney out there so I did some snooping lol seemed to be alot of boats in certain areas.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, I talked to the old fella who works BJ's Bait, and he said Saturday there were like 60 boats in the tournament. Somewhere around 320+ crappies were weighed in, with quite a few pushing 14".

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hear ya, I've been out there twice in the last week and haven't found many crappies. Saturday after the tourney, I looked around the north end finding nothing. Then Monday night on the south side I found some small gills and a few smaller crappies deeper. Marked quite a few but they were finicky. Nothing shallow.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was out there last week, Tue or Wed.... can't seem to remember what day crazy but anyway, found some crappies around the shallow rush points. They were starting to stage up for the spawn. There are still a few in the shallow bays, but for the most part they have moved to their spawning areas now.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

In the summer they'll even crush a buzz bait ripped along the surface. wink

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Area lakes were really pumping out some nice eater size sunfish today. Don't bother looking shallow yet, zero spawning activity and from the looks of this upcoming weeks forecast, I doubt any will be happening soon. Sad to say, but from the looks of most of the females I caught, I think they may be absorbing there eggs already. Tough spring for spawning....

 

 

DSCN0675 (1024x1000).jpg

DSCN0673.JPG

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

nice crawler. ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got out with Andrea for a while again today. Hit a couple backwater spots on the river. As usual, she outfished me:).  1/8 oz jigs tipped with a half a nightcrawler has been working very well for us as of late.

20150515_210849.png

20150515_210756.png

20150515_210636.png

20150515_183412.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

nice crawler. ;)

​Waxworms worked equally as well, crawler meat stayed on longer.

Nice eye Rick, may need to go for a bike ride to fish that eddy. Great spot!

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went down to the dam this morning to see if I can still cast (with a broken bone in my hand) and the river is up maybe a foot from a week ago.  I can still cast and caught a cigar and also got checked by the CO. He never gives out much hot bite info, I guess he's not selling anything so he doesn't have to lie. :)

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN

Tom you are so right those magicall spawning temps of 68 degree plus are a ways away yet. With this weird weather it wont be for a while yet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN

Rick looks like you and Andrea are finding some good shore fishing. This rain should help out your river fishing eddies and current breaks will become a little more defined.

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

the creek is rising as we type. :) 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Made it down to the fishing pier for a few casts between thunderstorms. Water is very high and dirty from all the run off. Would like to say we got into a bunch of fish:)  but that would be a lie. Got a couple walleyes and some small smallies:)

 

20150517_191640.jpg

20150517_191844.jpg

20150517_194234.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice one Ricky. Fishing was great down on a eddy Saturday :D 

Much needed rain, but certainly will make fishing more of challenge with muddy water. Fishing slower and using brighter color jigs with twister tails and tipped with meat will still produce fish. The temps 30 degrees colder then this weekend today, may effect the bite more negatively than the murky water. Very strange spring weather we're having. 

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hit the chain for a bit today. Boat traffic was pretty nuts to start, but as the day wore on less and less pleasure boaters graced the lakes. We didn' t do quite as well as I would have liked, stiianagrd some fish though. Found a mix of panfish on a 6-9 ft flat that had some emergent green weeds. The fish were holding tight to the cover. The only way we could get them is with floats and small jigs tipped with tiny crappie minnows or pieces of nightcrawler.

walleyes were a littke easier to get to bite. Found decent numbers in the river. They were holding in the current breaks on the section we were on. 1/8 oz jigs tipped with crawler pitched to the slack water seemed to wirk best for me today.  

sorry, no pics today, forgot phone at home.

  • Thumbs Up 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Friday we found most of our better size fish relating to neck down areas with quite a bit of current. Transition from mud to gravel areas held some nice keepers.

  • Thumbs Up 4
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 :)

    • Kettle
      Walked today and yesterday, flushed 9, shot at two and got two. Hopefully next year I'll have a dog to hunt with. Still warm up here, skim of ice on ponds. Weather has been nice. Hopefully walk a bit more the next few weeks. Been pretty cautious walking for birds to not interfere with deer hunters. There sure are not the deer hunters there used to be 
    • 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. 
×
×
  • 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.