trout stream in franconia area

[fish_4_fun]

hey i saw a trout stream in the franconia area, does anybody know of the regulations and the access to the stream. i know it runs through some peoples yard, and their is a bridge that goes over it. but the guy at frankies said the neighbors do not like people fishing there.

[shorefisher]

It's not worth it. The little school you see from the bridge is about it most are less then 6". And the neighbors do not like people fishing in it even though you can. Some just give you a hard time if they see you.

[FearNoFish]

The folks that live down in that area don't like people fishing around the boat launch area either. When I'm down there i walk the road picking up cans and othe garbage and I was asked why i was picking stuff up around the boat landing by a home owner in that area. some are not the friendlies folks. but I try to talk with them anyway. last night a lady even told me there was no fishing from shore in franconia.

[StillwaterAaron]

Yeah the Franconia launch will be closed if the residents get their way. The Copas one is in danger of the same thing happening.

It is too bad these people buy a house on a stream or river and expect them to have it privatized.

[so haaad]

It's unfortunate that it only takes a few bad apples to make the locals bitter towards all fisherman. Your best approach is to keep being courteous and pick up trash like you are already doing.

[tunrevir]

You can access the stream from the bridge legally but will PO the neighbor folks if they see you wading the streambed. The downstream side is pretty shallow without alot of pools and the upstream side has a few pools. The trout in there tend to run small like 8-10" range and there aren't alot of them to be had. It is considered a navigable water so by wading the streambed below the high water mark you would be okay. As far as the neighbor folks they have been nice enough to me during the times I have been down there. Fear no fish, thanks for picking up after folks, the landing area tends to collect party hounds going to the eaglesnest campsite. There are alot of canoes launched there as well. It is a DNR landing site and if people tell you you can't fish down there let them know politely that you pay taxes in the state and it is a public access.

Tunrevir~

[JBMasterAngler]

I've had a few runs in with locals at the franconia and copas landings as well, particularly when I pull my truck along the shoreline to unload my gear. How they approach me is the pre cursor as to how I'll treat them in return...needless to say I'm more times than not an A-hole to them. In the end though, I can't blame them for being like that...all the people that use and disrespect that river now is sickening! I'd like to see some stricter rules applied to the canoers that float down the river.

[shorefisher]

I would not say I do not blame them for treating someone with disrespect. I (we) have not done anything to them that we should be blamed for. What ever someone did to them they need to take it up with them not everyone that goes to fish there. The landings were there when most of them bought homes in the area and just like the airport if you do not like the noise/trafic/people that come with living next to one don't move there then get all P'ed off! These area's and the river are just as much mine and yours as it is their's. Sorry but I have no time for people like this and will not take blame for others actions.

[fish_4_fun]

wow, i guess it would be best if i not go back to franconia and fish. the guy at frankies bait told me i could fish along the shore at the boat launch too. but i guess its not such a good idea. and i dont think i want to take my boat out over there either.

[JBMasterAngler]

Don't let stupid people stop you from enjoying the river. Encounters like that aren't really too common...I just fish the river ALOT more than the average person, so I'm at a better risk of coming across it. You could fish the river several times this summer and end up meeting lot's of friendly people, or dogs (always see about 6 different random dogs at franconia)

[tunrevir]

Nicely said JB, I agree. Who knows you might even bump into one of us FM'ers!

Tunrevir~

[goblueM]

Huh funny I didn't know that anybody had ever bothered to fish there as well. Its a pretty little stream but not many big fish and the locals are pretty uppity at times.

Once I was fishing at Franconia and was told by a teenage kid (while standing IN the river, mind you) that this was private property and I had to leave. I quoted the regs to him and he took off and got the dad, who saw me standing in the water and glared at me, but said nothing before going back to his trailer

Just incredible how often people don't know the rules, or will think that the river or lake is their property just because they live there

[donnysaurusrex]

Hi all, first post here and relatively new to fishing in MN, commenting on a 10+ year old post but hoping to get some insight. I was thinking about fishing Lawrence Creek for trout: park at Franconia Landing and walk/wade down south to the creek then work up the creek inland. Is it possible to wade south in the water from the landing to the creek to avoid walking through private property, and any updates on locals here confronting anglers? The creek seems manageable for a newbie but if there are any other relatively shallow, easy to access streams, please let me know. Thanks!

[JBMasterAngler]

The mouth of the creek is quite a ways downstream from the landing, and you’ll have to cross several peoples’ docks. Entire stream is surrounded by private property. Sure, you can technically legally access the stream, but why would you want to bother with the headache of dealing with landowners that DON’T want you there? Stream is small enough to step across in most places, it’s very weedy, and lot’s of overhanging brush. Not to mention, below average at best numbers of small trout!

 

You want easy access? Buy a Wisconsin license! Right across the river in Pierce County alone, there’s hundreds of miles of public easements on trout streams that are ten times better than anything Minnesota has to offer!