Monticello/Otsego Smalliie Fishing Reports

[LegattoAD]

Maybe we should oufit the Sherrif's department with shoddy used boats? When they respond to an emergency and someone's life is on the line it's kind of important to be able to rely on their equipment.

I get really tired of the politics in the fishing forums.

I'm not majoring in political science or anything, but I'm not sure that that's what Tuna was getting at... Rather than jumping to conclusions, maybe asking for clarification would be a better alternative?

Otherwise, try to keep the thread on topic.

[Outdoor Authority]

Its crazy how high the river is just for kicks we launched at Montisippi park and headed up stream we made it to the clearwater bridge and decided that was good enought and never hit a rock or bottom. The fishing was to hot but we caught some carp and smallies nothing to brag about but we hooked up with some friends and floated down the river on tubes and fished from the boat a good time had by all.

[BigRock]

Took the boat out today from noon to 2:30. 5 walleyes, 4 suckers, a 5 lb cat, and a little smallmouth. Most walleyes were 12" or so with biggest at 17". Lindy rig with nightcrawler. Missed a lot of bites. Water temps dropped 3 degrees from Sunday - down to 74/75.

Only boats on the water were Sheriff Dept. Glad to see they have such nice boats.

By the way, they were probably looking for the tuber that was presumed drowned, from a few days earlier. Just sayin'.

[DaveZman14q]

How have these high water levels been affectinf the smallmouth fishing? I would like to head out Saturday in my canoe and trolling motor and am wondering what to expect... Where can the smallies be found right about now? Any help would really make my day! Thank you!

[TunaCan]

Water levels are dropping fast. Water temps at about 70. Struggled to find active fish in deeper spots - assume they are still tighter to shore. Had quite a few short strikes on a crank - think they were little smallies. Walleye bite from this summer is gone in same locations. Lots of grass showing up which might make for tougher fall fishing.

[WallyGader]

I also lost the eyes in my spots about 2 weeks ago. I have been struggling on trying to locate them again. All i can get now is just a few randoms here and there.

[EBass]

Haven't hit da sippi since 3 weeks ago and the water has come down 4+ feet. Of course I found some nice boulders while on plane and wrecked my prop and maybe even my prop shaft - that's river fishin ^sigh^.

Only caught a few bass and small pike.

[mrklean]

i gotta get back out i dont even want to admit when i was on the river last its been way to long

[WallyGader]

Thats a bummer ebass hopefully its just your prop. I found a nice stretch that was loaded with eyes little over a month ago, the next day i was going up the river wide open throttle to get to my spot after work and my water jacket seal gave out on me. I filled my entire motor carriage with water and ended up sucking water in through my carb. Which in turn sheered the key on my flywheel. Nothing like taking your cowl of and water comes pouring out. If i could have only made it another 1/4 mile..

[EBass]

Ugh, I think you have me beat in the who can wreck their motor the worst on the river this season. I did crack the lower unit a few years ago up in Monti. That was a mess.

It was my fault on Labor day, I should've been putzing up. Prop was sent in for repair (Soderblooms) but I do think the shaft is bent. ^ugh^ T-motor only lakes for a bit.

[MSRiverdog]

Sorry to hear of your recent demise EBass, been there done that a couple times. Wanna buy a jet?

[fishface]

Should've posted earlier, but...

Anybody wading?

Was out a couple weeks ago, Caught a lot of smallmouth but no size.

Water was at a good level for wading.

Did very well this year from the boat, Chewed up my prop too!

Luckily that was the limit of damage.

Going to try wading again, maybe this week.

[TunaCan]

Water temps about 60 right now. Bigger fish active on small suckers. Caught about 40 fish in 3 hours with 6 measured at 19" (meaning 21" in normal river fishing parlance). Found in current at 8-10 FOW. Also caught 4 small northerns and 2 small walleyes - on suckers.

[TunaCan]

Not many fishing reports on the site - not sure if that means few people are fishing the river or people are doing well and not reporting to help keep fishing pressure down? I shore fished a couple hours yesterday and was surprised how slow it was. I caught a few nice smallies including a really nice 19"+ fish on a medium sucker. Fish were very tentative and not hitting anything that was moving. The only fish I caught were deep. I am wondering if they will get more active and move shallower with a warm weekend?

[Presco]

Tuna, I was out on Friday as well. I was the only one wading, but there were about 3-4 boats in the area. I did pretty well with numbers, but nothing huge. It was a beautiful day to be out. I tore my thumb up pretty good and that's all you can ask for on a day off of work.

Sadly, I did see one of the boats putting some of their catch in the livewell. It was an older Ranger 620 (possibly 621). Luckily, I only saw them catch a couple. My biggest question is, if there is one place you are going to keep fish out of season, its a mile downstream from a nuclear power plant? Really? Someone really needs a fish fix I guess.

[EBass]

Keeping smallies? It's been catch and release now for weeks for the entire state.

MSRD - yup a new lower unit is needed. I've been limping around on local lakes for a while now. Grr

[TunaCan]

Got out for a couple hours this afternoon. Fishing was very slow using tubes and medium suckers. Broke off a bunch of times because bait had to be held right where they were for quite a while before they would take it and they seemed to be sitting in groups of boulders. Caught a couple little smallmouth and a couple little walleyes. All of my fishing reports are in the Otsego area.

[Juan Grande]

Tuna,

Clear out your inbox so I can send you a PM.

[TunaCan]

I don't generally check my inbox because I do not expect messages, but there were only three messages in it and I deleted them so it should be empty.

[TunaCan]

Smallies were active in shallower areas adjacent to deep water this afternoon. Caught a number of nice fish on suckers and tubes - very concentrated fish. It is always amazing how fat they get this time of year. Even a 14" fish has some good heft to it. Might be my last shore fishing hurrah of the year.

[Dylan33]

Tuna- you fishing out of ellison, or Montissippi?

[TunaCan]

All of my fishing reports are in Otsego

[Dylan33]

Cool. Thanks Tuna- I've never spent much time shorefishing the otsego area. Where do you access the river? PM me if you don't want to post here. Most likely i'll still fish monticello, more curious than anything. Thanks

[TunaCan]

There are a lot of shore fishing spots in the Otsego/Elk River area. A lot of people fish the electric plant outlet and the Elk River landing area just upstream from the 101 bridge. Otsego Park has a lot of shore access. The problem is fish tend to get very concentrated this time of year so finding them can be difficult even if you know some good spots. You could be 20 feet away from a great spot and not get a bite - the next day you might not get a bite in the great spot. Look for current seams adjacent to deeper water, baits generally should be big and moving extremely slow or not at all. If you do not get a bite within a minute, you can move because they probably are not there or they are not active.

[TunaCan]

Love a sunny November afternoon shorefishing the river. Caught 9 in an hour late this afternoon. Biggest was 20.25" and most were over 18". All caught in one spot with medium suckers. Low current in about 6-8 feet of water.

[EBass]

Pics Tuna - we needs pics!

[TunaCan]

Have not uploaded a picture before, but this is the 20.25" smallie from yesterday. I need to master taking fish pictures by myself. Hopefully this works.

[Presco]

Nice fish, but looks like only 20.20" to me. Fishermen are so dishonest.

[Dylan33]

Nice fish, but looks like only 20.20" to me. Fishermen are so dishonest.

Thanks for showing up Presco!! welcome back.

[EBass]

Nice fish - no pic on tape/ruler? Check out my avatar. The MSRD measuring board is the cats meow as said fish sits in there as it's cupped. Mine only goes to 23" but ifn' I ever get one bigger than that I know it's close to a state record.