Monticello Fishing Reports

[Brad B]

mrklean,

have you checked out the kadler ave boat access off of co rd 39 east yet. it is a small area but a couple people could fish there and the water seems to slow down in that section.

[mrklean]

thats the only place i havent gone yet in monti, otherwise i fished montissippi a lot at first but there are more people out there now, under the bridge and ellison last night. Didnt get anything last night only 2 very light bites, im stickin it up as of late only thing bitin were the nats. The get together should be a good time this weekend.

[tsande00]

Do people use bobbers when fishing the river for cats in Monti?

[mrklean]

i fish all my stuff right on the bottom with 1-3 oz sinkers

[Brad B]

tsande00,

you could use bobbers but I would hold off until after the northern opener so someone doesn't think you're fishing for northerns. Bottom rigs are better because of the current. If you use a bobber just set it so the bait is like 6 inches off the bottom(similar to slip bobbering for walleyes). For bait use cut sucker minnows. I have a bobber rod rigged up to use up on horseshoe lake(part of the sauk river chain of lakes). I plan to clip a ice fishing lead depth finder to the hook and then use that to get the rig set 6 inches off the bottom then pull it up and bait it and drop it down and sit and wait for a bite.

[Brad B]

Mrklean,

I went out yesterday when my son was in school to where the get together was and I hooked into a nice one but like the last two of the get together it got off half way to shore. it did break the surface and I did get a quick look at it and it would have been about 20 to 24" long. I think my 3/0 hook might be a hair to small so I am going to try a 4/0 if that doesn't help then I will go to a 5/0 like shack uses.

[mrklean]

has the water dropped at all? My lady said she wanted to go fishing this weekend, first time ever she said she wanted to go, so im not sure where to go i might stick around the cities someplace new maybe

[Brad B]

Mrklean,

the water level is the same as it was for the get together. There are still cats in that section.

[tsande00]

lol, I guess I was way off track. I was fishing a bottom rig WITH a bobber. I figured if a fish (cat) sucked it off the bottom and started to swim away with the bait in its mouth the bobber would go down. Apparently this isn't a good theory, lol.

I was using chicken livers with some women's nylons wrapped around to keep the bait on the hook. Probably was only using 2 oz in lead, but it seemed to keep me in place. Sounds like I should have taken off the bobber and maybe would have had more luck.

Thanks for the tips guys. One of these days I'm gonna catch a kitty. I'm hoping to try again this Saturday, somewhere in Monticello.

EDIT: And I don't think anybody would have accused me of fishing for northerns in the Mississippi, especially after seeing the ridiculous setup I had going. A nine year old kid came up and appeared to know more about river fishing than I did...that's when I shamefully reeled up, hid my "lure" so he couldn't see it, and quickly got in the truck and drove home.

[mrklean]

now i just need the rain to stop and i should be set

[Brad B]

mrklean,

come on man up and just put a rain suit on and fish away as long as there is no lighting around you. wait that's right you will have your girlfriend with you. I was fishing in the rain before the get together. remember the saying " fish don't mind if they are wet, just the fishermen do". I have found that sometimes fishing is better in the rain.

[Brad B]

tsande00,

Hey I have a offer for you if you are free during the week in the evenings or on a saturday(with prior notice so I can work it into my schedule). We could get together and run to the otsego county park where shack had the get together. I know there is still fish in that area because I was there earlier this week and hooked in to a nice cat but it came off half way to shore but it did break the surface and I got a quick look at it. it was probably 20 to 24" and 3 to 5 lbs. I do have two rods set up so if you need a bottom rig rod to use I would let you use one of mine or we could set up your rod for you. PM me or give me your email address.

[kittycatcher16]

I was out fishing last night and it was gorgeous out! I was at ellison park and we managed 4 cats in two hours. They were all around 2-3 lbs though, I guess thats what you get when using chicken liver. Had one break us off. Pretty decent night.

[mrklean]

went out yesterday and got skunked again, the gf did manage a 6 in smallmouth but thats it. Are you guys targeting more at night or later afternoon?

[tsande00]

Well I made it out again on Saturday night, with the single goal of landing my first cat. This time I removed the bobber and fared a little better, yet still no cat.

After about 20 minutes of nothing, I started to get a little bit bored and was trying to take a picture of my 4 year old when all of a sudden the rod nearly ripped out of my hands...FISH ON! Unfortunately it wasn't on long, and neither were the other 4 fish I missed that evening.

The highlight (or lowlight) of the evening was hearing the Ziiiing sound as line started to pull out from my 4 year old's kiddie rod which he left laying carelessly on the dock. As soon as I reached to grab it it flew into the river...but no worries I thought to myself, since the line came back up on top of the dock and into the water again I could just grab the line and pull on it until the rod was retreived. Just before I grabbed the line the pole came flying back onto the dock and just as quickly disappeared back into the river. I got to watch the pole "swim" away, much to the dismay of my son who proceeded to start bawling.

[mrklean]

went out again last night perfect night to fish no wind with nice temps had one nice clicker run but got nothing to show for it, i think i gotta go back to my livers for awhile the cut suckers just arent doin it for me right now.

[mrklean]

went out last night for about an hour went back to my livers and got a few nothing huge biggest was about 24" so thats pretty average from what i have been catching

[Brad B]

I know what you mean about that being the average size. I went out last night and at 8:20PM I hooked into a cat that was 24"(L) X 13"(G) weighed 4 Lbs 14 oz. this was only my 3rd out of six cats that I landed this year.

[Spade]

how do u get access to the place you guys are talking about? I've wanting to catch some decnt catfish for the last few years but no luck, only small 16" or under ones.. pm me the directions..

[mrklean]

just go to the park its not like a secret spot there are always people there it seems

[Brad B]

how do u get access to the place you guys are talking about? I've wanting to catch some decnt catfish for the last few years but no luck, only small 16" or under ones.. pm me the directions..

Spade,

There is 3 parks in monticello that have fishing piers. from west to east they go as followed. Montissippi Park(by the nuclear plant), west and east bridge park where hwy 25 crosses the mississippi river, and ellison park down behind the hospital. there is also a boat access at the end of kadler avenue and there is another less known access right in otsego. there is also otsego county park which is just off of co rd 39 between otsego and elk river. for bait use cut suckers or chicken livers. if you use the stink baits you only normally catch smaller cats which might explain why you are only getting 16" and less fish. My smallest this year was 20.5 inches long and 11 inches round. If you are ever in the area and I am free I would be willing to meet up at one of the parks and try for some cats with you.

[Spade]

thanks for all the info brad. I will give it a try in 2 weeks.

[CrowRiverRat83]

Brad B, where is this lesser known access in Otsego? Feel free to email if you want to. [email protected]

[river rat316]

it is Nashau ave, it is listed on the DNR's website as a boat landing, if you plan on launching a boat there be careful there is a couple rather large boulders just downstream from the launch that are about 6" under the water a ways out from the launch. Back when I had my jet, I knew they were their but drifted downstream a little to far before taking off and hit one just as I was coming up on plane, this was the first and only time my jet had to take a trip to the welder. Their is very little current in the area (non when their is low water) and they are not the easiest things to keep track of. And if you are their shore fishing, remember that it is a boat launch and get out of the way when people are launching. Also the land bordering the launch on each side is private property and there will be fences put up if people continue to not clean up after themselves down their

[Brad B]

river rat hit it on the head. I stated it as a lesser known access because there is no nice brown sign that says water access but the is a small faded white sign that say public access to river. coming from elk river take co rd 39 going towards monti. Nashua ave goes north to the river(right turn when coming from elk river) and it also goes south to the otsego town hall. turn there and follow it to the river.

[mrklean]

have you been fishing there off shore brad? I think myself the gf and one of her friends are gonna head to the coon rapids dam this weekend, wish me luck, im gonna need it with those 2

[Brad B]

no I have never fished it but I did stop and look at it about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I was thinking of hitting montissippi this week sometime. good luck with the weekend. it sounds like you have your hands full. Hey just slow down and let me get ahead of you in the KOTC standings(just kidding). atleast the last time I looked you had 8th place and I was in 9th place. I would like to make a run up to the red river to see if I can increase the size of my fish on the board. this area has only given me the 24 inchers. I need a couple 30's to make me feel better. send me a report on the dam area if you go there.

[mrklean]

not a problem, as the summer goes on im hoping fish fish around the cities a little more and i guess coon rapids is the start for me

[Brad B]

Well I went out to montissippi last night and caught 1 channel cat that went 20 inches longs. I did have 3 other bites but they didn't stay hooked. I did have a visit from one of the local deputies. He was okay with me being there fishing after sunset but he had to say that techinically that the park closes at sunset. I told him about my email to the head of the county parks department and asked him if the sheriff's office was emailed a copy of that email and he said he had not heard of the email. the email from the county parks head said that the montissippi access is open until 4AM to midnight. bait of the night was chicken livers.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Brad...if you're looking for larger fish I would switch over to live bait.

Chicken livers will work for Channel Catfish, but you would be better off with live bait or even cut bait for bigger fish. I know you're looking to upgrade so bigger bait is better. Try to find a creek that holds creek chubs and small suckers. Or better yet find a Bullhead pond and use them live.