Catching Smallies near Monti

[JayJ]

Dylan, presco lets bury the hatchet if your willing, lets meet for a beer or two and discuss our differences as well as the river, what do you say?

[Brad B]

Was out around monticello from shore yesterday afternoon. 3 guys landed our share of smallies in the afternoon with medium suckers on circle hooks under a float......There were about 20 guys fishing within site of us. It was busy, but everyone was respectful and having a good time.

Then spent late afternoon into evening using the remaining dead bait for cats. Landed nearly 20 between 2 and 5 pounds in about an hour. Met some interesting fellow river rats and shared some tunes into the evening.

Caught fish consistanly all day and the circle hooks were working perfect. Not one swallowed hook all day and all the fish swam away with spit and vinegar. What a great fishery up there. Let's all make sure we continue to treat the fish with the care and respect they deserve so people can enjoy catching them for years to come.

Thanks to FisherDave and JD for allowing a south metro guy to tag along and enjoy some open water action.

thanks Jon now I want to forget ice fishing and break out the cat gear. I always wondered if the cats would bite here in the winter and now I know they do. this is where I do most of my channel cat fishing from during the summer.

[crappiegetter]

I floated from Montissippi to Otsego and it took about 5 hours but I was simply floating...not much of a paddler. I also made several stops. I'd rather sit back, sip beers, and enjoy scenery. Could have done it much faster.

I've floated from Becker to Ellison in Monti several times and that seems to take about 4-5 hours...also not much paddling going on.

If I recall correctly the average spring to mid summer current will pull you about 2-3 miles per hour. Obviously if you worked for it you could go much faster.

thanks tsande00 just was wondering how long it would take my boat is too big to paddle just wanna float and maybe work the trolling motor a bit on some back water areas for fun. If it takes all day it takes all day just gonna have to bring the cooler of beer and food and a grill and call it an eventful day.

[CarpinMNRiver]

Hey Presco, here are a few. You might be able to tell where we were by the pic, but if you can tell from the picture that would not be very secret then..right? Oh well..if a bunch of people were going to go fish somewhere I would rather have the group on here be those people as all of the people I have met from this site have been very friendly and respectful to the fisheries.

[JayJ]

I would like to apologize to all who i offended weather directly ( particularly, Dylan, Presco, N Bassman ) or indirectly. Also for what I said last post, it was uncalled for. It was never my intention to attack anyone personally. Dylan, Presco, bassman I dont believe i ever said you guys were the guys. I dont even know you all. Presco, you were close when you mentioned about a spot or area being hit harder. I dont have any spots on the river, yet i have hundreds. Its whomevers spot that happens to there. I will bow out, this is an awesome sight. good fishing to all

[JayJ]

One last thing i forgot to mention. Dylan i owe you a very sincere apology. I"M the one who screwed up, you did not "lie" as I misread the post, and in so the context. Im the dummy. And it was very nice gesture to offer to get together earlier despite our differences.......

[Presco]

JayJ, appreciate the apology but none was needed. Simple disagreement that is easily resolved by either A) admitting we both hate the Packers or admitting we both like drinking beer. I wasn't offended at all.

Regarding that beer, I'd love to however I don't get out as much as I used to with three young kids at home. Maybe we can coordinate a day on the river at some point next season and shake hands and do some fishing. I hope you aren't planning on leaving the board, someone with your experience and knowledge is always welcome here. Its the reason I love this board and visit this far more than any other social networking site.

Carp, cool pics although I honestly have no clue where that is. I can make a couple guesses, but I've never fished there. Thanks for sharing.

[JayJ]

That would be awesome, thx Presco!

[Dylan33]

JayJ-

I'm in agreement with Presco- no apology is needed, and don't leave the forum. A little disagreement from time to time is understandable, It is easy to get excited about something that you are passionate about, as we are all talking about something that we love- FISHING!

I'm in the same boat(no pun intended) as Presco- I have a wife and 2 year old boy at home, and don't get the pass to get out much anymore, when I do, it is to try to catch some fish. So, I'll just reiterate what Presco said- Let's all get together for a morning of fishing sometime this next season.

Keep watching this forum, when bass season comes again, let's try to put a gathering together to go chase some Monticello bronzebacks!

[Juan Grande]

Those Monticello crappies must make their way down the Rum River because they fish for them off the dam in Anoka all spring.

[JayJ]

Thanks Dylan! Sounds good....

[wastewaterguru]

Ya I know. I'm a smally advocate and I'm trying to save their lips. :>) They fight so much better in the summer on plastics. In the winter they need to eat, get fat and get ready for the upcoming battles. I admit I've been over there and drown some suckers, but not something to pound and pound and pound. With all of these reports I bet it gets busy at times.

Not to stir the pot......but the majority of senko lovers and wacky lovers are the worst for having swallowed baits.

I've done both and I assure you that either can be done well and both can be done badly. Any soft slowly-worked bait will be swallowed if given the chance whether it's live or dead. A senko type bait is the same size and same general hook placement as live bait. And I would be willing to bet that greater than 90% of guys using senkos aren't using circle hooks. So with a circle hook under a bobber...I am more likely to detect the bite faster and there is always tension on the line from the bobber to "set" the circle hook properly. The livebait phobia from the bass guys holds no water when you compare it to a senko type lure that is just as likely to get swallowed.

[Dylan33]

I've fished senkos for years and can honestly say I have NEVER had a gut hooked fish. I would think if you are paying attention to what your doing, you will set the hook before a bass has a chance to swallow a senko.

[CarpinMNRiver]

+1 on circle hooks. I caught 2 smallies last week with line hanging out of their mouth because they swallowed the hook to their guts. I think the only thing I have gut hooked since using circle hooks were sheepshead.

[EBass]

I've gut hooked some bass before on senkos and small jigs and sometimes they inhale a crankbait and that's the worst.

I do cut the line and run it against the body through the gills and pull down on it so it turns upside down. While pulling on the tag end take the pilers and pull the hook out. Most of the time the gut hooked hook will pop right out.

I haven't used a circle hook for rigging senkos. I like to rig mine TX style and burry the hook point. I don't care for the wacky rig, but that's just me.

[eyeguy 54]

I like the wacky rig but usually one fish one bait so I prefer tubes. Gonna do more Texas I think with the stickbaits this year.

[MSRiverdog]

Not to stir the pot......but the majority of senko lovers and wacky lovers are the worst for having swallowed baits.

I've done both and I assure you that either can be done well and both can be done badly. Any soft slowly-worked bait will be swallowed if given the chance whether it's live or dead. A senko type bait is the same size and same general hook placement as live bait. And I would be willing to bet that greater than 90% of guys using senkos aren't using circle hooks. So with a circle hook under a bobber...I am more likely to detect the bite faster and there is always tension on the line from the bobber to "set" the circle hook properly. The livebait phobia from the bass guys holds no water when you compare it to a senko type lure that is just as likely to get swallowed.

I must be doing something wrong! I've caught my share on Senkos and tubes, and can't remember gut hooking a one, not one. But then I use circle hooks.

[pureinsanity]

+1 on circle hooks. I caught 2 smallies last week with line hanging out of their mouth because they swallowed the hook to their guts. I think the only thing I have gut hooked since using circle hooks were sheepshead.

were the gut hooks on rods you weren't paying attention to?

[CarpinMNRiver]

I was carp fishing and not paying attention so it was my fault.

[Dylan33]

So, bass season is over. Is anyone fishing for and catching cats out of Monti this time of year?

[Gordie]

So, bass season is over. Is anyone fishing for and catching cats out of Monti this time of year?

check out WWG post

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2476697/13

hope this answers your question

[Dylan33]

I'm hoping to get back up to Monti this weekend. Any reports on the catch, water levels/water temps etc? Thanks

[Dylan33]

I'll report on it then. Water is pretty low. At Ellison Park, there is anywhere from 10-20 feet of mud you have to navigate through to even reach the waters edge. Bring waders.

Since I didn't bring waders, I moved up to Montissippi Park where the bank is much rockier. Did pretty well up that way,saw no one else fishing, but did get spooked by a couple of duck hunters.

[Brad B]

I'll report on it then. Water is pretty low. At Ellison Park, there is anywhere from 10-20 feet of mud you have to navigate through to even reach the waters edge. Bring waders.

Since I didn't bring waders, I moved up to Montissippi Park where the bank is much rockier. Did pretty well up that way,saw no one else fishing, but did get spooked by a couple of duck hunters.

were these duck hunter on shore within Montissippi Park or where they in a boat in the river. I am not anti hunting as I have hunted myself but I am concerned about this because if they where on shore and anywhere from montissippi to any place down river in the town they are then shooting within city limits and can get in trouble for it. now if they are in a boat in this area and are not halfway in vegatation then they can be got for not only shooting with in city limits but also for a non concealed/open water position. to my knowledge there is not sufficent vegatation in that area to halfway conceal a boat.

[Dylan33]

They were up river from montissippi- on shore, closer to the powerplant.

[Brad B]

if they were up river of montissippi and off montissippi land then they where on excels land(even the island by the plant is guarded). I am surprised they didn't get a visit from the guards for being on the land. the only thing would be if they where employees of excel and they had clearance to hunt by the plant from the guards and upper management. if this was not the case then the excel guards should of been notified or the CO as they where hunting where they should not of been hunting. but I guess it is what it is. plus under county ordinances there are no firearms allowed in county parks.

[Dylan33]

Interesting about hunting on Xcels land, I never saw any guards so i assume they had permission, or were approached after I passed by.

So what ar ethe rules about being on Xcels land? I always walk through it to get to the stretch of river I like to fish(so does everyone else). I assume it's okay to walk through to get to the river, but not okayt to hunt.

Thanks Brad

[Brad B]

I don't know exactly but I would guess they would escort you off the land or have you charged with trespassing. I guess I don't want to find out. the park land stops at the end of the R/C airport. once you get in the trees on the side across from the parking area for the rc airport you are on excels lands. They have it posted. You could always check with the guards at the guard shack and ask them about it. years ago(20+) you were able to go to the guard shack and sign in and then they would let you drive down to the discharge area and fish. they haven't done this since 9-11-01 or before that. I was last down by the discharge area on their land like 25 years ago when I was 10(my dad & I went there and tried it). A person could get in the river and walk the edge of the river but even doing that you could still get a visit from the guards. even thou there is the part in the minnesota regs that say you are okay if you access a area from the water that would other wise be private land if accessed from the land there is a federal rule or law that will void this do to national security concerns.

[Brad B]

I forgot to ask you. do you access the river off of one of the park trails or are you truely entering excels land to get there. We should meet up there sometime and you can show me where you walk in. I would be better able to tell more about the area if I knew where you exactly are at out there.

[EBass]

You can't even use your trolling motor to slow down by the plant. There are so many cameras around there they're always watching. A truck drove down and a guard popped out and told me to keep drifting.