Coon Rapids Dam

[Dylan33]

I just moved to Coon Rapids. So, I played hookey from work for a few hours yesterday morning and decided to try my luck at the CR dam. I hadn't been there for 15 years or so, and wanted to share a few observations.

1. The water on the big side is high and very fast. I tried fishing from shore a few hundred yards down from the dam and the water was VERY fast with some pretty big waves. It's been a while, but I don't remember it being that turbulant. Is that normal?

2. The other fisherman that I encountered were very unfriendly. I said hello to about 10 other people fishing. I had a nice conversation with one of them, the other 9 didn't even say hello back.

3. The garbage along the side of the river was sickening. Any place that had an opening where someone could fish was full of trash. (I fish the Miss in Otsego/ Monti area a decent amount and thought it was bad there, but that was nothing compared to the CR dam). I didn't have any garbage bags or anything with me, but I took out what I could carry.

Even with that bad experience, I was able to get a few little smb and one snake northern.

I've heard rumors of muskies in that area, can anyone confirm that?

Thanks and appreciate any info.

[reinhard1]

i haven't heard of anyone catching muskies there, but there are some nice pike taken at times. i haven't been there for a couple of weeks but usualy fish the quiet side myself when the water is as high as it is. we have had a lot of rain so what your seeing is normaly not the norm this year. it is very unfortunate about the trash down there. i quit shaking my head when i look at what the true slobs have left there. i wish there was a way a park ranger or someone had the authority to start ticketing these slobs big time. good luck.

[Rick G]

High water through out the river system is the norm this year . You will meet the best and worst people alive while fishing the river, the trick is to know who to talk to ;)and all the garbage down there goes back to the best and worst people thing. I have learned over the years to keep a box of garbage bags handy and just pick up the slobs mess myself. As for as muskies in that strech of river, all I can say is maybe but more than likley not.

[KidMoe]

I've been fishing this area on and off for a long time and you always run into a lot of inconsiderate fisher people. It's unfortunate, but the area does get patrolled so flag down a ranger or DNR officer and let them know. Since it does produce such a diverse and easily accessible fishery it gets utilized by a lot of people, good and bad.

[Slabasaurus]

High water through out the river system is the norm this year . You will meet the best and worst people alive while fishing the river, the trick is to know who to talk to ;)and all the garbage down there goes back to the best and worst people thing. I have learned over the years to keep a box of garbage bags handy and just pick up the slobs mess myself. As for as muskies in that strech of river, all I can say is maybe but more than likley not.

Agreed... I always keep a few spare bags with me to pick up a bit. Seems the only way it gets done.

Although most people I say hi to at least say hi back and will be more than happy to discuss the bite. Then again, some days it's the complete opposite.

[maxpower17]

I caught my first muskie down there 15 years ago. There are tigers in there too.

[Religion_Of_Fish]

First of all thanks for picking up the trash. Like others I try to bring a bag with me. I find if people see you walking around picking trash up they will get the clue and sometimes even help out. If I see someone throw something down I will offer to take it for them by saying something like, "oh let me get that, you must of forgotten your trash bag today, no worries" It's a little passive aggressive but gets the point across without being to confrontational.

I love the river because of the people you meet, it sure draws some interesting folk. If I encounter someone unfriendly I just go about my business. But I feel most people are willing to talk and share their fish stories. Fishing is a common thread that allows me to connect with all sorts of people that I would likely never encounter in my daily activities. For me I love it because of that. That and because it's a great fishery.

There are musky all throughout the Mississippi, but I'm not sure I would go there to target them unless I was a little bit further north. But then again that's probably what everyone says so if you were to find a pattern you might be the only one to be doing it.

[monstermoose78]

I have seen some muskies in Coon Creek all the way up to the Clay hole. My dad has caught a couple but that is only after we seen chase a sucker or carp in. I know that most of the people there dont target muskies or big pike. Good luck! The few muskies my dad caught were by where slowside and fast side come together.

[Crankbait10]

ticket them litter bugs!!!

[e1teen93]

So how has the bite been down there lately? other than the water being high?

[MSRiverdog]

Fishing can be tough most of the time, ya gotta put your time in, they tend to move in and out from deeper water rock pile quite often. Yes there are Muskies in that stretch, SH will say no but have talked to folks in front of my house that caught them near there. Northerns in that section are not worth targeting. Channel Cats I have seen up to 25#s. Cut bait.

[smallie_hawgin]

Fishing can be tough most of the time, ya gotta put your time in, they tend to move in and out from deeper water rock pile quite often. Yes there are Muskies in that stretch, SH will say no but have talked to folks in front of my house that caught them near there. Northerns in that section are not worth targeting. Channel Cats I have seen up to 25#s. Cut bait.

Well dog, not sure what PA hemp you been smokin.... I think I said I doubt there are many muskies anywhere south of Monty, The Mississippi River has in the neighborhood of 35-40 species in the CR dam area, so Skis being in that area is always a possibility....

We have reports of large channels, just never documented proof by either pictures or in our own sampling efforts... Again, not saying it isn't a possibility, but, probably a rare one.

[reinhard1]

on another thread i posted that there is a sign indicating that there are muskies above the dam [at the boat landing]. it is the same sign posted by the dnr on other waters. how many? who knows. good luck.

[mrklean]

We have reports of large channels, just never documented proof by either pictures or in our own sampling efforts... Again, not saying it isn't a possibility, but, probably a rare one.

you mean flats not channels?

[hockeybc69]

No flats in the Upper Miss.

Channels that big? I want to see one pic of one even approaching 20 lbs. Thats immensely large for a channel.

[EBass]

Catfish, Channel 38-0 44 / n/a Mississippi River Hennepin 1975 - From the DNR site

MN and Crow have pig channels, so it's possible, but probably unlikely.

[smallie_hawgin]

you mean flats not channels?

As Hockey BC said... No known flats above CR dam. Channel cats up to 11-13 lbs, I believe without any hesitation... There is potential for larger, just haven't seen them in a variety of sampling. We did trot lines (multiple times) up there and never got anything larger than about 10 lbs. Electrofishing annually for 10 years, STC-CR dam.... Only one over 10 lbs... I dunno, I believe data not fish stories most of the time... Sorry I guess...

[hockeybc69]

I do believe I was in the boat the day the 10 lb catfish was sampled.

So I can personally attest to that.

[mrklean]

thats what i meant i know there are no flats up that way but everyone once in awhile you hear people say they caught one

[polarsusd81]

I had a muskie eat a crankbait at my feet along the shoreline south of the CRD last summer. Scared the carp outta my son. I know there are a few down there, have seen photos of others that were caught south of the dam.

A lot of the folks you hear say they caught a flathead above or directly below CRD are misidentifying channels. Typically a female channel has a broader head than the males, but nothing even close to what a flathead looks like. A couple weeks ago I was wandering around down by the Coon Creek entrance point and asked a guy if he had any luck, said he caught this here 25 lb flathead. Lifts his stringer and he had about an 8lb channel.

Some folks don't know the difference, others just don't care to know the difference.

[mrklean]

sure it wasnt a blue cat

[polarsusd81]

I have heard that several times as well.

Kinda like the 25 lb flatheads on hillbilly handfishing. Here just grab this fish we strung up, and yank it outta the water.

[Rick G]

A lot of the folks you hear say they caught a flathead above or directly below CRD are misidentifying channels.

The guys misidentifying the cats have never caught a legit flat . Not too hard to tell the two apart 99.99% of the time. I got a super ugly brownish/camo channel cat that looked like it's head got stuck in a vice quite a few years back that some would have misidentifyed as flat out of the Clearwater strech.

[MSRiverdog]

Well dog, not sure what PA hemp you been smokin.... I think I said I doubt there are many muskies anywhere south of Monty, The Mississippi River has in the neighborhood of 35-40 species in the CR dam area, so Skis being in that area is always a possibility....

We have reports of large channels, just never documented proof by either pictures or in our own sampling efforts... Again, not saying it isn't a possibility, but, probably a rare one.

No on the hemp SH, I agree, very few in this stretch but they are here, I have seen Cats here around 30/36 inches, not on a board but have seen them, once at the ramp at the CR dam, talked to the kid that caught it a week before he caught that one and he said he gets at least one a year at the CR dam. and once on the river. That was a solid 36 inches, don't know what that translates into pounds in a cat.

[clayton08]

were is the best place to fish at the dam? I went to the park the other day is there a way to get to the other side of the river or do most people just fish on the park side?

[reinhard1]

it's been awhile since i've been on the west side, but i did drive there but you'l have to look at a map on which road that is. some good spots on that side also. also you can just walk accross the bridge on the walkway. the back water on the "slow side" is good this time of the year [when the ice is gone]. also you can fish on the walkway on the slow side behind the dam. channel cats,pike, bass, a few walleys and crappies are there. also for trout you can fish Lake Cenaiko in the park after trout opener on open water. the ice may get off that lake before the inland winter stream trout lakes season closes March 31. good luck.

[clayton08]

thanks reinhard I got the day off today gonna go down there and see if its any good little early yet for spring crappies but got that open water itch mine as well give it a shot right!!

[reinhard1]

i haven't been down there lately and not sure if the backwater ice is free. but this winter has been mild and it looks like the 70's through next tuesday. so the fun should begin a lot earlier this year. good luck.

[clayton08]

It's open was about 20 people there no crappies tho...i caught a bunch of other fish tho was fun!!!

[reinhard1]

glad you had some fun down there. i'll probably go there today to take my dog for a walk instead of the park i usualy go to. i want to check the ice conditions on Cenaiko also. good luck.