Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Night Fishing in the Metro


Recommended Posts

Hello!

I want to get into night fishing. Seems like fun. However, I dont know any place around the metro where I can PARK and fish. I would love to fish from 8pm-2am.

Does anyone know where I could accomplish such a wish? The mississippi has spots, but its all until 10pm. Any local lakes that people will leave me alone?

Thank you....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

break-ins are one thing but i've never heard of anyone being cited for using a boat ramp or lot after hours, except maybe the pay lot at harriet, and i've never personally had any problems either, including launches and lots on the mississippi.

you fishing from shore or from a boat?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Only place that I know it's ok is Minnetonka, I had a chat with a cop at Bald Eagle years ago, but that place is different cause they close the gate to the park at sundown.

I'll be very interested to know more about this as I love night fishing as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

break-ins are one thing but i've never heard of anyone being cited for using a boat ramp or lot after hours, except maybe the pay lot at harriet, and i've never personally had any problems either, including launches and lots on the mississippi.

you fishing from shore or from a boat?

I've never gotten a ticket with an empty boat trailer but I've got them in my car parked at the same place when I'm fishing from shore.

I've been caught fishing after hours in parks by the cops several times and only been sent home once.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

they don't close down the the bald eagle launch after dark, at least not in the last 3 or 4 years, but you've got a better chance of a break in there than any other lake in the area and it's dark and spooky if you're the only one there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

they don't close down the the bald eagle launch after dark, at least not in the last 3 or 4 years, but you've got a better chance of a break in there than any other lake in the area and it's dark and spooky if you're the only one there.

I hop in with 50inchpig frequently and vise versa, there isn't a lake yet we have wanted to fish after dark and not been able to fish.

Even if you launch at a park with a gate most of them you can get out of but not in after a certain time. Plus I would think most officers would leave a vehicle with an empty trailer alone, it's not like you are causing trouble.

I'll agree about the BE launch being spooky in the dark when you are alone, I can think of a couple more also, like the lake 3 launch on Flake, or the east lake launch on Rush Lake, the Wacouta and Lillydale launches are pretty creepy also. Heck with all the creepy old guys hanging out in the Lillydale launch it give me the creeps in the middle of the day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The only place a LEO has addressed me and ordered me to quit fishin for the night was at Bald Eagle.

I've never had an issue at any of the river accesses I fish, be they parks or launches.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My bros truck got broke into at BE at night, about 5 minutes after he hit the boat to fish. He knows because he only fished for about 20 minutes before quitting, and his stuff was gone. Take everything out of sight, especially iPod/phone/GPS cords, etc. They KNOW you have electronics in there if they see those - that is what LEO told him.

Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

unfortunately we could say Bald Eagle, but I think any launch would be a risk at night, low traffic and anyone else passing by would think your the vehicle owner and your out in the boat so the would be thief should hear you coming back.

Since spoon/gervais is close by, I fish there often late into the night or come back early in the morning, never had a problem there but have heard of others who have. Likewise, been at BE late and not had problems, but I agree that landing is spooky and poorly lit

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From shore....

At hidden falls, an CO said I have to leave at 10pm.

break-ins are one thing but i've never heard of anyone being cited for using a boat ramp or lot after hours, except maybe the pay lot at harriet, and i've never personally had any problems either, including launches and lots on the mississippi.

you fishing from shore or from a boat?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any decent spots I can park a car at without any trouble or towing involved? Bays?

Only place that I know it's ok is Minnetonka, I had a chat with a cop at Bald Eagle years ago, but that place is different cause they close the gate to the park at sundown.

I'll be very interested to know more about this as I love night fishing as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In regards to gangs, I have several weapons of choice (USMC issued bow knives and what not) and that doesn't make or break anything. Just need to fish at night....calm for me. Relaxing.

they don't close down the the bald eagle launch after dark, at least not in the last 3 or 4 years, but you've got a better chance of a break in there than any other lake in the area and it's dark and spooky if you're the only one there.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's always good spots on the chain of lakes for night fishing. We've done Calhoun,Isles, Harriet and Nakomis late into the evening.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been ticketed twice at crystal lake in Burnsville and have 2 friends that have got them there also. This was at least 5 years ago. I understand why parks are closed at 10:00pm but if you have an empty boat trailer on your vehicle you shouldn't get a ticket. Some of the best fishing happens at night. The fine back then was $110.00.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry to hear this. Myself being without a boat, it's hard to find a parking spot around a city lake because of times available to park, and people calling CO or Police for people who simply want to get a line wet. I just dont understand this state and why they are so, or think they are intimidating when they are just acting like fools.

I've been ticketed twice at crystal lake in Burnsville and have 2 friends that have got them there also. This was at least 5 years ago. I understand why parks are closed at 10:00pm but if you have an empty boat trailer on your vehicle you shouldn't get a ticket. Some of the best fishing happens at night. The fine back then was $110.00.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gray's bay access is open all night withoput problems in Minnetonka.

If you get out of Ramsey and Hennepin county night fishing is not a problem.

When I bought my boat 4 years ago I called the Ramsey county police and the DNR offices and got the same reply on both, no parking after 10 pm in county accesses.

That was 4 yrs ago like I said but after seeing all these responses I might try my luck this year in a couple spots.

  • I Like it 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have had the WBL police stop and chat with me at the launch between 12:30 am and 1 am... I didn't know that about the after 10pm... for what it's worth frequently we'll also have a car (no boat trailer) in the lot and have been lucky enough not to be bothered.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You will get ticketed by either Minneapolis park police or city police if you park after 10 pm in any of the city park lots or on the posted parkways. You will also get ticketed if you park in any of the City Park lots without a sticker or you do not feed the meter. You may or may not get chased off the fishing docks after 10 pm. I never have been, but others I know have been ordered out. The Park closes at 10:00 and is now a whole lot safer and quieter in the evening that it was before they went that route. It wasn't fishermen that caused the 10 pm closing as I understand it, and this goes back a few years, too. If we are likely to stay past the curfew on any of the docks, we park on a nearby side street that isn't posted.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

the closet i found that you wont get ticketed is st croix ,.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

minnesota river by far is my night fishing spot and sippi also but mn river for me this year has been crazy at night!!!!

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lots of great shore fishing spots the whole length of the Mississippi. A lot of places you won't get hassled as long as you avoid most parks.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are a lot of parks. Can you give me some directional spots?

Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nokomis. Park a block away on a residential street. Way more residential parking around Nokomis than Calhoun, Cedar, Harriet, etc.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 years later...

Tesha, are you fishing from shore or using a boat?   I have  gone out from Water gate marina, on evens for night fishing the river. Yes, there was a fee, but better to pay up front vs. getting a ticket or having your vehicle broken into.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • leech~~
      Nope not me.  May want to go nextdoor and ask around?  
    • smurfy
      Looks to me like Leech brought his chair home!!😅😆
    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.