Brainerd to Little Falls

[Flyhammer]

Planning a float trip through this section in June. Targeting muskies and smallmouth on a fly rod, with emphasis on the muskies. Anyone fish this stretch regularly? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

[minky]

Sounds like a fun trip!

Good luck.

[wildsmallie]

That is a great area with good fishing for muskies and smallies,lots of pike and walleyes too. I fish up there a fair amount, always from a jon boat though so my fishing is more "milk run" oriented. In a canoe you have to float by it all, in areas with swifter current and rocks, look for smallies, while deeper sandy sections and holes is where you should break out the muskie gear. Keep an eye on water levels--in June the water could be at a high level that makes a float trip a bad idea. With all the snow we are likely to have high water well into summer, so consider doing your trip later in the year. You can find some info on fishing there on my website wildsmallie.com

Good Luck!

[Flyhammer]

Thanks for the info Chris, I appreciate it. I checked out the site too, looks great. I'll keep an eye on those water levels and let you know how we do when we head up there.

[teal50]

Check your email for my comments.

[Musky Buck]

Float trip in what ? Be careful in the camp ripley area, my light 16' aluminum shell was gashed by rocks right there in ankle deep water one summer and definitely wait for the right water levels too fast a current and you'll be water skiing to Little Falls. River muskies also aren't quite as touchy as lake muskies when it comes to fronts or trying to hit ideal conditions to create some magic. Good luck and report back some day on how you skated through the boulders and rocks around ripley, there was 0 option for me other than to jump right in the river and go full bilge back to the landing, only a grand to fix, not bad.

[Flyhammer]

I'll be running either a Grumman or a drift boat depending on what the levels look like and how many guys want to go along. They both handle skinny water pretty well.

[Musky Buck]

Good luck and be careful, skinny it was, it was like 2-4" of water and plenty of rock, don't eat a thanksgiving meal beforehand. Grit your teeth and pray. You'll know your there when you scan right and left and there's no option, I should've jumped in the river right away and really survey that area from shore 1st, don't think because you see Jimmy and Al trolling with a 200 merc that that is the stretch they're on cuz they live so close, remember way back musky corner is near Monticello and Clearwater and it's all musky water as you go north and through Grand Rapids with some stretches certainly better than others, be careful.