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.

Recommended Posts

For Current St Louis River Fishing Reports - Click Here.

Not what I expected for the opener! One walleye (24.5", female full of eggs, released) after 6 hours of fishing with 3 guys in the boat. We launched at Clyde at 6am and there were only 6 trailers in the parking lot and we had only one boat at the ramp. We started out bottom bouncing crawler harnesses (various colors) with no bites. Fished 4 - 15 FOW along channel breaks and flats towards Spirit Lake and just above Spirit. NOTHING!

 

Lots of boats out there too, no nets moving and everyone we talked to had been skunked. Headed up to just past Boy Scout landing and started trolling crank baits. A #5 shad rap, perch color, caught the only fish around 11am. It was barely hooked and came out as I was netting it. We put all cranks on and not another strike. We tried jigging, casting rippin' raps, lead core with harnesses...they stayed tight lipped. We marked very few fish. DNR at the ramp noted one other fish caught. We enjoyed the sun after the wind died down around 10am. Great day to be out on the water...if only the fish would cooperate! Good luck out there!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Same here. Pretty tough but I was fishing again in a boat after a tough winter so I was happy.

Caught a nice tan on my forearms,though

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is the fishing pier going back at the boy scout landing? They have the boat launch open but it doesn't look like there is even a spot for the fishing pier to go.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes fro what I understand the fishing pier will still be at Boyscout, but it is being moved away from the launch. For good reason! Yeah today was a muddy mess. Did manage a few hits jigging, but that was it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nothing new to report, didn't catch any yesterday. Saw some 50 degree water though. Fishing should pick up upriver pretty quick.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

fished around buoy 61,saturday around 430 to 600. in 5 feet of water, boated 6 males under 15 inches. water was 45 degrees, running fast and dirty. hope it settles down this weekend for the tourement. good luck to everbody. used jig and minnow. tracker 185

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If it doesn't rain that much starting Wednesday at the latest it is going to be a grind, and that will just be the part where you dodge full grown trees! Good news will be that if you catch anything you will have a chance of being in the money! crazy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also talked to the DNR guys at Clyde about the spawn. He said the walleyes they'd checked still had green eggs in them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All the fish I have caught have been rock solid. Water was still about 45 degrees. I like 50.

As far as the bite I only got 4 walleyes in 2 half days. 3 ways with a TON of lead and stick baits caught 3 and 1 was caught on a spinner/bouncer. Caught plenty of nice suckers on jigs and crawlers though. wink

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is there still a lot of debris floating in the river? I certainly don't want to lose a lower unit!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

With any luck the river will calm down some by this weekend. High muddy water has made for a tough bite but some of the "usual spots" are producing small numbers of fish. For those of you fishing this year's Berg Construction Walleye cup, don't forget to bring a copy of your boat insurance and your digital camera that accepts a SD card to the rules meeting, Friday, May 16th. Registration begins at 6:00 p.m. with rules meeting at 7:00 p.m. Rules meeting will be held at the Riverside Bar and Grill at the base of Spirit Mountain off of Grand Ave. We will have a table set up for you to check your camera and make sure it is working properly.

Good luck all!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Finally had time to get out on the river last night, high water and tight lipped walleyes. In 3 hours I managed two nice eyes (17 & 20, both males) and two of the biggest suckers I've ever caught. The suckers were CPR'd, the eye's are on the dinner table tonight.I was above Hwy 23 using jigs and minnows. Current so fast I had to go to a 1/2 ounce jig, lighter stuff just moves too fast. I live in Superior and put in at Arrowhead, had to use the GPS to get home slowly in the thick fog last night. Without it I'd still be doing circles.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You need to pay attention but the river is high which is good, you can make a mistake and the prop is a foot or two over the same place last year. I noticed a couple small islands dissapeared, near the campgrounds. That usually makes a shallow bar someplace. And there are still a few logs from two years ago, mostly up toward the hwy 23 bridge. the coast guard is no longer putting out buoys. That is the greater issue. If you have a mapping gps, no problem, the buoy locations are well marked where they should be. With not much emergent vegitation, it's more likely you'll run up on shallow water just off the channel than to hit a submerged object, since you cannot see the channel edges. I did that last night because when you go slow, the gps doesn't work as good as the arrow cursor deviates from course due to the gps error and I was all fogged in. Just use caution.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well it seems like the bite is picking up or maybe there was just a lot more folks on the water this Labor Day weekend.

Reports are coming in from all over the river from the d a m to the entries that folks are finding fish. Some BIG ones too. Flats with spinners or stick baits seems best but some are still up top jiggin them up.

Cranks are also working and most of those reports are from 61 up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the report Northlander, glad to hear that the bite is improving. Between the work thing and da boss' "huny-do" list, my poor boat is suffering from land rot. Maybe early next week I can slink away for a few hours.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I jumped out on the river today from 1130-1300. Headed up river from Arrowhead. I told my buddy it seemed like there were more buoys than normal, sure enough the coast guard was putting some back in. They had gotten to buoy number 26 last I saw. Managed to pick up one nice eater on a crawler harness, finally able to restore a bit of river confidence!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ya the buoys should have been out for the opener. Thats a huge safety risk if ya ask me. In my opinion they should have never been taken out. Even for someone like me who knows the river pretty good and have a good gps it can get tricky in areas at some times with out buoys to help guide you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Caught this Sheepshead last night on the river. Can't say I've ever seen one as big myself in person. Nothing official but it was around 25-26in and 8-9lbs by my estimation. Fought a good fight too. Got a few eyes as well. Nice night out.

full-20084-46220-sheepshea.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished the up river yesterday and had an incredible day. Just too bad I couldn't find anyone to join me @ the last moment. Chartreuse or Pink Crawler harnesses were the hot colors for me. Probably went 50/50 for colors, with pink getting the nod from the bigger fishes. There are some big fish milling around up river.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Caught this female in the river on Friday. Has anyone ever come across a walleye with a tail like this before? Wondering if its an injury or a genetic deformity.

full-44687-46253-image.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Once in a while you get a deformed fish, sometimes even wondering how it survived. Probably got injured as a fry, we'll never know. Either way, probably better to take the fish as you'll never taste a bend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The nice thing about living up here is the ease of being able to get out. Came home from a trip to the cities and just couldn't sit home Sunday afternoon, so hooked up the boat and slipped her in. Trolled Arrowhead flats with a Wally Diver and an assortment of raps. Both eyes came on the Wally Diver and ignored everything else I tried up to the other line. Some days are like that. Both hits were very subtle, the rod tip barely bent and I was trolling a walleye that wasn't objecting too much. 16" and 19", both males. Tasty. Judging by the activity, one or two fish per hour was about as good as any boat was doing. Not fast and furious, can't wait until it is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice weather so I got out tonight. Hit the wind blown side of the narrow island near the channel in Spirit lake, but nothing. Decided to pull cranks up by 61 and got one both passes. Water was really moving and to a certain degree murky, but was still what I call fishable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've noticed more boats fishing the harbor area lately. Anybody have any reports to share??

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OSOK,

I have trolled cranks on along the channel in 7 to 9 fow. Limited out 2 nights in a row. Only two boats out there, though hard to find in the fog. Lots of 13 and 14 inch eyes before you get a couple of keepers. Gold and clown colors worked well. Good luck out there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the report FishingFreak. I ended up going to Island Lake today. If I get out tomorrow I'll be on the river fo' sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the report FishingFreak. I ended up going to Island Lake today. If I get out tomorrow I'll be on the river fo' sure.

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.




  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
    • 11-87
      Looking for recommendations on scope or red dot    I basically hunt turkey and whitetail, live in southern MN. So it’s all deer/ shotgun    looking to add a scope/ red dot as my eyes don’t work like they used to to with the open sights.    my gun options are 11/87 12. Browning BPS 12    not looking for the most expensive or the cheapest    pros and cons of one over the other
×
×
  • 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.