River is in great shape, big smallies are on fire!

[wildsmallie]

I've been out a few times in the past week, the water is at a nice, "high but fishable" level in the Monti area. I always prefer fly fishing, but the other day I got on a pretty good jig/craw bite. Not huge numbers, but the average size has been great. Getting plenty of fish of poppers too, and the crankbait bite is strong as always.

[smalliehunter]

nice. looks like some fun

[JeremyCampbell]

Cool, I agree.Been checking these last few days with good numbers in the mornings above the sartell dam.

[KenM1987]

I've never fishing the Mississippi but I love fishing smallmouth and have always wanted to fish the river. Where is the safest place to put in for a first timer. I have a 16 foot alumacraft tiller.

[Brad B]

I've never fishing the Mississippi but I love fishing smallmouth and have always wanted to fish the river. Where is the safest place to put in for a first timer. I have a 16 foot alumacraft tiller.

Ken,

you need to be careful around the monti section of the river. there is a lot or rocks in some areas. I finally got brave a couple weeks ago and took the chance and put my 16 foot Alumacraft fisherman in at Ellison park in town and drove up river to just up river of the nuke plant. the water averaged 4 feet in most places but I did cross one area of only 2.5 feet. there was a few 10 to 14 foot holes I crossed too but they weren't very big of area. at the time I put in the river was moving at around 4.5 MHP as I let the boat drift to check the speed of the water. haven't checked the flow rate on the gauge(St Cloud) lately but it should be running at a flow rate of around 8 to 10 thousand CFS which is fishable if you have river experience. normal CFS for this time of year should be around 5000 CFS and by August down to 3000CFS.

here is the Gauge reading site for St Cloud :

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=mpx&gage=scom5

[wildsmallie]

No matter what boat you have and no matter what section you are on, you should always proceed with caution. Consider putting in at Champlin, or maybe Sartell. At either of these areas the river is backed up and you will have no problem heading up river. Now, while the water is high, is the time to get out there and learn the "path of least resistance". You will hit a rock. You could also do a float--spot a vehicle at the next access down and fish the whole section.

[Swamp_Gas]

Good news. Only hit river a handful of times in last two weeks but it's been good. Surprisingly the water a couple days ago was almost too clear for my liking.

[eyeguy 54]

Great smally action today and a bonus northern.

[JeremyCampbell]

Nice fish Eyeguy.

[Stick in Mud]

Nice pike. There are some *dandies* in there, and they sure don't see any pressure. I usually only run into them in the spring and fall, though.

[MSRiverdog]

Can't get away from can ya. Biggest northern I've ever seen an the Miss was caught by a shore fisherman under what is now the mansion at the crow in Dayton. I've fished there many times and never could come close.

[eyeguy 54]

This was just a little one dog.

[MSRiverdog]

Aint no big pike up that way EG, maybe a few of them other toothy critters though.

[eyeguy 54]

heehee

[Swamp_Gas]

Nice river slimer! Most I see are 1-3 pounds.

[Swamp_Gas]

But then I mainly fish Elk River to Clearwater.

[eyeguy 54]

these are my best 2 from up here. 2005. both were released. My fishing really slowed down in 2007 or I might have caught them again. lol

[Nhamm]

Can't get away from can ya. Biggest northern I've ever seen an the Miss was caught by a shore fisherman under what is now the mansion at the crow in Dayton. I've fished there many times and never could come close.

Caught one a week ago that was 15#+ south of where you are speaking, and a few 5-10# in Monti in the winter, that's about the only time I fish up that way(hate ice fishing). Just moved up to Champlin and loving the river north of the dam to Dayton so far, best fishing of my life being caught all in one summer. 21" smallies, 40" pike, 30"+ cats, walleyes to come I thought I loved the strech in north MPLS, puts it to shame. Lol.

I've said too much, there's no fish in this stretch it sucks, anyone needs spots downtown let me know.....

[dj00140]

Yea that is a good stretch, I've heard of guys getting muskies in Monticello but I have never got one, we catch them north and south of Monticello but never between becker and montissippi park and I fished that area nearly every weekend for ten years.

[jigginjim]

Anybody hitting the river lately? I know the cold would stop many guys. Thinking a few diehard guys would still hit the water. Has the zonkers worked as of late?

[searching4slabs]

Ive only made it out once this year it was about three weeks ago, caught two small smallies, two small northerns and some small walleyes. Pretty backwards for me out there that time