new to st.cloud looking for eyes

[Dante G]

hey I'm new to fishing in around the st.cloud area and i was looking for a bit of direction. i have a 14' aluminum boat with a 9.9 on it and any insight would be appreciated. I'm looking for walleye mostly, but i have no problem with just a good experience. thanks again for any help

[Rick G]

Welcome to Fishing Minnesota Dante G!!! There are a few decent lakes in the area. Little Rock, Koronis, Rice, Briggs and the Western lakes of the Horseshoe chain all provide good walleye fishing.

[Tom Sawyer]

Welcome aboard Dante.

The Mississippi River North of Sartell is another good option for walleye, along with many other species. Several areas below Wilson Park right in town, that also hold walleye.

[Dante G]

thanks for the replies all! will i be ok with just a 9.9 on the river? my boat is super light.

[Dante G]

thanks for the tips i was looking at little rock earlier this week and it seemed very shallow. thanks again.

[Borch]

Little Rock can be good as well especially early and late in the year.

[Dante G]

somehow in the makeover of the sight i lost my messages. One of you kind folks offered to take me out and i would like to take them up on the offer if it still stands. thanks again 

 

[Rick]

You can still go to the old forums and see them: http://fishingminnesota.com/forum/ubbthreads.php

[Tom Sawyer]

Just checked the "my stuff", nothing in messages, or anything else left to view. Everything is deleted Rick.

Dante I sent you a new message.

[eyeguy 54]

welcome to the site!  with your boat you should be able to put in north of where the paper mill used to be and search for eyes also.  and smallies up in that area can give you a fun day also.  Wilson also as tom mentioned.  if you go upstream you will see large rocks on the east side up a half mile or so.  good spot for some eyes and smallies. It will be tougher on the west side to get up that far. Anchor up with a fathead and a split shot can be fun,  crawler also.  Just remember to let those smallies go and grow.    You can make it up north of the hospital a ways and drift back on that shoreline also.  Good spot to throw a mepps, or a tube or stick bait. Going downsteam can be fun also, you just have to try a few spots.  Good luck!

[Dante G]

thanks for the tip i may do just that tomorrow. ill update if i do get out

 

[sartellangler05]

Anyone been to rice lake since opener? What presentations are working? I'll be out there before sunup....

[Rick G]

Hope you get into them on Rice! Heard the bite has been decent out there sofar this year. I would bet you could get a few fish on jigs and minnows up shallow yet. Slip bobbers and leeches worked around the bars is also a safe bet, if you get a little wind and wave action that is.

[sartellangler05]

You're right on the leeches Rick. Everyone out there was fishing with leeches. I was slip bobbering all morning with shiners,which caught nothing but bass, however 3 slab crappies at 13". Trolled the lindy with a plastic worm and finally got a couple walleyes afternoon, then had to leave for work. Was a lot of traffic  on the lake might I add!!

[Tom Sawyer]

hey I'm new to fishing in around the st.cloud area and i was looking for a bit of direction. i have a 14' aluminum boat with a 9.9 on it and any insight would be appreciated. I'm looking for walleye mostly, but i have no problem with just a good experience. thanks again for any help

​I forgot to mention that below the St. Cloud Dam, shore fishing offers some decent walleye action Dante, especially in the fall.

[Rick G]

Like Tom said,  shore fishing the river offers a chance to get into walleyes all the way till ice up. Right now, look to deeper water pockets, sandbars or eddys to be holding numbers of 'eyes. Jigs and crawlers, minnows or plastics will get the bites. Night fishing current seams with a lighted float can also be a good way to get action. 

[jramsber]

Would I  be ok with an 18ft boat with a 150 motor on the river north of Sartell?  I haven't done much river fishing but would like to give it a try since it is so close. Any input on areas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Rick G]

jramsber, you will be fine with the larger boat in that section. I have seen a few yachts up there over the years .  Most of the nastiest hazards have bouys around them.  Easies way for a newbie to learn the river is to pick a section of shoreline and float down it, casting to the shorelines. Watch your depthfinder for humps ,rockpiles  and submerged trees that can hold fish. 3-4in grubs, 6-8in worms or crankbaits have usually worked well for me for multi species action. If you are targeting 'eyes, jigs and crawlers