Fall bite and shiner run

[Jiggin Machine]

Anyone heard if the fish are starting to bite in the river?  Water temp?  Any shiners running yet?

 

Thanks

[DRAGFOOT]

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?cb_00011=on&format=gif_default&period=3&site_no=05137500

Heres a link to river water temp.

I've been taking a trip in mid October every year since 2008 and it amazes me how everyone is crazy about fishing the river. So we try it and we never get squat in the river, so we go to the lake and crush em! So, someone please tell me what the big deal is about the river? All we usually get is bullheads and an occasional sturgeon that we're unable to land. We now totally skip the river and make the lake our main destination and it never disappoints, unlike the river.

 

[BartmanMN]

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?cb_00011=on&format=gif_default&period=3&site_no=05137500

Heres a link to river water temp.

I've been taking a trip in mid October every year since 2008 and it amazes me how everyone is crazy about fishing the river. So we try it and we never get squat in the river, so we go to the lake and crush em! So, someone please tell me what the big deal is about the river? All we usually get is bullheads and an occasional sturgeon that we're unable to land. We now totally skip the river and make the lake our main destination and it never disappoints, unlike the river.

 

If you don't get squat in the River and nail them in the lake, then you are either too early or the river flow is not good for a massive shiner run.  The times I've gone have been around Deer opener or the week after.

[hnd]

 

the main lake you certainly catch more fish.  but the appeal of the river is very real and reasoned.  we go up and I'd much rather fish the lake.  but my dad and his 2 best friends want only to fish the river.   why?   getting to your spot requires minimal time as well as you don't have to deal with the weather.   we don't have 300hp rigs so our ride out to the takes some time.  our spot on the river it takes 1 minutes to get to.   They also hate playing bumper boats.

 

Edited October 1, 2015 by hnd

[CANOPY SAM]

There is certainly nothing wrong with just fishing the lake in the fall.  The fishing is typically very good on the lake in early fall as many of the lake fish are often staging up outside the river mouth waiting for the biomass of shiners to run up the river.  When the shiners go, the walleyes follow.

The difficulty with fishing the lake in the fall is, as was stated above, the weather. If one "plans" to fish the lake in October or November one can often be disappointed by hefty cold north/northwest winds that really don't allow comfortable lake fishing, or it can make fishing virtually impossible, blowing you off the lake altogether.

If and when the shiners move into the river the fishing can be very good, and it seems like the overall quality of the fish are better then the lake.  At least in my experience we don't seem to be feeding "cigars" all day, but rather the average size of the fish running into the river are larger, and the little bait stealers are nearly absent in the river.

I'm more then happy to fish either the river, or the lake, as long as the fish are "on".  And it's absolutely true, that the fish out in the lake are often biting aggressively when the river is quiet.  Just keep in mind, not everyone has a watercraft capable of handling that big water when it starts to get rough, so it's awfully nice to tuck into the river when the wind is howling out on the lake.  A person can pull up alongside the southwestern river shore, out of the wind, soak up some sun on a cool October day, and still catch good numbers of fat, sassy Lake of the Woods walleyes!

Throwing out a prayer for a good shiner run this year!  I'll be up at least 4-5 times in the next few weeks.  Will report back following each fishing trip.

 

[MrGolfwrench]

We have several groups that only fish the River and some that fish both.  I looked back at the last few years results for our personal tournament (18 people in 5 boats over 3 days).  It was interesting to see:

Winner for largest fish - Caught in the lake.  It was 26 inches.   Last 2 years has been the lake but I would say it is about 50/50 over the years.

Winner for the most inches of quality fish (keepers plus slots released) - Won by someone who only fished in river last year.  I would say it leans toward the river.  Even more toward the river as the water temp is lower.  (usually something around 170 inches or more)

Winner for Sturgeon General (most inches of Sturgeon released) - Won by someone who only fished in the river.  Almost always won by someone in the river.  I've seen some pretty big fish pulled out of the lake however.

Now if we had a category for most inches of fish caught total including the 12 inchers it would have been a complete runaway by someone in the lake.  12 inches X 100 fish = 1200 inches:^).  Lots of fun to catch 100 fish in 3 hours in your boat:^)  Even if you are just fattening up little ones with bait.

Best part is there are lots of options:^)  If the weather is bad you can fish the river.  If the weather is good you can go many places and you have a good chance of catching some quality fish.

[Neighbor_guy]

They were pulling shiners by the bucket full on Friday night into Saturday morning ..... 

The shiners we purchased Saturday were caught the night before. 

[curt quesnell]

That is some great news!  Thanks

 

[DRAGFOOT]

OK, I am thinking about trying this river thing one more time, thought about going up over Halloween. Anyone know when the DNR pulls the docks from the boat ramps? I assume most of the marker bouys will be pulled by then...just in case I need to head for the lake? I've done it a billion times and would probably be fine, but just wondering.

[Boar]

For the heck of it I figure too thro this out there, since ive done the rainy thing for almost 20 years, not that im right, but its my experience. Currently there is lottle to no flow in the river. it is my understand that shinners spawn on mid lake structre and not in the fall or spring, so why do shinners run up river in fall? not sure. havent found that answer yet. Like I say I could be wrong on that. but what i do know is for the normal to classic shiner run to occure, there needs to be flow. which is not happining this year or last year or the year before from what I can remeber.  yes there are baiters collect ing shinners, but its also to my understanding that they are certainly not in the same place every day andnot geting bucket severyday either. when the flow is nill like it is, some shinners will still run sporadicly a pod here then here then here, but not enought to turn on the walleye feeding freenzy everyone waits for. so quite frankly the horse to bet on is four mile bay to the lake side. I was at morris point this weekend and seen alot of boats doing well on the lake side of pine island. A great freind of mine that lives just past timber mill park, said he pulled his boat. why? hmmmmmm. no flow speaks for itself.  fish the lake. Im sure ther will be those to contest this but this is just my 2 cents of opinion. good luck,

[CRITTER]

If you fish this area you all know the key is getting on top of the fish.  It's hunting on the water.  Sitting in one place is not going to produce the numbers unless your transitioning, day to night and weather.  The lake is the place we get consistent fish.

The river is weather proof and can produce a big fish with numbers.  If you have the anchor setup, a big 35, and another

for swing,  fishing in big water in weather is really fun.  Be safe, wear your vest and hang on.  Good luck and see you Wednesday.

P.S.  Let out allot of rope.

Edited October 18, 2015 by CRITTER
update

[curt quesnell]

Thanks Guys!  I got up Saturday morning (34 degrees) and saw the waves and reached for the chore jar. It go nice in the afternoon but by then I was knee deep in finishing up some projects.  The boat is ready to go and I think we will see some nicer weather yet this fall

[MrGolfwrench]

Well we just finished our annual MEA trip this weekend (22 of us this year).  Boy does the weather impact fishing.  Nice weather on Wednesday and fishing was good out in the lake.  Then the wind blew in and Thursday and Friday fishing was really tough in the river.  Luckily we were able to locate some fish on late Friday and Saturday (again in the Lake).  We did well outside pine island anywhere from 17 feet out to 26 feet deep in some places.  

Don't be shy about trying new spots we had some spots where we got no bites and others where we had constant action.

Long story but while netting a fish a big wave attempted to throw me out so I elected to fall in the boat and kick my fishing rod overboard:^(  Good news is that my anchor holds really well and about 5 minutes later I caught and landed my rod from the bottom:^)

Take care our there Thursday was quite refreshing in the wind.  Be safe and good fishing.

 

[slammer]

Anything new as far as shiners and eye's in the river?

[White-tips]

We were up this weekend. Very slow by Long Point for us Saturday. Sunday we went out through the gap with good results. With all the small fish in the system by Pine Island, we easily went through 10-12 dozen shiners in four hours. Still kept a limit of 14-18" fish and threw back a 27"er.

Tons of shiners showing up in the river. Very few fish. We talked to several at The Wam that caught nothing over 12" in the river.

Fish out the gap anywhere from 20-28'. Glow red buckshots (as always) dominated every other hook style and color.

 

Edited November 10, 2015 by White-tips

[curt quesnell]

Looks like it will be pretty nice this weekend too.  Might get another trip in yet this season.