Little Falls

[eyeguy 54]

Had some fun fishing north of little falls for a  few hours today. 

 

[river rat316]

Is that fonz with a river pro again?

[eyeguy 54]

borrowed from a club member for the trolling for troops event friday. 

[ANYFISH2]

That is really a unappreciated stretch of river.  Glad you had a good time.

[JeremyCampbell]

Coolzzz

[Bass Thumb]

Way to go guys! The St Cloud stretch just doesn't seem to produce as many hog bronzebacks. 

[eyeguy 54]

it has and still does.   just not as tall as they seem to be up there. 

[ANYFISH2]

Finally!!!

The boy and I hit the River this morning for the first time this season.  Current is still significant and bit "dirtier".  We found fish relating a bit off of the shorelines breaks in 16-20ft of water.  We missed a ton of bites as we were drifting at a good clip with the wind blowing with the current. 

We fished with lindys with leeches or crawlers, leeches by far caught more fish.  Crawlers got bit, with a far lower hook up %.  We ended up with 6 catfish in the 17"-20" range, 3 walleye 12"-14", 1 northern 19", 4 smallmouth 13"-16", and 5 rockbass.  Fishing from 8:30am-12pm.  

Sure was nice to hit the River again, Isaac is sold on river fishing now.

 

[ANYFISH2]

The smallmouth bite is going strong in L.F. during the mid morning hours.

 Pods of nice fish can be found in depths ranging from 6ft to 20ft.  A lot of dead water in between pods.  Most fish seemed to be relating to deeper rock piles and the deep water between the rocks and the shorelines.  Very few fish relating to the shores themselves.

Flukes, tubes jigs, and especially large minnows are taken readily.

Here are Isaacs and my 19"+ fish this morning.

This was one ^ was only 18".

a.

[eyeguy 54]

nice !

 

[MSRiverdog]

Here in CT. the minimum is 18"s 8 lakes are stocked with Leech Lake fry, I've caught a 22.5 and a 24.5 in the Connecticut River much to the shock of CT. anglers, they're up in Mass. and northerly. Yes I kept them, made fingers out of them, I sure miss MN. Eyes! 

Whoops, wrong thread!

Edited October 6, 2016 by MSRiverdog

[ANYFISH2]

Hit up the miss a couple Times this weekend with Isaac. With the stronger flows and seemingly endless showers of late, the water is pretty murky.

The fish seemed a bit off, all of our smallmouth came from 10' or less but in the current.  We didn't catch many so a solid tactic never really materialized.  Of course the rock bass were cooperative!

Been dealing with boat issues all summer, so now most major things have been taken care of, i hope to get out a bit more.

[Wanderer]

The floating weeds have been rediculous since the water came back up.  I haven't fished the river from the boat since then but I can imagine the bite has been off with the big change.

Funny you mention the rock bass.  That's all I caught off the dock the other night.  Last year they were a spring time fish from the dock.

I did make a run up and down steam tonight and the weeds were still a nuisance.  I had to clear my prop several times.  It's a little 15 horse short shaft.  Maybe a bigger motor sloughs off the weeds better.

Glad your boat is running better Anyfish. 

[teal50]

Wanderer,

I live on the Miss between LFalls and Brainerd.  River still on high side for this time of year and yes, still a lot of weeds. A few weeks ago we had nearly 10 inches of rain over about a week.   It has been mainly the ribbon weeds which hang up quickly on lines/lures.  It has improved some, but I'd expect it to worsen again.  Whatever ribbons weeds that did not get ripped or torn out by the rapid rise in water, should let go in the next week or so. They do this every year about the 2nd week of September.  This year it may not be as bad since many are already gone, but it makes fishing challenging  until they clear. That can take a week to two weeks in a typical year.

[ANYFISH2]

I usually welcome the mats of eel grass that pull up this time year!  It signals the start of the smallie migration south.  It seemed early this year because of the flow, that is why i hit up the river a couple weeks ago.  Usually the bite really picks up after little falls arts and craft fair,  Coinsides with the release of the eel grass usually.

[Jmnhunter]

starting to see the boats in the morning and evening while coming/leaving work; i really should bring the  boat with me and fish early before work...

 

anyone catch consistent walleyes in LF this time of year?

[ANYFISH2]

In town?

In town it can be hit and miss alot times.  

The most consistent spots are along the shore by the townhomes north of the tressel.  The deep water holes under hwy 10 bridge.  And the deep water south of the tressel.

A jig and fathead should get you a walleye or two.  If you use a lindy, you catch a smallmouth, a jig you get walleyes.  Our great rock bass bite both though!!

[ANYFISH2]

The bite was better today.  fished from 10:30-2.  Found fish scattered anywhere from 2ft to 20.  Best bite was with a drop shot and fluke(white) near sharp drops.

The boys(Isaac and neighbor Jacob) caught close to 15 smallmouth and dozens of rock bass. I caught 10 smallies as well.  Most SM fell between 16"-18". 18.5 by Isaac was the biggest.

 

[ANYFISH2]

Lots of boats on the river daily here in LF now.  Select people are hitting good pods of fish and catching well.  Flows, though still Very swift, are slowing.  Fish are becoming a little more scattered, more fish are being caught away from shore and away from prominate structure.

Minnows and tubes pulling most fish.  A few nice fish here and there most are falling in the 15-17 inch range.

Good luck out there.

[ANYFISH2]

Hit the river tonight, with a boat load of 11/12 year olds.  Water clarity was surprisingly good!  Flow is a little swift but not terrible.

 

Found a mixed bag of species, Smallmouth, catfish, Rockbass, walleyes, and perch.

Most fish were caught with crawlers on a lindy or jig.

Minnow produced a few Smallmouth and perch.  Not quite time for minnows yet.

Most fish relating to mid river rock piles. 8 to 15ft of water.

[Jmnhunter]

the river above the dam must be popping, boats have been at the east landing every morning when i Pull into work; saw a nice fully wrapped lund and truck the other day so even the "Prostaff" guys find something intriguing out there...

[ANYFISH2]

Tis the season.

 Unfortunately, I have neen able to join the fun.

[Wanderer]

Everywhere has been popping according to what I’ve been hearing and seeing.

 

Guys talking about scrapping the deer opener to fish all the big systems for all the big fish that have the feedbag on.  

 

Its the magic season.