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2019 Rainy River Melt


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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

sweet!!

 

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Has anyone taken a look at the forks.  Wondering how close they are to opening up 

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I believe the Big fork has burst. Just as I was leaving, as always! Unfortunately 2 friends wimped out so I turned around. Gonna probably still do 1 day trip tomorrow.

Edited by BIGFISH.JZ
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Usually there are a number of questions as to the status of flows on the Big and Little Fork Rivers this time of year.  This link provides a current update of stream gauges up and down the Big and Little Fork.  As you can see now with the warmer temps and some rain the upper stream flows have gone up but the lower gauges closer to the rainy are still lower from what they were about a week ago.  Hopefully this is the last push of water and flows will level off again soon and not affect the clarity much on the Rainy.  Does anyone know if the Forks are ice free yet as you go over the bridges on Hwy. 11?  Thanks and  good luck on the River! 

 

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/river_levels/index.html

 

Click State Water Trails Interactive Map

Click on River Gauges show

Click the Blue icon for Map Layers to make legend disappear

Can then zoom in on the Big and Little Fork gauging buttons and choose more detail to see graphs

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43 minutes ago, BIGFISH.JZ said:

I believe the Big fork has burst. Just as I was leaving, as always! Unfortunately 2 friends wimped out so I turned around. Gonna probably still do 1 day trip tomorrow.

Where did you hear this?

From those I spoke to that came from that way this morning, they were still tight to shore near the mouths.

 

I know Rainy Lake guide service has been posting videos of the falls in Big fork, causing some to think the big fork is out.  Rushing water there is nothing new in the spring.

 

That said, it could happen at any time I am sure.  The rain this morning doesnt help either.

 

Good luck BIGFISH.

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Might be the vid you are referring to, my GF saw on fakebook. So hopefully it is still clean water!

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Looks like flows are rapidly rising up and down the Fork's according to the stream gauge information. Imagine it should be affecting the clarity some on the Rainy.

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I drove up to Northome today and along Hwy 1, the Big Fork was rippin and the Little Fork was just busting up this afternoon on my way back.

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The current, the iceburgs, the suspended debris and of course the west winds all increased as the day progressed.... But I did see some mild current and clearish water for the first hour. Saw low numbers of anglers and low numbers of fish caught. Action was slow, boated 5 species including handful of smaller sturgeon up to 50". No complaints though! Not great but enough action to stay awake?IMG953426_1554781936896.thumb.jpg.0a1b0d8b0456855b64cf7f7ad3c94924.jpg

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I'd say that the clarity was about a foot maybe less when we left. Didn't really pay much attention. Tired and cold by that point. 

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4 hours ago, BIGFISH.JZ said:

I'd say that the clarity was about a foot maybe less when we left. Didn't really pay much attention. Tired and cold by that point. 

Anything biting out there? Bite shut down for us yesterday morning.. water temp dropped and water got dirty.. hoping the forks will settle down a bit and they’ll be biting again by tomorrow!

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It was one of the slower days I have seen up there. We were targeting sturgeon but tried for eyes for a few minutes here and there. Normally I get a number of eyes on sturgeon rigs, had plenty of minnows disappear off the crawler cocktail but only got 1 on bottom and 1 on jig and a bigger one on a crank. Sturgeon were seen surfacing and on sonar but bites were scarce and fish were small. We got a few smallish ones and a 50". We fished between town and the lake. At one point I saw 32.6° which I could hardly believe.

 

The Forking Forks always fork up my first trip every forking time!!!! 

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Saturday was great.

Sunday slower.

Monday terrible.

11# 11oz and a 10# 5oz big.

Too much grass, leaves, dirt and sticks in the river for our style of fishing so  this morning we.packed up and headed home.

8 over 26 and all but one on cranks. The Rainy Rocks!

 

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Just saw the little fork blow.  @kkellywalleyes on twitter for video and picture.  Was coming back from birchdale just got off river.  Was chunky on right side and solid ice on left.  Turned around at pelland gas station and watched it push into the river

Edited by @kkellywalleyes
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Unfortunately, true to form.  About 10 days after Frontier opened up the Little Fork busts.?

 

Good fishing can still be had from Pelland to the International dam though.

 

 

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  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN

Definitely fish the Pelland area if ventureing up the next few days or fish above the forks. Fished the river many years and have learned once she gets dirty pretty much a lost cause unless you find better clarity. Yes you will get some say go for it and you will get a few but not what your going there for thays for sure. Low numbers and debri come hand in hand.  A few  trips have been cancelled last minute because of dirty conditions been there done that. . Lessons learned over the years go to Pelland or stay home. Timeing is everything for spring fishing on the rainy river. 

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Fished Tuesday evening before the little fork dumped its load. Did ok for the little time we fished. Largest was 26.And a 59 inch sturgeon. Fished Wednesday and caught a few but was dirtying up quick. Largest was 27. Thursday to Saturday where we were fishing was absolutely trashed with debris. I had never experienced the forks break while I was up here fishing and it was horrible Conditions and even worse fishing. But it was a learning lesson as is every year with the good ol Rainy river.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Heading up to the river in the morning trying to decide if I should fish up the river or out if wheelers. 

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
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