Upper Rum River

[Kayak1310]

Has anyone fished the Rum River between Onamia and the Wayside landing around this time of year before? I'm looking to take a trip with the kayak over labor day, but wanted to make that stretch would be deep enough to float (I'm ok with occasionally dragging the kayak, but I don't want to take my girlfriend on a 9 mile hike in ankle deep water), and that there'd be a realistic chance to hook into some good smallies. I will be doing strictly catch and release, I just want to get out and have some topwater fun. I had heard from some that the stretch of river in question may be better in June, so I wasn't for sure. 

 

If that stretch of river is no good, is there another that you'd recommend?

 

I appreciate any help.

[JBMasterAngler]

Water is really low. It’s definitely doable, but there will be a lot of spots you’ll have to get out and pull. Fallen trees in low water might be your biggest obstacle. Should be plenty of smallies to catch. They’ll be concentrated in any deep pools you come across.

[gim]

I fished it further south near Milaca/Princeton a couple times in late July.  It was OK then but dropping.  The second time we definitely bumped more rocks and grounded out in a couple riffles.  I use a 10 foot jon boat that can float through a couple inches of water.  We caught 15-20 smallmouth both times, but nothing over 16 inches.  I think the drought last year sent the bigger fish out of there.  It may take a few years to recover.

 

You can check the flow on the DNR website.  There is a live gauge right in Onamia.  Anything below 11 feet is too low for me.

 

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/csg/site.html?id=21018002

 

 

[Kettle]

Little more narrow up there, if I were to do it, I'd float St Francis to Andover. Shallow yes but it's a good stretch to fish

[Kayak1310]

Hey thanks guys, I appreciate your input. It sounds like this float might be best to put off a year when the water is up a little higher. I'll check the gage next summer and see how it looks. I was hoping to get into some 18 to 20" fish (aren't we all), so maybe they will have moved back in there by then.

 

Does the stretch south of St. Francis get very much pressure on it? I'll have to give it a look.

 

 

[Kettle]

Some pressure but nothing like lake fishing 

[Wanderer]

You could do Isanti to St. Francis also.  About mid way is Anderson Park that has a small sandy access.  Anderson Park to St. Francis had fewer but some bigger fish while Isanti to Anderson Park had better numbers and not as many big fish.

 

All upstream from Isanti to the access on Hwy 95 can be hit or miss but if you hit it, it can be good.

 

Up to 16’s is fairly common bit there are enough 16-20’s to not be shocked if you get one or more.

 

I’d never admit to this while I lived there.