Monty open water vs below zero temps

[BigMike]

Not that I'm intending to try and get out in this sort of weather, but I know a number of us have seen the open water that is characteristic of this stretch over winter, but does 4 days of below zero temps ever freeze the water up at all? It's just plain nasty out right now!

[Mark Christianson]

Nope!
No freezy on river.
Never will until they shut the power plant down.

[BigMike]

I can't even imagine what the 'sippi looks like when it's -20 below. Just looking at it free flowing, steam rising, snow covered banks almost beckons you to you to go fishing in this beautiful setting...

But as soon as you step out there and start... BAM you're a gonner! Not to mention even if you were able to stick it out long enough to catch something, getting your hands wet handling a fish would surely mean frostbite.

Not fair !!!!

[HawgTide]

I don't think rod and reels would work in this weather, although I couldn't tell you because I'll never try it. Wouldn't all the water from the line just freeze up the eyes? Careful fishing in the Monti area this time of year, you might hook a Swan. They're out of season.

[EBass]

You're loving this weather aren't cha BigMike? It's so cold that the birds aren't even singing.

Hawg Tide, (hope you read this) You mentioned that you wanted to fish some lakes for largies. I can show you Medicine and Tonka, but maybe we can talk Bill-E-Bazz in using his 17' Stratos!!

[BigMike]

Did someone say largies...Tonka... when...where...who... I was getting all excited - until I went outside! This cold is brutal for guys from CA like myself. I'm sure Hawgtide isn't havin' much fun in this weather either.

How do people even ice fish in this kind of weather?

[EBass]

Well to add insult to injury, my buddy Rob caught a 14" BASS on lake Sara over the weekend. It's his first bass ever in the winter. I still have yet to catch one.

Maybe we can get you out there to BigMike, it's just that I thought you were strictly a smallie magnet.

Well there's 2 feet of ice to melt yet so we have plenty of time to day dream. The one and only one good thing about winter is there's no BUGS.

[BigMike]

There may be no bugs bites, but you'll have frost bite instead to deal with...

Bring on the largies. You can just call me SLM = Smallies & Largies Magnet! Tubes and Senkos work just as well on Largies Just keep those pike off that spinnerbait.

[EBass]

LOL BigMike!

[Mark Christianson]

Not another Big Mike/Ebass show!!!!!

[BigMike]

LOL. "WEEE'RRREE BBAAAAAACKKK!!!"

[BigMike]

Yeah, you can pretty much kiss those days good bye. When I was up there with Hawgtide, we got a warning for fishing too close. There is a huge sign that says you have to stay 500 feet away from that inflow and there is a guard armed with a machine gun that will quickly come down and tell you to move. I don't feel like getting capped for a couple of smallies. Plus, I don't have a problem with it...there are a ton of other spots on the river to fish for even larger fish! Can't keep them off those tubes!

[happy hooker]

I use to work at the power plant at Monti in security. We use to be able to fish at the warm water discharge, the public was allowed acsess also. In the winter fishing would be great. The fish hung out there and just about each cast you'd get something, you never knew what though. Lots of walleyes and sm bass. It's been a lot of years since I worked there. Does anyone now if security lets you go down there? Everyone I worked with is long gone.I would think since 9-11 security has tightened up.

Thanks, Happy

[BigMike]

Do I even dare ask if anyone has fished monti on down at all in the last couple weeks?

[Guest]

Mike we havent seen anyone out the past 3 weeks. The river is open and the fish are there. Its just a matter of getting out. Unfortunately Friday's 30 degrees is the last chance for this year for those catch and release smallies. It looks like this guys personal best of Fishing Minnesota open water in a boat will end at 23 months unless we decide to hit Red Wing a month early. It was a great ride, and again the fish are very cooperative right up to the end of the season.
Hope you get out and let us know how you do.

[BigMike]

It's it until 2/15/04 for open season c&r. I looked at the weather and I may be able to make it on Saturday if it isn't too cold!!! It's suppose to get REALLY cold this weekend again . If not, it'll be another few months before open water...

[panolo]

Happy Hooker... No dice on fishing near the power plant. You can't get in to fish there anymore and you can't anchor close to there at all. You have to keep your boat moving. I believe they ask you not to even work the restricted area. Even if your drifting down.

[Aquaman01]

Ha Ha! We've all got the itch so bad! The last page in this month's F&S has a humor piece about guys who go down and stare at the rivers this time of year. I did my turn Monday in Monty. My boy & I weren't the only ones, either! Half a dozen cars pulled into the lot and just stared. We hiked upriver about a 1/2 mile on the rocky shore and scouted a couple of dandy points where rock bass were feeding on small black bugs and some brown flies that looked kinda like mayflies. My boy was wearing his rubber boots, but I got drenched when my hiking staff broke while I was vaulting a little channel. Brrrrrr.
I think some frisky rock bass should keep me happy until it's legal to chase the rest. I'd like to find out where the river crappies hang out in early, early spring.

Peace and Rising Water,
Rob

[BigMike]

I would be careful fishing for "rock bass" up there on the 'sippi. I think with the concentration of smallies in that stretch it may be considered fishing out of season.

Other than that, how does the water level look? Is it up any??? Last year it was WAY down. I just picked up a pair of waders and boots this year and I'm looking forward to hitting that stretch come summer.