Trout streams, and other quandries...

[spasticcp]

Morning fellow anglers. I am new to this forum, so I guess before I get to the real meat of the post, I'll do a quick background filler. I have recently gotten the fishing "bug" in the last two months. I used to fish as a kid and spent countless summers trolling for Pike and Muskie on Leech Lake when I was too young to really land anything big. Now suddenly I find myself practically obsessed with the sport, and in the last 2-3 months have taken every opportunity to do so. It's all been shore fishing as I don't have a boat...yet..heh heh, but I've still landed some pretty decent fish from shore.

I'm from the the NE Metro, but my first real question has to do with this area as I hear most trout streams in MN are in the Southeast. In the spring and summer I plan to try my hand at fly fishing and was wondering if someone could direct me to a couple good areas that provide a decent trout bite without having to leave the shoreline. (And preferably not too crowded as I'll be making a fool of myself trying to cast until I get flycasting down pat). Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

My other question is directed to anyone who can answer, but here goes. I have made it my goal to catch the infamous Walleye this year, having never caught one previously. The catch is, this year I have to try and get one from shore, and things are icing up fast. If we get a good enough freeze before December's end, I'll be likely to ice one out since I'll have access to a house on South Center, but I'd like to catch one before that point. I'm assuming that dams and rivers are my only options, since they are the only things not frozen over at this point. But any advice again would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any replies!

[Jim W]

Welcome!!!!

First off I have to plug the 5th Annual Trout Day in SE MN APril 30th, 2005. Come on down we cantalk trout there.

There is a shore spot I have landed walleye in December.

DOwn by Pioneer campground on the Miss. It is the second spillway leading to the ALma Dam. Cast and work jigs and minnows or jigs and plastics real slow.

There is a trout forum on Fishing Minnesota as well, might want to inquire there too.

Again, welcome and no question is a bad question here!!!

Keep the rods bendin'!!

Jim W

[tie flyer]

Welcome spastic! I feel for you having the open water urge on the eve of winter.

The best advice for trout without crowds is to find a place where there aren’t many roads and walk, walk, walk. The DNR has a great color booklet of trout streams in SE MN. You can get one from the fisheries office or at Trout Day, I’m sure.

The Whitewater is a great river and there are some places where few roads cross and you can find relative solitude. Avoid the opener if you don’t want an audience. Some hip waders will keep you dry but on firm ground. Of course, don’t wade unless you have to and never wade where you intend to fish. I should ask, how much experience do you have with stream trout?

That bluff country is beautiful and the rivers give up plenty of trout. When you arrive at the stream spend a few minutes observing. Look for insects on the water and in the bushes. Look for trout and you’ll have a mystery to solve every time you hit the water.

[Renneberg]

Welcome to FM, Spasticcp!

Trout Day should be one event you should attend! Jim usually has everything a beginner needs to get started and then some.

Last year some FM Pro Staff even took out some lucky anglers for some one on one fishing.

If you would like to learn more about Trout Day here a link to it. Jim updates it from time to time during the winter so be sure to check it once and a while.

Trout Day '05

As far as where to fish there are two main river systems down in S.E. Minnesota. The Root and Whitewater systems. Both have great fishing and many many miles of river to fish.

If you don't like the crowds then the best time to fish for trout is in early summer (may) to the end of the trout season. The trout streams get hit hard around opener, but then the crowds become less and less each weekend after opener.

[spasticcp]

Well, my experience with any trout is nil. I've only recently gotten back into fishing to begin with, and I've never done any fly fishing on a trout stream. I've snagged a few panfish practicing with my buddy's fly rod at a dam, but considering most panfish bite on a bare hook that doesn't really say anything about my flycasting (which I'm sure is pretty funny to watch).

But seeing how strongly the fishing bug has hit me this year, I want to experience fishing in all forms, and flyfishing for trout has always held a sort of fascination with me...guess I can't quite explain it.

These booklets at the DNR, do they contain good road maps too? I haven't had trouble locating maps with just the streams and their general area, but not being as familiar with the area, actually finding them, and finding a good spot to pull off the road and actually fish, could present more of a challenge.

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. I think I've found a new forum for my down time at work.

[tie flyer]

Yes, the good map has roads and color, glossy pages.

Like Renneberg said, May is a real good time and June can be hot for flies, too.

If you want to practice casting you can do so in your yard. When you're starting out the important thing is to have fun. The best way to do that is catch fish, of course, but just be ready to laugh at yourself a little. You can save a lot of flies by planning your backcast (sometimes I should take my own advice here). You'll learn some interesting ways to get your fly in front of the fish and get some hookups. Just remember, you can't catch fish unless your hook's in the water.