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Has anyone been to the dam yet fishing for crappie of cats? The warm weather is killing me sitting in my dorm room. I need to get out and throw a few lines out.

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I was at the park with my kid today and I saw a guy walk up with a rod. He didn't have any fish and I didn't ask if they were biting. I'm probably going to give it a try Friday morn if this weather holds up. I don't think I trust the ice on the lakes anymore. I'll post how I did...

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Thatd be great to get into some slabs there. I have been going absolutely crazy with the warm weather and having to wait until the weekend to go home and fish. If you want someone to go with just say the words, Id be happy to go with.

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I went down there today to look at the ice, it looks like it should all be gone in a matter of days, not much there at all except for in a little area I like to stand and cast the bobber. I'll probably be down there thursday and/or friday and for sure this weekend if the weather keeps up. Hope the crappies cooperate. Well probably see a few of you down there, if not good luck.

Chad

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Captain-

Am I wrong to be trying to catch crappies down there? grin.gif

Poutpro-

If you want slabs, I would suggest a trip elsewhere. I'm pretty sure the craps by the dam, if there are even any there yet, is not too big. I'm just going down there because I can't go ice fishing and my boat is in the shop. You're more than welcome to join me. I'll be headed down there about 6ish on Friday morning.

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April was always a good month for me down there. big carp, cats at times, crappies and more walleyes then anything. Hard to keep them off your hook at times.

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No boat, you poor starving college student? I saw a guy a couple of years ago, casting from shore just off the pier, and south of it, pulling in crappies like NO tomorrow. He was throwing a little tube jig from an ultra-lite in that little slack water. His bucket was gettin full, but I think he had to feed his family if you guys catch my drift. Anyway, don't remember when exactly it was, but I can say it was early evening, spring to early summer, and I was probably there drinking beer, trying in vain to catch some catfish. I remember telling myself the last time I was at that (Contact US Regarding This Word) pier, that I would never go back. I guy can only retie his line after a snag so many times before he starts to go insane. I did however catch a turtle off that pier, and what I believe was an American Eel, which was about the creepiest thing I've ever seen on a hook outside of the Pout festival in Walker. So, if you're itchin to get outta the dorm, head on down. BUT, reel that line in fairly quick, to help that tube stay above the couple of million snags down there. Also keep your comments about the gals rollerblading by you to a low whisper.

B

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I drove by there a few times to and from work and noticed ice fisherman down there, do you want to cast into the same general location? Never fished down there before, but have heard good things in the past. Maybe a trip over there would make me quit thinking about relaxing under the sunshine in a boat. Ok, well maybe not, but girls on rollerblades? a college campus? It can't be all that bad grin.gif

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Good stuff guys! Brings back many memories for me. I lived near the dam in the early 90's while going to school at SCSU. I fished the river almost every day in the fall before the duck season and in the spring. I think I've pulled up: walleye, SMbass, carp, catfish, crappies, pike, sunfish and perch in and around the dam and around the beaver islands. . . .great stuff and some terrific smallmouth fishing along with walleye.

What hot women at SCSU, naw. wink.gif Can you say greatest time of my life.

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what type of bait or lure would you use now for fish? Live bait under bobbers, cranks, plastics?

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You might get yourself a ticket if you use cranks or large plastics. The DNR enforcement people do check that area from time to time and they usually scope it out with binoculars at a distance so you wont know they are watching. Just an FYI.

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could they give you a ticket for using a crank if you said you were targeting catfish? Or if you used 3 inches plastics going for crappies? Or platic worms for carp? I don't understand how they could do that.

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I'll probably start with a mister twister on a jig head and work the whole crappie box from there. I may get some minnows, but I doubt it. I have some waxies and maggots left so I'll be trying those too.

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Do you fish right up next to the dam, or do you go down farther and just try to find still water?

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I've fished both above and below the dam and I've caught fish in both places, just later in the year than now. I'm still not sure if the fish are there yet. I'm also thinking of going to one other spot near St. Cloud that might have some crappies. I have two days til I decide....Knute78, did you make it down there yet?

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I think it depends on the water levels, when the water is really up and fast the fish seem to be stacked up in the eddy's (slack water) other time they are directly in the current or right on the current breaks. I caught many species down there. Including: walleye, SM bass, LM bass, Pike, crappie, sunfish, rockbass, carp, sucker, bullhead, channel catfish, dogfish, and eelpout.

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I guess ill just have to go and experiment. How do you actually get down to the water?

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There's a road on the college side that goes right to the dam. You just walk down the sidewalk to the pier from there. I'm pretty sure you can park right on the road as I haven't seen a no parking sign that I can recall. Take 8th St. S. to 3rd Ave. S. and you should be there. I haven't been down there since the dome got put in.

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Tonyjor, no I haven't made it down there yet. I am shooting for Friday evening now. I'll probably go check out the water and ice conditions today after class, class and homework always find a way to pile up. I am almost positive the ice in the slackwater area will be gone after the rain.

As far as parking, you can park in two spots I know of. One is the dirt part of K-lot near the blocked off powerlines behind the husky shuttle pickup or there are now 3

non-handicap spots to park at the actually (Contact US Regarding This Word) across from the new dome. It is really close.

Well if anyone actually fishes down there today I'd like to hear how you did. I'd really like it to get a bit warmer out, the Crappies would really start to move in that area of the river for sure (maybe pull in a walleye or two by accident also)

Keep Casting,

Chad

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I usually don't go after the crappies till mid april but I've done fine with a bronze hook and fathead. Tie the hook on and leave about 8 inches of line and put a split shot on the end. Snag will just take the split shot. Sometimes the crappies will be right next to bottom and sometimes not. Once you find them switch to a slip bobber. I may get to hit the river next weekend. grin.gifgrin.gif

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It's so frickin' nice out today. I'm gonna try to talk the old lady into taking the kid and walking the Beaver Island trail while I fish for an hour or two today. Gotta get out, just way too nice to be here at work. I'll post how the bite is and maybe save some people some trips.

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The current was pretty strong. It took whatever I casted out right back to shore faster than I could reel. I did manage one smallmouth, about 15", on a small beetle spin. Other than that, nada. I think I'll wait a couple weekends and try er again. I see they pulled the breaker logs out for winter. If I would've known that, I would've gotten the $10 polish perch I lost on them last summer back. Oh well, it served it's time and I have a new one now......

I only saw one girl rollerblading and I guess that was ok wink.gif

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Poutpro...

Quote:

could they give you a ticket for using a crank if you said you were targeting catfish? Or if you used 3 inches plastics going for crappies? Or platic worms for carp? I don't understand how they could do that


Yes, potentially yes and yes.... Because that is how the law is written.... It is in a CO's judgement whether or not you are targetting other species. The obvious answer is... what are the most abundant two game species in the river???? No more questions.

This always comes up every spring. People always want to challenge it. I don't necessarily agree with the seaonal issues... but, I will obey the law as it is written. Why take the chance?? Is it really worth it? I know if I see someone throwing artificials that are smallie sized or walleye sized before the season, I am not afraid to call the tips line. There are plenty of others out there willing to do the same. Just a thought.

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Don't overlook the peir just because there are alot of bass and walleye there. The co's know the crappies stack up there too and have had no problems with most the people fishing down there before walleye season opens. Use good judgement concerning tackle. Leave the cranks and long plastic worms home. I like to use a jig and curly tail or just a bobber set-up. There's alot of crappies to catch down there, go get em.

P.S. It is highly likely that you will be checked so don't forget your license.

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Just a heads up incase anyone was going to head down that direction today. The water is flowing over the top of the dam pretty fast, it looks like it is churning pretty good because of the water level due to melting the past few days. My guess would be that it will be very tough fishing down there today and until the water is down and moving a bit slower. Plus, there are people all over down by the hockey center, what is going on down there today?

I have fished down there for 4 yrs now and have only been checked for a license once. Just take it with you because you have to have a license to fish anywhere. If you simply follow the state laws down there you won't have any problem with the COs. Use your best judgement, if you wouldn't use it for crappies on the lake don't use it on the river.

Chad

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I would have suspected that the water flows would be a bit higher now than anytime of the year.

Does a guy need waders to fish there this time of year or is it just shore fishing??

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