St. Louis River

[Guest]

I am planning my first trip to the St. Louis for May21-22. From what I've been told, the season is delayed one week(opens May 19)in the section of the river one of our guys (who has fished the St. Louis) says might be best to fish. Can anyone enlighten me on this? Any tips would be appreciated as well!

[musky hunter]

That section is above highway 23 to the Fon Du Lac bridge. This is to protect spawning walleyes. I've heard nothing about the spawn this year but can only believe that it may be delayed a week or two due to cold weather. But don't dispair. There are likely to be fish throughout most of the river. In a day you could easily fish spots from Spirit Lake up to the Highway 23 bridge (one of several good spots). Some of the better spots will be no secret, they'll be filled with plenty of boats. I'd suggest trolling with a bottom bouncer using minnows and large spinner blades. A word of caution: because you're new to the river, stay within the channel markers when you are moving from spot to spot. Pay close attention to you're graph and I would suggest setting the shallow water alarm at 5'. If you go up toward highway 23, at about 1.5 miles upstream from Boy
Scout Landing, you'll see houses that have rocks piled along the bank. The river is navigable above that but only with great caution. Watch other boats before going up, and you'll be ok. The marked channell ends before you get to highway 23.

[musky hunter]

Oops. That is Highway 23 bridge to the Fon Du Lac DAM.

[Guest]

Early in the season don't be afraid to troll rapalas (upstream) and jig downstream with a shiner or rainbow chub. As the above post says the "better" spots will be no secret. Use the brightest colors possible. Its funny how you see so many boats and everyone just cruises up and drifts down nobody even tries trolling!!!! Couple of my favorites are a #7 orange jointed, and a clown colored huskyjerk.

Good Luck To All!!!!!!

[A1000HOOK]

Does anyone know for sure if above the Hwy 23 bridge is closed for the 1st week?

[Xplorer]

A1000,
It is definitly closed above Hwy 23, its in the regs and there are signs that they hang from the bridge. I wouldn't be suprised to see them possibly extend the closure this year with the cold water temps. Was out on superior yesterday and the temp at the blatnik landing was 43. I gotta think those fish are just stacked up to the dam right now. Trolling upstream does work! I have done well on flats outside the main channel as shallow as 4'. I've also done decent using leeches on opener drifting.
I have a feeling this weekend (and the first 8 days)will be nuts. There is a tournament on the river May 17/18 with a $9000 first prize and you know all 150 boats will be pre-fishing this weekend and all next week.
Good luck to all, and dont forget your prozac friday night cause I'm guessin' its gonna be a circus (more than usual) this weekdend on the river. Help a guy/gal out if you see they need it, patience is the word of the day for opener.
Xplorer

[Northlander]

I dont know what Pfister was thinking putting a contest on the river the 2nd week of the season! Its not like it isnt already nuts as it is. Late May or early June would be just as good fishing and it wouldnt be as hard on the big females. I cant imagine 150 plus big boats roaring up and down the river pre-fishing is going to do anybody any good.
Dont get me wrong, I enjoy a tourney as much as the next guy, I just feel they should be run after the spawning run is slowed down. Just my opinion, nothing else.

[Xplorer]

Northlander,
I gotta agree with ya on that one. The last large tourny held on the river a few years ago was later June and the fish (and fisherman) were spread out from Spirit island/Pokegama Bay area out into the south Shore. I gotta believe that if the river opens upriver of 23 on the 18th you will just about be able to walk boat to boat from the cable down to 23
Good to see you guys picked up some decent pulls of smelt, and good luck on opener. We should do a FM river meet sometime on open water after things quiet down a bit, although wiht this weather it might not be any warmer than the winter meet was
Xplorer

[Guest]

Thanks to all who replied!

I'm glad we planned on the following week after the tourney.

[Guest]

Sheesh, now that I hear that, I think I'll stick to down river on Sunday. I have no desire to play bumper boats. I haven't been up high for the last three years just because of that, on a regular year, let alone all those tourney boats. No thanks. I'll get fish down low, just like every year, right from the opener all summer long, thank you very much.

Set the Hook!!

Lundman

[Fishing Junky]

Won't be able to fish the river 'till the weekend of the tournament and I gotta deal with all the traffic. In my opinion tournaments outta be outlawed.

[Xplorer]

Back from opener by 11am, had a good morning considering the cool weather. LOTS of boats upriver, beneath the bridge, in the area around the first island below there and all the way thru walleye alley and the flat at 77. Heard of one #8 caught.
Caught all but one of mine trolling in 4-7 ft of water, and picked up one jigging in 4'.
Will see what tomorrow am brings, may try down river around spirit island.
Xplorer

[Bigred70]

Also fished around Highway 23 bridge, and we were done around 11:00 also. Fishing was great! My buddy missed a fish he said was around 26" (he couldnt fit his hands around it when he attempted to hand-land it). Heard of a 12# monster caught by a boy under the Oliver bridge...the guy at the liquor/bait store in Gary is mounting it...caught on a leech he said. Minnows and orange jigs were the ticket for us, with crawler harnesses also working. We probably caught 30+ walleyes in 4 hours. We caught three fish that were easily over 3lbs, one pushing 4lbs, and several VERY nice others. Was checked by the DNR for length, very friendly and efficient. Remember that the river's limit is only two, and they have to be at least 15" long. Please throw back those big spawners...they are the future of this excellent fishery. Thanks, and good luck all!

[Fishing Junky]

Hey Guys, What was the water temp down on the river this weekend? Thanks for any info. Junky.......

[Bigred70]

Went back to Highway 23 landing area today in hopes of a repeat performance of Saturday's success. Fishing was MUCH slower, and we only managed to boat 4 fish in about 3 hours. I think that the cold and rain late yesterday and last night may have shut the fish down...How did you do around Spirit Lake Xplorer? I am perhaps interested in fishing around there sometime this week if it looks promising. Has anyone heard anything about Walleye Alley? All I can say is most people were having a tough time boating fish today around Highway 23...hope it improves soon!! Later guys!

[Bigred70]

Sorry, double-post

[This message has been edited by Bigred70 (edited 05-12-2002).]