Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Otsego Report


PhoenixSun

Recommended Posts

Well, here goes my first post. I am somewhat new to the Otsego area and have owned a fishing pole for all of 1 year. I tend to get into things quite seriously, and fishing has been no exception. I usually fish from shore on the 'Sipi around Otsego Park and Babcock areas. I had some success fishing eddies right in the quick moving water using texas rigged soft plastics. I also have a lot of success using mimic minnows in the slack water. How is everyone else doing?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome to MN and the site. You'll find guys like HawgTide, SmallieHawgin, Riverrat316, Fonz, Eyeguy and others to be a wealth of information. Pay particular attention to their posts and you'll learn volumes. Something I learned from this site is to rig a 4" Yum Dinger wacky style with a small split shot. I have subsequently added a weedless hook which greatly reduces the number of snags. I have the best luck with bright colors. Good luck and good fishing!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dont kow if I would say a "wealth of information"... well from me anyway.... but the previously mentioned stick baits (yum dingers, yamamoto senkos, case magic stiks) work real well wacky rigged (plain hook through the center) and I usually go weightless with those.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the warm welcome and info to both of you (Sakman & Riverrat). Riverrat- I have read many of your posts and do see what Sakman means. I haven't tried the wacky rig yet- how do you fish it? Do you use a straight retrieve, or more like a "walk the dog" style? I have found that large in-line spinners work great in the slack water for northerns (temperature depending). As far as tubes, I have a bunch but don't really know how I should be using them either. My understanding is they represent crawfish, so I figured I should be working it to imitate one, but I have had no luck. I do enjoy the fact that the river is down some and I can do some wading, its tough to hit those eddies for any length of time without getting wet. I do have a canoe, but my girl is a little wary of taking it on the river, so we stick to lakes with that so far. Beebe has produced some sizable largies for us both. Does anyone target walleye on the river from shore, or are these caught by accident? Thanks for all the help!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The wacky rig is basically a deadstick type fishing cast it out let it sink (up current) and then just try to keep a semi tight line (its ok to let some droop in it) and watch the line for strikes. The easiest way to fish and rig tubes is with a tubejig head inserted in the body with an exposed hook (1/8 to 1/4 ounce works good) I guess the main thing with any bait is to remember there is no right or wrong way to fish the bait, experiment and find out what the fish want!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

phoenix i cast alot off rapalas when targeting both smallies and walleye prefferably the hj10 in a shinner patteren from shore or where ever. othrwise in the fall its a 32nd ounce jig with fathead or small sucker.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

PhoenixSun, Welcome to the show. You are in the heart of some good fishing. I think tubes in the river work best on a jig head, but if you use a texas rig, use a extra large Gap hook. Sounds like you know what your doing, so nothing beats experience, just get out there and fish. See you on the River.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

RUN!!!!While you can!!!RUN!!! You're crossing over to the dark side....

Welcome...KT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't gotten a chance to use the wacky rig yet, but am looking forward to giving her a try. I will have to experiment more with the tubes as well. There is soo much to learn, I have been picking up something new everytime I go out. Thanks to RiverRat, HT, KT, Sakman, and Madmax for the excellent welcome. It is my understanding that you are all outstanding fisherman (fisherpeople, is this site PC?) and I know I have a ton to learn. Your help is much appreciated. I did manage to land a few nice smallies (1 16, 2 around 14-15, oh plus 2 rock bass) yesterday from the banks of Otsego park. They seem to like any soft plastic with a pink tail. Wasn't having any luck with cranks, and was just catching rocks with the jig and pig. spent about an hour throwing spinners, but got nothing to show for it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tubes are best fished from a short angle--that is, fairly close to the angler, so you're in contact with the falling lure and the line remains at a fairly wide angle relative to the river bottom. Shore or wade casting isn't the best application for them. I save the tube for fishing from a drifting boat. Have you tried senkos or flukes? That's my favorite low-water application, especially if you're wading. Works very well for the same reason the tube doesn't.

ice

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I dont know about you guys but I've been fishing the river for about a week now and have'nt caught a single fish. What am I doing wrong? What should I use, where should I go, and what time of day/year? I only fish from shore dont own a boat. Please help if you can. frown.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome....

Find swift water. Toss a in-line Mepps spinner above, in, and below the swift water. Thats a good start. I'm sure others will chime in shortly...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4in Yum Dinger, green, hooked wacky style with a small split shot about 24" from the bait. These things are deadly.

Fish current breaks. Current breaks are caused by rocks, trees or other obstructions. Also productive are the current seams where the moving water and slack water meet. Also bottom transitions areas where it goes from rock to gravel or vise-versa can be very hot.

There are a number of great places to fish between Monti and ER. When I waded I liked to wade around the Nashua Ave. launch site. As I recall, Riverrat 316 is an avid wader and may be willing to enlighten you further.

I was going to participate in the Sunday gathering, but that got the kibosh. Now there's a good chance I will be heading out on Saturday. Probably have an open seat in the boat if you care to join my son and I.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the helpful info everyone. Can you fish the yum dinger's from shore with the same effect? what time of day is a good time to fish? I appreciate the invite for this weekend but I have an archery hunt planned. Thanks anyway. Are the fish close to shore or more in the middle of the river?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished the river from shore last night and did ok. Total of 8 smallmouth, 1 walleye, 1 redhorse. Biggest smallmouth was 17". Lost more than that on missed bites.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.