Trout Fishing

[Fish_Hunter]

Hey WxGuy I'm planning on getting out fishing this weekend and not sure if I am going to hit the ice or a stream. I am an avid troutman during the summer, but have only gone during the winter fishing a few years back down around Iowa, had a blast down there. Anyway, was wondering if you could tell me if any of the Rush Creek down by Lewiston was open to winter fishing, that stream is a favorite of mine during the summer. I guess I could check the DNR website. So got any "Hot Spots" you've been to since it opened this year?

[mark p]

Here's a link to the map of Winona County on the DNR website that shows which stretch of Rush Creek is open during the winter season.

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/trout_streams/winter_winona.pdf

[Fish_Hunter]

Thanks Mark P. I'll go check it out!! Yeah that was exactly what I was looking for, I ended up printing out all those maps on 11 x 17 paper, those will be great to have handy in the car. Better than carrying that big old fold out map!!Thanks Again....So do you get out winter trout season?

[WxGuy]

Mark, Thanks for helping out Fish_Hunter!

I got out to the WW this morning and had an okay day. I turned a lot of fish, but was just a touch too slow to set the hook on the finicky fishes. I did catch one little fighter though, on a size 20 red midge (trout candy).

Fish_Hunter, I hope you have a chance to get out. Trout are especially spooky this time of year, so approach your spots slow and low. Your shadow can blow a good spot for you. The DNR has new map books that aren't as big as the older fold outs (those are still good to have handy though, so don't throw it) and you can get them at just about any sporting goods store that sells licenses.

This is also a good link to winter info

Good luck!

[Fish_Hunter]

Thanks for the extra info. WxGuy, nice pic there too... How big was that one 13-14"? Ahhh the summer days out there trout fishing I can't wait!! Just seeing that pic has me a bit anxious. So I take it you fly fish? I have always wanted to learn that, is there anywhere you can go to take some lessons and learn the art of flyfishing? or would you mind if I tag along some day and learned by watching? I typically use jigs and spinners myself, love jiggin for those bad dogs, it takes a bit of prowess to flip the jigs in holes and pockets as well, so I'm thining this is my cup of tea!! Well, good luck to you as well on your future adventures.

[mark p]

I don't normally make it out for the winter season although I occasionally make it out if there are a few nice days in March. I only have so many days available for fishing, so I would rather get work done at this time of year and save the fishing days for when it's nicer out.

This would certainly be the year I should be out there though. Nice temps and hardly any snow to plow through. Unfortunately I'd have to take vacation to fish on weekdays at this time of year since it's dark after work. Hopefully everyone else will post about their outing's so that I can at least read about it.

[Fish_Hunter]

So Mark P do you fly fish or do spinners? How do you usually go about catching the troutskis? After seeing that pic from WxGUY I am really anxious, I want to get out tomorrow, but I'm still tempted to go try some ice fishing? Just can't decide. I will be sure to keep you posted on how I do. I hear you on getting out, the weekends are usually the only time I can get out as well, but the days are getting longer!!

[WxGuy]

No matter how you go about fishing for them, our trout streams are a nice treat. It sounds like you just need to get out to fish there Mr. Fish_Hunter, ice or trout.

I know that Gander would occasionally do a fly fishing class for beginners around the time of the April opener. I'll ask Wayne at GM what he knows about having a class this year.

[Fish_Hunter]

Expect to hear some sort of report on Monday, I will be getting out one way or another!! Sounds like it will be a good weekend to be outside... at least Sat.?

Thanks WxGuy, any info. you could get would be great, my girlfriend and I would both be interested in taking a class.

[Tyler Holm]

Randy,

I'd be interested in a class as well. I don't know beans about fly fishing

[bitz]

If anyone gets out east, LL Bean offers free weekend classes at most of their stores during the spring/summer. They have stores in several east coast states not just Maine. The fly store on Grand has gone out of business (summit i think) but there are a couple of others in the metro that offer free classes also.

Bitz

[Fish_Hunter]

Tyler have you ever gotten out and walked the streams? There are a lot of awesome places and cool things to see in the Valleys around Southeastern, MN. It has been great watching the trout fishing get better over the last ten years around here.

[Fish_Hunter]

Hey Randy is this wind going to die down before tomorrow?

[WxGuy]

It'll die down overnight. Light tomorrow.

It would seem there's some interest in some folks learning to fly fish, so I'll post something when I know more.

[Tyler Holm]

Chris,

I've hit the streams, but only as an amature, with other amatures. I never caught a fish. I'd surely like to change that.

[Fish_Hunter]

Well, I would be more than willing to take you out and show you some time! I got your number I'll give you a call if you are going to be around tomorrow. I think I'm gonna try the streams if there is limited wind.

[WCS]

I went out trout fishing last weekend. No fish caught, but it was nice to be out. The stream I fished was very shallow and difficult to cast spinners and Rapalas. It was my first time trying the winter season. I am fairly new to trout fishing as well. Just started last spring. Landed a nice brown just over 20 inches on my first outing. That got me hooked! If anyone wants to get together and hit some streams, I'm game.

[WxGuy]

WCS, did you fish Mill Creek this past season?

I'm interested in fishing the improved section of Mill Creek that the DNR worked on this past year.

[WCS]

I did fish Mill creek once. I only caught 1 brown. I didn't really know where to fish it at the time and walked past alot of poor water. By the time I found better looking water, it was time to head in. I am also interested in checking out the improved sections this spring.

[mark p]

Fish Hunter,

I started fly fishing almost exclusively about 4 years ago. I do fish with spinners occasionally if I'm fishing larger water and want to cover some water quickly. I enjoy both methods, but I find fly fishing to be more flexible and challenging. Too challenging part of the time.

What I need more than anything is to learn some of the different types of casts. I have seen people cast so that their line bends around corners, or be able to mend the line before it lands to get a drag free drift for at least a couple seconds where the line lays across water running at different speeds or even different directions, but haven't figured out how to do those things. I keep telling myself I should rent a video or something, but just never seem to get around to it.

[Fish_Hunter]

WCS and WxGuy I see you both commenting on Mill Creek... one of my favorite streams, the convience, location and size of fish, put that one right up there. Seeing them do that improvement through the pasture is spectacular, just adding to a good stream already. I caught a 22" Brown out of there 3 years ago, and keep going back to it, fun stream. WCS we may have to hook up here and hit a few streams then.

[Fish_Hunter]

Well, I was able to scratch that itch this weekend What a gorgeous saturday morning it was, a great day to be outside, just as Randy said the wind did die down for some winter trout fishing. I was able to get out for a few hours and had a blast just being out trout fishing again. I was able to wrangle (1) 16.5" brown out of the MWW out on Co. 9. Saw some footprints were those yours Randy? Had a quite a few hits but that was the only one I could perform Catch and Release on!! Had a smile on my face the whole time!! I will be hitting some other places before Winter Season is over. Definitely, a bit more challenging than the spring/summer fishing, that snow really makes a lot of noise.

[WCS]

Fish_Hunter, I would definitely enjoy getting together for some trout fishing. Shoot me an email to thelaw at mchsi.com and we can try to set something up.

[Fish_Hunter]

Yeah, there sure is a lot of technique used I would have to start just to get it to hit teh spot I'm aiming for!! There is definitely more skill and talent required for fly fishing, I don't know how many times I have sat and watched someone when they were out fly fishing and I was out with the regular pole. It's just cool especially when they land one!!