Cannon River

[Rick]

I had the pleasure of getting out with Joel Nelson on one of the many tributaries to the Mississippi River in Minnesota - The Cannon River.

Joel Nelson (jnelson) asked me to come out and do some smallie fishing with him and I readily took him up on it. This little river has a little of everything in it as I was about to find out.

My first fish was a mooneye. I thought of Dennis Steele and cutbait right away. I believe Dennis will want to try this trip ehhh??? It might especially be up Dark30s alley:)

Any I digress, we parked the canoe, got out and did a little casting and then

Fighting Smallies

and then

Catching Smallies

Joel Nelson with a Cannon Smallie

Very nice fight on ultra lights, jigs and plastics.

We switched over to plugs and Joel put his licks into one of his favorite fish

Joel with one of his favorites from the Cannon-More Cutbait ehhh Dennis??

We then laid into some of Minnesota anglers favorite fish and table fair.

Walleye and Sauger:

I have to tell you it would have been an awesome trip just canoeing and enjoying the scenery. Throw in the fine fishing with an ultra-light rod along with the fine companionship of Joel Nelson and anyone would have a day to remember.

Thanks Joel and I recommend all of you bring out the kid in you or better yet bring out your kids for an outing like this.

[HateHumminbird]

Rick:

Thanks for the fun outing!

Fish weren't hitting like they can on this stretch, but we managed to tangle with quite a few different species and had a great day.

Being versatile here was key, as typical patterns were not producing at the outset of the trip. Most of these river smallies are opportunistic feeders that don't let much get past them. The trick is dealing with current, boat/canoe control, and presentation to put it in their face. As water levels recede in these smaller rivers throughout the summer, fish congregate into increasingly smaller locations within the river system. Fish that used to roam bank to bank now concentrate in a few different locations.

Most of our fish were caught in one of three main river areas:

-bank/shoreline cover – a good deal of our larger fish came from shoreline boulders and/or downed trees

-holes – slow, deep holes at the bottom of some good riffles were where the walleye/sauger came from. These fish seemed scattered throughout the holes

-riffles/current seams – Most of our smallmouth came from river current breaks that made a “seam,” a noticeable line of water where slack met rushing water. The slack was usually caused by either an eddy, or shallower water, so fish came on these breaks.

Fish were caught on a variety of lures, mostly crayfish/minnow imitations. A classic lure for the river is a Rebel WeeR in a variety of sizes and crayfish patterns:

Many of our fish came on 3” Black Exude Curly Tail Grubs, and this is my favorite river lure. I tend to straight swim this back to the boat, rather than hop along bottom. Detecting strikes is easier, and the fish seem to hone-in on the thump of that tail.

Most of the fish, including all of the walleyes, came on a few colors of shad raps. The oversized lips on the deep-runners banged away at rocks and seemed to be the ticket.

The Cannon is but one of many great rivers in the southeast for smallie/walleye action, with even more remote stretches of the Zumbro and Root that I want to hit!

Joel

[sportfish]

What area were you floating? If I may ask? I hunt turkeys east of Cannon Falls, And all ways wanted to drag the jon boat down and try floating from the big cannon for a few miles from Cannon Falls. Have you guys ever tried that area or anyone else tried it?

[fish2live]

yes i have fished that stretch quite a few time a mixed bag all the way down, but i don't think you will be able to float a jon boat we have a hard time making it with a conoe at some points. so if you are going to try the jon boat just remember you may have to drag it some on the shallow rapids.

[AllSkills]

Yeps, the Cannon River is generally very SHALLOW.... Especially this summer.... THe canoe is always hitting bottom...

[youngie22]

I love the cannon, great for serious angling for some trophies, or float w/ the tubbers catching more bottle bass then smallies.

[sparcebag]

You can rent canoes right in cannonFalls and take out at either TroutBrook or the old dam in Welch.PS the largest brook Trout I've ever caught was by Pine Creek on the cannon 4 LBS.9OZ.

[Fishin4Sanity]

There are trout in the Cannon? I had no idea. I moved to Red Wing in July, and when it was still warm I always noticed cars at the intersection of 61 and the Cannon river. I assume people were fishing there. Can anyone confirm? And the Cannon has all types of fish huh?? Is it fairly easy to wade in the summer if one wanted?

Thanks in advance

[youngie22]

The cannon has a bit of everything. Fed by trout streams and upstream from the mighty mississippi. can't recall a large mouth but, have seen almost everything else.

[-Marc V-]

The Cannon is actually a pretty tough river to wade. I've tried, but you'll get to a lot more quality holes if you float it. That's not always an easy option. If your spin fishing, you shouldn't have a problem finding holes to cast to. I usually try to fly fish, and that can be an issue with back casts on the Cannon targetting the holes.

Cannon holds all different kinds of species. It's a great fishery. Cannon is one of my favorite rivers to fish because of the diversity. There are at least 2 streams that flow into the Cannon below Welch that hold trout. I wouldn't focus on the Cannon if that's if trout is what you're after. Trout would be few and far between, but if you caught one from there, more than likely it would be a MONSTER! Like was previously mentioned.

I'm amazed a brook trout came from that river because of the water temp is quite warm for trout, and would think the water clarity would not be ideal. Brown trout can exist in warmer temps than brooks, but still, the Cannon is probably a little to warm for brown trout as well. I haven't caught a trout out of the Cannon, but have no doubts that they're there.

No matter what you do, FISH IT! You will have a good time.

I personally have never been dissappointed walking away from this river. I've caught carp, river redhorse, white suckers, small mouth bass (of fairly decent size), bullhead, a white bass I think it was, and walleye. I've heard of channels being caught as well. I'm sure there's a few other species I'm less familiar with like northern hogsuckers, and golden and silver redhorse (?) in there too. I've heard of walleye of up to 10lbs. caught from the Cannon. Not much of a walleye guy myself. Think they are over rated. Poor fight, and just overdone. (probably be cast off this board for saying that) But there are some bruisers in there.

[youngie22]

there are definetly trout in the cannon... most likely right at the mouth of the cold streams running into it. you will also find a occasional northern and I have seen 2 huge muskies. definetly float if you have the means, old town w/ minnkota work great, will will definetly raise the motor a few times.

[sparcebag]

Look on a map 1-1/2 miles upstream from Welch you'll see Trout Brook,Walk it, fish it, small hook worms.Also bank fish the Cannon where Trout Brook Enters YOU"LL BE SURPRISED

[Grainbelter]

Has anyone fished the northfield area of the river. I work around northfield and the only spot I have seen people fishing is below the dam for suckers. Just curious.....

[-Marc V-]

I've mostly fished around Fairbalt and just down river of there. Not so much close to Northfield. About the same species should be around the Northfield area as Fairbalt. No dams that I can think of between Fairbalt and Northfield.

There is one trout stream that dumps into the Cannon just upstream of Northfield.

If you find a set of car keys down there I lost a couple years ago, I want them back! That was a joy kill on a day taken off work for only fishing the Cannon.

[Rippinlip]

Being from the area my whole life, there has not been much water I have not covered from Faribo to Northfield.

All I can say is get a canoe and float it, it is a riot of the fish you can get into.

Few areas that are easier to access are:

Rice County Park off Hwy 3 about 5 miles south of Dundas.

The Dundas city park.

Sechlar park between Northfield and Dundas.

Below the (Contact Us Please) by Malt-o-meal in Northfield, including the retaining walls between 2nd and 4th streets.

North of Northfield on County 47 about 2 miles(gravel road to the east).

This should give you some stating points to look at.

Hope this helps a little, I fish the river quite a bit.

Since the river has been cleaned up over the past several years, the quality has also improved. I have seen more smallies and decent walleyes being caught lately then ever before.

[toughguy]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.. No no no. The cannon river sucks. Don't ever go there. Stay away everyone.

[youngie22]

yeah tough guy your probably right... just a waste of time, right?... I probably won't go there at all next year.

[toughguy]

It's haunted too. And full of gang members looking to mug unsuspecting fisherman. I'll keep an eye on it this year and let everyone know when it's safe to float it.

JK I would recommend a cannon float to anyone. It's a great river with awesome scenery and even better fishing. If you get sick of sharing a lake or a river like the st. croix with a hundred other boaters I would defenatly recommend it. I can't wait to hit it again this summer. There are some great secret and not so secret spots. The best part is that each time you go the more you learn about it and the better you get. Just like any other lake or river I guess, but this river seems to make it more fun and interesting.

One day last year a few of my buddies and I hit it and caught 7 fish that were 6 different species. It fun reeling it in and not having a clue what you've got until it's up next to the boat.

[youngie22]

true dat, my old town cant wait to get out there.

[heiman507]

I was fortunate enough to assist the DNR in survey the river in a few locations of the Cannon River in high school (already been 6 yrs). One location was a few miles west of Randolph and the other was 3 miles northeast of Cannon Falls. I'll tell ya what, that was a cool experience. We ran a generator in a jon boat and pulled around, while we were walking in waders waving 8' poles that give out an electrical current that momentarily stunned the fish. We would net them all up and take inventory. Near Randolph, we pulled a few eyes out, and some bass, but for the most part a lot of carp. NE of Cannon, gave similiar results but with much fewer carp.

In early spring a guy can be fortunate enough to pull out some nice fish.

[youngie22]

Lots of carp; I did my share to help clean a few out this winter with the spear. boy... what a blast! Can't wait to get the canoe in that stream this summer.