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.

lakes and ponds

mrfish007
 Share

Recommended Posts

mrfish007 Apprentice

mrfish007

Posted
Posted

hello,

I moved here to rochester about a year ago, and I haven't been fishing up here in this area since moving ( went to lake waconia last thursday and got a lot of crappie and gills ) but don't know a lot of places around rochester and surrounding counties. any sugestions on places to fish sunnies, cats,eyes,northerns, and muskies?? any help would be great!! have a good night and good fishing

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tyler Holm Veteran

Tyler Holm

Posted
Posted

Welcome MRfish,

I think your best bet would be to spend some time reading this rochester forum. There are tons of places to fish right near Rochester and you can catch all those species you mentioned within 20 mins of Roch.

Lake Zumbro and Chester Woods are great places for larger panfish and both have cats. For eyes, you'll need to be on a river such as the root or zumbro.

There are several smaller ponds in the Roch area that hold bass and panfish as well. You'll hear them mentioned quite often on this forum.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
crazyice Proficient

crazyice

Posted
Posted

Also for those Muskies and Northerns, you can target Lake Zumbro which is just north of town. It is actually a resivoir of the zumbro river due to a power dam. I was in the same boat as you just a few years ago and thought that my new home was limited to just the area trout streams, boy have I been proved wrong!! Like Tyler said, just keep a close eye on this forum and you will start to pick up where the hot spots are!! And welcome to FM!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Down to Earth Veteran

Down to Earth

Posted
Posted

As mentioned Zumbro and Chesterwoods provide excellent bluegill and crappie fishing. If your looking for bass action and your not hung up on size, Chesterwoods is a great option. Though Zumbro does have a population of muskie and northerns, in all honesty there are better options, but do require a drive. For northerns the Mississippi backwaters around Wabasha can provide good action. For muskies, I would recommend either Minnetonka in the Cities, or if you don't want to drive quite so far French over by Faribault.

Good luck in your searching.

Andy

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mrfish007 Apprentice

mrfish007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated. I had lost all interest in fishing when living in northeast iowa and stopped fishing for about 8 years. now that I'm in rochester, I'm once again interested in fishing. I need to do some research into surrounding counties lakes and ponds, to go fishing now I'm willing to travel up to about 50 to 100 miles to have a good day of fishing. thanks again and good fishing!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Down to Earth Veteran

Down to Earth

Posted
Posted

A good reference book for you to pick up is by Sportsmen's Connection. They put out a books out for different regions in Minnesota and give a good synopsis of lakes. They have one for Southern Minnesota. I have an older copy, but I think they've updated it since I bought mine. It would be a good starting point. I know Gander and Cabela's both carry them, and I think I've even seen them in Walmart. Interestingly enough, Zumbro is not listed. Once you get some lake ideas, you can also go to the Minnesota DNR lakefinder and research specific lakes as well. Their website is excellent for lake info.

Andy

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      Big Kandiyohi

      By mulefarm · Posted

      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      Big Traverse Ice Free

      By LakeofthewoodsMN · Posted

      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~~
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By leech~~ · Posted

      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By Rick G · Posted

      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
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By smurfy · Posted

      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
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      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.

  I accept