Small rivers

[goldie11]

I know you guys dont like to give up your secret spots but i was wondering if there are any small rivers to fish in minnesota for muskies?

[HooknHorns]

Ive been up to federal dam on leech and always wonder about a float trip downstream from the dam. I've seen muskies and big northerns in there so I know theyre in there. Wouldn't mind hearing from somebody that has done that. Its a thought for ya.

[flyfisher03]

Depending on where you are at there are some downstream from the Lake Zumbro Dam on the Zumbro River.

[goblueM]

your basic formula for finding such rivers would be to take a river that flows in/out of a large muskie fishery, and go from there.

out of curiousity, why your interest in small rivers?

[cbrooks]

Never fish it but I heard Big Fork river has some.

[goldie11]

your basic formula for finding such rivers would be to take a river that flows in/out of a large muskie fishery, and go from there.

out of curiousity, why your interest in small rivers?

ive fished some small rivers in wisconsin and did really well. was wondering if minnesota had some to try this coming season

[brad coin]

People have told me they get them in the Prarie River near Grand Rapids but its small boat territory

[-Marc V-]

It'd be nice if there were more smaller rivers in MN with 'ski. Would think it'd be pretty sweet for the Cannon River system to have musky. Plenty of white suckers, along with various kinds of redhorse and other roughfish that could grow some big fish I'd think in my layman opinion. Just dreaming, know quite a bit of consideration goes into whether a river/lake is stocked along with needing the funds. I'm neither political or wealthy enough to make it happen!

The Zumbro is supposed to be loaded with 'ski. Heard that from a DNR guy a few years back...

[goblueM]

Cannon DOES have muskies but they're once in a blue moon - kind of like the ones caught way up the Minnesota. Couple years ago a coworker had a musky hit a small walleye he was reeling in on the lower Cannon, never got it to shore though

[JBMasterAngler]

I caught a mini ski out of the zumbro and snake rivers. I don't know wether they get big in the zumbro or not, but the snake might have a few big ones being cross and pokegama are stocked. St. louis harbor area is supposedly full of big skis.

[-Marc V-]

Ya, it's the "once in a blue moon" part... It'd be cool if there was a fishable population of musky so you'd know you were at least be casting at fish part of the time.

I've always wanted to see a 'ski attacking a smallie, walleye, or pikey on the way in like that. Guess I'd have to do less musky fishing, and more fishing for other fish in musky waters...not seeing that happenning anytime soon!

[kyleharty]

I've fished the Zumbro a little, my first Muskie was a 38" from the river. Don't know how many there really are in there or how big they're getting but they say many of the fish stocked in Lake Zumbro ended up in the river downstream from the dam.

[brad coin]

Didnt they now discontinue the tiger stocking on the Zumbro?????,,which means that Tigers on average live 7 years so that fishery wont last a whole lot longer if your planning on hitting it

[goblueM]

i'm not aware of tigers in the Zumbro - i'm fairly certain they're just good old regular muskies...

[Musky hunter 82]

Brad Coin, shhh there aren't any muskies in the Prarie River....

Actiually my brother and I caught our biggest fish out of there. A 50.5" for me and a 47.5" for him. Know of a couple others that caught fish over 45" out there as well. You just have to be really carefull driving around you might hit a power line pole that they cut off just inches above the water. It actiually connects to the Mississippi if you follow it along.

[kyleharty]

i'm not aware of tigers in the Zumbro - i'm fairly certain they're just good old regular muskies...

I believe you are correct. The one I caught was purestrain. The stocking has been discontinued in the lake, I saw some mention a while back of the DNR considering the idea of some stocking in the river but it sounded like a long shot and/or a ways off if there was anything to it at all.

[goldie11]

where is the prairie river located?

[Musky hunter 82]

East of Grand Rapids on Hwy. 2. There used to be a public access right out of town, next to ICC (itasca comunity college). If you want i can get you more information off the site.

[Ramond Iverson]

Lake Zumbro was stocked with Muskies with help of funding by Chapter 54 MI.

I beleive it was 130, 12" to 19" Muskies. All muskies were Leech Lake strain.

Correct me Muskiefool if I'm wrong.

[Muskiefool]

You are correct sir.

[Zelmsdawg]

From what I've gathered, almost all the fish stocked in lake zumbro ended up going into the river which is why they stopped stocking it. I've also heard of a couple skies in the rum up where it comes out of mille lacs.

Zelmsdawg

[Ramond Iverson]

Here are a pictures of the stocking of Zumbro last year.

I love the markings of young Muskies.

[kyleharty]

Cool pictures, thanks for sharing Ramond!

[HooknHorns]

I thought they were going to stop with the muskies since they are now putting walleyes in there. A few years back the dnr drove around to see how many people were actually targeting muskies on the lake. Since they were few and far between, they started with the walleye program. Maybe the dnr doesnt even know what theyre plan is from year to year. Seems like all the muskie fisherman dont waste time on the lake and head straight to the river.

[TonyKay]

Is their a boat launch downstream from the dam?