Newbie trying Trout fishing

[Ctrl_Alt_Dlt]

Hey all! I am more of a bass and bluegill fisherman and for this year, I'd like to try more trout. I got a cheap $30 fly pole that i use for bluegills once in a while. Curious if anyone and direct me to any local areas in the Twin Cities area where I can try for some trout.

Just looking to catch and release. Dont plan to keep anything.

Thanks!

[ted4887]

I'm sure you are probably aware of this link, but here is the map of the trout streams in our neck of the woods.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/trout_streams/south_mn_maps.html

If I was you, I'd maybe travel down to the Red Wing area and give Hay Creek a try. Not entirely sure how far of a drive it would be for you, but it's a great creek, and wide open with lots of habitat improvement. Should provide you with plenty of action.

I'll let some of the experts chime in from here.

[OnAFly]

Hay is nice and close and has fish. It's a good place to start out. If you are willing, Wisconsin has a few good streams within an hour of MPLS/St Paul.

[itchmesir]

I hear Wells Creek in Red Wing has some chunky trout in it..

[JBMasterAngler]

Little cannon river would be a good place for a beginner also.

[itchmesir]

Vermillion also has some monsters in it.. low numbers.. but BIG trout.. but there are also pike in there as well.. so make sure you're using braid

[rkhinrichs]

eagle creek in bloomington/savage of the minnesota river

[Ctrl_Alt_Dlt]

great responses. Thanks all! I will give it a try. I still cant cast as well with my fly rod, but its managable.

[bobbymalone]

One problem with the closer-to-the-metro streams (at least in my experience) is that many are difficult to fish with a fly rod unless you are really proficient at casting. I volunteered on an electrofishing trip in the vermillion and we found some MONSTER trout, but they would have been literally impossible to catch with a fly rod.

If you are just wanting to give it a go some afternoon I would bite the bullet and drive down towards rochester. if you plan on getting into it, drop 50 on a WI license and 10 on a trout stamp. It's about half as far a drive so you will pay for the WI license in a few trips.