Any fishing reports for the Root or surrounding streams?

[maddog2099]

Hi all,

Thinking about heading to Lanesboro for the weekend and I thought id check in and see if anybody has hit the root or other streams around there in the last week or so. The main reason I ask is because of all that rain we had last weekend, last year it rained for a few days before I went down and I had n o luck at all cause everything was so muddy.

Thinking about staying at Eagle Cliff campgrounds (unless somebody has a recommendation of elsewhere they prefer) and will try to fish the root and trout run, and any other stream that may be close and clear.

Thanks

[itchmesir]

Streams are in good condition.. they are now at the point that they clear out rather quickly... rushford area got 2.5" sunday and i fished a stream in that area yesterday... was a little off.. but very fishable

[TruthWalleyes]

I fished the area on saturday, might have spent 20 minutes on the root around preston, and the rest on small streams from hutton valley to lanesboro to iowa and grainger.

Not a bite on crawlers, used small cranks all day. 17.25" brown, 13" brook, 14" rainbow, and then filled the quota with more rainbows. A Buddy and i were in the trout days tournament. Threw a lot of 15" browns back looking for a bruiser. Little disapointed that they used a $10 scale since i lost the $ by .07lbs

[maddog2099]

Well I'm happy to hear that people are having good luck, and that the streams are running clear. I was trying to decide whether to go to lanesboro, or head down to the harpers ferry, ia area (the streams I fished growing up) and I think this has helped me decide to stay in MN. Time to do some planning on which streams to hit now, and hit up cabelas (always need some new tackle).

Sorry to hear about the tourney outcome.

Any suggestions on cranks, I've seen several people talk about using small raps, but never used them myself, and never really bass fished so I don't have hardly anything in the way of cranks.

Now to hope for a better trip, got skunked last year (rain, and a unplanned shortening of trip) so I gotta get my buddy some in hand as he's new to trout.

By the way, I don't wanna ask for holes/specific streams, but ill take any suggestions you are willing to offer as this is only my second trip to the area.

[TruthWalleyes]

I'm not familiar with the area, but was fishing with a friend whom is so i cannot help you on spots. The key to us finding bigger fish was fishing the more 'untouched' streams. (Many of which only 4' wide) One of the farmers told us "there aren't any trout in that stream, but go ahead and fish it", that is where i caught the largest brown, and missed an even bigger one. There were some other streams where they used to be dynomite...but a close eagles nest will ruin the fishing for years.

Any of these will do you just fine.

[itchmesir]

Well I'm happy to hear that people are having good luck, and that the streams are running clear. I was trying to decide whether to go to lanesboro, or head down to the harpers ferry, ia area (the streams I fished growing up) and I think this has helped me decide to stay in MN. Time to do some planning on which streams to hit now, and hit up cabelas (always need some new tackle).

Sorry to hear about the tourney outcome.

Any suggestions on cranks, I've seen several people talk about using small raps, but never used them myself, and never really bass fished so I don't have hardly anything in the way of cranks.

Now to hope for a better trip, got skunked last year (rain, and a unplanned shortening of trip) so I gotta get my buddy some in hand as he's new to trout.

By the way, I don't wanna ask for holes/specific streams, but ill take any suggestions you are willing to offer as this is only my second trip to the area.

you cannot.. and i repeat cannot go wrong fishing any of the water in the lanesboro area.. absolutely amazing fishery.. lot of great holes on the root just south of lanesboro

also i would like to add... I do not dunk worms often.. but one place i love to do it is on the root... not only will you land trout but even better you can tie into some big "natives" that'll put up just as good of a fight.. if not better than some of the trout in there

[maddog2099]

Thanks for the great info. Now I'm onto my next hurdle... I had planned on staying at eagle cliff as I stayed there before, but they are full. Do you all have a favorite camground in that area, or is there a good place to search the campgrounds available in the area?

Thanks

[itchmesir]

SO just as a side note I went out yesterday...

2 of the streams were stained... South Branch was chocolate milk... the Root looked muddy and high as well.. lots and lots of different bugs hatching and trout were taken on both spinners and nymphs

These links should be able to help you out as well...

Map Of State Parks

Stream Conditions

I've also heard a lot of good things about The Barn Resort that is found between lanesboro and preston...

[TruthWalleyes]

SO just as a side note I went out yesterday...

2 of the streams were stained... South Branch was chocolate milk... the Root looked muddy and high as well.. lots and lots of different bugs hatching and trout were taken on both spinners and nymphs

These links should be able to help you out as well...

Map Of State Parks

Stream Conditions

I've also heard a lot of good things about The Barn Resort that is found between lanesboro and preston...

The "barn resort" is the backyard of my deer hunting!! Good luck.

[ted4887]

SO just as a side note I went out yesterday...

2 of the streams were stained... South Branch was chocolate milk... the Root looked muddy and high as well.. lots and lots of different bugs hatching and trout were taken on both spinners and nymphs

I'm really hoping we get no more heavy rain this week. I'll be in Winona tomorrow evening to get an apartment locked down for next semester, but I plan on camping if I get a spot through at least Saturday. Really would love to not get muddy water all weekend.

Unfortunately, at a quick glance, the weather pattern looks pretty unstable.

Any ideas what the main hatches were that were coming off?

[itchmesir]

I'm really hoping we get no more heavy rain this week. I'll be in Winona tomorrow evening to get an apartment locked down for next semester, but I plan on camping if I get a spot through at least Saturday. Really would love to not get muddy water all weekend.

Unfortunately, at a quick glance, the weather pattern looks pretty unstable.

Any ideas what the main hatches were that were coming off?

I can only identify a small percentage of bugs... i know there were a few caddis.. bigger stoneflies(#10 maybe even as big as a #8).. I saw 1 big mayfly.. about the size of a hex.. couple more mayflies in the #14 range.. midge.. and a tiny yellow in the size #20-24 range... there were never enough rises though to justify switching to a dry

[itchmesir]

btw ted.. that's awesome bout winona.. we'll have to get out.. if and when I have time... taking 6 classes this fall

[maddog2099]

Thanks for the info, looked into the barn resort and it looks like a nice place til I saw the prices...30 a night for a tent site, that's a bit high in my opinion. I think we have decided to just wing it and drive down hope for a first come spot to be open at one of the parks. If nothing, we will sleep in the car for the night, fish Saturday and then decide what we want to do after that. Every place I've called is booked on all the reserve sites.

[itchmesir]

I know of a camp site.. and I cannot remember for the life of me where it is exactly.. pretty sure its just before Whalen.. there is a DEAD END sign right at the turn for the road and it goes down a minimum maintenance road.. nice camping area.. its right next to one of the old wagon bridges.. land is owned by a CO that lives in a green house right near the site.. from what i've been told if you ask permission he has no problem with people camping there as long as you clean up after yourself

[ted4887]

I can only identify a small percentage of bugs... i know there were a few caddis.. bigger stoneflies(#10 maybe even as big as a #8).. I saw 1 big mayfly.. about the size of a hex.. couple more mayflies in the #14 range.. midge.. and a tiny yellow in the size #20-24 range... there were never enough rises though to justify switching to a dry

Although I've been tying nymphs all week, I'm hoping we start getting some more good dry fly action soon. I have had a lot of fun fishing dries every time the opportunity has presented itself.

I'm looking forward to living and going to school in Winona. I'm just hoping that the place I'm planning on looking at is half way decent. It seems as though it's impossible to find a rental over there right now.

[itchmesir]

yeah most places are filled up.. 3 college town.. can be tough... what are you looking at tomorrow?

[ted4887]

Just a room in a house with a 20 something UWL student. She hasn't been advertising it, but contacted me off of my housing wanted ad on CraigL. She said it's "centrally located", but anywhere in the Winona vicinity is fine by me. I've had some room offers, but everything seems to be closer to LaCrosse. I would rather not have a 30 minute drive every morning.

[itchmesir]

Well hope that works out for ya.. lol.. "centrally located".. Winona is 4mi wide

[ted4887]

Bah, it's no worse than Mankato is. I can deal with 10-15 mile drive, but would like to keep it not much longer than that.

Hopefully I'll get the place first thing in the morning, wander around the campus for a little bit to get a feel for it, and than hopefully be able to put in some time on the stream the rest of the day. If not tomorrow, for sure the rest of the weekend. Tent is already packed, and I'm getting ready to load the cooler. Waders are patched(again), and fly rods are in the trunk. What else could I be forgetting for a nice weekend on the stream?

[TruthWalleyes]

Maybe you guys really enjoy the Fly aspect of trout fishing, i've never picked up a fly rod. but if it is any help, the 6 fish i cleaned on saturday all had fatheads in their bellies.

[itchmesir]

Maybe you guys really enjoy the Fly aspect of trout fishing, i've never picked up a fly rod. but if it is any help, the 6 fish i cleaned on saturday all had fatheads in their bellies.

I don't discriminate against different styles of fishing.. monday i went with both my fly rod and my spinning gear... fly rod out performed the spinning gear though on that outting.. and I used my spinning gear more than my fly rod.. new streams I almost always take the spinning gear... allows me to cover a lot more water at a faster pace.. though i will admit i rarely use bait.. but that's more an overall thing than stream specific

@ted.. you'll have a blast on Lake Winona with your kayak and a fly rod.. lot of big chunky bass in there this year too.. i have tied into some hawgs already this year and have heard the same from a couple other people... also Winona is a very bike friendly area.. you can get anywhere on bike within 10-20min especially if you are in the center of town