Straight River help, Park Rapids, MN

[npn74]

I found a couple threads from a while back on the Straight River near Park Rapdids, MN, but not a whole lot of information. I fished the river in late April with spinning gear and Mepps spinners. I walked downstream from CR 125. I caught a bunch of browns, but most were 4-8 inches. I started fly fishing a couple weeks ago. I have had pretty good luck on brookies on a stream near home. I decided it was time to go back to the Straight with the fly rod..catch some of those BIG browns. I got skunked..I stopped at the CR 117 (county line road) bridge. Too deep to wade with chest waders..next spot, CR 125 going upstream. Soft mucky bottom there not much concentrated current. I headed to the CR 123 access closer to the lake. The bottom was more solid and it looked like good trout waters. I tried beadhead hare's ears, beadhead prince nymphs, a couple dry flies..nothing. Can anyone give me any ideas for this stream? Are the bigger fish in the deep mucky bottom areas? Is it best to fish from a canoe or boat? Thanks for any help I can get.

[s t fanatic]

without a canoe you will be extremely limited on where you can fish that system. i tried it last summer and wish i would have just left the rods at home. it just took good quality drinking time out of my afternoon.

[MyFishHasRabies]

I have attempted to fish there a few times and I can say walking the shore and wading are both difficult to do, but still possible. The place I had the best luck wading was east of US71. I parked my car on the first north/south road (don't know the number or name) and waded in there. Some places it was very solid for a few steps and then the next step i would sink in two or three feet when there seemed to be no difference in the bottom's make-up. Oh well, that's wading i guess.

I did catch a few browns out of that stretch. A few were in that 4-8 inch range and there was one scrawny 12 incher. Funny thing, though. I caught the BIGGEST chub i've ever seen. It was probably 10 inches and it had large "horns" on it's head. It had an almost red belly and looked like a brookie the first glimpse i had of it. First time i ever got excited about a chub. I don't know why i didn't photgraph it, though.

I don't know if you already have this map, but it was a pretty big help for me.

[dcraven]

Bigger fish are caught at dark in the Straight and especially after dark. Can use floating Rapalas and dry fly(s) to catch them on the surface as the large mayflies hatch (right now). Fish you never believe lived there will bite after dark. They just don't come out to play much during daylight hours.

DC

[npn74]

Thanks for the help. I didn't know if the stretches further east held fish. I might have to bring a canoe or the duck boat next time I go. Those deeper areas don't look like typical trout water. I heard the hex hatch has already happened. I don't know how much I would like fly fishing in the dark..I have heard it is the best time when the hatch is going, but seems like it could be tough. I catch my fly in the trees and grass during the day, hate to see what happens at night. Anybody else had luck on the Straight?