Visting St. Paul for Hockey- lookin for smallies

[BWellman]

I'll be coming to St. Paul this weekend (16-18) to watch my kid play a little hockey. I would love to get on the water to do a little smallie fishin. Looking for guide in area to do a half day trip either saturday or sunday. Any recommendations ? Or maybe just do some bank fishin. I'm coming from CA so i am totally unfamiliar with this areas possibilities.

Thanks

Brad wellman

[TurnUpTheFishing]

How far to do want to travel? Pool 2 of the mississippi is in the heart of the cities and has nice smallies and you could get into them from shore, plus some bonus species too Im sure. Another option would be the St. Croix River a 20 min drive out of downtown St Paul. Decent smallies again, they can be caught from shore along with many other species. You can google Croixsippi guide service, Turk, the owner, posts here on FM and is a phenominal guide on the St. Croix and Mississippi.

Mille Lacs, several hours north of the cities is one of the premiere smallie waters, large average size (15") and if you had a guide multiple fish over 4lbs would be easily attainable.

[BWellman]

Traveling distance is a little limited as I will be attending hockey scrimmages at excel center at 10 am on both sat & sun. Normally would travel as for as was required. Thanks for your reply

BWellman

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Pool 2 has some decent shore fishing areas about 10 minutes from the excel. Crosby Lake Regional Park, and Hidden Falls Park. Try google maps, just down Shepard Road from the Excel. You could walk right along the river bank casting cranks, topwaters, jigs, or livebait and catch fish.

Not sure how the fishing is down there this time of year or what the water flow is like I usually go in the spring and a good mix of walleye, smallies, and a few largemouth and pike. Try looking into the Mississippi Pool 2 sub forum if you want reports or more current info.

[BassNut33]

Not much of a river guy, but there is one lake just north of the metro, that has tank smallies in it. If you have any free time on sunday let me know, I will have an empty seat!

[wormdunker]

Brad I can get you on smallies in a few bodies of water near St Paul. Let me know what your schedule is like. Later in the day or prior to the scrimmage? You wont need any equipment but you will need a day license.

Let me know.

[BWellman]

Thanks for all of your responses. If any of you come out west and want to get out on the water, give me a call. Also check out westernbass.com. The members there are almost as generous as the people on this board. WORMDUNKER I SENT YOU A PM.

Thanks again,

Brad Wellman

925 548-1385

[email protected]

[HellaBass]

If I didn't have a tourney....

But to reiterate, Pool 2 for numbers and decent size, and then some of the lakes these guys are talking about are good too, but probably fishing for a fewer bites, where as you could kill them on Pool 2