65 Days and counting to C&R SW season

[troutcrazymn]

I know the season has been closed for only a third of the time until it opens again, but I can't wait for Winter C&R in SW MN streams. I know a lot of people think I am a little crazy, but a winter stream is totally different than that same streatch of water in the spring or summer. Also I think the allure of going out when others are inside wishing that it was warm enough drives my enjoyment too. Bundling up and heading out is such a thrill for me when temps are down, snow is up and the banks are empty of other anglers. I'll fish areas in the winter that I don't go to in the spring and summer due to pressure, and have often caught bigger fish in those waters than in the spring. All in all trout fishing in the winter is an adventure that fules my soul. Last January I went with a friend of mine on the fourth, the temp was four degrees, and we had a blast, landed some nice fish too.

[Further North]

I love Wisconsin's early C&R season also...but ours doesn't start until March.

[troutcrazymn]

I hear you, I wish Minni and Wisonie would go to a year round with C and R during fall and winter. So many other states do that and still show great trout fishieries. I wish I new who to write a letter to expressing my opinion.

[flyfisher03]

I think you mean SE MN streams.

[troutcrazymn]

You are correct, I do mean SE MN. Are there any trout streams in SW MN?

[Ic3wind]

there are no designated trout streams in the SW, I know there are some stocked trout ponds in south centeral Mn, there may be some in SW. The DNR HSOforum can point you towards some.

[ted4887]

Camden State Park is the only place I know of to catch trout out in the SW part of the state.

[troutcrazymn]

CandR season so close. I'll be on the water in one week can hardly wait!!!!!!!! Man I am excited to see me some trout, and the end of a tight line. I am reading The River Why and it's not helping my itch any, only making it worse.

[itchmesir]

sooo close! come on sunday!

[ted4887]

Agreed.

I went for a nice long hike at WWSP this afternoon, and the bug activity was great. There was a pretty thick midge hatch going on the whole time I was there, and fish were rising steadily. It was brutal just sitting on the bridges watching them rise. But the weather today made for a great day to take a hike. I won't be on the water until Monday, but good luck to those that make it out on Sunday! My guess is that it will be fairly busy with the weather we're having.

[Ic3wind]

Agreed!

here's to hoping this weather holds. Id sure take a 30 degree day with little to no wind. Looking forward to fishing the home waters. 3hrs drive time round trip to Iowa was getting old to put it mildly

[itchmesir]

Last I checked it's supposed to be highs in the 20s with a decent amount of wind and possibility for rain/snow... not that that is gonna stop me

[itchmesir]

less than 24hrs away!

[ted4887]

Bah, I'm in Nebraska until tomorrow night. 7 hour drive home tomorrow evening to fish on Monday. Give me trout, or give me death!

[itchmesir]

well i'd say you'll skip out on the crappy new year day weather.. but monday is not looking all that great either.. good luck and tight lines!

[troutcrazymn]

Happy New CandR Fishing Year. Let me know if you got out today, where if you don't mind and how you did. I am getting out Wed, 34 degrees 10 mph wind. I'll take it. I am going to try a double river hit a little brook stream and then Hay Creek. There is a small section that gets ignored, it sits right between two heavily fished areas. I catch significantly larger fish on this stretch compared to the rest of the river. Usually in the 14-16 inch range and have seen some fish approaching the 18 inch range. Most of Hay creek seems to be 12 inchers or less. Early in the day I am hoping to land my nemises on this small brook stream. He lives in a deep whole under a large rock formation, right next to a gravel road. I have had him on twice, with out landing him. He is easily 15 inches and has a gut to match. Photos and a replica if I can get him. His colors are crazy when I had him on last Sept. Good fishing!

[itchmesir]

Got out today.. unfortunately with no success for me or my buddy... was windy as all h3ll on the ridge but i picked the perfect valley for such a day and we could barely tell the wind was blowing today.. aside from hearing it whip above our heads.. it was nice to get out either way.. been too long since i got to use the long stick

[ted4887]

Todays catch: Frostbite and a handful of a brown and rainbows.

The wind was howling all morning, making the fishing hard. Using the word hard here really doesn't do the conditions justice, but it felt good to fish in Minnesota for the first time in a few months. Looking forward to the warmup towards the end of the week.

[itchmesir]

what were they taken on if ya dont mind sharing?

[ted4887]

I caught one on a midge pattern, but the others that we caught I believe were all on Hares Ears

[Ic3wind]

a big prince or a big hare's ear trailed by a midge has worked well for me the last couple days

[itchmesir]

Went to gribben today.. hopes weren't high.. tough stream to fish when water is gin clear... But the thing that got me was all the timber the decided to chop down... Guess too many folks couldn't cast in those tight streams.. gotta make it easier for people who can't cast

[Scudly]

HI work in the future? I understand this was one of the better brookie streams in previous years. Even discussed in Humphry Shogren book but understand the browns took over

[itchmesir]

Don't believe I've ever caught a brookie in there.. they may be further up stream.. but its some very skinny water

[mark p]

I have fished Gribben for almost 50 years and it has never been a brookie stream during that time. Can't remember catching even a single brook trout.