Early salmon run....point me there?!

[Katman]

That was you?! Ok. You look like a young guy quick. But yeah that was us. Nice little spot there. Got a good run of fish in that little pool. We got a few cohos and a few pinks from there. Can I ask what you were using? It seemed like the only way I could get them to bit was to run the fly right by their face like a million times and they'll get so angry they would just attack it just to kill it. Or....I would do a drift from upstream and slowly walk it back up. But they for sure didn't like our fly as much as yours.

[Quickstrike]

beadhead chartruse wooly bugger, it's my go-to fly when salmon are just entering the rivers.

[Katman]

Thanks for you help Quick. I was using a black with yellow stripe body wooly bugger...didn't get as much response as the chartruse you were using but I will try a chartruse next time. Were you bouncing the bottom or striping it fast?

[Katman]

Heres are two of the pictures...before my camera died on me.

My monster of the day.

Heres a nice pool of pinks.

[Quickstrike]

early in the run i will strip it very fast and then slow down my pressentation as the fish become less agressive.

[Katman]

Thanks Quick. Very much appreciated!

[Schurmo]

So, after my weekend in early September I am really itchin' to get back up to the North Shore and catch some fish. I was planning on staying with a friend next weekend (Oct 6-7-8) and fishing the rivers around Duluth. Is that too late in the season, or will there still be plenty of fish in the rivers? I know you guys joke a lot about the Lester, but would that actually be a descent option? I was also thinking of going up towards the Knife, Baptism and maybe even Gooseberry. Would those be successful or is there other places I should look (without giving away your secrets). Does the St. Louis get fish up it? Thanks!

[Katman]

I don't believe the St. Louis gets a salmon run, but all the other rivers you've listed will and has. There should be plenty of fish in each river. The season was a bit late and the water levels are still pretty low to bring them in at full mass.....but I think MAYBE they should hold out till you get up there. The Lester isn't that bad of a place. Check the first 2 pools for fish. Gooseberry has never been a great place for me...could be differnt for others but I never have good luck there. I've pulled a few nice sized steelies and salmons from there...but not like any other places. The river is pretty nice in gooseberry though....as long as the water is connected...I would not doubt that there are big fishes there. There are LOTS of nice runoffs and rivers to look into as your going up on the 61. You'll just have to park, take a look, and test out the waters. If you are hunting these big guys....get ready to hike. At most of the mouths and connection streams, you will find lots of smaller pinks. Find deeper holes to hole bigger steelies or kings. But let me tell you...I did see with my own eyes very large kings trying to get into the Cascade as I was fishing the mouth. Lets just say they were as long as my legs and as fat. Take a look at my picture to size. But the water was a bit low for them to make it. Good luck on your trip. The only real way to learn(as they taught me) was to look, find, and test your luck. If you don't hookon to something...move on. But give the spots you find a good amount of time and ask the locals. Some will help...but most of them keep to themselves on spots. But they will share what bait or flies they are using.

[Schurmo]

Thanks for the info. I don't have my fly rod all rigged up and plan on going up with my spinner rod. That should be fine, right? Do you use braided line or do you use the typical fishing line? Is there a place here in the cities (that isn't Lake Elmo) to buy flies? Do you use leaders on your lines? Do you think worms would work this time of year? Thanks so much for your input Katman, and hey...we will have to hook up some time and try out the Vermillion down in Lakeville. It's suppose to be a great local river for brown trout. Thanks!

[Katman]

No problem shurmo. I'm no trout pro...but with the help I've been getting around here....I sure feel good! Theres a place off grand in st. paul called Summit i believe. You can check the city pages. I used 6 and 8 lbs mono...leave your braids at home. Spinners will work fine. Use the single hooks for the rivers. I didn't use any leaders on my lines. And yes...we did use crawlers...got some brookies and a few pinks on the crawlers...but not much action. There were some guys that pulled some rainbows...but crawlers didn't work like the early season. We got some rainbows off the mouths of the rivers with spinners too. The spawners were very picky but I did manage a few on my black wooly bugger....but not as much as Quickstrike on his charteuse. I would love to try the vermillion sometime. I'm heading to Brainerd for some mine trout this weekend! Good luck to you.

[Schurmo]

Thanks again for the reply...I very much appreciate it. Did you travel up the Expressway towards Two Harbors or did you take the scenic route? Do you know if a place like Gander Mountain would have any wooly buggers? Were the salmon interested in spoons at all? Did you use waders at all? Sorry for all the questions...after seeing all the fish you guys have caught, I am just so excited to go up there and fish next weekend! I caught 6 trout at the beginning of September and I just love the beauty of all the rivers up there, so it will be good to be up there again! If you have any special spots you could share with me that would be worth checking out, I would more than appreciate a private message. Otherwise if you are up there that weekend, maybe we will run into each other. Thanks again for the info and good luck on your mine fishing!

[Katman]

We were on the scenic route for the view and pictures. You will run into all the rivers on the scenic drive. There are a few that aren't viewable from the drive...but thats the local secrets I haven't looked at gander for flies but from what I remember...they did have a little pricey selection. The salmons were not interested in the spoons at all.....but other guys were pulling a few kings with spoons. I didn't have the bright colors like they did....I'm not a big spoon guy so I only have 1...a red devil. I do not have waders.....and that will restrict you from a few nice spots but I do wade in the water where I can in shorts....but word of caution.....water is cold. You won't feel your legs anymore after a few minutes...after that...you'll be fine..hahaha. The lester is a pretty popular place with lots of salmon(all kinds) being pulled out daily. The baptism is another spot you should hit. There are decent fast current pools as you walk up stream. If you don't have woolys...use bright colored flies and don't sit it right in front of their face. I found that to not work Quick was a king when I saw him fish. In his short time at the baptism spot..he had 3 fishes I believe...with only few min in between. Thats who the pro is And FYI...theres no PM on this forum. All knowledge that are worth sharing should be open to all...thats how it should be. I will see if I want to take another trip up there that weekend. But you will catch fish. Work the spots...and watch the water very closely. As...I saw nice fishes swimming right next to me in knee high water! Don't be shy to talk to the locals....I'm sure they won't give their honey spots away...but they share a wealth of knowledge. And watch how some guys fish...sometimes...they won't be able to explain...but you can see and maybe replicate what they did...and get a strike! And even in very shallow water...don't be suprised to see a nice fish lurking Good luck to you! Maybe we can hookup that weekend! We'll see how things go.

[Schurmo]

Okay, last question! What size of wooly buggers is best to get and is it worth it to look at any other flies for this time of year? I guess that's two questions. Thanks again so much for all your info, I am so excited to go fishing!

[Katman]

I hate to not answer you but I don't really remember what size they are? They are a lot bigger then 12 and 14 I know that. I'll take a look when I get home. I wouldn't know what other flies to look at....I only had luck with the buggers and egg sucking leeches. Sorry Schurmo. I'll look when I get home. Get bright ones...like pink or charteuse.

[Schurmo]

Egg sucking leeches? Never heard that before. That isn't some special code word for spawn sacks is it? I ordered some purple size 6. Is 6 smaller or larger than 12? Thanks again!

[bigfish21]

size 6 is bigger than 12. another good fly to pick up is a rabbit strip leech. an egg sucking leech is a woolybugger or rabbit strip leech w/ an egg pattern tied in front by the hook eye. I was on the shore on thursday. there are lots of fish up there but they are not so aggressive anymore. Very light biting but you can still get them to bite if you work it long enough. as for the size fly to use.... size 2-6 will probably be good with smaller flys for pinks than for kings..again bright colors

LET THEM SPAWN

[DEADhead]

Quote:

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Theres a place off grand in st. paul called Summit i believe.

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unfortunately Summit Fly Fishing on Grand Ave in St. Paul closed over the past year . your options for "fly shops" in the metro are bob mitchell's, bentley's, and of course thorne brothers have trout gear as well.

[Schurmo]

Thanks for the info guys! How do I know that they have spawned? I really enjoy this style of fishing and want to protect the resources...but just need a little education. I will check out the location of some of those shops. Thanks again!

[bigfish21]

You can tell if they have spawned or not by looking at their bellies. If they are fat the probably haven't spawned. A couple of the fish I caught thursday were still so ripe when I touched them sperm/eggs would come out. The fresh fish are actually your best chance at catching anything as they are the ones that are agressive. I just see too many people catching fresh fish (many through snagging) and taking all the eggs from them before they can spawn to use as bait. On another note, I have found the guys over at The Fly Angler (also Thorne Bros.) in Fridley to be the most helpful as far as flyshops in the metro area goes.