Visiting Twin Cities in July

[BassProAddict]

Hi.I'm from out of State.I'm visiting the twin cities area in late July and I'm staying in Bloomington but I'm visiting a convention in the St Paul Rivercenter area.

I'm renting a car and I'm pretty mobile.My skeds are loose in the early morning but moreso for the afternoons.

I have several questions I'm hoping you MN guys can help me out with:

1.Having no boat and being cheap on renting guide services, are there any shore fishing spots that produce good bass, easy to get to and safe from park muggers or wildlife?

2.Are there parks that you can rent a boat (motorized) for a budget price and fish from it?

3.Is there any good fishing in the St.Paul Rivercenter area?

I'm psyched to go on this trip as I've fished Chisago and Medicine before.Hope you guys can help me out.

[Deitz Dittrich]

As far as I know, the only boat rental is canoe in the city lakes... You have to drive out a ways efor ethere are resorts that have boats to rent.

#1 Calhoun is a great bass lake.. not all that near to River center... the entire shorline is shore fishing!

#2 Not so much.. Like I said, you may have to drive 45 mins or mor eto rent a boat and a smaller resort.. or.. rent a canoe at a city lake.. probably your best option!

#3- I dont know St.Paul as well... i grew up in Mpls, the river is right there, and there are smaller lakes all over... As a young lad, I fish Calhoun and Harriet and Isles just about daily! And caught some great fish! But I was in a belly boat(inner tube)

[cableguy031]

1. The only good shore fishing in the Twin Cities Metro area are Calhoun and Harriet. It does have quite a few bass to chase not to mention muskies.

2. There are no parks that will rent you anything with one exception of Calhoun. They do have canoe/paddle boat/kayak rental but it's a bit steep in the pockets.

3. There are no good fishing spots withing St. Paul. The closest good fishing would be something like Lake Gervais but it can be interesting sometimes with the locals...lol

IMO: If you'd like to fish on Bald Eagle or something else in the East Metro area, shoot me an email. All I ask is that we split fuel cost. Food/beverage are all your own.

Shoot me an email here: [email protected]

[BassProAddict]

So Calhoun it is.Are there any strategic spots near the parking lot in Calhoun? Are there multiple parking lots around the lake?

[Slyster]

Street parking. It's a great lake! No motors allowed.

[HellaBass]

Bush Lake in Bloomington has some several shore fishing locations and the park may rent some stuff...

[EBass]

Medicine lake has Joe Harty. (Harty's bait shop) He has boat rentals, but that's a 30 mins drive from the river center if not more. It's a great bass and pike lake though.

The "sites" around Calhoun can be spectacular if ya know what I'm saying the fishing ain't that bad either. Be sure to bring a few topwater frogs, and softbaits. It's gotta be super weedy along the shore. But that's good slop action on topwater or whatever that won't get so hung up on the milfoil and algae. Also bring a long needle nose pilars as you may catch a musky. Prolly 7' med-heavy action rod with baitcaster and good drag. Put on 50lb braid and you're set even if a musky wants to dance.

Wading out there could give you more options too. You'll have it to yourself for the most part. Everyone will be jogging or walking around the path. Some kids will be on the fishing pier.

[BassProAddict]

Awesome tip on the Harty's HSOforum.This has got to be the most helpful fishing forum anywhere