UPDATE - Fishing On The River Fishing Report

[PTocko]

If Thursday is a nice day I'm looking to hit the river to do a little fishing and mainly to try out the new rig and make sure everything works before I get out "for real" next month. Not looking for anyone's "honey hole", just a little guidance as to where we might see some action - walleye, crappie whatever. I have heard walleyes are biting down towards Red Wing but other than that I have not heard anything else. I don't fish the river much so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Paul

[Scott K]

Keep in mind Walleye season isnt open yet, only on select border waters!

[PTocko]

Should have added - not looking to keep anything, just catch and release. As I said above, main reason is to put the new boat in the water - dipping a line with a buddie is just a bonus. Thanks.

[tunrevir]

Don't know about south of Stilwater but the river is open above stillwater right now. I was out last Weds and blanked but didn't fish livebait, more of a shakeout tour with the boat to make sure it was running okay. The whitebass should start to hit soon and the crappies will be off the current and into the shallower areas that are warming up. Depends on where you want to fish. The Croix is just opening up. Down south it sounds like the bite has been good for eyes and sauger. So, I guess I should have asked, Croix, Miss, or Minnesota? Have fun, be safe and watch out for deadheads and ice chunks in the flow if you go out.

Tunrevir~

[Sandmannd]

If you are talking the croix, don't get caught fishing for eyes. If you are talking the sippi, knock yourself out.

[brady_d]

Lots of boats heading down to Red Wing every morning. I pass about 5 of them every day on my 10 minute drive to hwy 52.

[hhguide]

I know that there are tournaments out there everyweekend for the next 3 weeks at least but it would be a great place to get the boat wet if you can get there will be down there this weekend!

[Team Otter]

FYI: You can not legally target walleyes when the season is closed, excluding border waters, even if you're committed to catch and release.

[JigginIsLife]

Thanks TO i was going to put that up there, untill i saw you get to it first. deffinatly a law not to be messed with, a little confusing, but ya, you cant target those fishy's out of season (if on closed waters)

[PTocko]

Okay - Just to be REAL clear. As I mentioned Red Wing in my original post (sorry I made it more confusing with my second) I am talking the Mississippi River. Unless the regulations have changed mid-year (which would not be the first time) I can fish / target walleye, crappie, perch, sunny with no problem - and if I do keep an eye it has to be 15". If I am mis-reading the Reg's - please tell me as I do follow them. In any case - I am really just wanting to take the new rig out for a shakedown cruise. Think open water. Paul

[hanson]

FYI- Pool 2 of the Miss is Catch & Release only for gamefish, open year round as well.

[slipperybob]

Knock yourself out down there in Red Wing area...The white bass should be running and gunning when you find them. Just check current areas, especially the dams south of there. You never know, you might even catch a big brown trout.

[Grant Pearson]

Pool 2 of the 'ssippi is open year round for eyes, bass, and northern, but it's catch and release only. Not that you'd want to eat anything out of pool 2 anyway.

[uwecsteeple]

Kingfish1, not true!

Pool 2 has the normal regulation for pike and its not catch and release year round. I agree that you wouldn't want to eat anything out of there anyways

Mississippi River Valley (Ramsey, Washington, Hennepin, and Dakota Counties) walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass: Catch-and-release with a continuous season

in the following stretches:

a) Minnesota River downstream from the Mendota Bridge; Minnehaha Creek downstream from Minnehaha Falls; and c) Pool 2 of the Mississippi River between the Hastings Dam and the Ford Dam,

[Grant Pearson]

ah. Then they might want to change the signs in St. Paul along the river saying that Northerns are part of that group.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

 Originally Posted By: kingfisher1

Pool 2 of the 'ssippi is open year round for eyes, bass, and northern, but it's catch and release only. Not that you'd want to eat anything out of pool 2 anyway.

I know a guy who eats the fish from pool 4. Seems to me that would be even worse since (fill in the blank) flows downstream.

[lotsofish]

 Originally Posted By: Wish-I-Were-Fishn

I know a guy who eats the fish from pool 4. Seems to me that would be even worse since (fill in the blank) flows downstream.

That's true, but I think the water quality improves actually as it gets away from the city. People from Missouri, Louisiana, etc eat fish from the river. Since they are way downstream you would think the water would be terrible. (Wait does this explain something???)

I think as other water sources enter, the water quality improves because the dilution.

[Sandmannd]

It probably has a lot to do with natural filtration. Running over rocks and everything is a natural filter. There's also a lot of bottom feeders getting fat. My waterfall for my pond works as a filter in the same way.

[PTocko]

Well we hit the river yesterday with the new rig. For the most part it was a success. Motor was a little hesitant to start - I expected that. After warming up she ran good, idled down okay. On the way back we had a few hiccups where she would hesitate at about 3500 rpms then catch and go. Feels like a fuel delivery issue but I'm going to run it a few more times before I bring it back in to the dealer - I have 60 day warranty starting on the fishing opener so I've got time. One other thing, I need a new trolling motor battery - I somewhat expected this as well as I had to fill the battery before I charged it the day before and it took a "full" charge rather quickly - it only lasted about 45 minutes. Now onto the fishing - well I don't fish the river much so we were guessing as to where the fish might be. We tried the dam above Red Wing - lots of other boats but all the same results, very slow. We Marked several fish where the currents kind of swirl against one another 20 feet suspended in about 25 - 30 feet of water. On the way back to Red Wing we worked several of the streams / rivers that empty into the Miss. Not as many boats but we were not alone. Same thing, saw fish but very little action - a couple of VERY soft bites but that's it. We saw one fish caught and that was a sheephead. In any case - it beat being at the office and I accomplished the main goal of shaking out the bugs in the new boat. All in all it was a good day - now I've got to go pick out a new battery. Paul