Leisure Outdoor Adventures Fishing Guide River Report

Mississippi River Fishing

Why Go South and do Tropical when you can go Spring River Fishing?

Over spring break instead of going tropical we go spring river fishing, LOA guides Jason Freed, Toby Kvalevog, and Jim Ernster met up with River Rat Tim Chick and fished Pools 4 and 5a.  So many people love to go South and find the warmth of beaches and ocean air,

Mississippi River Walleye

Mississippi River Walleye

we instead chose to find the 35 degree warmth up the Mississippi River with a couple goals in mind.  #1 get away from Brainerd for our spring break and #2 shake off the rust and set the hook on some Mississippi River walleyes and saugers.

After a quick stop at Cabelas to stock up on some river jigs, plastics, and to look around.          We set forth down the interstate with Jim Ernster’s boat in tow.  The next morning we arrived to Bass Camp on Pool 5A.  We found fish spread out, but focused our time on current seams, wing dams, and rock or gravel.  Pitching ½ to 3/8th oz jigs with a plastic or rainbow was the ticket.  Slowing dragging it along the bottom and watching your line is the key.  This is the fun part about pitching jigs is that it is all VISUAL.  From casting to the sweet spot in the current to watching the tick or tautness of your line as you working it along.  Tim actually stuck a fat 19”er on the first cast and the rest of the day we grinded away, putting a nice batch of keeper walleyes and saugers in the boat.

Day 2 - We got up early and hit the road and decided to fish the famous Red Wing. We had big walleyes on the mind, but eluded us on Day 2.  Instead we were met with an abundance of saugers and small walleyes.  Once again fishing current edges and breaklines we were able to put a nice batch of keepers in the boat.  Instead of pitching jigs, it was all about the Dubuque Rig.  This Mississipp River Walleye Fishingpresentation set up with a three way swivel where you have a 3/4oz jig and plastic on your dropper and a 3’ lead with a longer shank hook and either a plastic or rainbow was the ticket.  Slowing working along into the current and just holding it above the bottom was key.  They just crushed the jig when they hit it!

All in all, it was fun to set the hook and shake some rust off!  Onto the Rainy River next….

Rainy River Excursion

The Rainy River located on the MN Canadian Border runs from Rainy Lake to Lake of the Woods by Baudette MN. This river is a popular spring walleye and sturgeon destination for anglers across the upper Midwest and Canada.

The 2017 season is primed to be a fantastic spring season on the Rainy river do to strong walleye populations on Lake of the Woods, low rain and snow fall totals over the winter and early ice out. LOA guides Chuck Hasse, Toby Kvalevog and fellow Walker Guide AdamToby Rainy River Walleye Jackson spent a day on the water recently and found success. The water ranged from 34-37 degrees, water clarity was pushing 4ft, and a river is at low flow due to the fact that the Little Fork and other tributaries were still locked tight.

Anglers were catching the majority of Walleye and Saugers in the deeper stretches of the main channel. Focusing on the up river ends of the holes held the most fish of all species. Walleyes and Sturgeon both were holding in these areas and most anglers were finding Sturgeon Picsuccess. For us, 1/4 to 3/8 oz jigs tipped with Rainbow Minnows were the ticket in 18-21 ft. Keeping the jigs slightly off the bottom seamed to be the ticket. Various colors were successful but brighter colors worked the best.

The river is opening fast and should be great fishing all spring.  Make note that Rainy is open until April 14th. 

Wisconsin Steelhead Fishing

A tradition that my brother, father, and I try to make at the end of March every year is heading into Wisconsin, armed with our Sage fly rods and way too many flies to catch the amazing steelhead of Lake Superior.  The steelhead run into the river to spawn, making pit stops in the deeper holes in the river to take a break.  This is where we target them usually with a nymph and a egg for a dropper fly.  This year we had good success, and the weather was alright, as some years the river can be high and muddy, or the air temperature can be flirting with zero degrees. Steelhead 

This year we got to our hotel around 9:30 pm, and got right to work getting everything ready for the 3:15 am alarm.  Getting on the river early and waiting in the dark for 2 hours before the season opens 30 minutes before sunrise.  3:15 am can super quick, but within minutes the three of us were out of bed and getting ready.  Now when you are steelhead fishing, standing in 36 degree water all day, layers are king.  Looking like three Stay-Puft marshmallows we hopped into the truck and sped towards the river.

I got into my spot, and Dad and Josh continued down to a larger spot.  Both areas have been good to us over the many years we have been fishing the river.  Once it became light out and it was legal time to start fishing, the last two hours sitting on the bank in the cold and dark made me smile.  I made some casts with my brand new Sage X rod, and instantlyWisconsin Steelhead 2 fell in love with how light and responsive it way.  Now smiling ever bigger, my indicator floated by the peaceful steelhead rapids.  After ten minutes of making some “first of the year” casts, I got in the groove.  I set the hook on a little twitch, and a bright steelhead was wallowing on the surface, FISH ON!  The the fish decided to cut at a 90 degree angle and all I saw was the indicator flying into the trees behind me.  FISH OFF! 

I radioed my Dad and brother to them the know I had made contact.  They reported that they had just landed a double!  Awesome!  We fished hard all day, catching little ones, and then we hit a good period of bigger steelhead.  It was a great way to start the season, and we got to bend the rod, but more importantly spend time on the river together.  We would switch spots to fish by each other, and also to get a little walking in to warm up.  My brother josh had to leave on Saturday, but Dad and I stayed to fish Sunday.  wisconsin steelhead

Waking up to rain at 4:15am makes it harder to get out of bed, but the call of steel makes it much easier.  We got down to the river and noticed that it had come up a few inches over night, but the water was still pretty clean.  Dad and I fished hard for 3.5 hours with not even a bite and decided to call it a day and head back home.  No fish hooked or landed on Sunday, but we still had a great weekend!  We got our fish on Saturday, and in true steelhead attitude, they were stubborn on Sunday, despite all the different flies and techniques we tried.

Stay tuned for more spring fishing river fishing reports as the ice is melting away and there is plenty of fishing to be had.

 

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