Minnesota River

[dano40]

When is a good time to start fishing the Minnesota river? I was up around Mankato over the weekend the river is very high. But was wondering if it warms up and the river goes down a bit if it would be a good time to start fishing for flatheads. A friend of mine has been catching channels on the Mississippi by the cities all winter long threw the ice and in some open water.

[rushing]

Well the river is flooding out of the banks right now but hopefully by the beginning or the middle May, depending on the weather, I will be out there chasing some flats.

[hanson]

No use getting too excited yet to fish the river. Like Rob said, its HIGH! If it does go down, it won't take much rain to send it back up again.

Flatheads typically don't become active until 50 degree water temp. Our air temps are still in the 30s-40s so it will take awhile before the river hits 50, and that is typically early May. Yep, that is another 1 1/2 months. It hurts but what can you do, the will only start biting when they are ready too. Doesn't make much sense to fish for them when the odds aren't in your favor.

I'm not sure what it is about this spring but everyone is chomping at the bit to hit the river. Not sure why though? Of the forums I frequent, this has been a common theme. Its spring, its flooding, the river is high. Just let it do its thing and then get after it when the gettin' is good.

Hey Rob, you think you can hold bottom now with an 8oz sinker? I don't. :)

[rushing]

You'd need about a 3lb weight right now and your bait would be in sad shape after a short bit in that current. It stops amazing me how high the river can get, especailly after how low it has been for so long. It went from a trickle to raging out of its banks in only a couple of days. I wonder if that big tree that fell in last spring will will get blown out the "party bar"? Hopefully it will act as a collector and produce a fat jam there. Lookin forward in hittin the river in your new barge Hanson. Now maybe we can fish some of your spots this summer.:lol:

[Dave L]

Hanson, did I here new boat? What did ya get?
I 'm picking up my new boat next week. I went with the Hipro Riverpro and got the heavy duty bottom upgrade cause there is alot of dead heads and boulders where i fish most. I think this will be my last boat, then again who knows. Can't wait to get her home and finish rigging it. I have heard nothing but good about these Riverpro's so I figured why not. I had only seen one up close a Lopro that the DNR was out playing with. I had asked the officer where he took it and he said he brought that boat into waters that I feared taking my little jon boat with a 6 hp ob on. Anyway good luck with the new boat.:big_smile:

[hanson]

Oh Dude!

Riverpro baby! You can say I have a large circle of catfishing friends and I know 6 RiverPro HiPro owners, 5 are in MN and 1 is in Montana. I've fished out of every one of their boats numbers of times. You will not regret that decision one bit!

Since budget wouldn't allow for a RiverPro yet, I found a dirt cheap 16' Mirrocraft alum-V last fall. It has a 60hp Johnson console steering. The boat is from the early 80s. The previous owner gutted the inside, layed down a flat plywood floor with carpet and left the project at that. I've got a little work to do in the next month on it but its going to be a sweet cattin' boat.

Attached photos is my buddy Brian's RiverPro. Its actually RiverPro #1 that the In-Fish boys had.

[Dave L]

hanson,

Sounds like you have a great boat to start with, should work great for cattin. I had two other boats and both were 14 ft tillers ,I found them to small for any more than 1 person, 16 ft is nice. So that's why I needed a new boat.
My wife made me sell just about everything I had (toys) and pay off her truck and mine before she would let me get the boat. Well I called her bluff and did it! I guess fishing is more important to me than all the other stuff. I guess you could say I just had to get my priorities straight.
I don't know where ya fish though I might see ya around this summer cause I plan on breaking her in the right way, by fishin.:big_smile:

[rushing]

Right on Dave! Congrats on the River Pro. If you are ever interested in hauling that beast down around Mankato I would be happy to show you some spots.:lol:

[Larry]

congrats on the New toy Dave. I bet you can't get on the water soon enough.
thanks
Larry

[Dave L]

You got that right! I'm picking it up on friday and I won't be able to get her licensed till the next week.:sad2: I guess I'll just have to spend the weekend getting her rigged the way I need it.
I went to the St. Croix this last weekend to wet a line and found it all open:smile2: man did I wish I had a boat.

[huntinflatheads]

Do you guys know anyone interested in a used RiverPro in southern MN? I love the boat but can't afford to keep it anymore. Ive had it for two years bought it new. It needs to go.

[DTro]

Do you guys know anyone interested in a used RiverPro in southern MN? I love the boat but can't afford to keep it anymore. Ive had it for two years bought it new. It needs to go.

How much ya asking?

[Larry]

How much ya asking?

Darren,
should we go in as partners. Just don't forget about me buddy. My turn to catch fish in your boat this year, if you get one. LOL.

Mine has turned out pretty sweet. Hoping to get out this sat or early next week for trial runs........ WHOO HOOO

[huntinflatheads]

If you go to RiverPro Jet Boats web site and check out the 176 HiPro standard package, the picture there is of me and my boat the day I picked it up. That’s me sitting behind the wheel. My brother and cousin are also in the picture.

The only difference this boat has from the standard package shown is the motor. It has a Mercury Sport Jet 175. That was the standard at the time.

It has the 12/24 volt trolling motor bow panel.

I have an extra steel rock grate for it.

It has a Minn Kota trolling motor. 24 volt, AutoPilot, Copilot, 85 lbs. thrust. It was the biggest one I could find.

It has a Lowrance color plotter sonar/GPS. Navionics Hot Maps chip for MN, IA, WI, and MI. I have used it a lot on the Mississippi and the maps are great for checking out new water, and marking holes.

It also had a Vexilar Alumaducer. Last fall it wasn’t working right so I sent it in to Vexilar, they said it had a weak signal, and sent me a new one. I still haven’t installed it, but it wouldn’t take long to get it on.

I had some custom rod holders fabricated for the side compartments, and added foam padding. My St. Croix rods were getting beat up riding in there. The foam also reduced the vibration noise from the boat.

I am asking $17,000 OBO

If you would like to come look at it my # is 507-458-0391

[Dave L]

Dang, that sounds like a sweet deal. You are darn near giving it away.
Where were you 2 months ago?

[huntinflatheads]

It needs to go, thats about what I still owe on it. I'd rather not sit on it much longer.

[Rhinospawn]

I was fishing the red down here in grand forks last weekend. I found a couple spots with low current . caught 2 channels about 4 and 8 and some goldeye. yes the river is high and moving good. I got really muddy too but had a good time. I will wait for the feeder creeks to become homes and try them next week..

we'll be on the river soon ...I just get too anxious..lol

[james_the_walleye]

Caught my first flathead today on the mighty Minnesota:big_smile: Its on!!!

[Dave L]

Welcome James, this is great news. Congrats on your first flattie of the year.

[The J-Man!]

Caught my first flathead today on the mighty Minnesota:big_smile: Its on!!!

Way to go James! Can you embelish us with details? I have been out once and got skunked.

[james_the_walleye]

Well, we were in a boat. I zoned in on a school of shiners in an outlet. I casted about everything I had in the tackle box at them, and I eventually caught a 7 and 1/2 pound flathead pitching a jig. I'd post a pic, but my friend hasn't e-mailed them to me yet. Later I tried some monster sucker minnows and had one good run.

[james_the_walleye]

Has anyone hooked into any big flatheads yet this year? How is the bite by the cities?

[nuthinlikeacat]

James
If you havent already tried, go to where the Blue Earth and Minnesota rivers connect (in Mankato). fish near or around a little island that will appear when the river goes down. Over the years we have caught and saw some massive cats caught out of that area. Since I moved from Mankato to the cities, I havent fished that area in a couple years, but was always guaranteed a big fish from there at least once a year.

Also, if you can get back to the river behind the harley dealership off of 169, you wont be disappointed!

As for the bite in the cities, Their biting...just kind of keeping hush hush till the river goes down. Great spot, but only for a couple people. When the river goes down, and more spots become fishable, I will let you know where I'm at. Till then, good luck all!

[Larry]

Hey Ryan,
Hows it been going. Long time no see mate.
As far as the fishing report in MN. They are catching them down the Mankato area and Twin cities area, (Jordan to the conflunce). Mankato this last week has produced a lot of fish. A couple over 40lbs a 30 and a bunch of 20 somethings.
The water is dropping every day, and slowly warming up hovering around 60-63 degrees right now
Last night a buddy and I were fishing a contest out of the twin cities. (Even with the Hurricane conditions and Whitecaps on the MN river) My boat managed a couple smaller Flats, a 16lb and 10lb really dark grey ones Not a bad way to start the Flathead season..... some of the first ones in the twin cities to our knowledge.
Heard of another guy getting a massive channel 22.8 lbs on the MN as well.
You guys should check out the MN local web sites also. You will find much more up to date reports.
Good luck
Larry

Just as a side note. I CPRed a nice 10.4lb walleye this last week going for Flats. Imagine the surprize.

[rushing]

Yep flats are being caught. Got my first this weekend as well. 24lber

That wind Sat. night was ridiculous. Shouldn't have to deal with white caps on the MN river.

[Larry]

Yep flats are being caught. Got my first this weekend as well. 24lber

That wind Sat. night was ridiculous. Shouldn't have to deal with white caps on the MN river.

Im glad your on My team...... Whooo Hooo Rack em up mate.:smile2:

[hanson]

Im glad your on My team...... Whooo Hooo Rack em up mate.:smile2:
Guess who's boat he was in?

[Larry]

Guess who's boat he was in?

Funny how that seems to work.......... Every time I have DTRO out in my boat he seems to bag the bigger fish.... Now its my turn to go in his.... I can't wait.

How is your boat running by the way?

thanks
Larry

[rushing]

Went out in my buddies boat last night and showed him some spots and we had a pretty good night. We ended up with 5,9,11,22,38lb flats and a 12lb channel. Jamie got his PB with both the 38lb flat and the 12lb channel. My largest was a small but fat 22lber. Kinda sucks we brought 20 bullies and had to leave because we ran out of bait. Missed a few of nice runs but thats how it goes.

...and yes I got that 24lb last weekend in Hanson's Extreme Machine Mirrocraft :lol:

[REANDI NAKE]

what are you guys useing for baits to get these flatheads i keep going out with suckers and crawlers and i keep gettin some little channel cats (biggest so far is 8 pds) is it where im fishing i got this spot on the mississippi river that i go to off shore its around anoka,mn what am i doin wrong here come on someone help me with this im itchin to get a flat head.:cool2:

[rushing]

I pretty much only use bullheads. Just keep your bait in the water the next couple of weeks and you should have some sort of success. Just be patient.

[hanson]

i got this spot on the mississippi river that i go to off shore its around anoka,mn what am i doin wrong here come on someone help me with this im itchin to get a flat head.
There are no Flathead cats in or around Anoka. The furthest north you will find them on the Mississippi River is the Coon Rapids Dam, and there aren't very many caught up that way. Your best bet for a flathead will be starting at dowtown Minneapolis and downstream.

[REANDI NAKE]

hey thank you guys for those pointers ill try and see if the bullhead are a success in my area but i was begining to think there werent ne around where i fish cause for as long as i have fished there no matter what i have tried, never got me one of those flatheads.what are some areas south of the cities do you guys suggest? im gonna take a trip. thanks once again for the help there.:big_smile:

[Life1978]

Hey Guys! I'm Paul. I'm just starting fishing cats up here in Minneapolis. I'm about 1 mile from St Anthony Falls to the fishing is good around here. I'm Originally from LeSueur. It's just north of Mankato. Anyway thought I'd say hi. Hoping to meet some new fishing buddies up here too. Been out everyday since its warmed enought to fish here this may. Got a decent 9 lbs 5 oz. Saturday the 12th right by the lock. Well hope to catch up with you guys sometime. Oh I still fish mankato quite a bit being I know the area well from LeSuer to Mankato.

[Life1978]

If you want to fish around LeSueur. Try fishing on the north side of town. Get off of 169 north. Park at Mayo Park and walk down to the end of the creek where it dumps in the river. Or if the river is high fish under the rail road tressel just next to the small bridge ofver the creek. You won't be dissapointed there either!:big_smile:

James
If you havent already tried, go to where the Blue Earth and Minnesota rivers connect (in Mankato). fish near or around a little island that will appear when the river goes down. Over the years we have caught and saw some massive cats caught out of that area. Since I moved from Mankato to the cities, I havent fished that area in a couple years, but was always guaranteed a big fish from there at least once a year.

Also, if you can get back to the river behind the harley dealership off of 169, you wont be disappointed!

As for the bite in the cities, Their biting...just kind of keeping hush hush till the river goes down. Great spot, but only for a couple people. When the river goes down, and more spots become fishable, I will let you know where I'm at. Till then, good luck all!

[Larry]

Welcome aboard Mate,
The MN is my favorite and produces some Fine Flats and channels.
Don't be bashful to fish it in the twins cities.... I've personally boated a couple i the 40s and its not unheard of to get them in the 50s.
thanks
Larry

[catfish156123]

Hello All, Been a long time sence I posted on here. And some time sence I fished the Mn river. I'm from Currie Mn, That is down in the southwest part of the state, I use to fish at Grante Falls a lot, But they have been stocking channels in Lake Shetek and it is getting to be great catting there. It is getting more commen to get a channel up around the 13 to 15 lb size. But we usually keep the 2 to 4 lbs for eating. It makes it nice not to travel so far. Well I will try to keep in touch more often.