Places to fish for freezer stockers.

  • josh_eats_kitties
    Posts: 123
    February 24, 2012 at 5:43 pm #1222539

    I know(or at least it seems) the majority of the folks here are big fish sports fishers.. While I never balk at getting a surprise big fish (big to me is probably relatively smaller than what most here hunt for) I’d like to find a place for some semi consistent channels for stocking up the freezer..

    I like fishing on the St. Croix and all, it’s fun for sure and very little traffic where I go, but the consistency and size of the fish don’t make for consistent sandwiches.

    If anyone had some good hints to a good area for 3-10 lb edibles that wouldn’t be parting with their well guarded areas, I’d be more than happy to clear the little ones out for you folks ; )

    I’ve hopped around the inner city lakes, and had some luck, but eating fish out of the heart of the cities makes me slightly paranoid of what ends up in them.

    Mike W
    MN/Anoka/Ham lake
    Posts: 13310
    February 24, 2012 at 5:58 pm #1042648

    Mississippi river just north of the twin cities has a very good population of channel cats. Want to go on a road trip for them try around flood wood mn on the st louis river. Campin and cattin. it doesnt get much better. There is a nice city camp ground right on the river up there.

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    February 24, 2012 at 6:13 pm #1042653

    Josh, like Mike said the river to the North and I’ll add the river to the South.

    The lower portion of P-2 had a great number of fish of all sizes. I guess I could say P3 and 4 as well.

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    February 24, 2012 at 6:15 pm #1042654

    Forgot about the Sauk Chain of lakes. Horseshoe ect.

    Richmond might be a little out of your way.

    dfresh
    Fridley, MN
    Posts: 3053
    February 24, 2012 at 6:22 pm #1042656

    St. Cloud downstream of the dam is a pretty good spot too. if you can get out among the Beaver Islands just south of the SCSU campus, you can catch eaters all day.

    travp
    Blaine , Mn
    Posts: 401
    February 24, 2012 at 6:50 pm #1042671

    Quote:

    Cub Foods

    Bingo!

    Whiskerkev
    Madison
    Posts: 3835
    February 24, 2012 at 7:27 pm #1042693

    Steve Demars catches tons of small cats on the croix

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    February 24, 2012 at 7:28 pm #1042694

    Snap!

    josh_eats_kitties
    Posts: 123
    February 24, 2012 at 7:46 pm #1042687

    Appreciate the pointed locations, and will certainly make my way around to them to givem all a try. I guess I forgot to mention a limiting factor for where I was fishing was I tool around in a kayak(a truck and boat weren’t in the budget!), so I generally try to stay out of the areas with big boat traffic (just as much out of courtesy to you guys as much as self preservation!)

    As far as store bought catfish meat, I’m far from a organic food hippie… But catfish goes from being the 3rd(third might be slightly debatable but behind salmon and trout) healthiest freshwater fish to eat to the absolute worst when farm raised.

    Also, there’s the matter of entertainment and accomplishment.. I don’t imagine Trav and clickers pictures of them holding fish would be quite as gratifying if y’all just went and bought the fish and held it up and got a picture taken with it!

    Thanks again for the pointers gentlemen and the PM’s, the information surely won’t go untested!

    vikefanmn77
    Northfield,MN
    Posts: 1493
    February 24, 2012 at 7:53 pm #1042707

    Where you from Josh? I got a few pretty good spots away from traffic, but they ususally dont put out til June…

    Whiskerkev
    Madison
    Posts: 3835
    February 24, 2012 at 7:54 pm #1042709

    This guy is alright. Catching cats from Kayak. I’m sure Pug is jealous.

    josh_eats_kitties
    Posts: 123
    February 24, 2012 at 8:01 pm #1042712

    Quote:

    Where you from Josh? I got a few pretty good spots away from traffic, but they ususally dont put out til June…

    Just moved to North St. Paul last week. The weekends I don’t mind traveling as I generally do all nighters on a Fri or Sat night, and after work I hit anywhere within an hour or so, so I’ll go wherever the fish are!

    steve-demars
    Stillwater, Minnesota
    Posts: 1906
    February 24, 2012 at 8:05 pm #1042714

    Quote:

    Steve Demars catches tons of small cats on the croix

    Kevin – Very Funny, Ha Ha. Are you going to start with the smack talk already. The ice is still a foot thick and you have already started in. Go Ahead, yuck it up – you got channel cat bragging rights for this year but come 1 April I plan on dethroning you. Here you go –

    josh_eats_kitties
    Posts: 123
    February 24, 2012 at 8:10 pm #1042719

    Quote:

    This guy is alright. Catching cats from Kayak. I’m sure Pug is jealous.

    No need to be jealous, I have two if he wants to come along!

    The light only comes on when I hear a motor coming, so I don’t get ran over, and so the squitos dont murder me.


    dfresh
    Fridley, MN
    Posts: 3053
    February 24, 2012 at 8:17 pm #1042726

    Even better to know you have a kayak! I would highly suggest getting dropped in St. Cloud and floating to Monticello or something. There is some totally untapped water there as it is generally too shallow for any other boats.

    Mike W
    MN/Anoka/Ham lake
    Posts: 13310
    February 24, 2012 at 9:03 pm #1042748

    A great cat fishing rig.

    Whiskerkev
    Madison
    Posts: 3835
    February 24, 2012 at 9:15 pm #1042750

    That is a great catrig and I can’t help myself but to run a little trash. I will be fortunate indeed to top Steve for a second year in a row. Although all the 20lb fish I got last year are right where I left them and will be just as hungry this year and a year fatter. I can’t imagine getting a big flattie going with a kayak. Nantucket sleigh ride there.

    whiskeysour
    4 miles from Pool 9
    Posts: 693
    February 24, 2012 at 9:40 pm #1042760

    Pool 9 at Ferryville shortly afterthe ice is out. Huge area and there is a motel that you can walk to from the river. Might get some perch and bullheads too.

    mplspug
    Palmetto, Florida
    Posts: 25026
    February 25, 2012 at 12:48 am #1042823

    Quote:

    This guy is alright. Catching cats from Kayak. I’m sure Pug is jealous.


    You don’t like my Sponge Bob inner tube?

    katmando
    Ramsey,MN pool 2, St.croix river
    Posts: 691
    February 25, 2012 at 3:49 am #1042869

    Quote:

    Even better to know you have a kayak! I would highly suggest getting dropped in St. Cloud and floating to Monticello or something. There is some totally untapped water there as it is generally too shallow for any other boats.


    I would say this is a good suggestion, I would even extend that stretch Down to anoka. There’s more channel cats on that stretch then you can shake a stick at. And most likely you wouldn’t see a boat your whole way down

    joshbjork
    Center of Iowa
    Posts: 727
    February 25, 2012 at 4:08 am #1042871

    After about a week of good flow, I have good luck under a dam that the fish can’t get over. Otherwise, I’d drift the local lakes in the middle of the day. But I don’t have the bullheads down here that I remember up North. I’m sure throwing worms in a small river would be more entertaining but you need two cars for that.

    mossydan
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    Posts: 7727
    February 25, 2012 at 1:39 pm #1042913

    Another thing Josh is find out when the pre spawn is in your area, then hit the shallows in about 3′ to 5′ of water, they will more then likely be there if its anything like what happens down here. Maybe try drifting a bobber too with shadguts on the hook or pieces of shad about a foot or two off the bottom. If its a good prespawn area just about any channel bait will work.

    josh_eats_kitties
    Posts: 123
    February 27, 2012 at 5:48 pm #1043592

    The St. Cloud float sounds like it could be a good time, although if I have to go out myself I’m not past going up river to get to the tough to get at spots and then floating back once I’m pooped.

    I’ll let y’all know if I run into any of your flathead friends that cause me trouble.

    dfresh
    Fridley, MN
    Posts: 3053
    February 27, 2012 at 7:17 pm #1043624

    Quote:

    I’ll let y’all know if I run into any of your flathead friends that cause me trouble.

    You won’t run into any up thataway, only channels. Technically flats only exist below St. Anthony Falls, though there may be one or two just above it. I would say there is less and less chance of catching any the further upstream you go, and absolutely no chance upstream of the CRD.

    mplspug
    Palmetto, Florida
    Posts: 25026
    February 27, 2012 at 8:23 pm #1043649

    Quote:

    The St. Cloud float sounds like it could be a good time, although if I have to go out myself I’m not past going up river to get to the tough to get at spots and then floating back once I’m pooped.

    I’ll let y’all know if I run into any of your flathead friends that cause me trouble.


    You definitely need 2 people for a float trip and 2 vehicles.

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