Crow Wing River Float

Mentioned this in the opener thread, but we may be floating a section of the Crow Wing with the ‘yaks this weekend as we’re having some outboard issues with the cabin boat. Definitely have some smaller lakes in mind, too, but if it’s as windy like they say it might be, we’ll probably choose to do a 10 mile section somewhere between Staples and Pillager. In reading on the DNR water trails website, it seems like there’s not a lot of gamefish – lots of sand bottom, not a lot of vegetation, structure etc. Honestly, just the trip will be fun – I’ve never explored that river. But we’re definitely bringing the poles. Anyone ever fished the Crow Wing before? I gotta think there would be a few pike or smallmouth in the mix??

I dont know how many smallies are in the Crow Wing….pike should be there.

My grandparents were on Third Crow Wing and we went from 4th to 1st. Although I dont think that is where you were talking about, the river sounds the same as what we saw.

It starts in the Crow Wing chain and flows SE to the Miss. So yes, same river, but sounds like you’re further north…

I grew up in Staples and spent many years wading and floating both the Crow wing River and the Long Prairie river. Back in the 90’s there use to be a fair # of good deep holes between Staples and Motley. Over the years it seems like the river has started to silt in and get a lot shallower. Lots of people use to float the river with Tubes for fun. I’m told not many do anymore because of how shallow its has got. Back when I fished it there was no SM bass in the River. I am told by a few friends who still fish it a few times each year that they are now catch some SM in that area. Back in my day we mostly caught Pike and Walleye with some really good walleye fishing. Its early for it right now, but once we get more into summer the the best bait for the walleyes was a large beetle spin with a live leopard Frog ( Green color – The brown ones did not work as well ) Cast it upstream in a hole and let the current bounce it along the bottom or reel it real slow. Those walleye would hammer them. I use to do a fair amount of fishing from the bridge there in Motley to a old RR bridge not to far down river from there. use to be several good deep holes in that area. I keep telling myself I’m going to catch a bunch of frogs and hit some of my old spots for old times sake, but never seem to make time to do it. Maybe this year I’ll make it happen.

We used to troll the impoundment in Pillager for pike and walleye a long time ago. I do remember it being mostly shallow around Motley. We snowmobiled it most winters.

suzuki wrote:

We used to troll the impoundment in Pillager for <em class=”ido-tag-em”>pike and walleye a long time ago. I do remember it being mostly shallow around Motley. We snowmobiled it most winters.

The pillager backwater area is more like a lake than a part of the river. They use to catch some really Big Pike out of that area many years ago. A lot of them were caught by shore fishermen.

Thanks guys! Sounds like it’s definitely worth a try! Man, live frog fishing, that’s OLD SCHOOL! Reminds me of fishing with my grandpa with live frogs and live crayfish.

I get out maybe once a year and never had a great trip but I can usually find a few fish. Covering water and looking for the few slightly deeper stretches tend to hold the few smallies. If I was looking for smallies I would fish the lower part of the crow wing though. From the sylvan dam to the miss is great kayak water and hold plenty of fish early in the year.

Depending on water depth I’d possibly look at the rum river as another option for a yak float. Lots of SM bass and as well as Pike and walleyes. Once again its been years since I last fished it but had some really good outings in the past there.

fishthumper wrote:

Depending on water depth I’d possibly look at the rum river as another option for a yak float. Lots of SM <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>bass and as well as Pike and walleyes. Once again its been years since I last fished it but had some really good outings in the past there.

I was going to add this as well. I have never done really well on smallmouth early season but I do not fish super far upstream. They may be better early season where only yaks can get to.

fishthumper wrote:

Depending on water depth I’d possibly look at the rum river as another option for a yak float. Lots of SM <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>bass and as well as Pike and walleyes. Once again its been years since I last fished it but had some really good outings in the past there.

I float the Rum every season a few times, except when it’s too shallow during a drought (which happened in that area 2 years ago). But I wait until July/August to do it when the smallmouth are aggressive and actively hitting topwater. Never caught very many walleyes, but did catch a few pike each time, mostly on the smaller side. The further north you go, the better the smallmouth fishing is because there’s more rock. It turns to sand and mud the closer you get to Anoka.

Right now it’s high and murky. Would be difficult fishing.

My in-laws live where the Long Prairie runs into the Crow Wing near Motley. It’s pretty good good wading in the late Summer for smallies and walleyes. In the Spring the water is usually pretty high. I’ve never tried I guess. Good luck

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>fishthumper wrote:</div>
Depending on water depth I’d possibly look at the rum river as another option for a yak float. Lots of SM <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>bass and as well as Pike and walleyes. Once again its been years since I last fished it but had some really good outings in the past there.

I float the Rum every season a few times, except when it’s too shallow during a drought (which happened in that area 2 years ago). But I wait until July/August to do it when the smallmouth are aggressive and actively hitting topwater. Never caught very many walleyes, but did catch a few pike each time, mostly on the smaller side. The further north you go, the better the smallmouth fishing is because there’s more rock. It turns to sand and mud the closer you get to Anoka.

Right now it’s high and murky. Would be difficult fishing.

and muskies! use to live in Cambridge so we fish the walbo side a ton.

Charles wrote:

and muskies! use to live in Cambridge so we fish the walbo side a ton.

I’ve always wondered if any muskies were in the Rum. I’ve fished it for 20 years and have never caught one. I’ve never even seen one either. I’ve heard of one occasionally being caught though. It comes out of Mille Lacs and there are signs posted at canoe access points about “muskellunge in these waters” so there must be at least a few in there.

Charles wrote:

and muskies! use to live in Cambridge so we fish the walbo side a ton.

An area you could get a boat into or a yak area? Any numbers?

this thread reminds me of an “experience” i and a friend of mine had right after high school.

i just bought a canoe, so…..we decided to camp and this park/wayside rest in Motley not sure its even there anymore. the water was high and moving pretty good. being young and foolish we went for a canoe ride. when we decided we needed to head back…….yea…didnt make it very far against the current.

some nice older gentlemen seen us and gave us a ride via vehicle back to where we started. said this wasnt the first time and probably wasnt the last either. never did fish!!!!

Well, here’s how it went… After checking the weather on Saturday morning, we decided our best bet for a very doable day trip would be the 10 river miles from the Pillager Dam to Crow Wing State Park with one portage around the Sylvan Dam at about the half-way point. By the time we got all the vehicles set and got back around to the put-in point it was about 12:30 (we waited out morning rain). We thought with the high water and current we could cover 2 miles per hour and be home for a warm 6:30 supper. What we did not anticipate was just how wicked those 30 MPH east gusts would be going into them. We couldn’t fish the upper stretch to Sylvan, we had to keep paddling or the wind would actually blow us upstream in some of the more open areas. We thought the terrain would be more sheltering but that stretch is actually pretty open and wide. By the time we got to the Sylvan portage we were exhausted and briefly thought about options to get back to one of the vehicles and cut the trip short. But after scoping the water below the dam it appeared to be a narrower, faster stream, higher banks and tree cover. SO glad we decided keep going, that last stretch was a breeze – only had to paddle to maneuver or linger in a spot to throw a couple extra casts. We could hear the wind, but barely ever felt it, very serene and mostly wild. Because we were behind schedule we didn’t fish it super hard, but my buddy and I each caught a decent smallmouth for the effort. All-in-all it took us nearly 2 hours longer, all because of conditions on the upper stretch. We both agreed that even without the wind, that the stretch from Pillager to Sylvan is nothing special, mostly properties along the north bank and Ripley on the south. The Sylvan reservoir, even without the wind is a long featureless paddle to get to the portage and just eats up time. So we decided that next time we’re going to go back and dedicate the same amount of time to only the stretch between Sylvan and Crow Wing State Park and fish it hard. Glad we did it and made some fun memories look back on and laugh, and now we know better for next time.