Mississippi river in Anoka MN Question

I see there is a launch near 169 and the river in Anoka. Is it safe to carefully running a 20 ft fiberglass boat? Is the waterflow there near normal levels? I guess I’m really asking is it safe to fish for Eyes with raps in Anoka? We’re thinking about tomorrow morning. Quick responses would be appreciated. Hoping to go out there tomorrow morning.

Launch in Champlin south of 169 should be fine.Not sure about water levels but be carefull if going north of 169

Did you go? If so, how were the water levels where you went. More importantly, did the scaley critters cooperate?

So I did make it out to Anoka/Champlin on Sunday around 7:30 am. We fished until about 11 am. We started out trolling Shad raps down stream trying to stay in the deepest part of the river with no luck. Then tried closer to shore, both upstream and down stream with no luck. Switched to lindy rigs with real and fake worms no luck. Casted toward shore for a while and had a couple swipes at the bait, but nothing got hooked. Made it as far south as the college. Finally went up by the rum and tried to work the seam of the confluence, but nothing their either. Water temp was around 72 and we worked from 2 feet to 13.5 was the deepest we found. So left a bit disappointed, but hopefully someone might pm a trick or two out there. I do realize it was August fishing and there might be better times to fish that area.

There were actually a couple more replies I received that somehow didn’t make it online right now, but I appreciate all the help.

I’m always willing to talk about fishing spots.

I’ve been on this site since 2009, I just lost my email due to an employment change and couldn’t recover it here.

I did make it out later that day on the Lake Auburn fishing dock and helped my 3 year old Granddaughter catch her share of Sunnies!

I appreciate the effort! Frustrating nothing to show for it though! I have brought this up on here before but its amazing how good of fishing there can be on the Mississippi (Pool 2/4) and how challenging that stretch can be!

I too have tried this and that with very limited success! I still feel and believe that there are good fish in that stretch. Before they dredged out below the Rum River dam you could have excellent nights catching and releasing walleye in April (fishing for cats ofcourse) and those fish need to go somewhere when the water warms! The structure is there, plenty of bait!

My best tactic was lindy and sucker around the 169 pilings.. mostly smallmouth and catfish but there were walleye hanging there too. never great nights and still waiting on the big one thou but that whole stretch intrigues me

Ed wrote:

Made it as far south as the college

That deep bend there has rip rap boulders on the edge where it bottoms out. Raps or spinners on BB would be good. Few spot south of there as well that deepen that you’ll mark fish, same tactics there.

Eyes are fewer between but lots of smallies.

Pick your times..early and late,,gets a lot of boat traffic out there. Have caught some big kitty’s on cut suckers after dark..wallys are certainly hit and miss, have caught them on cranks and jig worms..pitching the shoreline breaks and timber is also worthwhile…

There are some apartments just upstream from the bridge on the west side. Years ago we’d fish from shore behind those apartments. Wasn’t very deep there – we’d throw out crawlers and a slip sinker and consistently catch nice smallness with an occasional fat carp. I’ve been meaning to try that again.