Hello everyone I am new to the southeastern part of Minnesota and in need of some good advice on where to go for some good pan fish spots. I don’t get a lot of chances to get out a lot bc of work so I don’t have a chance to travel and look for new spots.I currently live in fillmore county and don’t know any good locations around that are relatively close. Any ideas?
here is what I would recommend doing. you arent likely to get details on someones lake or spot on here as people don’t want to post good fishing spots. I would take a look at all the lakes within say 20 or 30 miles of your house and look them up on the DNR website. study the fish survey reports and you can then isolate lakes that have a good population of the fish you are targeting. sometimes those reports even have advice on how to catch them. after identifying say 5 good lakes to try google them and see if you can find any reports or tips from locals. Call bait shops and ask if those are lakes that are producing now. Drive out to them and see whos fishing them. download navionics and study the lake map to find the good looking spots. then pop some holes.
CRAPPIES..Ceder,French,Francis,Madison and Washington
GILLS..Fish,Ceder,Roberts,Washington
PERCH/WHITE BASS..Cannon,Tetonka,Albert lee
Hope this helps
Welcome to IDO!
Filmore county hasn’t any natural lakes but the county does have a few abandoned iron ore pits that have fish. Do an internet search specific to the county to find out who owns them and ask permission.
North of Rochester about 12 miles you’ll find Lake Zumbro and within Rochester’s city limits there are lots of retention ponds and the Cascade Lakes Complex. Silver Creek, KR5, Willow Creek, Whistle Binkies South pond and others are all retention waters found in the city and all of the above are panfish hot spots. Size can be a challenge, but Silver Creek, Cascade and Lake Zumbro all have some decent fish. There is also Foster-Ahrend Lake where some dandy trout can be caught….you do need a stamp to possess [keep] the trout.
If you want some real diversity, take the trip east to the Mississippi River backwaters found in lower pool 4 and in pool 5. This spans from Wabasha to below Kellogg, Minnesota and across the river to the Wisconsin shore. The dike road to Wisconsin from Wabasha is a great place to start. Just below Wabasha is Wilcox Landing. A bit further south will bring you to the Finger Lakes area along and below the actual dike which separates pool 4 from 5. Further south yet will get you into West Newton Landing area and the Half Moon Landing areas…very popular.
Winona offers a lot of ice fishing on the many lakes they have, especially the two at the large park along the highway on the south/east side of the city.
Do a google search of maps for these areas. There is a lot of water not far from you, but Filmore County is one of the water-poorest counties in the state outside of trout streams.
Ol Fillmore county.
Get on Google maps. Turn satellite overlay on. Start looking for little ponds hidden in woods.
There’s some nice small spring fed ponds on private land. Find em. Talk to farmer/owner. Usually 4×4 through a field and walk into pond.
I’ve know a growing # of people in that area and there are hidden gems.
Or, go fish the few ‘lakes’ as suggested.
Pool 8 and 9 backwaters
CRAPPIES..Ceder,French,Francis,Madison and Washington
GILLS..Fish,Ceder,Roberts,Washington
PERCH/WHITE BASS..Cannon,Tetonka,Albert lee
Hope this helps
Cedar (rice county Faribault)was gangbusters year before last, did not do well for me last year (although not much did)
On cedar there are points on either part of the large island, so when you get to the public launch you can go left or right. I usually had very good luck to the left.
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