Northeast Metro (White Bear/Mahtomedi/Stillwater) kids fishing?

Hey fellas,

New to the forum and thought I’d post up. I’m in the northeast metro and fairly new to MN fishing. Been mostly a trout fisherman years ago and now getting into bass/walleye etc. Right now time only really allows me and my twin toddlers pond/pier/shore fishing but we are having a blast this summer. Two best places have been Lost Lake in Mahtomedi and Big Marine.

It’s a small lake but anyone familiar with Lost Lake? It’s been very interesting. Started really fishing it last summer off that pier. Nothing special but saw some nice size northerns pulled in (none myself), lots of good sized bass, small bullheads, and lots of sunnies. That was last summer. This summer I’ve noticed the fishing is way different. Not nearly as many smaller sunnies, some nice bigger ones. Lots of bullheads. No northerns. Only a few bass here and there. I know there are fish in this lake, i.e. lots of bass but man it’s a finicky little lake. Lots of slop around the perimeter too. I really want to someday take a kayak or canoe out in it or fish the other side that is more private with the houses around it.

Anyone out of curiosity ever fished it? Otherwise, Big Marine pier has been a lot of fun. My boys have pulled up nice bass, a few large flatheads, a small pike, and huge sunnies!

Any other northeast metro ponds/lakes you’d recommend for kids? I didn’t find the WBL fishing pier all that great.

Lots of good information here on a program called Fishing in the Neighborhood. It’s geared toward shore fishing with accessible sites for kids. There’s a PDF guide at this link (lower right) that separates spots by county. Otherwise there’s another PDF on the left side of the page “A-Z FiN Ponds” with a matrix showing amenities and fish species by body of water.

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/fin/index.html

Tight lines and welcome to IDO!

Welcome-good luck. I would get a small rocket bobber (smallest) 4lb line and get it way out there.

Thanks guys!
We hit Big Marine fishing pier this evening! Pier was way too crowded, usually it’s dead. But they all cleared out and we stayed until dark. My friend hit a huge northern on a leech lol but broke the line. I swear right around 830 ish the bass start biting! Pulled in 3 nice size largies. Kids had a blast! I bet the boat fishing is great!! So far Big Marine is our fav in the area. Pulled in 2 nice sized flatheads Monday night.

Maybe check out the park on the st croix by Osceola. Nice sand beaches there. Even a train ride in town they mightlike.

Big Marine huge bass!

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Thats one way to conceal your identity. Nice Bass and welcome to IDO. Don’t take offense but please support the fishes body when snapping a picture. Bass are tough but… supporting the fish is good for the fish and it takes a better picture.

Are you on the trespass list at Big Marine or are you DB Cooper?

Which pier on WBL did you go to? The big one by the VFW or the one in Lions Park by the reeds? Before I bought my boat I did very well on topwater bass and gills off of that pier.