General River Tips

Hello everyone, the new guy is at it again!

I see that there is a lot of information for fishing the river, but it’s an intimidating read for a beginner.
I am looking for some general river fishing tips, and a few suggestions as to wear I should start fishing. I have only tried Hidden Falls Park in St. Paul, and have had no luck other than some carp. Even if your advice does not pertain to me, please throw it out there for other beginners interested in the river.

Things to know. I do not have a boat, nor do I have access to one. I live in Uptown Minneapolis. I have a 6’6″ Shimano FD4000 spinning combo, with 20# Power Pro strung on. As far as lures go, I have a few spoons, from really small up to 3/4oz, a dressed spinner size 4, a smaller X-rap and a rattling-suspending Rapala shad. I also have a small variety of soft baits, a popper, and a pumpkin seed Scumfrog. I am interested in catching anything that will bite, even under-appreciated carp and other rough fish. I hope this information helps when thinking up advice.

Back a few years I was in the same place as you “no boat”

I found some inlets,current seems and some wing dams and fished them hard with plastics using light weight jigs(1/8oz)and used small floating raps and such. I fished parallel to the winds dams and even floated over them using both jig/plastics and cranks.. Being careful not snag the top of the wing dam.
I fished mainly early morning and early to late evening with better results.Many species caught.

Not alot of info fro you ,but will give you good start as to where.

Cut bait, chunks of fresh fish, on the bottom will produce a variety of action. What you hook into will determine what type of gear you need! That’s what makes the river so much fun to fish imho.

I have heard of cut bait, but I am unsure of what exactly it is. I know some people like whole, or parts of bullhead for bait. Could you use small gills as cut bait or is that not how it works?

I’d say if you are ok with the bottom feeder type fish you will dramatically increase the numbers and kinds of fish you’ll catch with a simple bottom rig.

Put a slip sinker on your main line (up to several ounces if fishing in lots of current) then tie the main line to a simple swivel. To the other end of the swivel tie a foot to a foot and a half of line (your leader) which you will tie to a size 1/0 or so hook.

Put worms or inch long chunks of cut suckers/bullheads (bluegills are illegal to use as bait in MN) on the hook. Cast it out, let it sit on bottom and wait for something to hit it. Some spots are better than others but you’ll get fish almost anywhere on a river if you wait long enough.

Is the goal of the slip sinker to allow my bait to float naturally, while keeping the line close to me? Also, when fishing by this method should I cast for mid-stream or stick to the edges? Then finally, is there an effective way of catching suckers/bullheads, so I can avoid a trip to a bait shop?

Thank you for the advice, and for tolerating all the questions.

Try starting out with some local maps to find locations to fish. There are tons of parks along the river with places to fish. Most of these places are very accessible. If you fished the upper end of hidden falls park that was just the tip of the ice berg down there. There is park down there that stretches to down town st paul. Not to even mention Fort snelling state park and the entire streach of river around lilly dale, black dog road, South St paul, St paul park. The St croix river, the Mn river, Rum river. The list just goes on and one.

I think you have a good start to your gear. Maybe add some jigs, slip sinkers and hooks, and other lures as you progress. You will never be done buying tackle. Also remember if you dont want to loose it dont put it in the river. Most river guys get very good at tieing lines and dont get to attached to there fishing lures. This to gets better as you get more used to fishing the river.

Mike won’t say it; but I will. Get out with Mike on a guide trip and you will learn more in that one day than you could trying to figure it out by yourself in a year (or more). It takes a while to be able to spot good spots. Going out with somebody who already knows the river will get you where you want to be much faster. So if a guide trip is outside your budget the trip swap forum sometimes has opportunities. It is worth keeping an eye on. Good luck!

Sorry! I just read your bio and saw the “poor college student” part. Skip the concerts and drink less beer. Then split the cost with a buddy for a guide trip.

dd

With the slip sinker rig: on a tight line the slip sinker holds against the swivel to keep the hook with the bait in one place, usually just laying on the bottom. When a fish picks up the bait the fish can pull line through the slip sinker and you’ll feel taps in your rod tip by keeping that line tight.

Cast this rig anywhere, deeper structure like rocks and logs will probably have more fish. You’re gonna snag up and break off your line a bit more near rocks and logs but usually that is where the fish are, getting snagged is all part of the game unfortunetly. It is best to fish it down current to keep your line tight. I catch all my suckers and bullheads in little streams this way and catch all my catfish, sturgeon, sheepshead more suckers and bullheads even some walleyes and bass in the bigger rivers on the slip sinker rig. Good luck, once you start catching the wide varietly of fish that are in rivers you’ll get addicted.

Give me a call my name is Woody and I fish Pool 2 below the ford dam and my # is 612-382-0269 I will supply the gear also. We have been getting smallies and silvers on top water lately…..

Great tips everyone! I think my plan of attack will be getting a bottom rig going, and searching out some suckers/bullheads.

How much is a guide for one day? I might be able to swing it once.

If you split the cost with a buddy you might be able to do it for around $100. I think Mike has some weekday deals. If you do get a guide tell him what you are interested in. You can check out tons of shorefishing spots from a boat way faster than you ever could walking to each one The problem is than trying to figure out how to get to those shore spots later when you are shore fishing.

dd

If you are interisted Emmit Im still running a mid week after work special on pool 2. 2 guys from 4 pm until sunset for $199. My number is at the bottom of the post. I focus mostly on walleyes but we can try to cater a trip to what ever you are looking for.

Hey Emmet. The egg sinker/swivel combo is a classic river rig. If you leave about 8-12″ fom sinker to hook, it gets your bait on the bottom, but leaves some room for it to move around in the current.

Sounds like you have a decent all around river setup with your rod. If you are in Minneapolis proper, there are some classic shore spots like Mill Ruins and white sands beach (off West River Road). Try to hit current seams and the edges of slack water and you’ll connect with something soon. Sometimes the variety of fish you catch in one outing is astounding. Both the spots I pointed out are good spots to target channel cats, which give the most bang for you buck!

Quote:

---

Also remember if you dont want to loose it dont put it in the river.

---

Truer words have never been spoken.

Hey guys,

I took your advice, and hit the river with new gear in hand! I went down to Hidden Falls, and played up and down the shore, using the bottom rig suggested, baited with night crawlers, and three inch minnows. I also tried the crawlers on 3/4oz jig heads of a few different colors. I tried for a couple hours, but even though I could see fish jumping around me, I didn’t even get a nibble.

I got a larger spinner, a buzz bait, and a skitter popper today as well, so I think I may try those out tomorrow, but for the moment I am disheartened.

Stick with that program. The fish turn on and off. You likely just hit a period of low/no activity.