Shore Fishing In The Rochester Area

We have a new friend on the site, Iowan, who will be staying in the Rochester area spring til fall and he would like to do some shore fishing while he is here. I’m asking, please, if people would share some of their shore fishing places and techniques with our new friend here so he may enjoy what our area has to offer for shore fishing from spring to fall. In fact, this is a great way for all of us to get to enjoy shore fishing more too. Thanks in advance guys and gals.
Thanks, Bill

Plus, it helps those like me who don’t have a boat

Foster Arends Lake right in Rochester is a great place for trout fishing. The DNR stocks thousands of trout in the lake each year. Make sure you get the trout endorsement on your fishing license. There also is some good panfish fishing too. The lake has a fishing pier and you can fish anywhere along the shoreline. Also has a beech for swimming in the summer.
Mike at Hooked On Fishing Bait and Tackle loves fishing the areas many small lakes and keeps up on where the hot bites are. Stop in and see him for your bait and to talk fishing.
Thanks, Bill

Although we are lake poor in this part of the state, we are blessed with an endless list of miles and miles of shore fishing opportunities. As Bill mentioned, Foster for one.
Then there are the reservoirs surrounding Rochester, all within just a few minutes drive. Several miles of stream trout and bass fishing, especially around Preston and Lanesborro. Lets not forget the backwaters of the Mississippi from Red Wing to LaCresent. Closest to us is the Wabasha area, Dyke Road, Wilcox, West Newton, and don’t over look the harbors in Wabasha. All shore fishing opportunities and boats not required. With open water just around the corner, all the above mentioned will kick in and provide some of the best fishing of the year.
Yes, Mike/HOF is the one in the know and keeps us all very well informed as to what is hot and what is not.

Even walking the Zumbro in town can be good. I know a couple guys without boats and they do it quite often after work for a couple hours. Always seem to catch a few bass, plus it sounds fun. I’m sure they just look for the obvious, such as the deep holes, timber/structure with some water on it, and current breaks. They use texas rigged plastics and I think a little crawdad shallow diving crank would be good too.

i know of a few spots to go carp fishing that is teh best:) If he’s really interested i can show him a spot for smallies, wouldnt really want my secret to get out but i like chester woods and the damn below lake scumbro, max’s powerdam? early season u can get a lot of northerns and muskies have him email me if he ever wants to go fishing, im out atleast 4 days out of the week shore fishing since i dont own a boat or have the time to go to the river email is [email protected]

Matt

Speaking of Max’s, what is the status as far as access? Someone I work with told me that there is a new owner that won’t let you fish it unless you are camping. I’ve never fished it and don’t know anything about it….enlighten me please.
Thanks, Chris

I’d be interested to know that too Chris. I’ve heard that same report about needing to be a camper. Anyone?

Good Fishing,
Mike

I have only fished there once. He wouldn’t let me go in with the bike. I had the kid in the sidecar but he wouldn’t budge. He said us motorcycle riders cause too much trouble in the camp ground. Yeah I was really out to raise heck with the kid in the sidecar with the fishing poles..lol He was a *&#$head about it. I don’t plan on ever going back. Troy Pike

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there is a new owner that won’t let you fish it unless you are camping.

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I have a feeling this will create quite the “situation” for the new owner if it is true. There is no doubt that this is/was THE most popular shore fishing spot around the area…….at very least, there are going to be a lot of dissapointed fisher folks come this spring

nothing chest waders and parkin on the side of the raod cant fix, its pretty shallow around there ill find a way,

haha guided trips to the power dam start at 50 dollars a day

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nothing chest waders and parkin on the side of the raod cant fix

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Good luck with that one

Unless you can get access to the river from one of the landowners just downstream from the dam, the closest access point is all the way down by the green bridge…..and it’s a LOOOOOOONG walk from there. I can get pretty ambishous when it comes to gettin to fishing spots, but I would never even consider that trek .

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the closest access point is all the way down by the green bridge…..and it’s a LOOOOOOONG walk from there.

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Unless you have some previous experience of entering at the Green Bridge, it’s not the safest place to start wading either. There are some holes that you have to be careful to avoid. I’ve gone at least half way to Mack’s via wading and have had a mixed bag of fishing success.

It will only improve (for smallies) now that that complete stretch is catch and release only for smallmouth bass. I’ve also caught northern and muskie between the dam and the green bridge. Canoe or kayak may be your best bet for traveling this stretch of water. Paddle (or troll) up stream and fish your way back. Sounds like a fun afternoon to me.