Rochester area fishing spots

I was thinking about all the fishing spots around Rochester, and wondering how many people know them. Here is what I can name:

Lake Zumbro

Chester Woods

Foster Arends

Willow Creek reservoir

Boy Scout Camp

Silver Lake

Country Club Manor pits

Root River

Whitewater River

Zumbro River

Bear Creek

Quary Hill

Northern Hills

I probably missed some. Can anyone add to the list? How about some fishing tips for any of these bodies of water?

Good Fishing,

Mike

Post deleted by jake

Hey Jake,

I think the pits you are talking about are not open to the public?

Good Fishing,
Mike

To be completely accurate, are the Country Club Manor pits actually open to the public? I do see there is some dredging work going on now. I hope that means that the move towards the creation of an open, public access is not far behind. Will this be a city or county park? Lew

Hey Lew,

I’ve been a part of this discussion before, but I truly believe the answer is yes. The land bordering the water is public and only a small strip in some places, and the parking areas are a little questionable in places……

It sure will be nice when they get the area better developed! Hopefully that will give better access and parking.

Since it is within the Rochester city limits, I would imagine it will become a city park.

Good Fishing,

Mike

the pond at northern hills golf course used to be one of my favorite fishing locations . it was full of HUGE sunnies and some dandy bass (several over 4#). it was really fun to go there in the spring when the momma sunnies were on there beds and catch them on a fly rod. these were the biggest sunnies i’ve caught anywhere. i used to bring my little cousins out there and they could catch fish until there arms hurt. it was the best kept secret around.

unfortunatly, the secret got out to the wrong people this summer. i talked to some of the guys in the clubhouse and they said the S.E. asians found out about it and were there everyday for 2 months . they took everything but the minnows out of there. that just made me flaming mad . i wanted to go break something.

i’d fished there for years and have never seen anyone keep a fish out that pond. people understood that it was such a small spot that it could be fished out in a hurry…..and it was. now it’s not even worth fishing there anymore . it still makes me sad everytime i think about it.

Hey Jake,

What can ya say – bummer to be sure!

When I was your age, Foster Arends was just getting ready to become public. I went fishing there a few weeks before I should have and the fishing was absolutely great! Lots of nice bass and panfish. I caught a fish on almost every cast until Mr. Arend kindly told me I shouldn’t be there. Of course, that body of water was quickly fished out in no time. Now it is a good “put & take” trout fishery with the odd catch of a leftover large northern or walleye. There are still some nice bass in there as well, but rarely do I hear of any being caught.

Good Fishing,
Mike

I used to hit the pond at Northern Hills with my son when he was just a little tyke in the Spring and Summer. We would even nab a few sunnies out there ice fishing. Sorry to hear that a few people with 5 gallon buckets destroyed some future memories for some kids.

There is also a body of water in SW Rochester back behind the golf place out pass 40th St. SW. Can’t think of the name of the golf course or the body of water. I think it was formed for flood contol also. Anybody know where I’m talking about? Anybidy been out there fishing? Thanks, Bill

[ps. after a week of fishing in Okoboji Iowa I think I turned into a fish, lol. -my pic.]

You know, once a person stops and thinks about it, there IS really ALOT of bodys of water to fish around Rochester. We are really very lucky fisher-people and blessed with alot of angling choices of places to fish for different species of fish too. Thanks, Bill

Bill – sounds like Willow Creek reservoir. I’ve fished out there form the bank about a half dozen times for sunnies in the spring/summer and a couple times ice fishing. Many fish willing to bite the dependable night crawler/waxy under the boober!

Thats what I thought but was far from being sure. Haven’t been there for a couple years. Are the perch getting to be decent size? Use to catch alot of them but they were all small back then. Thanks for sharing. Thanks, Bill

I am bringing this back to the top as we are so blessed with all this water in the Rochester area and with the ice fishing season soon here we will be fishing alot of these waters again. And we can add the Mississippi River backwaters not to far away.

Thanks, Bill

So there is/was walleye in there! A guy I work with told me that and I thought “NO WAY!” I do believe you though. He claims that there still are some huge walleye in there. Dunno what huge means but I can’t wait to try them when we get some ice in February!!
Chris

Bill I believe I know where you are talking about. I’ve fished it before and caught some nice bass and saw lots of sunnies. I think it’s the same as you’re talking about because of the raised culverts on it and the area it is in. Just be careful if you park in a certain spot by a gate because the is a vicious full sized black poodle that doesn’t know about the IDA folks. (serious!)
Chris

That figures. I remember back when I was a kid and had a paper route. Well this one house had a black dog that looked like a poodle but was the size of a black lab. And of course that dog bit me. So my luck with mean black poodles isn’t good. Thanks for the heads up. Sounds to me like the fish have hired a guard dog to keep fisherman away. I wonder how fast he will let me in if I bring some ”Scooby snacks” with me? Thanks, Bill

I’m bringing this back to the top as I’m thinking positive that not only the late ice season [hot fishin] is upon us but that also spring is getting closer and there are alot of bodies of water right here in the Rochester/SE Minnesota to fish at.
Thanks, Bill

Post deleted by jake

——————–
“Don’t be jealous I’ve been chatting on-line with babes all day”

TFC…….119

The above tells me several things:
Jake spends alot of time at daycare.
OR
Jake is paying babes to talk to him.

[Couldn’t resist Bud. Its been a longggggggg time since I’ve picked on you. ]

Sorry Bill……just a movie quote…….honestly, I didn’t really expect an out-of-the-loop old fart as yourself to get it anyway

Quote:

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Sorry Bill……just a movie quote…….honestly, I didn’t really expect an out-of-the-loop old fart as yourself to get it anyway

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Unfortunately life goes by way too fast. As you get older you will better see what I mean. Then you will be an old fart member too. I’m saving you a place Bud.
Thanks, Bill

ps. I highly recommend that the babes you talk to are big female walleyes on the end of your line.

Bill is just as loopey as the rest of us old farts!

Poor young whippersnappers just don’t get it.

Good Fishing,
Mike

Jake will ”really get it” from us when he gets into the old farts club as will will have years of saved up picking to do on him.
Thanks, Bill

Hey Jake

It shouldn’t be momma walleyes, it should be BIG NORTHERN BABES and I am not talking girls, , go get those big toothy ones

HAHA

I get the impression that Jake is willing to talk to just about any babe within several hundred feet….

Just kidding!

Good Fishing,
Mike

Oh……..I talk………The trick is getting them to actually talk back

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Oh……..I talk………The trick is getting them to actually talk back

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[Women ignoring you Bud? Gee…maybe we do have something in common.