Was wondering if anyone had any advice on floating the snake from begining to Mora. I actually like to go during low water as it seems to concentrate the fish. Have never been north of hwy 3??? bridge and am just curious as to what i can expect as far as fishing goes north from this point. Would appreciate any help or comments.
Welcome to a great site matt.Sorry I can’t help you,but your asking the right people on here. 
Matt – Check out this URL for some great info from the DNR on the Snake River which includes an excellent map: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/canoeing/snakeriver/index.html I would also recommend to you a book titled, “Paddling Minnesota”. I believe it is a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources book. Your local library should have a copy of the book. It has an excellent section on the Snake River. The County Route 3 to Mora stretch of the Snake River is 15 miles long, it is an easy canoe stretch with a few Class I easy rapids. The average run time for that stretch is about 5 to 7 hours. If the water is low it can be a bad stretch because you may end up hiking your canoe in some long shallow stretches. My brother-in-law lives on the Snake near Grasston and has caught some nice channel catfish. The DNR has quite a bit of information available on the Snake River so I would do a search on their web site to dig up some more information. Hope this helps.
Matt – I read your initial post wrong and gave you info on the wrong stretch. According to the “Paddling Minnesota” book the McGrath to County Route 3 stretch of the Snake River is 26.5 miles long, average run time is about 10 hours. It does have Class I – II medium water up to Class IV in high water. Skill level is listed for intermediate to expert. You are cautioned to watch out for the Upper and Lower Snake River Falls especially in high water. According to the book at the Upper Snake River Falls there is a 300 yard portage on river left. A mile down from that point is the Lower Snake River Falls which is a long, steep stretch of large boulders and ledges in a narrow canyon, dropping about 20 feet in three-quarters of a mile. In extremely high water, big peaked waves form near the top of the rapids. This rapids rates class III – IV in medium water, up to class IV at exceptionally high levels. According to the book, there is a 900 yard portage on river left. The book says fishing for smallmouth, bass, walleye, northern pike and rock bass can be quite good in this stretch.
I have never seen this stretch so I have no personal experience on it. I will tell you that I have had canoe training in preparing for a dangerous canoe trip down the Bloodvein River in Canada. That trip taught me how dangerous river rapids can be and gave me a very healthy respect for my own limitations. I would never run Class IV rapids and I cannot think of a situation where I would run Class III. I would almost always portage that kind of water. Therefore I would recommend planning your load for portaging. There isn’t a fish in the world worth somebody drowning.
Thanks alot guys. I have heard about the snake falls. I ussually check the levels and go fish the mora stretch in really low water. That seems to really concentrate the fish and then I just use my canoe as a platform to hall my cooler…its big one, and all my other stuff. Im from iowa and was introduced to this river when i was 10 by my uncle when he taught in Mora. Have made the trip every year since. Thanks again for the info!
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