Taylors Falls Newb

Been over to that area a couple of times this week. Used both the Osceola landing and Franconia landings. Still getting my 17′ Navigator through over there. Water still up about a foot from normal summer time lows but plan to run plenty of shallow water. 2 to 3′ is very common with pushing through some spots. Dont think you can get a boat up past the bridge at Taylors falls. Rapids there.

If you are looking for deeper water there is cliffs and a 45 foot hole at Rock Island right above Franconia landing. Wisc. side across from Osceola landing has a decent stretch of 8 to 10′ or water. Down towards the train bridge is another a couple more deeper spots. Did notice some sturgeon jumping down that way the other day. To me just about anything deeper than 3′ or near 3′ of water on this stretch is fishable. Throw is some wood and current and fish may use it.

Dont run on plane unless you know this part of the river. Sand bars come up fast and shallow. Ran my prop in plenty of sand this week and over the occasional log.

Have fun. Great stretch of river to learn .

Saturday I put in at O’Brian and fished south. We had a pretty good day fishing for smallmouth and ended up with about 20 fish total. We did end up getting a couple of the nicest smallmouth,in the fat and sassy 2 pound range, I’ve gotten for this stretch of river.

With good current flow this year We focused most of our time fishing deep inside current edges with rock and boulders. Any areas with rock and boulder and a quick transition to 5 to 7 feet deep held fish. The fish seemed to be hanging tight to shore. I mostly fished a 1/8 ounce gitzit. My buddy had good success with a 4 inch berkley powerworm- pumpkin with a chartreuse tail. Always a good bet for smallmouth.

It was fun getting away from the crowds. I did talk with a cat fisherman who was obviously having a great day. His biggest was around 12 pounds. Im not much of a catfish angler, but it might be time to learn.

The river is manageable and as Mike said plan on not going on plane and expect to run into some shallower water.

The rapids just down from the bridge will stop you from getting to the dam. Plenty of decent fish from there down river though. Take your time from the landing at interstate park upriver. There is alot more rock upriver from rock island than there is down river.