Yeah she’s still pretty iced over around the 35E bridge.

Matt Moen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dysentery Gary wrote:</div>
Alright, first post, bear with me. I walked Hidden Falls to the Ford Dam yesterday, and there’s about ~1000 ft of open water from the dam to where the river narrows and the ice begins. The middle of the open water is max ~14 ft deep, with decent drop-off on either shoreline. Close to the dam is more shallow and flat, but as it gets further downstream to where the ice begins, it drops more “dramatically”.

Think it would be worth it to pitch a jig and crawler in that open water? I don’t have the time or gear to devote to ice fishing, and honestly know little about river fishing. Just trying to scratch that itch and this nice weather got me itchy.

Thanks ya’ll, happy to be here. Open to any tips or alternative ideas.

I used to shore fish that stretch a ton. This time of year the fish are pushed deeper with the cold, clear water. Look for deeper stretches with some slack water. I’d be pitching a jig and minnow or a plastic right now.

Right near the boat launch isn’t a bad spot. Across the river along the rip rap near the dam is a good cold water spot. It’s a little dicey making that walk though.

Come March and through April the shore bite really picks up. The dam all the way to the confluence has good shore fishing then.

Thanks for the info! The last few days I’ve been chucking a stand-up fireball jig with various plastics, just opposite of where the stream dumps into the river. Zero bites, two snags, exactly what I expected so far haha!

Looking at the depth maps, it doesn’t get any deeper than ~15 ft until it connects with the Minnesota at Pike. That will likely be my next spot to try, hopefully there’s some open water.

Thanks again and always open to suggestions!

Alright, first post, bear with me. I walked Hidden Falls to the Ford Dam yesterday, and there’s about ~1000 ft of open water from the dam to where the river narrows and the ice begins. The middle of the open water is max ~14 ft deep, with decent drop-off on either shoreline. Close to the dam is more shallow and flat, but as it gets further downstream to where the ice begins, it drops more “dramatically”.

Think it would be worth it to pitch a jig and crawler in that open water? I don’t have the time or gear to devote to ice fishing, and honestly know little about river fishing. Just trying to scratch that itch and this nice weather got me itchy.

Thanks ya’ll, happy to be here. Open to any tips or alternative ideas.