It’s not common for an IDA staff member to do a fishing report when you are someone’s guest. Today was my first chance to fish a “classic smallmouth river”. Mike Cayford (AlvinMack5) treated me to a day of fishing on the upper Mississippi river near Monticello MN. The river in this stretch is narrow, shallow and very fast. Reading and fishing the river there isn’t much different than my home waters on pool 4, but getting around is a whole new ball game. Mike has a RiverPro jet boat that opens up a lot of water you can’t get to with a conventional rig. I swear we went through inches of water. Riding in a jet boat is a real new experience, especially when Mike throws it into reverse to stop the boat. I may have soiled myself the first time it happened. The fishing was great and a first for Mike. Mike had never caught a Largemouth in the Monticello area prior to today, and he caught two. The one in the photo came out a small current break miles from any slack water. I guess it goes to show how adaptable largemouth can be.
The smallmouth were fairly cooperative and we were able to catch them with a variety of lures. We managed a few smaller fish on poppers, a couple swimming a grub, lots on tubes, but the best presentation for quality was dragging a 3/8 oz. classic bass jig and trailer across the bottom. If you used the lift and drop method the fish would ignore it but if you inched it along the bottom they would crush it. We caught well over 25 15-17 inch fish like the one Mike is holding in the picture using this presentation.
The two best fish of the day off the same spot about 4 hours apart. We had a 19 ¼ and a 19 ½ fish that I caught as Mike was setting the anchor. I took advantage of Mike by sneaking in the first cast before he could get a rod in his hand. Sorry Mike, hopefully you can get even on the return trip.
The trip was a hoot and a whole new experience for me. We caught around 50 fish including 3 nice walleyes like the one mike is holding. Mike had the right equipment, is well versed in the area and knows the productive water. That’s really important because so much of the water looks the same. Hats off to you Mike and thanks for the day!
GREAT report John,
I look forward to getting into that River Pro this week with you Mike!
I am sure Blue will put us on fish as well as you did for John.
Riverfan/Alvinmack,
These are my much missed stompin’ grounds. I grew up and lived about a one mile bike ride from fishin on the Mighty miss in Monticello. Glad to hear it is still a blast for everyone who fishes here. Too bad I don’t have around $25k to shell out for a RiverPro, but when I do I would love to get one of those. My favorite honey hole in Monticello holds tons of smallies. I have a replica of a 21″ that I caught from shore there. I would go in 3 hour stretches before work when I still lived there after college and catch about 20-30 smallies from shore, with about 10 of them over 17″ and a couple 19″+ fish. They shut down that area and don’t allow shore fisherman there anymore if that gives you a clue!!
People come from states far away to fish this stretch of river from Sept-Nov, and watch out for Steve Dezurik next year with his River Pro boat. It is interesting to hear of all the different techniques/lures that the smallies are wanting in the different pools/areas. Great Report!!
John,
Thanks for making it up and fishing the day with me! Fishing with you was truely a learning experience. For those of you who think you have a pretty good handle on things will come to find out that you can always learn a few more tricks. I know that I did. Fishing with other IDA’ers is a great way to have a blast, share experience, and tip a few
together 
-Mike
Looks like fun!!!
Great trip Guys! Mike glad you are finding some suckers to scare the bejezus out of in your new rig
Sounds like you two had a blast! 
Sounds like a blast. I must say Mike looks very good holding up the Walleye
I was on the uppper mississippi (coon rapids area) this last week a couple of times and just pounded the smallies on small crawfish immitation soft plastics and little creature baits. I would just let the current roll the bait over small feeding shelfs in 5-8 ft of water. But I would really like to try over by Monticello. I have never been over there before. Is it possible to fish it out of a ranger fisherman or is it too shallow? and where do you put in. I would be coming from the New Brighton area.
Eric
Eric,
With all due respect, keep the Ranger Fisherman at home. This stretch of the Miss will eat a glass boat for lunch. Find a buddy (unless you have one) with a shallow drafting Jon boat and navigate with caution your first couple times until you get confident in where you can run.
-Mike
Mike, glad to see bad luck doesn’t carry over from day to day. Really appreciate you taking Bob and I out for the day. Your boat is simply amazing. I can’t wait to get another opportunity to see what she can do.
Did you do the tree thing
, with Riverfan in the boat, totally awesome.
Nice Report. I Live in Monti. and have not been out since the river rose a while back. A good friend ( mnfishtrap ) of mine has been out at least three times this last week and has just slayed the smallies.
All shore fishing in Monti. They are hitting hard in the early morning and again in late afternoon into evening. Using gummy jigs and sucker minnows. The bite has been almost every cast. I look forward to tomorrow evening when it will be my turn. Anyone have any other suggestions ???
Dan,
Fishing with you and Bob is proof that even that you can have one helluva time even when the fish aren’t cooperating. You guys are more than welcome to join me in my Upper Croix adventure coming up here. I want to get at least one toothie under my belt for this year.
As far as the tree thing? Well I never saw any fallen timber to show him
Mike I would like to thank you as well. I still don’t have the wife talked into another boat yet
….That machine of yours is the AWESOME….The lumber jumping was great too. Let me know when you pin some dates down for the Croix 
I didn’t get the tree treatment but enough other thrills to soil my shorts!
Thanks for the report and pics. Sounds like you guys had a blast.
Thanks, Bill