Upper Mississippi River Flathead Fishing Report

What a change from just a few nights ago! The ride home at night (or in the early morning for all of you daylight fisher people) has been what we live for! Mid 60 temps for lows are a fantastic relief from the mid 40’s we’ve been having. Of course with the rising temps comes the “chance of a thunderstorm” and it’s wise to check the weather before going out…and maybe keeping an eyeball towards the sky.

After talking the weather over with Tom and his son Ben from Owatonna, MN, we decided to wait for a Mpls/St Paul line of rain go through. We left Everts launch about 8 pm knowing of a very slight chance of a shower.

We had one tiny cloud come over us about dark and just DUMPED on us. Tom said, “I looks like it’s lightening up a little” and it started to rain harder. I asked Tom not to say that anymore!!

The water temp is back up to 72 the flow is just right at 9600 fps. This is the very best time of year to hook into “Whisker Big”!

Ben had the numbers last night with at least three fish in the boat and a few lost. We couldn’t get past that 11 pound mark for Ben. Tom had the lucky stick and his fish darn near had him on his knees while the fight took the rod tip under the boat an motor.

Fighting a fish this size with heavy gear is not like other types of fishing. Garcia 7000 reels, St Croix Muskie rods, 80 pound PowerPro and the drag tightened down as much as it will go. If the fish takes an inch, you’re going to lose an inch!! The trick is to keep them out of the wooden tangles under water and make the whiskered wonder lose the inches!

Both Tom and Ben have enough knowledge now to head out to their favorite river, locate prime fishing areas and what to expect when they do hook into a big guy.

I have this feeling these two will be upgrading their fishing equipment including their landing net real soon!!

It was a pleasure to share the evening with the two of you!

Many of the cat guys talk about fishing snags and deep holes. I thought it was time to talk about shallow water for big cats.

Take last night for example. Our right hand bait was positioned close to the boat in about 7 feet of water.

The back right bait was in 15 feet of water right in front of an underwater tree.

Both of the baits on the left side were placed ON THE TOP of a closing dam in 3 to 4 feet of water.

With the exception of one fish, all of our fish came from the rods with the bullheads swimming on the top of the closing dam.

What’s a closing dam? In our area of the Mississippi, it’s a rock pile that stretches from shore to shore in an area that feeds a backwater. These closing dams are designed to divert the flow of the water from going into a back water, thus holding the water in the main river channel to ensure a 9 foot depth for the commercial traffic on the river.

In the photo, the water level has dropped low enough for the closing dam to be exposed. The water on the left side is staying in the main river. The water on the right side is going to a back water, but now since it’s closed off from the main flow it’s lost it’s flow or current.

Most closing dams in our neck of the river are seldom if ever exposed, like the popular closing dam in Pool 4 just up stream of the DNR ramp in the WI back channel. It’s popular with prop repair services!

I’m going to say there will be skeptics out there feeling that a 30, 40 or 50 pound fish won’t be caught in two to four feet of water.

Never say never!

My favorite Wifes 45 pounder came from less than three feet of water and made me a believer!!

My theory is that the cats move upstream when feeding. It’s easier in this shallow water to pick up anything that moves and they can get they’re mouth around. The minnows are in this shallow water and can easily be seen by shining a spotlight towards them. Where there’s food…there’s flatheads.

Next time out, drop one bait in the shallows and see what happens!