Boat Navigation on north end of flowage

[AndrewR]

Hi all,

I have not fished the flowage in at least 5 years. My people and I traditionally launch from below the waterfall at the county park located on FF, and we fish the northern stretch of the flowage for really whatever bites. (usually walleyes, smallies, crappies)

I would like to try this at some point in the next few weeks, launch and begin fishing from the north end, but am afraid of killing my fiberglass boat or motor by running into an emergent stump. And from what I remember, some of these stump fields have been on the decline.... I think. So there might not be much of them left - or at least the ones I remember.

With these spring water levels, which I hope are higher than the usual fall when all is low, do I have much to worry about this time of year when it comes to navigation?

It might be smart on my behalf to invest in a map that at least shows the river channels... Any recommendations?

Also, what are the water temperatures out there? I plan on making a 45-minute trip to the TFF at some point next week as well as during the second week of June in search of some C&R state record size Smallmouth Bass. :)

Thanks a lot!

[waxworm53]

Andrew: If you're coming from Westchester or your families' place, your best bet is to launch at Fisherman's Landing off of Popko. Better facility, and it would put you close to some pretty good starting points. Go slow, enjoy the scenery, and catch some fish. If I see you out there, I'll say hi.

waxworm53

[AndrewR]

Sir waxworm, it's been a long while since I've seen you on any fishing website. :)

Thanks for the word. I will be up north for two of the next three weeks - that means lots of fishing opportunities.

I've been to fishermans landing once before but it was when I was younger and lacked patience catching Walleyes. That was about 10-years ago when I fished with guide Jeff Winters - I remember as a 12yr old getting grilled by him and my dad in the boat. HAHAHA

Otherwise, that area is an option and I remember how to get there.

[AndrewR]

O yeah, if you see a red and white 15ft Lund, it'll be me. :)

[St Croix Kid]

Lund is making a 15 ft glass boat now? I heard they were in the game but that seems short.

[AndrewR]

I go retro from back in the day. :)

1979 model. Bought it for $700 on eBay and refurbished it last year.

http://www.fishing-headquarters.com/fishcast/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/boat7.jpg

http://www.fishing-headquarters.com/fishcast/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/boat8.jpg

http://www.fishing-headquarters.com/fishcast/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/boat9.jpg

Motor is an '86... Probably same age as me. Works great.

They did bring back glass boats. Right on.

If anyone has insights regarding the north end, they would be graciously appreciated. Thanks.

[George]

Nice rig! Looks like all your refurbishing paid off.

[St Croix Kid]

looks like a nice fishing rig.

[HAUS]

Its been years since I have been on the flowage we used to cast stick baits to the shore line and just kill them in the evenings . Or sit in the stumps and slip bobber walleyes . Great place need to return some day . I assume the fishing is still great !

[AndrewR]

Hi everyone, we had a GREAT morning of Smallie fishing on the far north end during my first outing there in over five years.

I had to find my spots from scratch since I've never fished the flowage for Bass before but any locations with rock (the more the better) held all of our fish - as did deeper shorelines near the river channel.

I can't believe these only measured 16-18 inches..... I'm drooling over what a 20"+ might look like from out of there.

http://fishing-headquarters.com/gallery/albums/userpics/may65%7E1.jpg

http://fishing-headquarters.com/gallery/albums/userpics/may68%7E0.jpg

My buddy with some of his below:

http://fishing-headquarters.com/gallery/albums/userpics/may67%7E0.jpg

http://fishing-headquarters.com/gallery/albums/userpics/may69%7E0.jpg

I'll be working it again next week maybe a few times. Really interested in checking out the bigger water around Fishermans landing as well as the shallower sections around Murrays (never fished either!)

At some point during second week of June if you see a smaller red+white glass Lund with two border-line graduating college kids in it, say hi!

Thanks everyone!

andrew

[George]

Nice pics! Thanks for posting them. I think smallies are more fun per pound than any other fish in the flowage. Okay muskie guys...I get it. But I'd still rather catch smallies. :)

[Spinrb81]

Andrew

Great smallies !! Can I ask what was the hot bait ?

thx

[AndrewR]

A whole bunch of everything worked.

Jig and big grubs... Craw patterned crankbaits and traps... Tubes.

In other words, match the hatch.

Once we started picking up a few fish from rocky shorelines + wood with drops somewhere near the river channel, we pretty much applied it to everywhere else we fished that day. If it will still hold the same for this week and onto next, I don't know, but I am anticipating on more of the fishing coming from shallower water due to spawn.

Get out there, these fish are incredibly fun to catch, and appear to be on steroids. :)

[AndrewR]

Got a couple more to show off from last week:

Biggest went 18"

They were still hanging out around the rocks and wood and along deep dropoffs. Crankbaits in craw pattern were the ticket.

http://fishing-headquarters.com/gallery/albums/userpics/june42%7E1.jpg

http://fishing-headquarters.com/gallery/albums/userpics/june43%7E0.jpg

http://fishing-headquarters.com/gallery/albums/userpics/june44%7E1.jpg

Will be back out next week. The plan will be to look for new territory around the stretch near Murrays Landing.... But if not that, then we'll dump in at Fisherman's Landing - also never been there before. If you see a glass white/red Lund, say hi.

andrew

[RKuepker]

i'm not a pro on the tff but have spent 7-8 weeks on it. I use a lake map , carry a spare prop and keep a slow pace. When the water goes up or down all it does is cover some logs or expose others. There always there. I bout flipped it one cold fall morn 3 years ago scared the crap out of my boy. If u fish only a few hundred acres u will learn it.