Minnesota Fly Fishing Forums

Forum Home

Minnesota Fly Fishing General

General

Visiting Welsh ...

Visiting Welsh Fly-Fisherman.

7/5/2008 2:51:31 AM

ronniespraggs

3 posts

Visiting Welsh Fly-Fisherman.
(United Kingdom)

I'll be visiting my son & family, who live in Coon Rapids, in mid-October this year. Naturally, having been a fly-fisherman (almost entirely for trout) for over forty years, in South Wales, UK, I'll be bringing some fly tackle with me. I was hoping you guys could give me some advice on where's most likely to get a couple of days good fishing, at that time of year, say within about a 2 hour drive of Coon Rapids? I'm afraid I ONLY know how to fly-fish, as that's all we were ever taught where I'm from (plus a little bit of spinning ~ but that's rather frowned upon!). I don't know ANYTHING about sitting out on frozen lakes in trailers with no bottom in them, drilling holes in ice, and stuff like that ~ so I thought this forum looked like the best place to get the kind of advice I'd need. Cheers. DRJ.

7/6/2008 2:05:07 PM

MNI

27 posts

Re: Visiting Welsh Fly-Fisherman.
(United States)

DRJ,

Fishing is good in the area you'll be staying in Oct. Weather could go either way. Within two hours of Coon Rapids you have a choice of everything that swimms in the state. (almost) Lake Superior with it's stealhead and salmon is just a little further than two hours.

The only fish that might present a challenge on a flyrod are walleyes, but even they aren't completly imposible. Other wise, the choices range from the Mississippi, smallmouth bass, walleyes, catfish, drum. Lots of lakes with bluegills, crappies, Pike, and Largemouth bass. Mille Lacs lake has flyfishing opertunities for Muskies going over about a meter and a half or so. Pike to about a meter walleyes on the fly towards and after dark and others. Trout are about two hours to the south too.

You've picked a good time to fish the state tough, I'm sure other will chime in with some good advise too.

Love to hear some tales from the UK.

good luck out there.

Jim

7/6/2008 4:08:54 PM

ronniespraggs

3 posts

Re: Visiting Welsh Fly-Fisherman.
(United Kingdom)

Thanks so much Jim. And to all involved for such an excellent and informative website. The more research I do,,,the better the fishing sounds, and I know from previous trips that for those of us from the Wales (and the rest of the UK), who love to fish and shoot, we will never get a friendlier welcome than in the US of A. Tight Lines to you all. I can't wait! DRJ.

7/16/2008 3:47:40 AM

psyfisher

27 posts

Re: Visiting Welsh Fly-Fisherman.
(United States)

Well, no one has mentioned this yet, but unfortunately our stream trout season is closed during October. We have some really excellent fishing for trout, on public waters that would probably remind you a bit of the English chalk streams. I'd probably still plan a trip down to the south eastern part of the state to do some fishing for smallmouth bass, but even that has to be catch and release. There are a couple of different faces of Minnesota fishing. Much of it is lake fishing for warmwater species, and we have some beautiful lakes, but unless you have access to a boat that is very restricted. The second face is the stream and river fishing. The Southeastern part of the state is called the Driftless area, and it has some of my favorite fishing in some beatiful spring fed streams, creeks, and rivers. The Root River is full of both brown trout, and smallmouth bass, and there are large stretches that are not designated trout water (so you could fish them in October). There are two reasons to consider this. First the fishing is wonderful, second, the scenery is some of the best in the state, especially in the fall when the colors are turning (if all the leaves haven't fallen off by mid-october which is a distinct possibility). The Driftless is about a two and a half hour drive from the Twin Cities, and completely worth it. You'll have to make a decision about what you want to fish for, but I'd say the two most entertaining species you can fish for that time of year are Smallmouth Bass, or Northern Pike. If you want to fish for Smallies, go south (they have em in large numbers up north as well, but the driftless is really our showcase fishery if you ask me), if you want Northerns go north. If trout were still going to be in season I could give you a few suggestions, but your timing is just a bit off. Perhaps your best bet is to pursue the Steelhead and Salmon in the tributaries of Lake Superior. The North Shore of Lake Superior is one of the beautiful and dramatic areas of the state. I can't tell you much about that fishing since I haven't tried it yet. Maybe I'll look into it a bit, since about that time I'll probably be desperate to fish for a salmonid, and I'll let you know what I dig up.

7/17/2008 12:13:29 PM

ronniespraggs

3 posts

Re: Visiting Welsh Fly-Fisherman.
(United Kingdom)

Thanks so much. I'd really appreciate any info you can provide. My initial research, especially given the time of year I'll be over in the US, is leading me towards the Brule River in North-West Wisconsin, as there's salmon to be caught right up to mid-november it seems? This might be great for me, as only really rich people (of which I'm most definitely not one) can afford to go salmon fishing in Britain. This would suit us too as although they live in Coon Rapids MN, my son's wife is a Wisconsin girl, who's parents have a cabin on a lake near Minong in the next county south from The Brule (I'm not getting into this Wisconsin vs Minnesota thing I believe exists. I'm Welsh and get enough of it with our own rivalry with the English - suffice to say that when my little grandson was born, the first thing his Wisconsin grandparents bought him was a Green Bay Packers sweatshirt,,,which he's not allowed to wear outdoors, for some reason?). I'm going to try and see this Driftless area of MN too though, if I can, for reference for future trips, even though I'll be out of season, because it sounds so beautiful down there. Do you guys reckon this Brule River thing's a good plan?

7/18/2008 12:24:02 AM

MNI

27 posts

Re: Visiting Welsh Fly-Fisherman.
(United States)

Yes! The Brule is a great choice. You won't be the only one making that choice, but in my very limited experience, a very helpfull and friendly crowd.

If you get a MN lic. and or a WI lic. The oppertunities far outway the time. Too many choices.

Trout and salmon, Bass panfish, Pike Muskies carp suckers drum? Soo many fish soooo little time.

I've tried only three trips on four or five tributaties of lake Superior and have caught what I was trying for each time. Not bad for a mostly ignorant begginer. Only once to the Brule so far. Got a steelhead and a bunch of little yearlings, I'm guesssing is what they were. Rolled over a couple of other steelhead too. LOTS of fun!

The other two on were on the N. shore streams. Caught pink salmon, as many as I wanted. And many IN the mouth. I'm praying for a couple of trips up there in Oct.

By the way, The Mississippi is producing fantastic smallmouth right now, I've been wading areas around the cities. Too much fun!

Are you doing any fishing at your home now?

Jim

8/12/2008 11:39:53 AM

D.A.

38 posts

ontheflyguiding.com

Re: Visiting Welsh Fly-Fisherman.
(United States)

If you want to fly fish for stream trout, your best option may be to head way south and fish Northeast Iowa. It's a year round season and should have midges and BWO's going that time of year.

Best of luck,

D.A.

D.A.
On The Fly Guide Service - Fly fishing guide service in SE Minnesota and the surrounding areas.

Page 1 of 1

Minnesota Fly Fishing General

General

Visiting Welsh ...

:: Forums ::

Minnesota Fly Fishing Forums

Minnesota Fly Fishing Forums