:: Minnesota Fly Fishing » Reports  ::

3/17/2007

Lots of ice and snow still on the local northshore rivers and unless we get a good warm up for the next couple of weeks it is looking at about the middle of April until rivers are fishable. The Lester and Knife have a slither of river running through broken ice. Keep in mind this could change with our weather conditions, just keep in touch with us and we will supply you with the latest conditions up here.  Ice conditions on the Brule are that the river is open below FF frozen lots of shelf ice and solid at the bridge 13. I would guess that it is frozen at Culhane but i did not check.  When conditions do improve and we can get on the rivers. expect low clear water until rains arrive and turn things up, fish below indicators with small dark nymphs such as size 10 through 16's. Good pattens are Brown Sugars in size 14s, PT Stones with Legs in size 12, Estaz Brown Stone in size 10 and of course chartreuse eggs or steelhead orange. Drift em deep!  When water conditions warm up switch to Hairy Ass Stones on the swing, nothing finer!!  Lots of favorite rivers when things do bust up and when we get rains. Rivers will be cranking around middle to late April with lots of heavy flow, trees, branches, ice and those that forgot their wading staffs, so please wade carefully!!!  No fish is worth a life!!  I will keep you posted as things progress. Cheers!!!  Happy St. Pats Day