Fishing in Valley City

[kyle12bravo]

Hi all!

Fairly new fisherman here as my son started showing an interest so looking for any beginner tips and ways to keep him interested in it. We live in the SW part of Valley City and are interested in fishing the Sheyenne and really anything close by. We tried for a little bit yesterday, couldnt pass up the 60 degree weather, just north of interstate kind of behind Riverside gardens. We tried a worm and bobber and a jig and twister tail with no luck. Basically just looking for any tips on fishing the Sheyenne in and around Valley. It doesnt really matter what we catch just as long as we dont get skunked everytime.

Thanks and any help will be much appreciated!

Kyle

 

[FishFinder97]

This time of year can be a bit tougher, water is very cold yet. Early spring my go to is an 1/8oz jig head and a minnow. Pitch it into a current seam and try a slow retrieve with a slight lift to the rod tip to give the jig a "hop" motion then a quick pause.Lots of shore fishing opportunity from baldhill dam all the way down to fort ransom, snags are part of the game especially below the low head dams. Don't let it frustrate you

 

[KDM]

I've fished the Sheyenne and VC area for close to 50 years. I don't give this advice often, but kids need action to keep them involved. WAIT! The Sheyenne takes some skill to fish effectively and if you are as new as you say, you may endure more frustration than you and your son want. My advice. Watch Clausen Springs ice cover. It's LOADED with bluegills that will keep you and your son busy for hours once the ice comes off. The bobber/worm combo is absolute gold down there. And you may even get enough 8-9 inchers for a good fish fry. If you just have to wet a line, head up baldhill dam way. There is a bridge you have to cross to get to the dam that has a parking lot on the north side of the bridge that you can park on. A quick google map search will show you the spot. Fish downstream of the bridge with a slip sinker, swivel, 12 inch leader of line, and a small bait holder hook with a minnow. Cast out and let it sit. Early spring you can find perch, northerns, walleyes, and the occaisional smallmouth. It's NOT fast fishing and it's usually muddy as all get out. Again, I would wait until warmer weather and the bluegill bite. Better to keep you and your boy enthusiastic by being successful than just being cold, wet, muddy, and dissapointed. Then, late May to June, send me a PM and I will show you how to fish a jig and where you and your boy can catch walleyes with above average frequency. I know a few spots. (Grin) Good Luck!!

 

[kyle12bravo]

Thank you both!

We fished Clausen Springs several times last summer and thats how he got the fishing itch. The first time he fished there he would barely get the bobber back in the water before he had another bite! Not so much about the bite for me as just being out there, so I dont mind some slow fishing myself.

Another question, my son just has a cheaper spinning real and rod that seemed to get tangled fairly easily around the reel, is there a type of line or brand that tangles less that we could respool our lines with? I believe his just has a 6lb line on it now.

And KDM that would be amazing! I will be sure to reach out later on, always best to get some hands on learning form someone who actually knows what they are doing!

 

[Maddog]

I've fished the Sheyenne and VC area for close to 50 years. I don't give this advice often, but kids need action to keep them involved. WAIT! The Sheyenne takes some skill to fish effectively and if you are as new as you say, you may endure more frustration than you and your son want. My advice. Watch Clausen Springs ice cover. It's LOADED with bluegills that will keep you and your son busy for hours once the ice comes off. The bobber/worm combo is absolute gold down there. And you may even get enough 8-9 inchers for a good fish fry. If you just have to wet a line, head up baldhill dam way. There is a bridge you have to cross to get to the dam that has a parking lot on the north side of the bridge that you can park on. A quick google map search will show you the spot. Fish downstream of the bridge with a slip sinker, swivel, 12 inch leader of line, and a small bait holder hook with a minnow. Cast out and let it sit. Early spring you can find perch, northerns, walleyes, and the occaisional smallmouth. It's NOT fast fishing and it's usually muddy as all get out. Again, I would wait until warmer weather and the bluegill bite. Better to keep you and your boy enthusiastic by being successful than just being cold, wet, muddy, and dissapointed. Then, late May to June, send me a PM and I will show you how to fish a jig and where you and your boy can catch walleyes with above average frequency. I know a few spots. (Grin) Good Luck!!

You da man.
Always helping others.

 

[Bauer]

Another question, my son just has a cheaper spinning real and rod that seemed to get tangled fairly easily around the reel, is there a type of line or brand that tangles less that we could respool our lines with? I believe his just has a 6lb line on it now.

IF you are spooled up with all mono or fluorocarbon line, it can be a bugger because of the memory and want to spring off on you. Take the spool off the reel and put it in some hot water for a few minutes (don't submerge the whole reel!), it will help set the memory to the reel spool, rather than the much bigger line spool. I have an old kettle with a lid with a thermometer hole in it, I will fill it with hot water, put the spool of line and thread the line out the thermometer hole. As I reel the line onto my reel spool, it is then relaxed and sets its new memory to my reel. There are plenty of YouTube videos out there if you need any help!

Braided line is much more forgiving in this aspect as it has no memory, spooling a reel with 10# braid and then adding a 6' or so fluorocarbon leader can provide the same results, with less frustration. The fluoro is used as it is generally invisible to fish. There is a whole sensitivity argument to be had by many on what they prefer, but the braid may make these first outings a little more forgiving for you and your son.