Rainy River 2016

[huffranger]

Anybody got any good news ?? I'm hoping to go the 11th to the close of season.

Temp and flow seem dismal.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?05137500

 

[zoops]

Wow, thought they'd be in the thick of it by now but the reports I looked at sounded bleak. Their forecast doesn't look good...highs in the 30s lows in the teens & 20s. Amazing how much different their weather is than ours in Bismarck. Went up there twice when I was in college at UND about 10 years ago. A friend had hit it perfectly the year before and caught a bunch above 25" so I went with the next year and the river was muddy and we caught nothing. So the next year we went right when the ice had gone out (actually had to push the boat across some ice at the ramp) and caught nothing since the fish hadn't moved upriver yet. Long drive to do that!

 

[revolutionz]

Was up there Friday, left Saturday morning. Fished from noon - 7 on Friday, it was cold, windy, and no bite. Caught 1 sauger and 1 burbot. Saturday morning woke up to 3" of snow on everything, 12deg temp, and 20mph winds. Decided to cut our losses and head home. Current seemed fairly quick still. Mostly fished the mouth of the river and up it a few miles. Just couldn't get on them.

Hopefully when it warms up this week the bite will be on for you. Ended up a waste for us.

 

[NJL]

Will be heading up there the last weekend in April to try for some sturgeon. Hopefully the weather's better than the last couple years. Can only take so much of the 30 degree + 20mph winds.

 

[Bri-guy]

I'm leaving Thursday for 3 days. Doesn't look good. Water temps hit 40 last Thursday/Friday and the fishing was really good. Looks like it's down to 35 and falling now. Flows have also increased with the recent snow and more precip this week.

I'm packing my sturgeon gear to hopefully salvage something out of this trip if something doesn't improve.

 

[huffranger]

I'm leaving Thursday for 3 days. Doesn't look good. Water temps hit 40 last Thursday/Friday and the fishing was really good. Looks like it's down to 35 and falling now. Flows have also increased with the recent snow and more precip this week.

I'm packing my sturgeon gear to hopefully salvage something out of this trip if something doesn't improve.

Your gonna hafta share how ya did. Dino's are fun, I caught my big one last year in my jigging rod.

Good luck !

 

[DirtyMike]

doesn't sound good Huff, might as well stay here and fish the river with me.

 

[Uncle Rico]

A pair of friends and I have done the Rainy spring trip for many years. We have been waiting and waiting for things to improve but it is looking to me like there will be no good bite this spring. We are starting to explore other options for early next week. Since I have never fished the Missouri River, I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to provide some advice to a newbie? Seems like the Ft. Rice/Hazelton area is popular? Would be looking for types of spots that are typically good areas to try, etc.

If you would prefer to PM me, that would be fine too. Thank you!

 

[huffranger]

Is 2016 the year of the suck ??

 

[Captain Ahab]

It will get good about the day it closes. But don't fool yourself, there has been more than one year of suck.

 

[Bri-guy]

Leaving in 4 hours to head up there so we get there in time to watch the Sioux game. I'm not holding out much hope for tomorrow (high of 23 with 20 mph winds) but I'm just hoping for some sunshine on saturday. That always seems to turn them on when I've been up there before. Bringing the catfishing gear and probably going to just go for sturgeon tomorrow. Easier to stay warm when anchored and waiting for the bite.

 

[JayKay]

Not so much a fishing trip, but the Rainy River, and Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area is great fun in the summer. Great fun. Unspoiled and uncrowded. Used an Outfitter out of Buyck, MN for several years. La Croix Outfitters.

 

[JCNodak]

I am heading up there tomorrow. leaving at noon. First time in a boat on that river. I hope it turns out well. It will be cold but I don't care because I get to finally run my new boat. So anyone going up don't be shy to toss a wave to the brand new Silver Lund Impact!

 

[Bri-guy]

Cold, wind, and snow. Two of the most brutal fishing-condition days I have ever endured in a boat. We fished Birchdale on Friday after receiving a tip that the bite was better up there. The wind chill was below zero, but the sun was shining and we got 3, including a 22" and a 26." Saw a few other boats landing fish. The strong winds made boat control very difficult -- there were actually white caps on the river.

Saturday we fished closer to the mouth. One sturgeon and 0 walleyes. I never saw another boat land a fish. I guess the guys fishing the gap were catching some small ones, but it was literally bumper boats in that area. Although it was a little warmer, the conditions were actually worse with steady winds, clouds, and some snow.

Water temps continued to fall while we were there. If they get the warmer weather forecast for Tuesday-Thursday, Thursday could be an awesome day out there. We just didn't hit it at the right time.

 

[huffranger]

Maybe next year, I'm gonna fish closer to home. Thanks for the reports guys !!

 

[Captain Ahab]

This weather has been driving me nuts!

 

[JCNodak]

Fished Friday, Saturday and Sunday out of Wheeler's point. Very cold and windy. Water Temp was 36 on Friday, and 35 on Saturday and Sunday. Very tough fishing all around. Too windy for my comfort to be at the gap. Watched the guys coming back in that were covered in ice. Ended up boating 3 sturgeon all weekend. I saw one walleye caught.