Fishing western rivers - Little Mo in North Dakota

[jcass]

I am going on a canoe trip on the Little Mo river in ND the first week of June and have read there are Sauger in ther river. I have been told the river is cloudy or muddy.
Normally I like to use jigs in rivers, but if the visability is low, maybe a brightly colored lure would be better????
Anyone have advice in fishing a river like this, maybe trolling a little from the canoe during the day and bank fishing at evenings?
ANy help would be appreciated.
THanks

[Nodak7mm]

Sounds like a great trip planned. I have not fished the little MO but jigs are always a good bet with some twister tails or grubs. I'd bring along a assortment of smaller cranks to cast with or troll behind the canoe with.. Me, I could just never bring one or two things with, but your in a canoe so a decent assortment of 1/8-1/4 oz jigs (pink, orange & chartruse for me), 1/2 dozen cranks (shad raps & HJ's), a firetiger ratl rap and a some slip float riggings outta have ya covered. Where ya starting/ending?

Rod

[jcass]

Rod:
Thanks for the info.
We are putting in at a little town near I-94 I think, and getting out at hwy#85 about 100 miles north.
Looks like a great trip.
Jerry

[Phil T]

Assuming that you're using a canoe outfitter to launch, "guide", and pick you up, you might want to check with them just before leaving home. I know there is some canoe traffic on the Little Missouri, but every time I've been there (Theo. Roosevelt National Park), it looks like more carrying than paddling. We're not getting a lot of snow, but the source of the river is near Devils Tower, WY, they may have snow there.
Check the ND Game and Fish and ND Parks websites. One of them could have a river report.

[IntroC]

Good advice Phil T. I couldn't imagine carrying a canoe for 100 miles.haha

[Phil T]

And I passed up the chance to mess with him by suggesting he bring rattlesnake and cougar repellent.

[Nodak7mm]

Jerry,

Just a question, have you "Google-Earthed" your proposed trek? This may give you a real decent visual for what your in for.

Also as a side note, when your blasting thru Fargo on th way west, you have a Gander Mt, the "flagship" Scheels store and Sportsman Warehouse all within 3 miles of I-94 in the event you forgot something. What part of MI ya from?

Again, you in for a great trip. Yeah, watch out for the cougars!!!

Rod

[jcass]

Wow! THanks for all the good advice everyone. We are checking the water levels before we go and are using an outfitter.
I was wondering if I should get some "snakeproof chaps" for any hiking we might do along the way. Wasn't aware there were cougars.
Thanks again.

[Reicher]

Cool trip you have planned. Just keep in mind that the experience and the scenery will probably be much better than the fishing. I grew up near this area. Although there are a few fish (saugers, catfish, goldeye) in the little Missouri, it is definitely not known for it's fishing. That being said if I was going to try to get a few fish I would bring a portable depth finder (vexilar) and try to find the deepest hole possible which I am guessing will be 6’ to 10’ foot max. I would try to camp near an area like this and throw out a lindy with a short lead and a bright floating jig head and a couple minnows on it for the sauger and maybe a rod with a couple nightcrawlers on it for the catfish. Build a fire, cook supper, have a couple beers, relax and see what happens.

And if you think of it, post how your trip went. I am curious to see how you do. Good luck

[Phil T]

Snakes along the Little Missouri are a given. However, prairie rattlers are small and not as deadly as diamondbacks. Maybe not even as dangerous as the timber rattlers in the northwoods.
Consider yourself blessed if you see a cougar, they are as secretive as other wild cats. You'll likely see mule deer, whitetail deer, and prairie dogs. Maybe even Bighorn sheep. Don't get too friendly with the prairie dogs. The disease that controls their population is sylvatic plague. Google this. If you get "flu" symptoms, tell your doctor about the prairie dog exposure.
I hope it rains before your trip. If not, there's always the mainstem Missouri downstream of Pick City. 80 miles of free flowing river.

[Nodak7mm]

Jerry,

Pulling your chain on the Cougars, if you did see one it would be simpley awesome like Phil say! However I swear did see one in the UP between Iron River & Ironwood in 2003.

Yes, snakes are a realty but common sense prevails and no you dont need to buy any chaps. They are not that much of a danger.. Just be aware of the potential.

Regarding prairie dogs, you wont get close enough to em to contract the plague. But as a warning, what is said is true. The critters carry a flea that carry the mentioned plague. Pick up a dead one and you risk getting fleas. No different then picking up a dead coyote. I have been shooting PDs for 25 yrs and have not died yet, but I dont cuddle em up either.

You have a great trip planned and the hazards should be no different the toodleing down the Au Sable or the Pere Marquette. You will enjoy some beautiful country and please enjoy what ND has to offer and dont tell anyone how great it is to live in this state.. (thats the main thing that drove me up a wall about MI, the population density. We only have 600'000 folks in the entire state and that my friend is the population of just Kent County)

If we can be of more assitance, please holler or email.

Rod

[Ristorapper]

As far as fishing cloudy/muddy water, I have had several very successful fishing trips to the very muddy colored water of Long Lake
Wildlife Refuge. The ideal jig to use is a style similar to the Northland Thumper jig or the roadrunner style jig. But with me having plenty of jigs, I simply bought this:

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=2122&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults

Attach a light jig, tip with plastic or Minnows if available and good luck!!

[Phil T]

It was 75 degrees in Bismarck yesterday. The snow is gone.

Darn, you're fun to mess with.

[jcass unlogged]

Phil:
What does that mean for water flow in early June?
jcass

[driftersifter]

I suggest you drink a pile of beer the nite before and save all your urine for the next morning an d piss in the river that ought to equal the flow at that time of the year. It might be a good idea to bring along a couple of cases of beer with you if you don't drink it ... it still ma be usefull in getting the locals to give you a ride to your truck at the end of the second day.
Driftersifter

[ndfishin unlogged]

I have never heard of anyone fishing the little missouri but your trip is about 40 miles long if that will help. I have fished the mckenzie bay area where it dumps into lake sakajawea and it is excelent fishing. Sorry I couldnt help anymore but just dont know any locals that fish that area.

[Phil T]

If the drought continues, there will be no flow.
Even if it rains a normal amount, the soil moisture is so low, there will be very little runoff to feed that river.
It's going to have to rain a lot for that trip to be more paddling than portaging.
The drought is severe everywhere west of Bismarck.

[jcass]

Phil (and everyone else)
Thanks for the continueing info. I have been watching the water levels on the gov web site. http://nd.water.usgs.gov/canoeing/littlemissouri/flow.html
and right now the canoeing levels are rated as good to excellent starting at Medora (we are going from Medora to HWY 85).
However, I would have expected higher levels during spring runofrf - or maybe it is too early for runoff in that area.
We are planning a back-up trip in the event the water levels are too low.
Thanks again for all the advice!
jcass

[Nodak7mm]

JCass,

Ever been there b4? I have a couple of pix of your proposed landing site if interested.

Rod

[jcass]

Rod - Love to see any pics. You can post them here ??? or a link, or e-mail them to jlcassell44@earthlink.net
I have looked at several sites on the internet that previous canoe/kayak groups have posted. Looks like a great trip.
Thanks Again
jcass

[clarkend not logged]

I wouldn't expect too much more runoff....the snow has been gone for weeks.

Hope for spring rains now!

Clarkie

[kickback]

I hope you get some more snow or rain.The Little Missouri has been pretty low.