Author Topic: North Sask river fishing. (Read 9395 times)

mooseknuckle · « **on:** May 10, 2011, 01:48:04 PM »

Well I'm kind of in a holding pattern most of the lakes I like to hit are either closed right now or still solid with ice!! So I managed to hit the river with a feloow member yesterday. And man things were hot especially pike wise!! In total I caught 1 walleye (4lbs) 2 pike (10 & 13lbs) and a few hammer handles. And Geezle managed an 11 & 14lb pike and probably a dozen hammer handles!! Our buddy Alex was a late show and managed 1 smaller pike retrieving a pickeral rig with a minnow!!

The old rattlin rap was the ticket!! I'm guessing due to the murky waters the sound is what got em!!

We didn't take pictures as the banks were so muddy the fish didn't look all that pretty.

Paul · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2011, 02:04:42 PM »

I haven't fished the NSR downstream of Edmonton for years but when I was living around Redwater we used to head down to where the Redwater river runs in and used to catch some huge walleye there, September was especially good.

BBJ · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2011, 02:11:41 PM »

Ive been fishing a down there alot as of lately . As the lakes havent opened up yet , and probably will stick close at least after some of my favorite pike lakes become overgrown with weeds . Mid June .

Heres a few pictures not all from this year .

josh gelinas · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2011, 05:25:24 PM »

at the northside fishin hole we got some pictures of some fish recently caught out of the river and hey mooseknuckle were you fishing fort Saskatchewan where the sturgeon river enters the NSR? we had a couple fellows bring in pics of 10-15 pounds pike average and 1 particular case of a 13 pound walleye caught on a basic strike pro. and yes i thought he was nuts too throwing a 16 doller hook in the river keep an eye out for those big walleye the next alberta record will surely come out of the river.

BBJ · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2011, 05:33:12 PM »

Quote from: josh gelinas on May 10, 2011, 05:25:24 PM

at the northside fishin hole we got some pictures of some fish recently caught out of the river and hey mooseknuckle were you fishing fort Saskatchewan where the sturgeon river enters the NSR? we had a couple fellows bring in pics of 10-15 pounds pike average and 1 particular case of a 13 pound walleye caught on a basic strike pro. and yes i thought he was nuts too throwing a 16 doller hook in the river keep an eye out for those big walleye the next alberta record will surely come out of the river.

Ive been fishing the river for 19 years this will be the 20th , anyway about the last 10 days give or take before ice forms on the river is when you hook into the big momma's , not un common to hook into a 10 + pounder . Havent fished it in November for the past few years as im out hunting . But its alot of fun .

josh gelinas · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2011, 07:07:20 PM »

thats actually really good to know i just started fishing the river and all ive been able to snag is those bloody burbot that drive me nuts. im going down the river with two other buddys in kayaks haha its going to be a blast launching in devon and possibly camping it out on big island. hopefully i can bring up my first big pike of the season fishing the shallow banks there im really excited

Geezle · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2011, 08:50:47 AM »

Quote from: BBJ on May 10, 2011, 05:33:12 PM

Ive been fishing the river for 19 years this will be the 20th , anyway about the last 10 days give or take before ice forms on the river is when you hook into the big momma's , not un common to hook into a 10 + pounder . Havent fished it in November for the past few years as im out hunting . But its alot of fun .

Last fall the fishing was wicked. I don't think I worked a full day in all of October or November because I kept ditching to go down to the river!

No 10+ pounders for me though...maybe this year!

Geezle · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2011, 08:53:38 AM »

Quote from: josh gelinas on May 10, 2011, 07:07:20 PM

thats actually really good to know i just started fishing the river and all ive been able to snag is those bloody burbot that drive me nuts. im going down the river with two other buddys in kayaks haha its going to be a blast launching in devon and possibly camping it out on big island. hopefully i can bring up my first big pike of the season fishing the shallow banks there im really excited

Waaaaait...you work at the North TFH? Surely I must know who you are then

Anyway, as far as the river goes the water is just finally starting to clean up, and with that the 'real' fish are starting to wake up. The last couple weeks all a guy could catch was either burbot or suckers, but as time goes on the burbs are thinning out and the pike and walleye are moving in. There are goldeye in the area now as well.

While you're drifting along in the kayak drag along a Lindy rig or bottom bouncer and you'll probably get a few surprises along the way

josh gelinas · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2011, 04:20:32 PM »

theres a couple things i really wanna dig into my goals for this year are basically finally catch a 30 pound pike out of wabamun hopefully and my first sturgeon haha i defiantly need a little info on where to go and i just need to focus my time and hit wabamun hard this year the river is a completely under estimated fishing environment. people just dont know how much fish and the size of those fish are in the nsr

Geezle · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2011, 05:21:14 PM »

Quote from: josh gelinas on May 11, 2011, 04:20:32 PM

the river is a completely under estimated fishing environment. people just dont know how much fish and the size of those fish are in the nsr

That just means less competition for us!

Seriously though, the river is already seeming busier than I remember it being like this time last year. Hopefully once the lakes open up the herd will thin out a little.

josh gelinas · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2011, 05:31:22 PM »

it may be busy but in all honesty i have a feeling theres alot of people that will throw a thousand casts and never once catch a fish. we get so many people coming into the store looking for hooks for the river and never had fished before in their life. they will always come back and give me a rough time because they didnt catch anything or i didnt suggest the "right" equipment

BBJ · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2011, 06:06:30 PM »

Quote from: Geezle on May 11, 2011, 05:21:14 PM

That just means less competition for us!
Seriously though, the river is already seeming busier than I remember it being like this time last year. Hopefully once the lakes open up the herd will thin out a little.

It has been Becky and I talked about this on the way home last night . She said ive never seen so many down there . Well I have , but shes right its been alot busyer then normal . And some people ive never even seen down there . The odd one you might of seen a few times . I think the Gas prices might be having a huge effect on things to . I know me after mid June I dont really fish many lakes , unless its on the odd weekend fishing trip . Otherwise im at the River .

efw01 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 12, 2011, 11:29:59 AM »

Quote from: josh gelinas on May 10, 2011, 07:07:20 PM

thats actually really good to know i just started fishing the river and all ive been able to snag is those bloody burbot that drive me nuts. im going down the river with two other buddys in kayaks haha its going to be a blast launching in devon and possibly camping it out on big island. hopefully i can bring up my first big pike of the season fishing the shallow banks there im really excited

Before you decide to camp at Big Island, I suggest you check with City of Edmonton, or you might get a rude awakening and get kicked out. They won't let anybody drive on the road there anymore. It is considered City property - and they can get snobby about things.

josh gelinas · « **Reply #13 on:** May 12, 2011, 03:25:18 PM »

im actually not taking a car we are getting dropped off and drifting down the river we may just land their for a bit to sleep or shore lunch before we head off again all that will be on the island is us and our kayaks

weeman · « **Reply #14 on:** May 12, 2011, 05:11:35 PM »

Quote from: efw01 on May 12, 2011, 11:29:59 AM

Quote from: josh gelinas on May 10, 2011, 07:07:20 PM
thats actually really good to know i just started fishing the river and all ive been able to snag is those bloody burbot that drive me nuts. im going down the river with two other buddys in kayaks haha its going to be a blast launching in devon and possibly camping it out on big island. hopefully i can bring up my first big pike of the season fishing the shallow banks there im really excited

Before you decide to camp at Big Island, I suggest you check with City of Edmonton, or you might get a rude awakening and get kicked out. They won't let anybody drive on the road there anymore. It is considered City property - and they can get snobby about things.

The city has stepped up enforcement in the river valley due to increased crime at areas that have easy access. Some late night activities are at those locations have been getting out of hand.

nsrmaster · « **Reply #15 on:** May 12, 2011, 10:19:42 PM »

Hopefully the sturgeon fishing should start picking up soon!

josh gelinas · « **Reply #16 on:** May 12, 2011, 11:03:03 PM »

wont see it start to pick up till the end of june if im not mistaken

AxeMan · « **Reply #17 on:** May 13, 2011, 08:42:04 AM »

Well, Paul (weeman) talked me into braving the wind last night so we headed down to the NSR for a couple of hours before dark. The wind made it tough to detect a bite as it was blowing my rod that hard. I did manage to land a walleye though on a yellow jig on the bottom with a minnow.

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weeman · « **Reply #18 on:** May 13, 2011, 09:38:02 AM »

I thought you were the burbot slayer......

crappy weather but casting was easy. Fun casting to opposite bank.

nsrmaster · « **Reply #19 on:** May 14, 2011, 10:03:11 PM »

was out today fishing the nsr in the fort. the bites were on the slow side but i landed a sucker as well as my son.The water is a bit high and on the murky side.