I'm interested in fishing the area above the Coon Rapids dam to about the Rum River. I've never fished this area so I'm looking for any info/advice related to the following:

How's the launch at the Coon Rapids dam?
What are the water levels like this time of year?
Any prop busting rocks to look out for?
What fish species are in this part of the river?
What are the best techniques for catching fish here?

Thanks for the help.

I've fished smallmouth alot in that area, from the rum down to the dam. We usually pitch timber jigs w/ craws up to any retaining walls, docks, timber, etc. Numbers are great, size is ok. We use the landing by the 169 bridge, it was fine a couple of weeks ago. Don't forget to try by the 169 bridge supports

I have the same question. I am a muskie fisherman who is tired of the pressure on the local lakes. I launched at Champlin Saturday and scouted around for something new to fish for. It was too shallow to get right below the Rum River dam, thought that might be a good spot. Ran the boat north of the Anoka bridge and found it gets shallow-no prop stories. I have fished the Monticello smallies-lots of rocks, I don't see that here. Any tips to get me started on something? Are there muskies in this river? Thanks.

ready2go I think you and I may have talked at the ramp a little bit if you had the blue lund. I don't know other folks thoughts but this year has been less than good at best, maybe live bait folks will chime in though with steller reports. There have been some good day's but far short of last year for most. If you want to try it in the next few weeks sometime now that I'm running a jon boat we can give it a try above the bridge, above 50 degrees air temp and no wind. OK I'm a wuss. Are there are Muskies down here? Very few, not enough to target.

Ready,
once you go west of the Anoka Champlin bridge, you are in waters that WILL take a lower unit. Not as tough as the Monti area, but do not get comfortable running the Anoka area too soon.
There are some areas that will eat you up quickly. Literally, you go west of the bridge, you are in areas that will hurt the lower unit.

As far as fishin advice. I just dont know. Years ago, Anoka/Dayton area was great. I dont fish it as much now, but the reports this year were dismal as Riverdog noted.

I did make it out to this area above the CR dam about a week ago. I used the ramp at the regional park and it was in great condition and was deep for easy loading, but it did cost $5. The river here was mainly 10-15ft deep and I didn't see any shallow rocks or bars that would eat your prop. For the most part I was just checking out the water, but did make a few casts into some shoreline timber with no luck. Did see a few smallies jumping at the surface. I'll definitely check this area out again.

Use this rule of thumb.
West/North of the 169 bridge is entering prop eating territory.
East/south of the 169 bridge, run without worry.

It literally changes as you approach the bridge.

The week of the 27th they start drawing down the river, when that happens my hobby is watching and listening to folks hit, it'll be 3/4 to 5 feet lower depending on the rain, the river turns into what it is at Monti with a little higher water.

Then there is that little fact that RD pointed out.

Imagine Anoka if that dam didnt exist... hmmmmmmmm

Thanks fellas. I am lucky to have made it above the bridge and back without a scratch. Why do they lower the water level?

MSRD, Thanks for the offer, but that wasn't me that you spoke with. Good luck!

Ice, without letting it down the ice causes a dam of it's own to form depending on weather, backing up the water all the way up the river. Couple years ago there was work on the dam and coffer dams were in place on the CR side, the level of the river here at my house in Champlin got higher than the river was the previous year.