Evan Griggs’ Looking Ahead at 2023
Starting off winter with a polar vortex definitely gets me missing the warm days spent drifting for bass or casting dry flies to wily trout in the summer past- and of those days to come! The life of an upper midwest fly fishing guide ebbs and flows with the seasons. Our prime fishing time is finite in this region. Between April and November, our team works tirelessly to provide as many fishing opportunities for our community as possible. We cherish every day we get during the season (even the windy and rainy ones) because we all know what’s coming after November. If you’ve fished with me in the past on bad weather days, you’ve probably heard me say, “At least it’s not snowing!” The fact is, we are so lucky to be anglers here in Minnesota and any day on the water is a good one. Our region offers some extraordinary watersheds to explore and a wide array of fish species to target. We are so excited to share with you some of our favorite waters and fish during the 2023 season!
Reflecting on previous seasons before heading full bore into 2023, it’s been amazing to see the growth of our community. Sure in numbers, but especially in skill levels. I’ve been a part of this angling community since I was in high school and worked in it for the past 10 years. Over the years, I have taught many of you reading this how to fly fish from square one and have even been lucky enough to net your first fish. I am honored to have met so many of you and to be a part of your fishing lives. Consistently during last season, many of you came to me asking for more advanced level opportunities- and that is so cool for me as a fishing educator.
In 2023, you’ll see Fishing For All continuing to offer our renowned beginner opportunities like Intro to Trout Camp, our Beginner guided trips, and casting lessons. But we will also be offering many more intermediate to advanced skilled programs like: Intro to Musky Camp, Intro to Steelhead, Dry or Die Trout Camp, and St. Croix Bass Camp. We are also excited to offer a couple new destination trips like Louisiana Redfish and Lake Michigan Tribs Camp to satisfy your big fish adventure needs. We will also be expanding our spin fishing opportunities including Big River Spin fishing and Ice fishing, both of which are perfect for kids, families, and friends groups to enjoy time together on the water. We’ll also try doing some spin fishing camps, Rainy River Sturgeon and Ice Castle Ice Fishing Overnights. For those who’ve got crazy work hours and/or young families, we’ll also be launching “Day Camps” that will focus on more advanced skills or species, but will be condensed into a few hours so you can still access these great learning opportunities with less of a cost or time commitment. We will also be growing our partnerships with other local businesses and conservation nonprofits to offer exciting fishing opportunities for our community. And of course our food menu for camps and day trips will continue to be top-notch as well, with new items being developed as we speak (anyone like crawfish boils or smoked brisket!?)
At the end of the day, Team, it’s my goal to make sure you are as obsessed with fishing as we are. The guides at Fishing For All are committed to teaching fishing, growing anglers, and advocating for our home waters. We are so grateful that you’re a part of our fishing family, and are extremely excited for what next season has in store! So we’ll keep the fishing fun and learning coming as long as you keep being awesome- sound good?
Happy New Year and Tight Lines! – Evan Griggs, Owner & Head Guide, Fishing For All LLC
Fishing Report
TWIN CITIES METRO ICE FISHING-
- The panfish and pike are heating up around the metro. Fish in 8-20 feet of water with tungsten jigs and waxworms for panfish.
- Crappies have been most active at sunrise and sunset. Wax worms, crappie minnows, and red/pink soft plastics have been best for them.
- Pike are being caught on tip-ups with medium suckers and shiner minnows.
All lakes across the state are now fishable with metro area lakes averaging 7-10 inches of clear ice under 2-5” of frozen slush and snow. Fish have been very active in the mornings and right before dark. Midday action has been hit or miss depending on the lake. Tungsten jigs with waxworms and crappie minnows have been best for the sunnies, crappies, and even some largemouth bass. Pike are lurking the shallows over weeds taking shiners and sucker minnows. Fish are just beginning to move out of the shallows into deeper water, and still in very active schools. Be prepared to drill lots of holes to stay on top of the schools as they move around.
Lots of folks are beginning to take out atv’s and snowmobiles on the larger lakes. It will still be a while in the metro before we can safely drive on the lakes, we need at least 8-12” of clear ice under the snow for cars and small trucks and 12-15” for full sized pickups. Our rule of thumb is, never be the first one to drive on the ice- that’s someone else’s job!
If the fish are being finicky with your bait on the fishfinder, try jigging at different intervals or slowly raising your bait when fish begin to follow it (play keepaway). These can make your bait look like it’s fleeing, injured, and delicious enough for lazy fish to muster a strike.
MN/WI DRIFTLESS TROUT FISHING-
- Catch and Release trout season opened in MN on Jan 1st! All trout streams in Dodge, Goodhue, Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties are now open. (All other streams across the state remain closed until April.)
- WI inland trout streams open Jan 7th to catch and release fishing with artificial flies and lures only.
- Fish will be most active during the warmest part of the day, typically late morning to early afternoon. When temps get above freezing, snowmelt can rapidly drop water temps and slow down the fishing in the afternoons.
- During cold snaps, target sections of streams near the headwaters or that have lots of groundwater influx. This will be the warmest water with the most active fish.
Ahh, it feels great to swing a fly rod again! Even if you can’t feel your fingers and your rod freezes up after every drift. Evan made it down to Hay Creek near Red Wing, MN for the MN opener. This is an excellent stream about an hour’s drive from the metro with lots of easements and good fish numbers. Most anglers skip this stream for its more well known counterparts just across the border in Wisconsin. Winter and spring are the best times to fish here as it can become hard to hike the banks in the summer due to tall plant growth. This stream has received several miles worth of habitat restoration from Minnesota Trout Unlimited since 2008 and the benefits are really showing in the quality of the fishery! They just completed a huge restoration project of nearly 1.5 miles on Hay Creek in the state forest land just downstream from the horse trail parking lot. Evan has been fishing this stream since he was a toddler in the 90’s with his dad, so was excited to check out this newly restored section. His fishing report is below:
“This was one of the best weather days for winter trout opener in recent memory! There was very little wind, bluebird skies, and warm sunshine. Temps hovered between 30-32 degrees midday. I was not surprised to see a few other anglers out along different entry points, but did expect to see more. (That likely means the WI opener is going to be bonkers on the Kinni and Rush next weekend if the weather is nice! I’d say hit MN if you want to lose the crowds.)
The newly restored section meanders through a quiet bluff lined valley. Before, this area was overgrown with buckthorn and box elders with highly eroded banks with almost no access for anglers and very silty streambed. It was great to see the banks graded and stabilized, and all invasive species cleared out. The river bottom is dotted with limestone boulders and has returned to a classic riffle-run-pool channel. There were many deep bend pools that I couldn’t see to the bottom of, I can only imagine what big browns are lurking down there! It will take a few years for the newly planted native prairie to start growing along the banks, so if you are new to fishing or just like having an open back, cast this section is definitely worth checking out. This is a freshly completed project, so there’s not much in the way of water bugs or aquatic vegetation yet. It will also take time for aquatic vegetation to grow in and for good numbers of aquatic macroinvertebrates to populate. I was pleased to see some midge larva and very small mayfly nymphs on a few rocks I picked up from the riffles. Hay Creek receives a bunch of spring influx throughout its course, so its water temps are pretty well regulated until you get down to Red Wing and the Mississippi. As a result, there was very little shelf ice built up.
The fish were in there too! But they weren’t in their standard winter routine, holding in deeper pools where the warmer water is. Because we’ve had a warm week and it was a nice sunny day, most of the fish were still holding in 2-4’ deep runs with moderate-fast current at the heads of the pools. The winning ticket for me was a 10’ leader with 6x tippet using a tandem rig, sz 18 tungsten-beadhead flashback pheasant tail and a sz 22 black zebra midge dropper. The water is low and clear, so approaching the holes from downstream was imperative to not spook the fish instantly. When you catch a fish in the winter, be sure to take your gloves or mittens off when you hold them to protect their slime layer and don’t keep them out too long as the cold air can freeze their gills. (Though if it’s cold enough to flash freeze their gills, you probably won’t last long fly fishing either!)
No rising fish were spotted on this outing, but I did see a good number of winter midges crawling on the snow. This time of year we’ll see midges and winter stoneflies on warm sunny days crawling on the snow, and- sometimes- rising fish! The insects will look like tiny black specks on the snow. Their dark coloration helps them soak up extra warmth from the sun.
Reports from other anglers along the creek said that action was good with various small nymphs and midges. In all, it was a great day to be on the stream, and I was so excited to see a newly restored section on one of my favorite creeks. Get out there if you can, this is a great time of year to explore new water!
Minnesota Fishing Resolutions
Let’s make New Year’s resolutions that are fun to keep- fishing resolutions! Setting fishing goals is one way to develop our skills as anglers. This section is all about discovery: new techniques, new species, new waters. Our hope is that you find something to look forward to during the 2023 fishing season.
Big Rivers Bait Fishing
Bait fishing on the major rivers in Minnesota is your shot at a giant fish. Massive specimens of catfish, carp, suckers, and many others species will readily take cutbait, a worm gob, or minnow. This style of fishing is also super mellow. Rig a pole with a slip sinker rig, cast, put a bell on the rod tip, and set the rod in a forked rod holder. We can sip a beer, eat some snacks, and simply hang out while waiting for the sound of a bell. When it does go off, the scramble of figuring out which rod, the fish size, and the species is incredibly addicting. It’s a great social activity! Learn more here
Big Rivers Spey Casting
Spey casting is a fly fishing technique using specialized gear that allows us to shoot 100’+ of line in a single roll cast and swing flies in the major waters. Our guide Ricky says that it’s the method for fishing the Mississippi River from shore. This is a different skill and requires new abilities from traditional fly fishing, and can be fun to learn to open up more fishing opportunities. Consider giving it a rip this year!
Driftless Fly Fishing Techniques
Hopper Dropper: If you’ve never experienced hopper/dropper fly fishing, mark your calendars for late summer to early fall when this technique is at its most productive. The excitement of not knowing which fly the fish will take is what makes this technique addicting.
Wet Fly Swing: The wet fly swing is a simple method to cover water for feeding fish and works year around. While deceptively simple, this technique is filled with expert adjustments that will take your wet fly fishing skills to the next level. There are many situations that call for a wet fly pattern above all else. Learning this technique could be your ticket to a lights out day on the water.
Streamer: Fly fishing for streamers is a skill in itself. Knowing what to use where and dialing in your streamer instincts is a surefire way to more and bigger fish in the 2023 season. Larger trout, bass, muskie, pike and many other species prefer streamers as they are larger meals for larger predators. Knowing what to throw and how to fish a streamer can feel revolutionary.
Dry Flies: Oh, the dry fly. In some ways the holy grail of fly fishing. Guides know that it’s fishing with dry flies that reveals a student’s skill level. There are so many things that have to be right: the cast, the line control, the hookset… that fly fishing with dry flies is difficult. Even if the fish are rising and you can see what they’re rising to, they still might not take your fly. This year we are offering a “Dry or Die” trout fishing camp to challenge ourselves and celebrate the journey it takes to fish dries with skill!Try Targeting New Species: The fact is, most fly anglers target trout. And trout are awesome! But if you have been doing it for a while and just want to try something new- you’re in luck. Minnesota is home to 1,023 different species of fish, many of which you can catch on the fly! Here’s a few of our favorites that are worth a try:
Carp- You heard me. Since you’re following this newsletter, and you know FFA, you probably know that we love fly fishing for carp. Everything you hear is true. The skill involved, the hard fights, the carp’s ability to routinely outsmart and outmaneuver us, and the childish excitement. Fly fishing for giant carp is a gift that Minnesota’s urban anglers have and one that we don’t take lightly. If you have never tried it, make this year your year to chase carp on the fly. When you get hooked for life, don’t say we didn’t warn you. FFA is the only fly fishing service in Minnesota that targets carp on the fly, and our Carp Wade trips are the best way to get after them!
Musky- The fish of 10,000 casts has driven countless anglers to madness for centuries. They’re smart, finicky, and big. If you’re the type of angler who is ok with not catching a lot of fish, but wants to catch THE fish, this species might be for you. Supersize all your equipment and flies, be ready to work hard, and prepare to strike out. This fish is no joke! Native to both the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers, we are in the musky heartland. Our fish average from 30-40” in the rivers, with some true river monsters out there topping out at 50”+. Our team is ready to chase these mean green machines with you on a musky float trip and our Intro to Musky camp!
Steelhead- Much like the musky, steelhead are known as the fish of 1,000 casts. This is because when they are in the river, they are focused on spawning rather than eating. They do eat stonefly nymphs, fish eggs, and minnows while in the rivers, but they are mostly on the move and looking to groove- so to speak. In the words of a Brule River fishing guide, “You gotta have faith.” Faith that the spot you’ve been standing in for hours is a highway lane for migrating fish and eventually one of them will eat your flies. And when they do, they will run and jump like there’s no tomorrow! The streams of Northshore, the Brule River in Wisconsin, and the tributaries flowing into Lake Michigan are epic steelhead fisheries that are worth a visit.
Smallmouth Bass- If I had to sum up the character of a smallie- I’d say some days they’re like a junkyard bulldog, and other days there like a snobby trout sipping size 24 midges. Either way they’ll fight like mad once you hook ‘em! Smallmouth are native to Minnesota and do especially well in the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers. In fact, these rivers are world-renowned for their smallie fishing. By age 4 they’ll be 12”, at age 6 they’ll be 15”, and by age 12 they’ll hit 20”. At every age and size, these fish are just plain mean! Whether you like throwing big streamers or poppers, or you want to try tight lining a crayfish or dead drifting a damselfly, these fish definitely deserve your attention. Check them out on a guided bass float trip or join us at a St. Croix Bass Camp!
The Waters We Fish
St. Croix River
The St. Croix is the crown jewel of Minnesota’s warm water rivers. Floating down this river is like visiting a distant northern wilderness. Often black bears, beavers, and deer are seen foraging along the banks as we cast our flies into granite boulder gardens. The bass here are aggressive, opportunistic, and stained a dark bronze from the tannic river waters. Lurking in the shadows behind log jams and deep pools are the apex predators- the musky, a giant golden-green rocket full of teeth.Whether you’re looking for solitude and scenery or explosive fishing, the St. Croix is the place for you.
Mississippi River
Our favorite section of the Mississippi is the one flowing through the heart of the city. From Brooklyn Park thru St Paul, we can wade and float picturesque sections that run through parks, forests, and gorges, backwater sloughs, and urban corridors. Healthy populations of gamefish like smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish, and muskies can be found alongside mega-sized carp, buffalo, drum, and many species. You never know what you’ll catch while fishing the Father of Waters. You can learn more about this river section from Evan’s recent talk at a Twin Cities Trout Unlimited meeting, check out the recorded video!
Minnesota River
The Minnesota River is often believed to be the most polluted river in Minnesota so few people fish its waters. However, the reverse is true. MuCh of the lower river is protected as a national wildlife refuge. In regards to heavy metal contaminants, the Minnesota River is one of the cleanest rivers in the state. Its murky water is caused by high levels of silt from upriver agriculture, and algae blooms from fertilizer runoff can give the silt a greenish tint. Walleye, white bass, buffalo, carp, and monster catfish all call this river home.
Minnesota and Wisconsin Driftless Region
Between Minnesota and Wisconsin, there’s over 16,500 miles of trout streams to explore, many of which can be found in the Driftless Region. The Driftless Region is an area that the glaciers left untouched during the last ice age. Hundreds of cold water streams gurgle from springs below the rolling bluffs teaming wild populations of trout. You don’t have to go far to fish for brown, brook, and rainbow trout near the Twin Cities. Our favorite streams include Trout Run Creek, Hay Creek, and the Root River system in Minnesota, and the Kinnickinnic and Rush Rivers in Wisconsin.
Lakes and Ponds
Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes after all. The ponds and lakes dotting the state all make for incredible fishing opportunities. Whether you’re after bluegill, bass, and crappie, or northern pike and muskie, lakes and ponds in Minnesota have it all. We primarily fish lakes during the winter through the ice with our intro to ice fishing programs and guided ice fishing trips. We prefer to fish smaller lakes on the outskirts of town that don’t get as much pressure. Our main targets through the ice are bluegills and crappie, with the occasional largemouth bass.
Upcoming Events
Casting Sessions at the YMCA
Cost: $40.00/person
Remaining Open Dates and times: 2/11, 3/11 with two 1hr slots each day from 1-2PM and 2-3PM
Keep the rust off and come practice your fly casting this winter!
We’ve rented out the gym at the downtown Dayton Minneapolis YMCA at Gaviidae. Come cast for one hour with our guides! We can work on many different casting skills, including accuracy and double hauling. Beginner to advanced casters, welcome! Bring your own fly rod if you have one, otherwise a limited supply of fly rods will be available. Pre-registration is required:
Click here to Book Online!
Phone: 612-293-8058
Email: fishing4all.llc@gmail.com
Learn to Ice Fish Programs!
Fishing isn’t just a summer activity! Once our lakes freeze over, we can venture out and catch fish through the ice. We partner with various parks and rec departments around the MSP area. During our 2hr Learn to Ice Fish programs, we’ll show you how to use all the equipment, find/understand where the fish live in winter, and practice reeling in crappies, bluegills, and bass. All the equipment is provided, including one large Clam pop-up shelter and heaters! Programs are available Jan-March, depending on ice conditions. This is a wonderful winter family activity!
Here’s a linktree to our ‘22-23 Learn to Ice Fish programs and sign up’s.
This link is to book a private guided ice fishing trip with FFA.
2023 Camps are Open!
Camps are definitely the most fun things we do. Come fish new water, master new skills, eat good food, and join a community of adventurous anglers! Here is a list of our camps coming up in 2023. Book your camp spot here!
Intro to Steelhead 4/13-16 (FULL- taking waitlist)
Come with Fishing For All to learn how to fly fish for steelhead on the “River of Presidents.” The Brule River has a rich angling history and beautiful scenery. The real king of the river is the mighty, lake-run steelhead. These fish thrive in Lake Superior, gorging themselves in the deep before following their spring instincts and forging up the Brule River to spawn. These river warriors grow to heavy sizes, shimmer with a silver glow, and fight like their lives depend on it. Join us as we stay at a modern log cabin on the “Box Car Hole” on the Brule and sleep just steps away from the water’s edge. Our guide team will prepare home cooked meals that shake off the cold and fuel us for the days ahead. Included are two full days of fishing instruction with experienced Brule River guides from Namebini. Arrive Thursday afternoon for a discussion on steelhead fishing the Brule including rigging, tips, and techniques. Spend Friday and Saturday plying the rushing waters with our guides. Then leave the field Sunday morning refreshed and rejuvenated from the adventure. $1050/person. $200 deposit due at time of booking.
Intro to Trout 4/28-30 & 9/15-17
Looking for an unforgettable adventure to learn about fly fishing for trout? Look no further than our Intro to Trout Camps! A full day and a half of fly fishing instruction, plus an overnight stay in a quaint streamside cabin, and home-cooked meals sure to make you dive in for seconds. We will work on trout fishing basics including casting techniques, insect ID; dry fly, nymph, and streamer techniques; and fighting and netting fish. These trips are great for new trout anglers as well as intermediate anglers looking to take their trout fishing skills to the next level. Our expert guides will be there for instruction and assistance when you land your first fish whether its first for the trip or first trout ever. This trip is sure to get you hooked on the wide and rewarding world of fly fishing for trout. Our camp is hosted at “Troutopia”, a quaint fly fishing cabin owned by our guide Ricky and his partner, Jen. This two bedroom home has all the amenities of home and is steps away from MN’s best trout stream- Trout Run Creek. This location is also only 20 minutes from Chatfield, Lanesboro, Preston, Rush Creek, and Whitewater State Park. Our camps are maxed at 6 people for a 3:1 guide to client ratio for maximum instruction opportunities. $700/person. $200 deposit due at booking.
“Dry Fly or Die” Trout Camp 5/12-14
Many fly anglers have been puzzled by runs full of rising trout who won’t give their dry fly a passing glance. The fish rise around, behind, and in front of every fly they try. There’s so many factors to take into consideration when choosing and using a dry fly. Sometimes when an angler gets it right- the fly, the drift, the hook set- they can be rewarded with fish after fish. Dry fly fishing is the epitome of the sport. Some anglers develop a special fondness for dry fly fishing and swear off all other forms of fly fishing completely to become “Dry or Die” anglers. Fishing For All’s “Dry or Die” trout camp evokes the spirit of match the hatch dry fly trout fishing. You will work with our expert fly fishing guides to find the perfect dry fly patterns that the fish can’t refuse. Along the way we’ll teach you all about various casting techniques, drag-free drifts, and insect identification to take your dry fly skills to the next level. This trip is hosted at “Troutopia”, a quaint cabin owned by our guide Ricky and his partner, Jen. This two-bedroom cabin has all the amenities of home, including a very short walk down to Trout Run Creek. This location is also only 20 minutes from Chatfield, Lanesboro, Preston, Rush Creek, and Whitewater State Park. This camp is timed perfectly for the best mayfly and caddis hatches! 6 people max with a 3:1 guide ratio to maximize learning opportunities. $700 per person. $200 due at time of booking.
St. Croix Bass Camp 6/16-18 & 7/14-16 & 8/18-20
The wild and scenic St. Croix is the crown jewel of big rivers in Minnesota. Once a pipeline for running logs, heavily dammed and dredged for various industries, the Croix is now federally protected and has been restored to a near-wild state. Strewn with boulders and lined by wild forests, the Croix is a smallmouth bass fishing paradise. We highlight this awesome watershed and its fish on this one-of-a-kind weekend adventure. Spend a full day and a half floating with our seasoned guides from their drift boats, covering miles of smallie territory. We’ll be staying at “River Pig Landing” in glamped-out canvas tents on a beautiful stretch of hardwood forest property owned by Evan Griggs and his wife, Gretchen atop the St. Croix. The tents are outfitted with xxl cots with memory foam pads, lights, fan, a power station to charge your electronics, and more to ensure your stay is comfortable yet rustic. Arrive Friday afternoon,and fish hard all day Saturday and Sunday morning with streamers and poppers. All meals and fishing gear is provided. Clients should plan to bring their choice of bedding. Due to popular demand, additional dates have been added this season- but the cult classic date is July 14-16. You won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind weekend fishing adventure! 6 people max. $700/person. $200 deposit due at time of booking.
Intro to Musky 10/12-15
You’ve heard the fable about “the fish of 10,000 casts.” Maybe you’ve seen pictures of giant 50 inch muskies with their toothy grins and thought, “They can’t really be that hard to catch.” Truth is, a muskie is at the top of the food chain. They are not only few in number, they are also finicky eaters too. In order to catch one, you need to put the right fly, at the right time, in front of a hungry muskies face, then you need to land it. This bucket list species can be difficult to fish for, so this camp offers the chance of a lifetime to aspiring muskie anglers who want to learn more about this unique species, and who want to put in the hard work to try and get one. This trip includes two full days of floating on the wild, upper St. Croix River known regionally as one of the best muskie fisheries around. We will stay in glamped-out canvas tents on property owned by Evan Griggs and his wife, Gretchen, that are outfitted with wood stoves, XXL cots with cushy memory foam mattresses, and eat meals courtesy of our guide’s seasoned culinary skills. The site includes power stations for all your electronics. You’ll arrive Thursday night, spend all day Friday and Saturday floating on the St. Croix River, and head home Sunday with stories to tell around the next campfire. $1050/person. $200 deposit due at time of booking. 6 people max.
*NEW Lake Michigan Tribs 11/2-5
The rivers flowing into Lake Michigan through Milwaukee, WI are world-renowned for their fishing. Each fall, trophy-sized coho and king salmon swim upstream from the great lake through the heart of the city to spawn. Following right behind them are lake-run brown trout and occasionally steelhead that routinely grow to 30” and get fat from gorging on salmon eggs. The real beauty of this camp: you can catch a 20lb salmon, then a 30” brown trout, then walk to a brewery down the block. What’s not to love about that? We’ll practice tight line nymphing and spey casting for these behemoth fish. But be warned, they can easily bust rods on their blistering runs! We’ll be staying in comfortable accommodations near the river so we can get to the water and start catching fish fast. All meals, equipment, and transportation in Milwaukee are provided by your guides. Arrive Thursday afternoon, fish hard all day Friday and Saturday, and head home Sunday morning. 6 people max. $1050/person, $200 due at booking.
Book your 2023 Day Trips!
The prime season is just four months away, and it will be here before you know it! We are now taking 2023 reservations for trout wade trips, carp wade trips, and bass-pike-musky floats. If you’re curious about winter trout fishing, we can help you out there too. Book your trip here!
Beginner Trip
This trip is designed for novice anglers looking to gain on-the-water experience with individual attention from a guide. Our guides will fine-tune your skills: casting, reading water, fly selection, and more. You’ll also learn good spots to fish on your own! Perfect trip for families who want to learn a new hobby. Available as a wade trip for trout or urban lake fish, March-Oct. Half of the trip is dry land instruction, the other half is spent on the water. 2.5 hours- $200. $50 deposit due at time of booking.
Trout Wade
When someone imagines fly fishing, this is what they picture. The Driftless Area in Minnesota and Wisconsin is home to hundreds of spring creeks. We routinely guide the Kinnickinnic and Rush rivers, Trout Run Creek, the Root River system, and several other small streams. All the streams we fish have remarkable trout populations, beautiful scenery, and are all easily accessible by foot. Our guides will help you catch brook, brown, and rainbow trout. This trip can be tailored for any skill level. Available Year-Round. 4 Hours- $350, 6 Hours- $450, 8 Hours- $550
Bass, Pike, Musky Float
Minnesota is a warm water fishing paradise! If you’re interested in catching smallmouth bass, northern pike, or muskies on the fly- this is the trip for you. Fishing from our drift boats or rafts allows you to fish many miles of the St. Croix or Mississippi Rivers, and their tributaries while being comfortable and stable through rapids. These rivers are truly wild and scenic, and relatively unpressured. The bass and musky fisheries here are world class, and are the envy of upper Midwest fly fishing. This trip can be tailored to any skill level. Available May-Nov. 4 Hours- $350, 6 Hours- $450, 8 Hours- $550
Carp Wade
Fishing For All is proud to showcase the fishing found in the heart of MSP! We target trophy-sized carp (and other rough fish) with fly rods in the waters within city limits. We’ll wade the Mississippi, its tributaries, and numerous small ponds or lakes for fish averaging 10-30 pounds. These fisheries are a true mixed bag opportunity and you never know what will bite next! Available Apr-Oct. 4 Hours- $350, 6 Hours- $450, 8 Hours- $550
FFA Guide Food
The FFA guides shun the stereotypical guide lunch: cold lunch meat on soggy wonder bread. Instead, we proudly prepare delicious meals hot off grills and griddles streamside! Good food is our love language, and it’s our way of showing how much we appreciate you. Our team believes there’s little better than a good meal to compliment one of our day trips or hosted camps. Here’s some highlights from our menu!
Smash Burgers- Two ¼ pound ground chuck patties smashed on a hot griddle, topped with caramelized onions and pepper jack cheese, smothered in secret sauce, and served on a toasted brioche bun.
Kalbi Ribs- Cross cut, thin sliced beef short ribs marinated in homemade korean bbq awesome-sauce, grilled over charcoal for extra flavor, served with jasmine rice and kimchi.
Chicken Gyros- Chicken thighs marinated in greek yogurt and lemon juice, grilled over charcoal, served on warm pita bread with fresh greek salad and homemade tzatziki sauce.
*Coming in 2023, Crawfish Boil- Crawfish, shrimp, corn, potatoes, onions, garlic, celery, lemons, and andouille sausage all boiled together in cajun spices. Dig in and enjoy!
Fishing For All 