Sleeper River in Central Minnesota Holds Giants

[@claudesylvanshine6551]

You really timed it well for when the smallies go ballistic up here. Those first few flickers of fall temps really fire em up.

[@RivermanTV-]

A little bit of luck never hurt anyone! Temps jumped back up after I finished my trip so it was awesome to have taken advantage of that first run of chilly nights and mornings.

[@kodyyorton4674]

I seriously don’t understand how your channel is not bigger, I haven’t honestly learned so much about fishing smallies in the river it’s insane

[@kodyyorton4674]

Have***

[@RivermanTV-]

I'm working on it! I'm always happy to know there are folks out there taking some away from the videos.

[@BassHole_JBNT]

Keep these awesome videos coming bud 🎣🤙🏽

[@RivermanTV-]

Will do! 🤙🏽

[@girlfinfishing]

Whopper plopper is my favorite way to catch em’ 🎣 Really enjoyed the video and I’m glad I came across your channel. Subbing!!! 😎

[@RivermanTV-]

Then you understand why it's so hard to put down sometimes! Thanks for coming along.

[@nrthlife325]

What a great day of fishing! Thanks for putting the content out there. Love it…

[@RivermanTV-]

Definitely a day that's going to be in the memory bank this winter when I want to dream of the river. Thanks for the kind words!

[@highnoon116]

No that first smallie was a beauty! Thanks for taking us along…. High Noon

[@RivermanTV-]

Lots of beauties that day. Happy to do it!

[@bchunter53]

Thanks for the great video, which my wife and I enjoyed together first thing this morning. We laughed with you as you wrestled those northwoods donkeys! And yes, that white pearl jerk shad is quite the ticket for middle-column action, even down here in western NC!

[@RivermanTV-]

It's good to know others are laughing at me as much as I do! The jerk shad is definitely going to be a staple for me once that river grass is mature. Some rivers around me won't allow much else other than that and some weedless topwater.

[@NorthWoodsWes]

Good stuff!! Northeast MN here.

[@Topwaterteej]

Great content. Keep up the great work! Might be the most informative kayak fishing channel on KZbin 🍻

[@RivermanTV-]

That means a lot! I plan on keeping at it 🤙

[@wendellgray3859]

Another great video!! We are heading up to Minnesota in 3 days.can’t wait!!

[@RivermanTV-]

Thanks. Enjoy it up there!

[@gaddywack]

Thanks for sharing your adventures. Welcome to MN.

[@RivermanTV-]

My pleasure. One of my favorite places to be!

[@iwazzabadboy1982]

I live near St Cloud…The stretch from St Cloud dam to Clearwater is my go to…..🎣🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐟Nice video😎😎

[@RivermanTV-]

@@iwazzabadboy1982 you might be seeing that area here soon 🤐

[@iwazzabadboy1982]

@@RivermanTV-Sweet

[@WhitchurchFishing1]

Great video. Looks like a great place to fish

[@RivermanTV-]

It's a treat to be up north without a doubt. Thanks for coming along

[@wciii3591]

Wow! Love the channel.

[@RivermanTV-]

Glad to have you along 👊

[@iwazzabadboy1982]

Sweet

[@KATmando07]

I love a white whopper plopper size 90 up on those stretches of the sippi. Or an evergreen walk the dog for topwaters. The most effective bait that works all the time though and for a lot more numbers is a ned rig with a zman trd bug. Casted upriver at a 45 degree angle and just popping it occasionally while it works downriver. If they’re not biting that they’re not biting at all.

[@Jnf458]

What weight do you use for the jig ? Doesn’t it just get caught up just about every time you cast upstream . Just trying to get better at learning soft plastics , thanks!

[@KATmando07]

@@Jnf458 no you pick the right size jig head where it just taps over the rocks to the speed of the current. You feel it hit bottom and just kinda pop it slightly a couple of times like a piece of food tumbling down the river

[@KATmando07]

Generally I’m casting them into current seam chutes. Yeah you’ll lose a shit ton of tackle but also catch alot of fish. On the river if your not losing a lot of jigs your not fishing them correctly.

[@Jnf458]

@@KATmando07 got it , always seems I’m struggling to find a spot free of weeds , guess I need to explore more , thanks

[@KATmando07]

@@Jnf458 yeah I don’t use a ned rig where there is weeds. It’s primarily all rock and sand on the Mississippi River north of Ramsey.

[@pikehunter23750]

It's nice to finally see someone cast with their right and reel from their left on a baitcaster. I know that's random, but doesn't it just look awkward how most people are always switching hands after each cast? Seems very inefficient and clumsy, but hey.....to each their own I guess. Enjoyed the show! Always wanted to run those waters back when I was skinny. A bit too top heavy for those kayaks nowadays. Be well sir!

[@RivermanTV-]

I half jokingly call my way the "correct way" because I can't imagine not using my dominant hand for working the rod. Imparting action and muscling fish are the most important parts of fishing so why would I want to do that with my weak hand? And don't even get me started on switching hands haha. Thanks for coming along!

[@squonto47]

Sweet fancy Moses what a tank, and what a video. I love throwing a Super Fluke Jr on the Dupe and Des. I’ve experimented lately with the Zman soft jerkbait to save baits but I have a love/hate relationship with elaztech because it can get stuck on the barb or wad up around the point and I’ll lose fish. That might be what’s happening to you (I think you mentioned that’s what you’re using??). I have been starting with it lately and if they like it but it’s “one of those days” I switch to the Zoom.

[@RivermanTV-]

Not a bad idea there. I'm not sure what's the cause of losing them. It could also be my hook is a little undersized. I'm going to find a better fit. But your tactic of switching plastics is a good idea. Gonna have to try that.

[@JL-qo7cs]

Would like to know about where you are on the Mississippi. The water looks pretty clear.

[@brentschumacher2494]

Is that the upper Miss, or the Crow Wing River?

[@kenestra123]

Where did you launch from?

[@georgetollefsen994]

I don’t know which motor you have ? But I switched to the 180pro and it is supposed to be quieter but it’s not. I do have the Nk 300 and it is quiet ! Super quiet. Love your videos! Thanks for sharing.

[@RivermanTV-]

I have both the original 180 and 180 pro as of two weeks ago. I agree that the 180 pro actually seems louder which is kind of disappointing. The power on it is great but at low speeds it sometimes seems to make a lot of noise. Do you notice that too?

[@georgetollefsen994]

Yes the pro seems louder

[@RivermanTV-]

@@georgetollefsen994 is it a loud at lower speeds for you?

[@georgetollefsen994]

@@RivermanTV- yes, it’s louder at lower wattage

[@georgetollefsen994]

I love my Newport vessel motor but they are loud, aren’t they? I hear yours and it’s loud like mine.

[@RivermanTV-]

I wouldn't call it loud but it's definitely audible. When I think I'm close to fish I definitely try to use it less though.

[@briantix7693]

Nice job ! the river is awesome, which my big boat would fit. Tanner Talbot will take you out by Anoka on mississippi in a jet boat for Giants, If you book, tell him I reffered ya please

[@RivermanTV-]

It's a beautiful area. I've been meaning to hit some of the river a bit closer to Minneapolis for sure, but you know I have to do it in the kayak 😉

[@masonmoriarty2788]

what kind of hook do u run on that scented jerkshad?

[@RivermanTV-]

I think what I was using was a Zman weighted hook but I'm not sure. It's been a while since I bought them. I recommend the Mustad KVD Grip Pin hook at 1/8oz or the Zman ZWG.

[@Chief-]

Great video, would be interesting to know the baits you were using aside from what in the video appears to be a swim bait and whopper plopper.

[@RivermanTV-]

I believe I was just using a plopper or a Zman 7" scented jerkshad with a weighted hook in this video.

[@haisyburner5603]

I bet that the fish that snapped you off was a northern

[@RivermanTV-]

Could be. That's probably better than believing it was a giant smallie 😅

[@davewesternky]

Ditch that fast action topwater water for a mod fast and you won’t miss so many, especially throwing braid. Good job on some brown donkeys.

[@RivermanTV-]

@@davewesternky my moderate rod is under repair at the moment otherwise I'd be using that. But honestly, I don't think the rod is always to blame. Some days they just don't eat it as well as others.

[@davewesternky]

@@RivermanTV- true, they definitely do that. That’s when I switch from a plop style to a walking bait or a swimbait but I know topwater blowups make for good video. 😉

[@theone031]

​​@@RivermanTV-probably not the rod. Smallmouth are mean little suckers. Alot of times they just slap the bait to bully it out of its territory. Those fat chunkers hadn't missed any meals lol.