Duluth to Itasca State Park, Minnesota

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Professor Fish
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Duluth to Itasca State Park, Minnesota
<p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Spent a long weekend in Minnesota visiting family and spending time at their cabin near Park Rapids, MN on the way I did some fishing near Duluth, MN and in Itasca State Park near Park Rapids, MN. Here are some of the fishes and places.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/11024x768.jpg" /></p> <p>Gooseberry Falls is north of Duluth, it was washed out like all the rivers along the lake, I caught Creek Chub, Blacknose Dace and Common Shiner here.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/21024x768.jpg" /></p> <p>Blacknose Dace and Common Shiner</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/31024x768.jpg" /></p> <p>I fished around Duluth trying to find the Ruffe but ended up with&nbsp;lots of Yellow Perch, sunfish, Round Goby,Rock Bass, SMB&nbsp;and&nbsp;these micros.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/41024x768.jpg" /></p> <p>Spottail are most common and dominant minnow in Duluth harbor area.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/51024x768.jpg" /></p> <p>A few Mimic Shiners,</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/61024x768.jpg" /></p> <p>And aggressive logperch that outcompeted the slow moving gobies.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I had been going to Itasca since I was 5 but hadn&#39;t fished there, I started fishing near the&nbsp;lodge in a small creek that flows between Mary&#39;s Lake and East Arm. It had Killis, LMB, Stickleback and these Iowa Darters.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/71024x768.jpg" /></p> <p>In East Arm I saw schools of YOY Black Bullhead and caught these Yellow Perch.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/81024x768.jpg" /></p> <p>I got my&nbsp;second lifer of the trip at the official start of the Mississippi River the rare Fathead Minnow.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/91024x768.jpg" /></p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/101024x768.jpg" /></p> <p>On the way out I stopped at Twin Lakes that are located on the south exit of the park and got my third lifer the Northern Redbelly Dace.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/121024x768.jpg" /></p> <p>These guys stayed close to vegetation but really liked hiding near the overhanging sedge banks.</p> <p><img alt="" src="http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo220/Macabil/111024x768.jpg" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>
Mike B
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Really enjoyable read, Prof.

Really enjoyable read, Prof.

mike b

Dr Flathead
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I bet the Iowa Darter was his

I bet the Iowa Darter was his first lifer.

Nice catches Professor.  Congrats on the lifers.

pmk00001
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Sweet

Report and pics and congrats on the new lifers.

 

That looks like a sweet rod, what's the make?

Cast_and_Blast
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Dang Prof.  You are a

Dang Prof.  You are a lifelist machine.  Nice job and congrats on an outstanding angling year so far.

 

I am just curious if you checked closely any of your alleged Creek Chub catches on the North Shore.  The Lake Chub is up there too and they look just like a Creek Chub but has a very small barbel at the corner of its mouth.  

Deftik
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Thanks for sharing cool

Thanks for sharing cool photos!

Professor Fish
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PMK, I was using a stiff 3

PMK, I was using a stiff 3 section, 12ft carp rod, wasn't the best for setting hook on little fish.

 Excellent point Cast and Blast  I was fishing for Lake Chub in the supposed location they like to live near river mouths and caught one but haven't had time to research id well, it looked like a creek chub but its lateral stripe is very blue in real life, so I compared it to some creek chubs of similar size from acidic waters in central michigan.                                                                  

And below are some Creek Chubs of similar size, note pectoral fin length, and mouth size. Could not see barbel so not 100%, scale outline seems different also.

 

 

                                                                                                                    

 

 

Cast_and_Blast
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Are your first 3 pics from MI

Are your first 3 pics from MI and the last 3 from North Shore?  The 2nd pic almost looks like a small barbel on it but I can't zoom it better to tell for sure.  The barbels are small on Lake Chubs.  However, if your 2nd pic is from MI, then perhaps I am seeing things.