When people think of fly fishing, they usually picture small trout streams or wide-open flats. Anglers often target trout and tarpon in those types of water, but those aren’t the only species you can use your fly rod to go after. More anglers are picking up the fly rod for bass, carp, and muskie these days. It’s not some temporary trend. Warmwater fly fishing makes a lot of sense, and once people try it, a lot of them stick with it.
That’s why it’s catching on, and why we see it every season on the Upper Mississippi with The Ridge.
You don’t need a plane ticket, a week of vacation, or a high-country trout stream to have a great day on the fly. Good warmwater fishing sits right in people’s backyards. From our base in Clear Lake, Minnesota, we can put you on productive water within an hour of the Twin Cities. The Upper Mississippi from Monticello up toward Brainerd is loaded with smallmouth, carp, and the occasional muskie. You can fish it after work if you really want to.
The gear is more forgiving too. A solid 6- to 8-weight covers almost everything we do. You’re not playing the guessing game with tiny midges or perfect drag-free drifts. Streamers, poppers, crayfish patterns, and a few carp flies get the job done just fine. John has been guiding this water for years after spending time out west, and one of the things he likes most is how approachable it is. You can show up with solid basics and still catch fish while you learn.
This is the part that folks don’t consider. Those fights with the fish we look forward to, with a big trout or saltwater fish, have a match here too. Smallmouth on the fly fight like they have something to prove. They dig for the bottom, jump, and use every bit of current. A good 18- or 19-inch smallie on a 6-weight feels twice its size. Carp are pure power: long, stubborn runs that test your drag and your knots. And muskie? When one finally eats, the whole boat goes quiet for a second. Then everything gets loud.
John grew up on this river. He’s fished it for over three decades and guided out west long enough to know the difference. He’ll tell you straight: the fight quality on these warmwater fish keeps anglers coming back. Trout fishing has its magic, but a hard-charging smallmouth or a heavy carp has a different kind of intensity. You feel it in your arm and in your grin when the fish finally slides into the net.
A lot of classic trout water has gotten crowded over the past few years. Parking lots fill early, and then the good runs get worked over. It can be hard to find a spot even to fish, on top of that, with that much pressure, the fish get selective.
The Upper Mississippi still gives you room to get after them without bumping into folks. We float stretches where you might not see another boat for long periods. The fish see fewer flies than their trout cousins, which means they’re often more willing to eat. That lower pressure makes the fishing more consistent and the days more enjoyable. You’re not competing for the same 50 yards of water with a dozen other anglers. It’s not empty. It’s just not overrun, and that difference matters when you’re trying to make the most of a few days of PTO on the water.
One of the best parts of fishing with us is the variety. On a single float you might catch smallmouth, carp, buffalo, and maybe a pike or muskie. Different fish demand different approaches. Smallmouth love the rocky runs and current seams. Carp cruise the softer edges and flats looking for food. Muskie hold in the bigger water and make you earn every shot.
That mix keeps the day interesting. You’re not locked into one species or one technique. You get the flexibility to try a bunch of different stuff going after a handful of species.
Warmwater fly fishing isn’t replacing trout, but it’s giving you new species to go after, in waters where the fish are aggressive, the water is close, the pressure is lighter, and the fights are real. That’s a hard combination to beat. If you’ve been curious, fish it with The Ridge Fly Fishing. John will put you on the right water, hand you the right rod, and show you why so many people are grabbing a fly rod for these fish.