The Rum River flows through Anoka before emptying into the Mississippi, but not before it flows over a dam located right in town. Kordiak said the area just below the Anoka Dam is a prime location. The Coon Rapids Dam on the Mississippi River is another good location.

Farther downstream from the dam are several shore-fishing spots, including the Interstate 694 bridge by Anoka County Park off East River Road. “You can also fish on Rice Creek where it hits the Mississippi River in Fridley near the park,” Kordiak said.

Upstream from Anoka and downstream from Elk River is another fine location for shore-fishing for walleyes. “There’s a landing by the Highway 101 bridge where you can park and fish under the bridge,” Kordiak said.

All of these locations are best fished with live bait, especially rainbow chubs and redtails when they are in season. “Minnows are best, but there are times when the walleyes prefer leeches,” Kordiak said.

Other prime shore-fishing locations include Diamond Lake located along Diamond Lake Road between Rogers and Dayton. “The area by the boat launch is good for walleyes throughout the summer,” he said.

Additional information can be found at www.actionsfishing.com or by calling (763) 422-4890. Area information can be found at www.visitminneapolisnorth.com or by calling 1-800-541-4364.

EAST METRO
The DNR Fishing in the Neighborhood (FiN) program has done a lot over the years to develop shore-fishing locations throughout the Twin Cities.

“Our program targets urban anglers and works to create places for them to go fishing. Most of our clients don’t have access to boats and are shore-anglers,” said Jim Levitt, a fisheries specialist with the east-metro FiN office.

Fishing piers and structures have been installed on numerous lakes, and a variety of species -- walleyes included -- have been stocked in these lakes. Shoreline maintenance and habitat improvement is part of this effort, partly to make shore-fishing better and mostly to improve the health of the lake.

In the east metro, one of the best lakes for shore-fishing for walleyes is Lake Phalen. Josh Stevenson of Blue Ribbon Bait in the east metro loves walleye fishing on Phalen, and said not enough people do it. He said the best shore-fishing location is the area by the fishing pier on the west shore near the inlet from Round Lake.

Levitt said the City Hall Pond in Inver Grove Heights is a great location, though it was hit hard through the ice last winter. “The great thing about it is you can walk the entire shoreline and cast into deeper water,” he said.

The lake is a former rearing pond that’s been stocked as a kid’s fishing pond since 2004. A survey last summer showed a catch rate of 16 walleyes per gill net, which is a high density for a small pond. “Those fish were all about a pound each last summer in the 12- to 15-inch range, which is perfect for eating,” Levitt added.

For more information on these east-metro locations, call (651) 772-7949 or go online to www.dnr.state.mn.us/ fishing/fin.