Cutler Dam

[DjHill16]

So from everyone's knowledge, is it legal and ok to go and fish the river below cutler dam as far up as to where the water is coming out of the power plant? Either by boat or from shore?
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[gmwahl]

As long as you don't run into any "no trespassing" signs you should be OK.
I don't think you can legally get to the outflow coming out of the power plant. I've fished it as far up as is legal and can't really say that it has been any better there than elsewhere on the river for the first few miles below the dam. I do think if you had your mind really set on it then you could maybe slip a kayak up close. But there are too many rocks and too shallow for a motor. I don't recall seeing any line that you aren't allowed to cross if approaching from water, but I could just as easily be dead wrong..... I just don't recall seeing one is all.

Mike
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[DjHill16]

I was just thinking all the big cats are going to be in structure and possibly deep water. theres lots of rocks from what I can see on the maps and just the idea that where the water is coming out is going to create a pretty big hole in the bed of the river where they could just stick to the bottom and wait for food to come to them as those eddies swirled around instead of using a lot of energy scavenging around for it.
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[binlurkin]

you want to be pretty careful with that. back in the day when it was a good place to go for the walleye run, we lost a distant relative up there for not getting the heck off the rocks and back to shore when the water release came up fast.
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[gmwahl]

It can be good for fishing, but the best places are pretty hard to access legitimately. There are a few pretty deep holes along there. As was stated, it used to be decent for walleyes during their spawn, but it can be really dangerous if you are staring up the throat of the outlet when they increase flows. Just being a half mile downstream the water can come up fast, so if you try it just be careful.

Mike
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[sharksugar101]

When I was up there last I couldn't go much further than the bridge. They have a gate with a no trespass sign on it. Maybe there is another way in, I don't know.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

They have signs on the gates, and usually close them at 3pm (per the signs). You can still drive down past the generator, and across the bridge. But the area from that bridge up to the powerplant has limited hours.

BUT - if the gates are open, you are allowed to drive in. They do have warning signs about the horn sounding before water rises. But as said - not to be trifled with!

I've caught a lot of cats there, but nothing contest worthy. Though you always hear stories... there is a deep pool right where the water blasts out from the water-building. But water moves really fast there.

Bass, Crappie, Sunfish, Carp, Brown Trout, Bluegills, and more Carp. Oh, and catfish. And yes - Walleye too.

Used to be you could fish from the boyscout camp (Fife) but they don't allow anglers anymore (THANKS you trash-head scum!). It's hard to get river access farther down, from what I've seen. Unless you go knocking on a farmer's door for permission.

I've talked with the guys at the powerplant, nice folks. They don't mind folks fishing there. But I have heard that after hours, or beyond closed gates, you could be ticketed by the sheriff. I was told they've had vandalism problems, and even had folks cutting copper wires (LIVE copper wires!!! Meth heads! "Here's you sign!")
I have seen folks walk in after the gates close. So enter at your own risk.

Just my experience there.

[lavaman]

Caught some good cats there and even a really nice Brown Trout. It was that time fishing there with you, Ben and I think Andy...and the fishing wasn't the only thing hot, I think I about melted away that day! Hate fishing in that heat.

I think it was that time Ben had on a good one and the Cat ran under some rocks or something and broke his line. He was livid hehee
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