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6 Fishing Spots in East Grand Forks, MN

Overlook at lake for fishing with tree branches hanging over it

Getting out in nature to go fishing is easy to do in the East Grand Forks, Minnesota, area. Whether you want to go fly fishing on a river, cast a line from the shores of a lake, or take a boat out to a hidden island for deep water fishing, check out these six awesome fishing spots.

Red River State Recreation Area

Image via Flickr by Tony Webster

Right on the edge of East Grand Forks and on the banks of the Red River of the North and Red Lake Rivers, you'll find the Red River State Recreation Area. This greenway features hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, a 113-site campground, and plenty of waterways to fish and boat from. The area is surrounded by forest and prairie land and is home to a variety of wildlife, bird, and fish species.

Not only can you catch favorites such as channel catfish, smallmouth, and largemouth bass, but this riverine ecosystem is also home to lake sturgeon, northern pike, black crappie, walleye, and a variety of lake trout. If you enjoy ice fishing during the winter months, Upper Red Lake is the perfect spot for walleye. Please keep in mind that the Lower Red Lake area is tribal waters and you'll need to hire a local tribal Chippewa guide to fish in this area.

Larimore Dam and Recreational Area

Pack up the family and your fishing gear and head about 30 miles west of East Grand Forks to Larimore Dam and Recreational Area. This family-friendly recreation area features nature trails to explore, bicycle paths, and a 144-site campground. Kids of all ages can enjoy playing baseball, sand volleyball, basketball, and horseshoes. There's even a nine-hole golf course and a 26-acre arboretum.

Of course, fishing takes the spotlight here. Behind the dam, which is 66-feet high, the pool covers 72 acres where you can fish from shore, the pier, or you can launch a nonmotorized boat to fish the deeper parts of the pool. Try your hand at fishing for walleye, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, bullheads, and perch. During the winter you can go sledding or snowshoe along the trails surrounding the pool, and you can go ice fishing with other locals who enjoy this winter sport.

Ryan Park Pond

Just 6 miles from town in North Dakota, you and the kids can go fishing at Ryan Park Pond. This is a great place for kids to learn how to fish from the numerous piers scattered around the 3-acre pond. With a maximum depth of 16 feet, you can catch favorites such as bluegill, crappie, panfish, perch, northern pike, and largemouth bass. After a couple of hours of fishing, take a hike on the trail surrounding the pond, and then have lunch at one of the picnic areas./p>

Turtle River State Park

Just 23 miles west of East Grand Forks is the 784-acre Turtle River State Park. This stunning park has over 12 miles of hiking trails that take you through hardwood, deciduous, and conifer forests. Many of the trails meandering along the Turtle River where anglers can fly fish for stocked rainbow and brown trout as well as northern pike. If you forgot your fishing gear, you can borrow some from the rangers at the park office. Plan on spending a few quiet days at turtle River State Park by camping or renting a cabin that has electricity, flushing toilets, and hot water showers.

The park was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and as you wander the trails you'll notice beautiful stone bridges and log buildings. The park is open year-round and the visitor center hosts special events throughout the year including fishing derbies. Sign up for one of these fishing denies and see how well you do at catching trout.

Buffalo River State Park

Plan a couple of days to go fishing at Buffalo River State Park about 90 miles south of East Grand Forks. Enjoy visiting a vast prairie with grouse, bobolinks, prairie chickens, and upland sandpipers. Bring your fishing gear and fish along the shores of the Buffalo River where you can catch smallmouth bass and stocked brown and rainbow trout. Anglers can also catch perch, channel catfish, and sunfish, bluegill, and northern pike. You can either wade fish to get to deeper holes, take a kayak, or canoe and drift down the Buffalo River.

Bring your RV and camp at one of the 44 drive-through sites that have water, electricity, and a fire ring. Showers and toilets are available for all campers.

Icelandic State Park

Head north about 88 miles towards the Canadian border to fish at Icelandic State Park. One of the highlights of this 912-acre park  is Lake Renwick as well as the historical buildings found in the Pioneer Heritage Center. The center hosts seasonal events that show you what homesteading life was like in North Dakota in the 1800s. Before or after a day of fishing, walk through the Gunlogson Nature Preserve and stroll along the Tongue River looking for bird species such as the pileated woodpecker and western wood-pewee.

Anglers enjoy fishing for northern pike, bluegill, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, walleye, and tiger muskie. Kids will enjoy swimming in the lake and there's a concession stand near the swimming beach. You can rent canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards, so you can explore the lake and fish the deeper waters in the center of the lake. Stay for a few days at one of the campgrounds or rent one of the three rustic log cabins. If you decide to stay in the town of Pembina, you'll find charming hotels and nice little places to eat like the Blue Fox Coffeehouse or the Bean and Brush.

What Are Your Favorite Fishing Spots?

We hope you were able to catch some fish at these awesome fishing spots near East Grand Forks. What was your personal best? Where is your favorite place to fish? Did we miss a hidden fishing hole that you'd like to let us know about? If so, drop us a line and we'll add it to our list.

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fresh fish in a basket

Washing the fish smell from your car

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If you keep an open box or bag in your cooler and in your door cargo pocket, the smell will clear from the air. Ventilation and Proper Packing If you've got a full haul of fish on your hands and you couldn't clean them on-site, keeping your vehicle aired out will do a lot to eliminate long-lasting smells. Keep your windows rolled down and run your air conditioning to maximize airflow. Try to avoid stopping anywhere for too long. The longer your fish stay in your vehicle, the more pungent the smell will be and the harder it could be to remove. If you've got whole fish, make sure they are adequately packed into their coolers before you get rolling. Wrap them in newspaper or butcher's paper to soak up excess fluid and put that in a couple of layers of plastic bag. Lay the fish in layers in a large cooler so that they are as flat as possible and cover each layer with some ice. Avoid overfilling your fish coolers before travel. 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Fosston Community Library and Arts Center

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Thief River Falls, Minnesota, is an ideal place to raise a family — and we should know because the Rydell family has been a proud part of the Grand Forks community since 1954. This also means that Thief River Falls has a lot of options to find family-friendly indoor fun. The range of indoor activities in and around the city is diverse, entertaining, and enlightening. Check out some of our favorite indoor activities in the Thief River Falls area. more Fosston Community Library and Arts Center Image via Flickr by Larry Lamsa CC by 2.0 The Fosston Community Library and Arts Center at 403 N. Foss Ave. in nearby Fosston is full of entertaining and enriching indoor activities for the entire family. The library recently celebrated 60 years of service to the community. Its selection of books is a bookworm's dream. Whether you favor nonfiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, action and adventure, history, or horror, this library has something you're sure to love. 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Rental areas include a fully loaded kitchenette and a large indoor space ideal for writing groups, book clubs, business meetings, and other important gatherings. Marshall County Historical Society Just half an hour from Thief River Falls, in Warren, you'll find the Marshall County Historical Society (MCHS). Located at 808 E. Johnson Ave., this historical society and museum are packed with unique indoor attractions for the family to explore. Start out in historic Settler's Square, an accurate representation of life in the 1880s. One of the most fascinating exhibits in the square is a photographer's studio, where you can have your picture taken using an antique camera obscura. Get haircuts and shaves at the barbershop, have something made at the local blacksmith's shop, and learn to craft a meal at the Cook School. Other attractions include the Landreville Cabin, a period lawyer's office, a county church, a bank, and a general store. Check out the massive new visitor's center, a 10,000-square-foot building housing an astonishing array of exhibits. Exhibit pieces include an incredible range of war relics, a perfectly maintained Studebaker Wagon, various period farming equipment, and more. One of the more recent MCHS additions to this grand collection is a UFO car. Falls Cinema One of the best ways to relax and enjoy the day with family is to see a feature film or two at a grand theater-like Falls Cinema. The cinema is located at 15469 US-59 right in Thief River Falls. Tickets are very affordable: The adult rate is $9 a ticket, while the rate for kids, seniors, and matinee films is $7.50 a ticket. Falls Cinema showtimes are primarily in the afternoons and evenings, featuring the most popular releases. If you have a large group of friends or coworkers who love going to the movies, consider renting part of the theater for a private showing for $200. For the cheapest available ticket prices, visit during the ticket sale on Tuesdays, when all tickets are $5. If you bring a bucket with you on Wednesdays, you can fill it with a free order of popcorn with any drink purchase. Thursdays are ideal date nights at Falls Cinema, where you and your loved one can get a meal, popcorn, soda, and a ticket for $25 each. You can purchase tickets online at the theater website. The cinema is happy to host birthday parties for $11 a person. The party package includes a kiddie combo meal or a medium soda and an order of popcorn. Norskies Junior Hockey Club Enjoy one of the most beloved pastimes in Minnesota at the Norskies Junior Hockey Club. The Friday and Saturday games are among the most attended events in the area. Coach Elliot Bates brings innovative and entertaining strategies to the ice to get wins for the team. He has coached many teams in the region, including the Granite City Lumberjacks, Yellowstone Quakes, and others. The team and its coordinators are dedicated to enriching and empowering the young people of Thief River Falls. Consider allowing your child to attend tryouts during the selection camp period, which takes place each year. Prospective players must have registered with USA Hockey for the season in which they wish to play. Purchasing season tickets is the most helpful way to support the team. Plus, you avoid having to buy tickets repeatedly for yourself or the hockey lovers among your family and friends. Season ticket holders enjoy special perks such as guaranteed seats at every game, lower per-game prices than nonseason rates, and a 10% discount at the Norskies gear stand. Season pass holders also have no wait at the box office, the first choice of the best seats during playoff games, and first rights for same-seat renewal if you find a favorite spot to watch from. Ten-game flex packs are available for those who want to go to several games but don't want to spring for a season pass. Whether you favor reading and art, a stroll through history, a movie at the theater, or a good time on game night, each of these fantastic locations is ideal for a family outing on your day off. If we missed any fun indoor activities in or around Thief River Falls, Minnesota, please get in touch so we can add them to our list.