After work today I headed down to Preston, Minnesota, about 35 miles southeast of Rochester, to try for Silver Redhorse on the South Branch of the Root River. It was a beautiful evening to fish — around 75 degrees, partly sunny, and almost no wind.

The river was extremely high compared to the last time I fished here in June. An older gentleman, probably in his 80s, told me they’d had a ten‑inch rain upstream about a week ago, which explained the high water.

I got a lot of bites but had trouble hooking fish. I was using a bottom rig with a size 8 hook and a bit of red wiggler, sometimes switching to a piece of earthworm. Both baits drew strikes, but for whatever reason most fish weren’t getting hooked.

I did manage one Brook Trout and one White Sucker, but still no Silver Redhorse. Oh well — still a very enjoyable evening on the river.

By the way, can you see the lateral in these two fish? I can.