bass’n pool 4 report +questions

Pool 4 is the lowest I have ever seen it and the fishing is getting tough. Not so much for numbers but for quality. I spent all day Saturday back in the ” Big Lake” at the bottom of he pool. With only 4 keepers coming in the boat I would say it was a little slow. Anywhere I found current with big pads there was fish. Even smallmouth were located back there. I found swimming a jig to be the only thing that would trigger the fish to bite. Flkipping came with little success boating only one keeper for me. Main river fishing seemed to be tough as well, I caught one 3 pound smallie of a rock current brake outside of a slough and that was the only keeper I found. The fish were all located on heavy current areas with some backflow, with rocks being a key factor. There is also a little bit of vegetation in these areas, but it didn’t seem to hold fish. My question would be, where did all thee 3+pounders go in pool 4? I know they are there somewhere!! I would like to have largemouth vs. smallies because those little bronzbacks like to move on me come tournament day! Thanks

Skeets…..
Well all the 3lb+ smallies are still there where they are every summer on pool 4.. .lol…Everyone is gonna be pretty tight lipped with the BFL being here in a couple weeks…which I’m sure your aware of….all I can say is the smallies are there…if you have some good wingdams try workin them out farther towards the tips…..Tryin workin them upstream an downstream….Sometimes that little factor plays a big role…..Hope this helps…

Thanks for the information flick. I m going to be fishing the BFL if that matters, need some largemouth though. Got any information on those? The only concentration of them I have found has been in the big lake. Have those smallmouth been in the lower end of the pool or the upper end? Have you ever fished out on Lake pepin? Any information will be appreciated. I spent a day on the upper end of the pool and only found a few keepers on the main channel, largemouth and smallmouth. I hate to have to run from treasure island all the way to the lower end of four and if the wind picks up it will get ugly.

skeets-don’t worry about running the whole lenth of pool 4..You’ll have plenty of company..myself included..And I would guess many will fish the wingers.. I did hear thru the grapevine that this tourney will be way down in numbers. They even moved the priorty date back til this Tueday. I hear only 60 some boaters so far and about 100 no-boaters..I don’t think the guys are real happy with going up to Red Wing again with reduced bags.. Or are their other reasons? But I will be surprised if they return there for a 2 day..That wil suck if only 8 or 9 guys fish the second day…Is there any rain in the forecast..We are in a drought in the middle part of WI….Anyhow save a wing dam for me..

dhnitro..knows what he’s talkin about….Pool 3 is just horrible ….so I’m sure almost every boat will run down to lower pool 4..It’s gonna be one long race..…I bet you’ll see 2-3 boats on some wingdam..its gonna be nuts…I can’t wait..the fun part is gonna be running the wisconsin channel… …To do good in this tourney..your gonna have to find some areas that are off the beatin path…..As far as the largmouth go….I’m lost myself!

Regarding the WI channel… if Stewart and I can get our c-liners through there, the bass guys shouldn’t have a problem if they scout it a little. A word of warning though, don’t think you know the way this year ‘cuz you made it through last year. There’s lots of changes to deal with.

No the bass guys won’t have a problem…but when you get 60-100 boat all running it at once..an everyone thinks they got a fast boat…All I’m sayin is there isn’t gonna be very much passing…. …It just looks like to me there could be some trouble for some!

You’re right, there’s not room to pass in a good stretch of the WI channel. Should be very interesting. I think I might start a “boat on a sandbar” extraction service for the tournament. Or sell impellers & props. Not sure yet.

ok guys here a dumb question..what are you talking about when you say the “wisconsin channel”..is this different than running the main channel? And where would it be located..I’m stuck at work and don’t have any maps with me..Is this marked on the maps? Thanks…

Yeah, it’s marked on maps. It’s the side channel that diverts from the main just south of Everts Resort. Heading downstream it runs off to the drivers left. By bypassing the no wake zones through town and Colville, running the WI channel saves at least 30 minutes of run time. As long as you don’t stick a sand bar that is.

I suppose the channel is not marked by buoy? About how far from the locks is the channel? Not sure if my little 150 can run with the big dogs…and I can’t afford any unnessary breaks in this tourney…money way to tight…go figure. Has anyone heard anything else on the BFL going there? Thanks..

No… the channel is not marked by bouys as it’s not a navigational / commercial channel. The opening to the WI is “unofficially” marked by a couple spray painted propane tanks anchored in the sand. The WI channel opening is about half – 3/4 mile south of Everts Resort and you can see the locks from Everts.

Every thing will be fine as long as nobody tries to pass and just keeps it in their pants untill they hit the lake. Im going up one day to run that bugger and learn it good.

Well I guess it’s an all or nothing tournament for me anyways. So if you see an old Ranger on fire stranded on a sandbar….don’t worry it was only me trying sumpthin stupid again ……and don’t stop to put it out …let it burn…
James and Joe thanks for the information…..much appreciated…

The area to focus your scouting on is the area just above the “cabins” on the WI channel down past the “high lines.” If you’re not familiar with these locations, don’t worry, as soon as you get back there it will become real obvious as to what I’m referring to.

Hey DH where/when did you hear of reduced limits???
I know they have been reduced in the past, but FLW outdoors web this year says 5-fish no-cull. Is it wrong ???

Goldenboy-I was told last Friday by FLW it was a 4 fish limit…but yes, I see the web page now does say 5 fish and they delay priorty also..That was due to nobody entring..Like 60 boaters….As for the fish limit…good question. As JC posted on another subject, the DNR from MN changes al the time…I’m surprised the BFL is back..I would guess.(only my thought) that the Casino played a big part of that..Sponsorship aka money… But whatever the reason..I know some guys don’t like it up there…Me I don’t like the travel time..but love the BFL….Maybe if you call the FLW they could update you personally..I don’t have time to do it otherwise I would..Hey I shouldn’t even be on here writing back….Shh..here comes my boss.. let us know what you here…..