I could feel the little Pulse R tumbling in a slow arc down the contour break when that unmistakable “thump” of a biting fish traveled up the line and through the ES 70MF St Croix spin rod. I snapped my wrist back and the dogged headshakes of a good one put a smile on my face… moments later my friend Dave deftly netted a nice 20” Sauger…
It’s late October on Pool 4 and time for some fall fishing!
The weather could be nicer, and the water is still extremely low and and warm at 57 degrees, meaning “ya gotta work hard!”
This was my 40th trip to Everts since booking a guide trip with Moving Waters (James Holst) back in 2001… I am hopelessly addicted to the place…and have passed that along to several of my “Yooper” friends from the Upper Peninsula.
Sunday afternoon saw lots of boats up near the dam…we spent some time scouting up there and though didn’t see a lot of action, Scott K and Hannah were putting on a clinic with those sauger! 
Slipping down river and vertical jigging blades in 15-23 fow, we managed to catch several “short” walleyes and sauger. Anchoring on a current seam downstream we finally put together a pattern on firecracker/chart tail Mini Pulse Rs. and bright colored smaller blades.
By dark, my friend, Dave Anderson and I boated about 25 fish, keeping 8 decent eater Sauger for fillets.
Monday we started out by dragging jigs and different rigs up near the dam and clambeds… though we picked up a few undersized fish, it wasn’t working too well. I will say that my Minnekota I Pilot is really sweet… either on Anchor (Spot Lock), Auto Pilot or a track run. I love the anchor free operation! 
We returned to our Sunday plan and again found some nice fish, including a fat, 21” sauger that ate a clear/blue core ringworm on a sour apple jig. Our other fishing partners had a good day also. They caught several sauger, keeping some eaters up to 17” on Lindy Rigs and minnows while working near the dam.
Tuesday and Wednesday the east wind howled upriver, and the monsoons came, making casting anything very difficult…
The recent rains and cold weather is just what we need for the annual fall migration of forage fish to kick in and predators right behind them.
My best bait was either the new mini Moxie (purple/chart tail) on an 1/8 BFT jig… a small gold (walleye in the net) or purple blade (shown with a long skinny male eye) with a chart tail.. casting with 8# braid and a EX 69MLXF rod.
Sorry for the missing photos…I buried a #10 treble in the thumb/forefinger of my left hand Tues AM 
at least I didn’t bury ALL three hooks! 
It was painful, but I managed to yank them both out 
(its hell getting old 
)
We always enjoy our annual pilgrimmage to Everts and the Might Miss.
Steve and Kari are what the doctor ordered for the resort… 
You couldn’t ask for any kinder, caring and more helpful people. Jimmy will definitely win you over with that sweet smile… and he WILL remember you!
Good Luck and see you on the River in a couple weeks! 
