Fishing pool 2 of the Mighty Mississip

I have always fished pool 4 but it is about a 3 1/2 hr trip one way. I only get home on the weekends and would like to take my kids and my wife out to try and catch some walleyes closer to home, and not waste half my week end driving. Pool 2 is only and hour from me, but I don’t have any ideas where to go. I understand that a lot of guys don’t like to give up info, but I don’t fish the river on with any regularity. I would just like to get a little insight as to where to round about go, I would sure love to get my kids on some good walleye action. Any info at all will be helpful, as I don’t even know where the best spot to launch would be, or what kind of hazards are in pool 2. Does anyone know where to find a decent map, I have not had much luck there either. Thanks.

Welcome to the site Larry. Did you get your Triton sold. That is a sweet looking ride.

Here is a link to river guages.

My link to maps in on the other computer.

Pool 2 is full of walleyes. Its just not good for those that want to eat walleyes. May, June and July can be hot for numbers of walleyes to. Mot of the ramps on pool 2 are pretty decent. Lions in south st paul park is the most user friendly. The 494 landing under the bridge in south saint paul is pretty good and has a dock that should be put in some time in may. Lilly dale and hidden falls are on the upper stretch of the pool. Neither has a dock. Lilly dale has rock shore line so your option is to pretty much beach the boat on the ramp if you are by yourself. Hidden falls has plenty of gravel shore to beech the boat but loading can be tricky due to a strong back current in high water levels. I would say all ramps are very usable.

Sound like if you have never been on the pool before just plan a trip to go sight see and get familiar with it. The main channel is kept plenty deep for barge traffic. As in most rivers getting off to the edges of the channel or back water is where more hazards are. A person just need to take there time exploring them.

Thanks for the info, no my boat didn’t sell, puzzling?, anyway, how much of the river do you think would be open right now? I was on pool 4 a couple of weeks ago and hammered the big sauger. I just can’t wait to get into some bigger fish, It seems that some nice walleyes come out of pool 2 this time of year.

Pool 2 has proven to be tough for me but it does have some hogs.

I am a bit confused by your post though! If pool 4 is 3-1/2 hours from your house and pool 2 is only an hour…where are you fishing pool 4? Everts is only 35 mins from pool 2 (494 ramp) I also can get to Wabasha in an hour and 15 min.

In my opinion I would drive the extra 35 mins to Everets and fish pool 4.

I live up near St. Cloud, I know when i left Everts, it was just over 3 hrs, pushing it all the way. And I do suppose it may take over any hour to get to pool 2.

10-4…makes sense now. A little heavy with 3.5 and a bit shy on the 1 hour.

I would still head to everets…Just as good of a chance for some hogs but a better chance of catching good numbers of fish.

THE 494 RAMP DOES NOT HAVE THE DOCK IN. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW BUT THERE ARE TWO WING DAMS JUST NORTH OF THE 494 BRIDGE, START SLOW IN SHALLOW WATER AND WORK YOUR WAY OUT TO DEEPER WATER THE WING DAMS ARE RIGHT BY THE GREEN BUOYS. NOT SURE WAHT TO USE, BUT THERE ARE ALOT OF GUYS GOIN UP TO THE FORD DAM.

It should be all open. May need to still keep a eye out for ice that is coming out of the back waters.

Thanks for info, have any of you guys been up there lately.

People have been out there are some reports out, myself I think it’s still a bit on the cold side to see the really good easy action, but fish are being caught and can be caught. Navionics and Lakemaster should give you a good idea where the wing dams are, in this current they shouldn’t be too difficult to locate either, just keep you eyes open, there are a lot of wing dams on pool 2 once you are off the channel.

I have been out to pool 2 and getting a few..Nothing to fast or to big yet..I’ve had my best luck on a jig and minnow with a stinger hook to get them short bites..Personally I think the river is a few weeks behind…id launch up at hidden falls so you dont have to motor all the way up..With the Minnesota river is making pool 2 dirty id fish the confluence up to the Ford Dam…The Lake master chip has no info about pool 2 and I’m not sure about Navionics..If you want some more good info try and stop in at Blue Ribbon bait in Oakdale they all fish it and know it well and they might even have a map of pool 2…..Good Luck..

The 07 lake master chip does show most of the wing dams on pool 2. NOt sure about bottom depths. Guess I dont pay that close of attention to that part of it. Depths would change greatly from one time of the year to the next any ways. The main reason I bought the lake master chip was fo rnight trolling on mille lacs. Never thought it would be such a great tool for wingdam fishing.