how long have you been fishing p4

I have been fishing it since 1986 first time there my partner caught a 10 lbs walleye! I was instantly hooked!

Just looked at an old photo of the dam on a nice Saturday in early April 1981. Six boats can be seen in the photo from just above the Y to the dam.

The SCRATCHER wrote:

I have been fishing it since 1986 first time there my partner caught a 10 lbs walleye! I was instantly hooked!

So you were the 10 lb walleye?

Fishing since 84′. Riding in the boat since 80′. My grandfather has been fishing it since the 50’s.

First time on pool 4 1978 I have been hooked ever since!

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When I was growing up in the ’60’s my mom always said if I didn’t shape up I would find myself in Red Wing (reformatory).

Had I only known…

Did it twice. Boat in 1991 open water, and 2009 airboat ice fishing. It was after the “good old days”.

While in college (94-98) my roommate was from red wing so he fished the river his whole life. He took me out in his duck boat in February or march and we hammered them. I could not believe how many fish we caught. I have been hooked ever since albeit I am a spring and fall river fisherman. I love making it down there the few times i do!!!!!

Matt

Steve, that’s a classic dennys hat!!!! I take it you have also been going there for a while? You ever had a “Rhonda special?”

Matt

3 years.

None. Hope to try it soon. Pool 2 many times, however irrelevant

Around 1966. We’d drop a boat off the levee across the tracks from the train station, hand down an outboard and head up-stream.

Just since 2015, went there about 5 times that spring. Never made it in 2016. Will be there Monday – Wednesday next week though, have a few vacation days to use before I lose them.

Since 2003. Been fishing it more and more in the last 8-10 years. I’m not much of a fish eater, just love catching em!

Since about 2011, fish it a few times in the spring each year and rarely keep fish from P4.

Great question and I may steal it for our FB Page.

I started fishing in Red Wing when I got my Drivers License, 1990. My 1st couple years were not very successful but I sure owned a lot of 3/4 ounce fireballs! Funny thing how our fishing techniques “mature”. You have to look hard to find anything other than 1/8, 3/32 and 3/16th in my boat now. chances are they will be black or plain lead as well. In the mid 90’s (like every young fisherman who discovers something new) I fished a lot for walleyes and I was fortunate enough to catch several large fish. Now I tend to see 1 or 2 per year in that 28″+ range. I sure do love this river and all it has to offer.
Chris

I’ve fished Pool 4 since the year 2000. It used to be uncommon to come within 1/8th mile of another boat while having days where each person would boat 25+ fish and 6-8 fish were close to 24″ or better each outing.

I’d wager the pressure it receives has quadrupled since then. The number of people fishing from January – May specifically has probably went up x10.

Been going to pool 4 since 2002 which is the same year I purchased my current boat. Some things have changed, but many are the same including my enjoyment of catching big river walleyes.

yes chris put it on your fb page kinda interesting to read

Since late 1990’s but seriously since 2003.
One thing for sure, the river is ALWAYs changing!

1987. Everts was hit or miss back then for bait. Always got bait at the original 4 seasons just off main in DT Red Wing. Get a few pointers from Ralph who would always be working the counter on the weekends. Then off to the back channel ramp with the docks Gene’s had in there was sweet. Yep, fist time in the water hit the closing dam and then dinged the 2nd wing dam up past the Y. Running an old 1955 C-liner 14 footer with a 7.5 HP Evenrude. Limited out in short order on that first trip. Good times.

-J.

First time I fished Red Wing was 1981 I was trying to find the date when I fished with James Holst the first time. That was when the web site was FishTheRiver.com.

I’ve only fished it sporadically the last couple of years. I wonder if I’ve even been on pool 4 more than 30 times in my life.

Maybe 10x in 2017, but I do not keep track of these things anymore.

Awesome to see photos of you gents from many years ago! Keep them coming!! Respect to you long time fishermen!!

I’m just a newb IMO!

I bought my boat in 2004 and relocated to Hudson. Been fishing P4 ever since I joined this site, in 2005 I believe.

Ironically I wasn’t born when some of you started fishing Pool 4. I have been fishing it the last 4-5 years but fished it hard the first time last year. My Folks moved to Lake City and now that I have little ones I love the free babysitting. It has been a lot of fun and extremely frustrating all at the same time. Hopefully I’ll have some things figured out before my 2 boys are looking to Dad for all the answers.

On and off for the last 8 years or so for me. Have probably only been down there 20-25 times total, only spring and fall but will probably hiring a guide for a day this summer so I can pick a rat’s brain for a morning. It’s always a trip I look forward to, really enjoy trying to put the puzzle together down there.

Started in 1969 as a deck hand with my grandparents’ commercial fishing operation. Gill nets, seining, turtle trapping, setlines…all of it. Pretty exciting for a 10 year old.
Spent my entire life fishing pool 4.

1995 or so for me. I feel like the pressure has increased, but it was awfully busy on a nice spring day even then. The info on this site back in the early-mid 2000’s along with a couple guide trips with James definitely helped me catch more and bigger fish!