Lower pool 4 backwaters

Looking for some advice on the backwaters along dike road, I’ve only fished a couple spots in that area on the east side of the highway. How cautious should I be venturing further away from crowds as far as ice condition, if there any areas with current that I should be aware of? I’m looking to find some deeper holes that might hold some crappie. I’ve only fished spots like 4-7ft deep. They’ve been fun tho I’ve had good luck with perch but would like to venture around n find new spots. Any help is appreciated. I’m not asking for specific spots just if it’s worth walking back in further and if there’s areas to stay away from. Thanks for any input.

As far as areas to avoid, the inlet at Indian Slough is still mostly open and few hundred yards into that main area looping well back behind the dike road accesses. The current along the high lines about 1/4 mile back from the Eastern most landing is noticable carving out a couple nice holes, but I haven’t been back there to check ice and wouldn’t feel comfortable telling someone to head back there having never fished it. Everything to the “up river” side of the dike is still thin and will be for most of the season as the current can really move through there.

Not all crappies on the river necessarily race to the deep holes like on a lake, or at least this early. The weeds I’ve fished have still been green meaning oxygen levels and insect forage is probably still doing well in shallow flats and sloughs. Where I’ve fished there’s been 3-6″ of clear ice letting light really penetrate. If after crappies, I’d be out fishing the lower light windows right away and then at dusk. The handful of decent ones I came across yesterday were in 6.5′ of water right at dusk. In my experience, backwater crappies will scatter faster than any other fish from sound or shadows on a blue sky day through thin ice. Bluegills and perch are less likely to scare.

Feel free to send a PM if you want to talk about real specific locations.

Crappies are in 4 feet or less no need to look for “holes”. Water is really low all along pool 4 so not sure these holes hold fish anyway like Bucky says. Finding safe ice is what I would look for this early.
When you say dyke road are you talking 25 from Wabasha to Nelson or the road from pioneer to the dam? I was scouting this fall down from pioneer and the water was really low but I have little experience there.

Bucky, that makes sense about crappies hanging in shallow if there’s food and vegetation around. I was also wondering if there were any deeper holes in there since the main river itself is so low ha! I don’t have much experience in the area but would love to get some time in fishing down there. I do realize that even with the water being low there’s still current more in some areas than others and need to keep that in my mind. I have mainly fished the river from pepin to red wing so I’m not sure where the current is in them backwaters. Thanks for the input!!

Eye guy, I was talkin about the dike road on 25 between wabasha and Nelson. I believe the lot I parked in the sign read “beef slough”. I walked maybe a 1/4 mile back. There was power lines crossing there but no open water there was a good 5-6 inches of ice where I fished. Thanks for the input!!