Pool 2 Report (2024)

Bearcat- if u make it out there let me know when and where you’re planning on launching/fishing. I’ll be out there Saturday sometime. Gimme a buzz and maybe we can meet up.

I got skunked from shore last night using plastics. Plenty of bait fish around

Attachments:

1. 

   PXL_20240223_032831755-scaled.jpg
   

2. 

   PXL_20240223_032929550-scaled.jpg
   

I wish I had a scoop of them for my bait bucket.

LabDaddy1 wrote:

Bearcat- if u make it out there let me know when and where you’re planning on launching/fishing. I’ll be out there Saturday sometime. Gimme a buzz and maybe we can meet up.

Will do bud. It’ll be Mason and I out there

Is it legal to net minnows out of pool 2?

PmB wrote:

Is it legal to net minnows out of pool 2?

Yes, as long as you use a handheld/dipnet. I use a folding trout net which has fine mesh when I net emerald shiners down there.

Can use a cast net if you get the proper permit or bait dealer license or whatever it’s called

Thanks for the info.

Wind forecast has me rethinking tomorrow and waiting till Sunday

I want to fish tomorrow but might have to cut wood and boil sap. Will be out Sunday.

Any intel from the confluence? Planning to give it a go Monday.

beau

Mike W wrote:

I want to fish tomorrow but might have to cut wood and boil sap. Will be out Sunday.

I will see you out there tomorrow Mike. The kid and I are going to do a all day Sunday funday on the water.

bioguy wrote:

Any intel from the confluence? Planning to give it a go Monday.

beau

Have yet to observe the big collection of boats up that way so I’m thinking they’re not that far upstream in numbers yet. Hidden falls ramp is totally clear if you want to give it a shot though.

dirtywater wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bioguy wrote:</div>
Any intel from the confluence? Planning to give it a go Monday.

beau

Have yet to observe the big collection of boats up that way so I’m thinking they’re not that far upstream in numbers yet. Hidden falls ramp is totally clear if you want to give it a shot though.

Good to know, thanks. We’ll give it a go on Monday and see what happens.

been a large school of fish at the confluence since last fall it’s just a matter of if they want to bite or not.

Found a few walleyes today but sure had to work for them. Found a few active Smallmouth to. Spent most of our time today casting plastics around the wingdams.

Attachments:

1. 

   20240225_150604-scaled.jpg
   

LabDaddy1 wrote:

Can use a cast net if you get the proper permit or bait dealer license or whatever it’s called

Just to clarify you can use a cast net for Gizzard Shad only, you do need the permit, and also there is an open and closed season (currently closed).

Did not know that. Thanks, Darren.

Out yesterday in the boat between 2:30-5:00 pmfor a short, unproductive trip. Fished mostly at/near the confluence. Tried dragging jigs and minnows and blade baits. Didn’t catch any and only saw one missed hookset nearby out of 8-12 boats. Not much going on yet, or at least not when I was out. Guy at the launch said they picked up a couple but nothing crazy.

Probably more of a night bite right now is my guess. Water super low, slow and clear.

I have the itch to get out possibly this weekend. My normal fishing boat is still in storage, but I could use my 14ft duck boat to get out on the river. No trolling motor just a 10hp 2 stroke on the back. Thinking the 494 access might be my best bet for calmer water. Would like to go upriver from wherever I put in incase I have motor issues. Anyone have feedback if another launch would be a better option?

Imho you are spot on for the 494 access. Close to good fishing lots of boats will be out of this access if you have any issues. Good Luck!

Who’s out? What’s happenin?

I only have a little time slot to get out tonight so will be launching close to home at hidden falls and sticking close, confluence to dam. I’ll give my no fish report when I get back lol

494 access was jam packed this afternoon with some guys out parking on the road.

LabDaddy1 wrote:

Who’s out? What’s happenin?

I only have a little time slot to get out tonight so will be launching close to home at hidden falls and sticking close, confluence to dam. I’ll give my no fish report when I get back lol

What’s the report jake ? We are debating on going tomorrow or staying home and shooting trap and targets

No fish.

I haven’t fished downtown or below. So leave it to your own discretion. There are a few fish to be caught throughout most of the river right now if a guy can figure them out!!

Went out today late morning to about 2:30pm today. Windy day on the river. Spent about 45 minutes at the confluence, marked a lot of fish. Lots of boats stopping through, no fish caught. Went down river and marked some fish down river of a hole. Marked huge school of fish on shallower flat across channel from the hole but only a couple snagged rough fish and figured it was big school of rough fish. Another boat had come in around that hole and was catching some fish, probably saw them catch a dozen or more. We slid out to the main channel and found a handful of saugers and lost or missed quite a few more before we headed in. Nothing big but a couple fat 15-18”ers. Wish I could have stayed and see what the evening brought but that’s what time allowed.

Does the hole you are talking about happen to be immediately below a railroad bridge?

Peter Herman wrote:

Went out today late morning to about 2:30pm today. Windy day on the river. Spent about 45 minutes at the confluence, marked a lot of fish. Lots of boats stopping through, no fish caught. Went down river and marked some fish down river of a hole. Marked huge school of fish on shallower flat across channel from the hole but only a couple snagged rough fish and figured it was big school of rough fish. Another boat had come in around that hole and was catching some fish, probably saw them catch a dozen or more. We slid out to the main channel and found a handful of saugers and lost or missed quite a few more before we headed in. Nothing big but a couple fat 15-18”ers. Wish I could have stayed and see what the evening brought but that’s what time allowed.

Does the hole you are talking about happen to be immediately below a railroad bridge?

No it wasn’t, along a small bend in the river

My reading of the regs is you can not harvest minnows from P2 unless you have a permit for a cast net to take gizzard Shad only.
Page 30 states it’s illegal to harvest minnows from infested waters unless the body of water is infested only with Milfoil. P2 is infested with more than milfoil.
I wanted to get some emerald shiners last year but after reading the regs did not net any.