My best is 27, several guys on this site have broken 30 on p2 but I’m not sure how recently.
several guys on this site have broken 30 on p2 but I’m not sure how recently.
Pics or it didnt happen. 
Ha. Search MikeW’s posts, I’m sure there are a few 30s among all those hawg shots.
Both of these are over 30” my biggest from p2 was a 32” around 15 years ago.
E9E32E6B-FF7F-43DC-B668-17F3E9ED8245.jpeg
30″ walleyes are pretty rare ANYWHERE in MN. I assure you there are plenty in P2. All the systems are connected and it’s the same river. If there are 30’s in P3 and P4 and the MN, then there’s nothing different about P2. While they are not common, spend a TON of time on the water being in the right place at the right time mixed in with a little bit of luck and you’ll cross paths with a handful of 30’s no doubt.
This one was caught about 30 miles upstream of P2, last May but essentially the same river since there are no barriers in between.
275149899_5254754691202825_6387060017913559921_n.jpg
190083307_4336504686361168_5068454451950136330_n.jpg
There has been a few 30s in my boat from pool 2 but it’s been awhile. Got plenty of them that fall just under the 30″ mark. None yet today but there is always a chance.
Another mark people like to hit is the 10# mark. This time of year pool 2 has plenty of those. Not uncommon to catch multiple 10s on a trip.
Both of these are over 30” my biggest from p2 was a 32” around 15 years ago.
Man, how far apart were those fish caught?! That’s wild.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>timschmitz wrote:</div>
Both of these are over 30” my biggest from p2 was a 32” around 15 years ago.Man, how far apart were those fish caught?! That’s wild.
Those two were a double. I can’t remember for sure the exact numbers from that night but we had a LOT of fish from 28-31”. Possibly the best night of truly big walleye catching ever.
Insane! One of these days I’ll be in the right place at the right time with the right bait.
Did those 2 slobs swim away? on the wall? frying pan?
Did those 2 slobs swim away? on the wall? frying pan?
Pool 2 is 100% catch and release year-round for walleye and smb/lmb
Absolutely not. Definitely don’t go to pool 2 looking for big walleyes
IMG_1234.jpeg
IMG_0704.png
Pool 4 is special for sure with how large it is + the dynamic of “Lake” Pepin and it’s forage… but Pool 2 doesn’t receive the same pressure – hence you hear of fewer big fish being caught. It’s a damn good fishery as part of the same river system. There are plenty of trophy walleyes in Pool 2.
If the guides and hundreds/thousands of boats that were on Pool 4 on a decent bite spent the same time on Pool 2, you’d hear of more large fish coming from Pool 2.
I think you have a good point bucky about the amount of fishing hours on each pool. I believe a 30″ most likely swims in p2 was just curious about success of others. Thanks for all the replys.
I think you have a good point bucky about the amount of fishing hours on each pool. I believe a 30″ most likely swims in p2 was just curious about success of others. Thanks for all the replys.
For the amount of 29s that come out, I’d say It has 30s all over in that stretch.
Only 1 over 30″ever in my boat and that was quite a few years ago.Plenty of fish in the 26″-29″ size range around lately to be caught,so have to figure there are some over 30″around as well.
Pool 2 over 30 fishing contest……..
Pool 2 over 30 fishing contest……..
Im not a betting man, but my money is on westman…
I often thought if you wanted to target bigger walleyes on the river fishing them like catfish might be the way to go. Bigger live bait. Closer to logs and structures. At night. Heavier gear to get them out of the structure. I’ve spent enough time out there to believe those larger fish just don’t get to excited about small jigs and walleye sized crankbaits fished in typical walleye spots.
I often thought if you wanted to target bigger <em class=”ido-tag-em”>walleyes on the river fishing them like catfish might be the way to go. Bigger live bait. Closer to logs and structures. At night. Heavier gear to get them out of the structure. I’ve spent enough time out there to believe those larger fish just don’t get to excited about small jigs and walleye sized crankbaits fished in typical walleye spots.
What exactly do you consider “bigger” at this point? 27+, 28+, 29+, 30+?
I often thought if you wanted to target bigger <em class=”ido-tag-em”>walleyes on the river fishing them like catfish might be the way to go. Bigger live bait. Closer to logs and structures. At night. Heavier gear to get them out of the structure. I’ve spent enough time out there to believe those larger fish just don’t get to excited about small jigs and walleye sized crankbaits fished in typical walleye spots.
Perfect 10’s and F18 rapalas! Also 10” bullheads…
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Mike W wrote:</div>
I often thought if you wanted to target bigger <em class=”ido-tag-em”>walleyes on the river fishing them like catfish might be the way to go. Bigger live bait. Closer to logs and structures. At night. Heavier gear to get them out of the structure. I’ve spent enough time out there to believe those larger fish just don’t get to excited about small jigs and walleye sized crankbaits fished in typical walleye spots.Perfect 10’s and F18 rapalas! Also 10” bullheads…
Back when I catfished the Minnesota we got big eyes on bullheads.
I’ve spent enough time out there to believe those larger fish just don’t get to excited about small jigs and walleye sized crankbaits fished in typical walleye spots.
There is a lot of wisdom in this statement just generally speaking. Walleyes are probably seeking out and eating large prey items far more than we think and seem to become size selective, biased towards the large end of the baitfish spectrum at times. I think other gamefish do the same thing.
As a data point, the last couple of ice seasons we’ve experimented with using meaty 6” hollowbody swimbaits. It’s incredible how many more fish those baits call-in and trigger vs. the more typical small spoons and jigs – often a ratio of 5:1 or more. Problem is getting hooks to find a home with all the ‘meat’ involved, which I’m still trying to figure out. The point is they clearly are selecting for larger prey items, even under the ice.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bigcrappie wrote:</div>
Pool 2 over 30 fishing contest……..Im not a betting man, but my money is on westman…
There is a fall Pool 2 IDO fishing contest and you see 27-28″ fish, but not many over that. IDK if Mike or Jon recall, but I dont remember seeing even a 29″ fish in the last 10 years. And these are folks that know how the water and put in a ton of time there.
When fishing with big live baits, I would say we catch 100 catfish to each walleye, but 90% of those walleyes are 27+. There’s definitely a May to June June pattern of those big walleyes showing up as well.
30 inch walleye in pool 2 are unicorns. I’ve caught probably around 20 fish in the 29 inch class. For some reason they grow a little bigger in the MN river, more 30 inchers in that mud hole.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
