Pool 2 Report (2020)

Sounds good so far. Depending what time I get done with work today might head down to start moving snow. Maybe Ill bring a snow board to.

Stopped down to 494 this afternoon. Moved the snow pile the plow truck had left on the ramp. Still lots of ice on the ramp from dropping water levels the last couple weeks. Couple chisels should make short work of that. Guessing a couple more days of warm temps should take care of most of the river ice.

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494 was looking a lot better this afternoon. Most of the river ice should be gone tomorrow. Ramp still needs to be cleaned. Couple guys with chisels, shovels and 20 minutes to spare would have that open. If nobody gets to it in the morning we might get it Saturday afternoon.

Reward for getting the ramp open is big walleyes.

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Wow nice fish! I really admire you getting out there afterthem. I need to get my sorry behind up off the couch and give it a try.

Incredible!! You guys have got it dialed in down there. We are chasing hard water gators Might have to jump back to open water, and be humbled again by Ole Miss.

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Thanks for working on those ramps Mike!

It was a good weekend to be on the water.

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Jakob & dbright,

What ramp did you guys use? I drove to the 494 ramp on Sunday about 3:00 p.m. but it looked iced-in and no trailers were in the parking lot.

If the long range forecast is correct, it looks to be warmer next weekend,

Nice fish.

Thanks,

Boone

Chad and I opened up Lions Thursday night.

This is pretty incredible for late January. I admire your persistence. Certainly beats ice fishing too.

Persistence is me getting my truck stuck on the ramp twice Thursday afternoon. Got it unstuck the 1st time but still wanted to go fishing. Decided to try it a 2nd time and got stuck again. Jon had to come pull me out that time.

If you use the ramp make sure to drain the trailers before pulling out. Might want to have some sand or salt with to.

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Does anyone have any updates on the conditions of either the Lions or the 494 ramps?

Thanks

494 is very close to being open just needs someone to put in a little work.

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I would be glads to help this morning, I don’t have a chainsaw but have an ice chisel. I Was planning to launch out of Lyons but would gladly meet there. PM if you can. It is 6:48 now.

Man seems like everyone is fishing Pool 2 right now. I keep seeing pictures popping up everywhere. Does anyone know if it’s open water up by the confluence or even further upstream?

mahtofire14 wrote:

Man seems like everyone is fishing Pool 2 right now. I keep seeing pictures popping up everywhere. Does anyone know if it’s open water up by the confluence or even further upstream?

Just watched those crazy water ski dudes motor from hidden falls up to the dam. Lots of ice bergs but lots of open stuff too.

Worked for an hour this morning with the water ski club to open hidden falls. Ran to the confluence, but there is an ice jam just upriver. Huge ice bergs busted loose from the shore from the skiing are piling up.When the ice jam breaks open, it should make navigating down river from the confluence interesting.

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Good news is Eric, Chris and I got 494 open thiz morning. Bad news the bite went way down hill today. We caught 2 walleyes this afternoon. Better luck next time.

Good news is Hidden Falls ramp is open and the ice jam at the confluence is gone.
Bad news is that the remaining ice has narrowed the channel. Could not find a fish yesterday. Water temp is 33 degrees and gin clear.

We ran from 494 to the confluence on Saturday. Lots of flow coming out of the Mississippi side right now. Shouldn’t take long for that flow to break up the rest of the shore ice in that area. Typically lots of fish hold in those slacker currents that are under ice right now. Saw on the St Paul side a major part of the bank slide into the channel sometime last year. We didn’t stick around very long up there as it was a good long run back to 494.

Got out on Saturday, fishing was a little slower than I was expecting but we managed to put some good fish in the boat. Most fish were 20-22 inches with a few big ones mixed in.

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Nice fish Ben!

Any ramps still free of ice?

With it being below zero last night I would guess the river froze over in a lot of places. We where dealing with spots freezing up on us while trying to fish them this last week. Lots of pancake ice floating around. Nothing that couldn’t be dealt with with a chisel or breaking it up with the boat real quick.

Crazy boat traffic last weekend and a good part of this week. Some of the community spots have been beat up pretty good. Get away from the crowds and there is still some very good bites going on.

If you are getting out this time of year please let the trainer drain into the river for a minute or so before pulling up the ramp. Having some traction gravel or similar with is a good idea. Watch the shore ice at 494 ramp. With all the waves spashing on it it is extremely slick. Very good spot to take a header stepping into or out of the boat.

Stopped by the 494 landing today. What a treat to see 4 trailers at the lot. Hope you had good fishing! Any reports?

Sure hope that was this morning. Would be brutal out this afternoon.

I had to leave the river up Monticello around 1, wind got brutal! Fish were biting up that way.

Wonder how many boats are out today?