Pool 2 Report (2021)

Don’t think I’ve ever asked this before. So how are the ramps holding up to these low water levels? Trailers hitting the end of the ramps yet? How is it getting out of the back channel at Lions?

Thanks.

I had no problem at 494 last week, water 82 degrees, some decent fish coming on cranks, didn’t bring any live bait

Mike W wrote:

Don’t think I’ve ever asked this before. So how are the ramps holding up to these low water levels? Trailers hitting the end of the ramps yet? How is it getting out of the back channel at Lions?

I used Lions on Sunday afternoon. My 17 foot with a 115 hp could get out of the back channel. I trimmed way up and was stirring up mud just before you get to the dock to head to the channel. I saw as shallow as 1.1 ft and I probably sit a foot or so down. Side imaging shows a bunch of groves where skegs have been went through the mud.

I used the downstream ramp without any problems but only put the trailer in about 3/4th the way. I don’t know if there’s a wash out hole and didn’t want to find out.

You’ll have no problems with your jon boat.

The crankbait bite is officially on. Caught 5 different species in 2.5 hours trolling over the lunch hour today. Biggest fish 29″ pike. Biggest walleye 18″ and well-fed.

boone wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Mike W wrote:</div>
Don’t think I’ve ever asked this before. So how are the ramps holding up to these low water levels? Trailers hitting the end of the ramps yet? How is it getting out of the back channel at Lions?

I used Lions on Sunday afternoon. My 17 foot with a 115 hp could get out of the back channel. I trimmed way up and was stirring up mud just before you get to the dock to head to the channel. I saw as shallow as 1.1 ft and I probably sit a foot or so down. Side imaging shows a bunch of groves where skegs have been went through the mud.

I used the downstream ramp without any problems but only put the trailer in about 3/4th the way. I don’t know if there’s a wash out hole and didn’t want to find out.

You’ll have no problems with your jon boat.

Reata made it through Lions on Saturday…..churned up a little mud though!

dirtywater wrote:

The crankbait bite is officially on. Caught 5 different species in 2.5 hours trolling over the lunch hour today. Biggest fish 29″ pike. Biggest walleye 18″ and well-fed.

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Launched at Lilydale early Sunday morning,landing was fine.Trolled around for a few hours.#4hornets 5-10ft,fish were biting well.Caught walleyes,sauger,smallies,pike,sheepies,crappies,catfish.Flat calm and the little shiner minnows were jumping all over the suface across the whole river,shore to shore in the 4 or 5 miles I covered.Quite the sight with their shiny reflection in the bright sun.Amazing thats only a tiny fraction of the baitfish in the river.

this one hit a #9 shad rap, caught a couple on big tail dancers too. big baits, big fish!

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Dave, That 28er is a real nice fish this time of year in these low and slow river conditions!

-J.

No doubt. I’ll be pulling out the bigger baits next time. We were getting hit on 7’s, anything with a rattle produced. I have a box full of 9 and 11 tail dancers, time to bang ’em along the bottom and see what happens.

Jon Jordan wrote:

Dave, That 28er is a real nice fish this time of year in these low and slow river conditions!

-J.

Thanks Jon, its weird, when I don’t wait for you to find a net, I actually get big ones into the boat! (Jon is great for putting me on big fish, he is THE WORST at helping me land them)

Jon Jordan wrote:

Dave, That 28er is a real nice fish this time of year in these low and slow river conditions!

-J.

He’s using the bump board backwards…..it’s actually a 24″.

Great fish

Nice fish Dave!

Dirty Water is right, crankbait bite is on. Caught a bunch of walleyes, biggest 18”, 2 pike, 2 big white bass and 2 small smallies. The big one, of course, got away. #5 firetiger Flicker Shads.

Tried a #7, wasn’t as good. Thought about trying a big crank but was having too much fun. Maybe tomorrow.

Jim wrote:

Dirty Water is right, crankbait bite is on. Caught a bunch of walleyes, biggest 18”, 2 pike, 2 big white bass and 2 small smallies. The big one, of course, got away. #5 firetiger Flicker Shads.

Tried a #7, wasn’t as good. Thought about trying a big crank but was having too much fun. Maybe tomorrow.

Was out again yesterday, a little slower than last Tuesday and a lot less species diversity. We boated 10 between noon and 4, 8 were walleyes. Biggest 22. Every fish came on a #7 jointed flicker. They didn’t touch the 5’s on our lines, or the #9 tail dancers banging off the bottom. Not giving up on the hunt for bigger fish though.

Big Cranks = Less fish

but

Big Cranks = Big Fish!

If you catch a decent one on a trolling run don’t be afraid to spot lock and burn those cranks on that spot for a bit. Big ones tend to swim in pairs.

Good to see Jon and Patrick out last night. Mostly just swimming with the dog for me, but heard the jig bite was ok.

BTW – The walleye jocks are coming to P2.

I’ve got 5 days off before the tourney – think I’ll beat the crap outta those fish for em.

Looking forward to seeing the pros on Pool 2. Low warm water and no live bait should make a challenging bite. Do they get just a day or two of pre fishing? Think the last month they where not allowed on pool 2.

Looks like 3 days, Mike:

Although the pros are limited to only three days of pre-fishing on Pool 2, they will be able to fish any of the other pools on the river, thus extending their pre-fishing time for as long as they want. This could be a real game-changer for those who have little or no experience fishing through the various moods of the big river, especially since only a few have ever fished Pool 2 in the past.

Not sure why they would spend any time on another pool?

-J.

The little I’ve fished other pools Pool 2 does seem to fish a little different. Think a lot of this might be due to lack of fishing pressure and size of fish. Think there is a 2# minimum for the contest.

Was just reading through the rules. These guys are really on their own for figuring out pool 2. 30 days prior not allowed on the water. 30 days and pre fishing not allowed to talk to anyone about pool 2. Must pre fish alone. I couldn’t find the minimum weight rule but do think there is one. That means if you see these guys out pre fishing about all you can say is hi.

A few of these guys are good river sticks and should figure a bite out pretty fast. Those that are not best of luck.

Pre-fishing the 9-11th then. Agreed – not sure what benefit you’d get outta fishing P3 for example.

I don’t think they’re going to get the weights they got in the last tourney but ya never know. We will definitely see some bigger fish. Will be fun to see where they are fishing/catching some of the bigger ones. Can add some spots to my summer milk-runs.

I’m planning to be out fishing at least one of the tourney days!

It will be interesting….the few times I have been out recently the bite has been very good but I’ll bet half the fish came on live bait. There were certain areas you knew fish were there and they only wanted live bait. Couldn’t buy a bite on anything artificial.

I think there’s a 70# daily bag like Okada did on ML. Shouldn’t be uncommon for a guy to a get handful of fish in a day over 5#. The numbers are also there so it could happen.

Had a similar bite today as I did yesterday. Lots of walleyes, biggest 17.5”. Tried bigger lures, similar sized walleyes. Had a better fish on and came unhooked at the boat, wouldn’t come up. Partner had one big hit.

Epic mayfly hatch today. Does that slow down the bite on P2?

Got down today for a few hours…..no bugs to speak of.

Did well….bite’s been good recently so interested to see how the head to head guys do.

Launch at 494 is still good…..hoping to be out again a few times over the next couple weeks.

Had a similar report yesterday for us. Bite was pretty good, handful of eyes, with enough other fish to keep you pretty busy. We caught all our fish pulling cranks.

How are the p2 ramps looking? Specifically, has anybody launched at hidden falls lately? Contemplating launching there tonight. Thanks!

I think the walleye summertime blues are upon us. We scratched a few out this morning but it’s getting tougher. Not much flow anywhere and the fish seem much less aggressive. Maybe this cool down will fire them back up again.

I won’t complain about an ok bite when it’s a hundred degrees outside though!

Had the same experience on P3 last Friday…..scratched some out but it was a bit of a grind.

Interested to see how the H2H guys do without live bait. Got a few on cranks today but live bait has been the ticket recently.

Does anyone have any insight as to the ramp condition at hidden falls? Trying to choose between a local lake or the river(I’d prefer the latter) for tonight. Have a buddy in town who lives up in silver bay, so I’d like to put him on some fish. Maybe just troll some cranks around on the upper end. Just don’t want to get there and find the ramp unusable if I don’t have to. It’s a light 16’ tin boat FYI. Thanks

Don’t think you’ll have issues. That ramp is deep. 494 has been fine and it’s a shallow ramp. With a 16’ boat you’re golden.