Pool 2 Report (2022)

A buddy of mine was up around the confluence last weekend and said fishing was good. Mix of smallies and eyes, but nothing was very big. I’m struggling with North vs South this weekend.

If you want numbers your best bet is up near the dam. You’ll rarely catch a fish over 20” up there though. A jig and minnow up there right now will probably put a lot of fish in the boat.

I was south of lions today…just a few hours mid day. Caught about a dozen with all but two between 21-23”. I would consider it an ok bite given the changes in weather and midday fishing.

Water was 53-54 still so we haven’t seen the big cool down. Most fish were caught slow rolling cranks. My guess is the bite is probably better after dark now. With daylight savings it’s time to start working the night bite!

Fished between the confluence and dam a few times the past week and managing about 8-10 walleye/sauger mix per day speed trolling lures in 10-14 FOW. Nothing massive with the biggest couple being 20”-22”. At times it took up to 2.4mph to trigger bites but they were very solid smacks.

Fishing was tough until it got dark yesterday. Ended up with 6-8 eyes, a few smallies, and a PB whitey. Cranks worked best, but a jig caught a few also. All between the confluence and the dam.

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I was out Fri and Sat for a couple hours each trip. Numbers were down but bigger fish have been showing up. We had a couple in the 27-28 inch range. #6-7 cranks baits have been best.

On a side not the Crappies were eating some big baits on Saturday. I caught 5-6 of them. 5 inch K grubs and crank baits. I might go back and target these guys. There are some big ones down there!!

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Made it out twice in the last two weeks to take advantage of warm temps and low winds. The wingdam bite seems to be in full swing with both numbers and quality fish showing up, including a couple breaking the 29″ mark. I’ve had better luck on pulseRs than moxies with some fish hitting right at the boat.

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Nice fish bioguy!!

Fished Wednesday afternoon for a few hours. Caught 7 walleyes using cranks and plastics on wing dams. Nothing over 20”.

Nice fish fellas . Maybe I should be hitting the wingdams on pool 4

Lots of action today, made it worth getting soaked!!!

DaveB wrote:

Lots of action today, made it worth getting soaked!!!

I left work today and thought it would be a great night out there even with the rain. Low wind and warm, why not. Sounds like it paid off!

You’re killing’ me, Smalls. Truck is in the shop so I’m on the beach. Sigh.

SR

We were out last night from about 5-9pm. Weather really cooperated and so did the fish. We had a half dozen over 25” with most fish between 20-23”.

If this was the last time out for the year it was a great way to end it!

Hi all, was anyone else out fishing last night? I fished out of the Levee and stayed down river. Did not see anyone else out fishing??

The flow is up and the water has really cleared up from what it was last week. I will load some photos and post them in a bit. Fishing was fantastic!!!

Water was 42.4 degrees. With the increase in flow we might make it through the weekend without the ice getting too bad. Time will tell. Its going to get cold!

Here are a few from last night.. I was out solo so not the best photos but you can get the idea. Fishing was GOOD!

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Dang Buschman! Those are some toads. Any measurements?

Holy smokes, I try real hard not to get jealous….but this does not make it easy.

Nice fish!Was out last Tue,Wed,Thurs and Sunday bite was pretty good.29″ being the biggest,plenty 20-23″,lots of small ones and found quite a few nice saugers over 20″.Also some random pike,sheepies,whitebass and smallies mixed in over the few days.Mostly fatheads,some on plastics,didnt try too much casting/trolling crankbaits

Craig Sery wrote:

Dang Buschman! Those are some toads. Any measurements?

I believe the biggest was 28.5. I only put two on the tape to be honest. They finally started putting on the weight this week so was happy about that. I hope we get some better weather in Dec and get to go check on them again!

Got out for probably the last time this morning. Day bite wasn’t that good but the night bite the last couple weeks has been great.

Overall it was a really good bite all year…consistent from April through now and quite a few big fish.

Here’s one from the other night.

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Good bite going the last few days. One of the better number bites I seen in a while on pool 2. Size is a bit off but still lots of fun. We hit 60 today on the clicker. Pitching plastics around wingdams was producing well but there are plenty of fish going in other areas to. 28.5″ was the biggest. Good number of mid 20s. Plenty of smaller fish to weed through. Back at it for one more day tomorrow.

We hit 60 today on the clicker.

Had to work for them at times today but still got the clicker to hit 97. Lots of smaller 15 to 20″ fish active right now. Still the occasional mid 20″ fish mixed in. Couple 28s for all our effort. Pitching jigs with plastics was working well.

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Awesome!
I’m fishing Monday. Are you fishing wing dams?
Or wing dams and other locations like shorelines?

We spend a fair amount of time with the side imaging looking for fish. They are on a number of different structures. Deeper holes, wingdams and break lines.

Thanks Mike. I’m building confidence knowing what are fish on side imaging. Had some experience on a rolling sand bottom that looked like a Humminbird ad.

Looks like a ridiculous bite out there at the moment for some. Those fish are not short of food in any way from the looks of it either.

We had a good bite Monday. Biggest 23.5”. All on paddle tails.
There were about 6 trailers in the 494 lot when I left at 6:30.
Any reports on the night bite?

The bite really slowed down for us after dark both Saturday and Sunday evening. We were probably doing it wrong though.

Still a crazy good bite going on Pool 2. 115 walleyes, saugers and even a nice saugeye was the total from yesterday. Caught most of them pitching cotton candy paddle tails. Best spot of the day was on the down river side of a hole casting in the main channel. Cast after cast for hours catching fish. Seems to me right now if you locate the fish chances are they are going to bite whatever you put in front of them.

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