Pool 2 Report (2023)

I’m not out but wouldn’t put it past someone to give it a try. I tried Monday afternoon knowing the wind was moving in and blowing in some fast dropping temps. Was hoping that weather change might get the fish going. Seemed to do the opposite and shut them down. Trolling motor on 8 just to hold spot lock. Had to run the main motor to slow troll. Most of that ended up being just fighting with the boat to keep the bow pointed into the wind. Best move I made was getting the heck out of there before the temps dropped to far below freezing. Guess you don’t know if you don’t go. Still managed a half dozen walleyes that afternoon before the wind hit.

FYI – NWS updated the Twin Cities spring flood forecast:
“Mississippi River at St. Paul (STPM5)
Also went from less than 50% probabilities for any flooding to at least a 50% chance of Moderate:
Minor: 68% vs. 24% normal
Moderate: 57% vs. 19% normal
Major: 35% vs. 12% normal”

There’s a lot of water in the snowpack which is offset by low soil moisture, little to no frost, and low water levels.

This thaw freeze cycle we are in now should help keep the chance of flooding down. By the end of March average amount of snow on the ground is very little. Now throw in a few good days of steady rain and the water is going to rise.

Think I’ll go check out the current water levels first hand this afternoon.

If the last two years of moderate high water taught me anything it was that the vast majority have not adapted to that water level in the spring and they struggled to catch fish.

Me, rooting for high water. I just find it entertaining.

Mike W wrote:

This thaw freeze cycle we are in now should help keep the chance of flooding down. By the end of March average amount of snow on the ground is very little. Now throw in a few good days of steady rain and the water is going to rise.

Think I’ll go check out the current water levels first hand this afternoon.

I was at the science museum yesterday overlooking the river. It did not look to bad at all.

NWS also said:
The Temperature Outlook for March shows a potentially cooler than normal month with an edge toward above normal precipitation.
If this pans out, we could be adding through the month of March.

The ice sure was packing up and heading south yesterday. Flow was up and water clarity was down. Bite was slow. Only caught 2.

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Friendly reminder, MN fishing licenses expired Feb. 28. I also needed new boat license tabs, mine expired December 31.

Fishing was slow for me Friday afternoon/evening. Caught a walleye and a sauger. That’s it.
How did everyone else do?

Anyone made it upriver lately? What does Hidden Falls look like?

Fished the confluence coming up from 494 and boats were coming down so the ramp must be open.

Not to bad of afternoon of fishing for us today. Caught 19 walleyes. Most over 20″s. Eric got a pair of fat 28s for big fish. Pitching jigs with plastics.

Giving it one more shot tomorrow before the weather moves in.

Mike W wrote:

Not to bad of afternoon of fishing for us today. Caught 19 walleyes. Most over 20″s. Eric got a pair of fat 28s for big fish. Pitching jigs with plastics.

Giving it one more shot tomorrow before the weather moves in.
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When you were pitching was it a slow retrieve or were you able to work them more aggressively?

Pretty much a slow lift and move or lift and slow drop.

Photo dump from over the weekend.

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Couple more. Those river walleyes can be tough on equipment.

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Anything up shallow yet or all out in the main channel? Went out to my shore spot yesterday and didn’t get a nibble.

Mike W wrote:

Couple more. Those river <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleyes can be tough on equipment.

Did the rod break on a hook set? Strange place to break.

Yes the rod broke on a hook set and I agree it was a strange place to break. Just looked and that Rod was new spring of 17. The number of fishing trips it has been on and the number of fish it has caught let’s just say is a lot. Got it replaced with a brand new one on Monday. More than happy with JT’s replacement policy. $140 and I’m fishing with a brand new rod. That old rod didn’t owe me a thing.

It was a cold, wet and windy afternoon. Caught a surgical mask, 5’ piece of cable and some sticks!
This was weird. A North American moving semi came up over the levee at the 494 access after I launched and parked. I fished downstream and then going back upstream it was at the top of levee. When I got my trailer, it looked like he had backed down the grass hill and had chewed up some mud on the side of the road. It was parked out on the street and getting a tow.

Between that truck and the barge beaching itself at Pigseye there was some fantastic parking on pool 2 today.

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Mike W wrote:

Between that truck and the barge beaching itself at Pigseye there was some fantastic parking on pool 2 today.

Hey, I think I left my Coors in your boat, can you drop it off at my house sometime this week? Thanks bud.

Did anyone make it out today? Thinking about heading down tomorrow, not sure what the accesses look like? Would hate to slide a vehicle in the river! I imagine the sun helped a little today.

Just bring a shovel and some sand. What’s the worst that could happen?

Tyler Heikes wrote:

Did anyone make it out today? Thinking about heading down tomorrow, not sure what the accesses look like? Would hate to slide a vehicle in the river! I imagine the sun helped a little today.

I was thinking the same thing. I might try it later this afternoon if the sun makes a solid appearance

If any one is down there before 3 or 4 will you post what the launch looks like.

Lions levee is open.

Took the dog for a walk this morning. Pretty sure that’s the last of my outdoor activities today.

tomr wrote:

Lions levee is open.

Thanks for the heads up! Should be a good week to get out there.

Note to self, wind vs current sucks butt. Launched at 10. Getting off now. Fished solo because everyone else was smart enough to say no.
12 walleye between 20 and 24. 4 Buffalo, trolling batteries said no thank you. 5 hours of spot lock fighting wind vs current, batteries said go home. Launched at 494. All fish came off orange and chartreuse pulse r