Pool 4 (3/19)

Battled the crowds yesterday (Sunday) and launched out of Everts and gave it a go. I was sort of assuming maybe there wouldn’t be a ton of boats out given I’ve seen little to no reports on here. But there were a ton of guys out. Anyway…

Water temp was around 38 to 40 for me. Conditions – other than the wind – were fine. Water clarity was relatively clear, at least for the Mississippi. Tried from south of Everts to the Y. Most boats were around the Y or up by dam.

To say it was slow (for me) is an understatement. Other than a few eager bass, no walleye or sauger in my boat. I didn’t notice much other action but I’m sure some guys were having success. Talked to a guy at the launch who’d had some luck on green pulsars. A guy I know also went out with Erick Anderson and caught some, too. So I tip my hat to Erick.

I tried mostly plastics and then switched over to minnows. Same results – as in, zippo.

Highlight of the day was seeing THE SCRATCHER II’s new boat on the water. Hoped to troll by and say hi but it was a traffic jam out there so didn’t make it over.

Good luck out there.

I was out Saturday and only managed 3 sauger. I stayed away from the crowds, but did make one pass through at the Y just before I left. I figured since I had not caught anything in several hours I would make one pass to see with all the boats if something was going there. I did talk to one guy that said he had managed 2-20″ fish an hour before. I saw one really short caught, and I packed up and went home. Hopefully with the temps slowly rising the bite will get a little better.

I was out on 3/18 for most the day and it was slow. Best presentations were dubuques up by the Y, and 3 ways with #5 stick cranks at the head of the lake. We went home with 5 saugers and caught maybe 15 fish total with 10 being short.

Here are a few pics of a couple of the nicer saugers (with one going about 3 lbs), along with the oddest, darkest colored Mallards I had ever seen.

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We were out from 7-3 sunday. Had some motor trouble so we stayed near the Y the whole day. Got a few sauger and one smallie. Pretty slow going for us.

I am not a river rat, in fact that was only my 2nd time to pool 4, but I was a little shocked at the combat fishing. I have fished ML primarily for 30 years and am used to people closing in on me, but to actually have rod tips from another boat hit mine was a little too much for me.

It was great to get the open water line wet and feel a fish pulling back was outstanding.

We were out yesterday as well from 8:30 to 2 and boated 10 or so fish with a couple dandy saugers. Hair with meat and Dubuque rigs with small plastics were the ticket.

The fish were there and you had to dial in your presentation to get them.

We went home with 5 saugers and caught maybe 15 fish total with 10 being short.

Slow? What was caught the last time you were out ice fishing?
OK, slow by Pool 4 standards, I’ll give you that. LOL!

Two people in the boat this time of year. One to run the motor and one to push off from other boats while cracking jokes.

One thing that I recall a coffee cup carrying old fart told me once about fishing at the dam. “There’s about 12 miles of river before the lake, why limit yourself to 1/6th the river?”

There were about 3 boats at the head of the lake, three boats at the high bridge, two boats at Hay Creek and maybe 4 or 5 boats fishing the Young’s cabin area. Sure was lots of room (and fish) other places then the dam.

I talked with two boats below Red Wing that said it was slow. Both boats had two fish in the live well.

After the wind dropped about 4:30 yesterday, it was golden out. Brutal prior. I wasn’t happy about going in…

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Slow? What was caught the last time you were out ice fishing?
OK, slow by Pool 4 standards, I’ll give you that. LOL!

The last time you and I were out ice fishing we caught about 50 things…mudpuppys…now that was a hot bite

And yes we are spoiled with P4 and the amount of fish in that system.

Also, can anyone explain those dark colored mallards with the speckled white chest in my picture above? Domestic maybe?

They were down river by Red Wing Mountain, as I call it.

people drop off their farm ducks they don’t want in town often. There is several types of color patterns flying around there anymore it seems.

Braught 5 nice saugers home…caught about 10.

3-19-2017

Yes I enjoyed the peace from everts to pepin and even Bay City flats Saturday.

And the quiet of pool 3 Sunday.

I personally avoid everts when busy but didn’t anticipate the crowd Saturday.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

Yes I enjoyed the peace from everts to pepin and even Bay City flats Saturday.

Have any luck FBR? I am pretty sure we saw you Sat. We were in a white crestliner tiller with a Evinrude.

Pretty much just scouted the flats and didn’t find anything worth fishing, there.

I did stop and fish the shallow water between can line and the flats, with a can of corn oodles of rough drag pullers to be found.

Fished can lines a few minutes 3-way cranks and moved on. Boy it was rough in the morning.

Made my way back up and
Eventually checked out the crowds at the dam and ditched before it got busy at the ramps.

Between pool 3 & 4 I bet I put 50 miles on the boat this weekend. Lots of checking out places I’ve never been just to check them out; it’s a big river.

Lots and lots of water without boats I’ve never really enjoyed fishing in a crowd.

shockers that was me who you talked to at the landing. we were able to stay on fish, but saw lots of boats not getting the net out.

Hey Jake! Great to make a connection. If only I’d had that darn green pulsar!

Congrats on the fish.

shockers you should have pulled up always looking to chat! I was there fri sat sun we hit them good fri got 22 sat only 6 but sunday got 25 nothing big but good numbers not a pb day but fun. lost a big 1 at the surface!

Went out Friday got 12 or so, could have had 2-4 keepers fishing the Y with hair on dubuque rigs with minnows with one nice one coming on a blade bait. Monday by myself got 20 brought home 3 nice sauger. Coming on plastic dubuque rigs with a plain hook and minnow and trolling orange fire tiger husky Jerks south of the crowd. Beautiful day on Monday, but I didn’t expect the crowd. Until next time.

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Monday, I boated 10 fish, 7 large enough to keep.
10 – 20 FOW, spot locked, fishing 3 ways with a fathead minnow.