Pool 2 in May?

Not looking for spots but I have a multispecies tourney that takes place in May on pool 2 and just wondering if I’d be better up by the dam or downstream for that time of year?
tia

Al

Its hard to say Allen. High water I have had some very good walleye bites on the upper river. In the fastest water those fish can stack up on current seems tight to the shorelines. At this point high water does not look real promising. Even in moderate water trolling shorelines with crank baits from the confluence to the dam should be productive for a mix of walleyes, sauger and bass.

You can catch the same staying south on the river but I think chances are you will catch bigger fish staying away from the dam. Im already starting to think we will be looking for fish on the wingdams in may with our current river and weather conditions.

How did you do on the contest last year?

If I was targeting a multi-species bite in May, I’d work the stretch from the Hwy 5 bridge down to the confluence. You have a decent chance to boat walleye, sauger, northern, smallies and channel cats through that area. Not a big fish bite, but if catching one of each puts you in a spot to win, that’s where I’d go and troll cranks.

-J.

If it’s early May and your after Bass and Pike – I’d make a stop back in Grey Cloud. Lots of nice ones back in there.

You will drive by way to many good “spots” going all the way into GCI. Water is going to be low this year as well so my advise is to find both warmer backwater ares that have good main channel seams near them. Those backwater area will give you alot of species and the joining mainchannels seams should give up plenty of walleyes/saugers. Mid-late may the crankbaits will go on fire and a white spinner bait will find those bass and pike in the warmer backwaters.

Thanks guys, I’ve not fished P2 but once last year (One sauger Mike) and the winners were up by the damn I think, we’re probably gonna launch a ways downriver from the dam, just south of newport and was hoping we’d find fish closer to there.

Al

When your down there make sure you bring along some paddle tails and good light jigs…. 1/16 and 1/8 oz for that shallower water. And a little heavier for out in the main stream. Bet you could catch 6-8 species on that once you find them. Largies, smallies and crappies will eat those things. And Walleyes swallow them When in doubt use those crank baits as a search tool

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When your down there make sure you bring along some paddle tails and good light jigs…. 1/16 and 1/8 oz for that shallower water. And a little heavier for out in the main stream. Bet you could catch 6-8 species on that once you find them. Largies, smallies and crappies will eat those things. And Walleyes swallow them When in doubt use those crank baits as a search tool

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Thanks much, I’ve had some luck catching crappies on 1/4oz jigs and midnight blue paddletails, but I’ll make sure I have some lighter jigs too.

Al

Looks like we may be lauching out of Saint Paul Park like last year, hopefully will get out to prefish.
But we think we’ll stay away from the dam if possible.

Looks like low water, any other suggestions for multi species?

My partner wants to hit the back bays, where ever they are, sounds good, but last year the back bay we hit netted zero fish..looking for aternatives if that happens.

Tourny is May 19th if that matters.

TIA

Al

With a very early spawn looking eminent for all fish species and low water levels, I would concentrate on CURRENT. Backwaters are slow this year.