Pool 2 Report-August 5

Hit Pool 2 tonight w/ a FTR regular (who can come forward if he wants-he should, he outfished me!). All I have to say is…those poor walleye didnt know what hit them. In under 4 hours we caught about 60 eyes, a couple sauger, a few white bass, one smallie and a flathead. About 40 of the eyes went from 15-22″ with most being 18-20″. All on shad raps in slack water and all but a few in one small spot. It was the best fishing on Pool 2 that I have seen for pure numbers of solid fish.

Although I was outfished-it was only because I was being a gracious host and more concerned about my partner catching some fish (yeah right!).

Talk about a great time on the water!!!

Thanks for taking me out, Dave! That was a lot of fun. Look forward to doing it again soon.

The eye’s were really on a tear. Can’t remember that many doubles…one right after another!

Man, I wish 4 hours in the office went by as fast as those 4 hours last night!

J.

Great to hear guys. Man, that is alot of fish.
What depths in the slack water were you guys pulling raps?

Sounds like a fun night! Congrats!

Most of the fish came from 5-9′ of water. One little indentionation in the shore.

That sounds like some of the best fishing I have heard of all year! Sounds like a blast! How did the hands hold up?
Tuck

Hands are fine.

The one reason that Pool 2 is so exciting right now is that I was catching numbers of 14-16″ fish last year with a few 18″-20 mixed in. This year, all of those fish are 3-4″ bigger but still there in the same numbers. Plus, lots of smaller fish hitting big cranks aggressively too. It looks like the fishing will just keep getting better and better in years to come.

But thats OK, most people like to eat fish, so leave Pool 2 to those of us that just want to have fun on the water. It is nice not dealing with crowds.

I agree….Pool 2 has been the best place for fishing walleye I have ever been to. I’ve never been SKUNKED there, and that right there says quite a bit. I don’t mind a bit returning the fish back to the water to be caught again bye me or someone else. Plus the benefit of a low traffic area. It doesn’t get much better than that.

man I hope this is a return to the good old days!! I remember winters when it was COMMON to boat 30-40 15+ (usually 18-20″) per person per 4-5hour trip….. in fact.. that was only average….. on a GOOD day it was REALLY awesome….. and talk about MONDO saugers…. and some REALLY nice Eyes!! and you couldnt talk people into fishing it cuz they couldnt keep anything!! these are the same people who spend thousands to fish flyins?? I dont get it?…. oh well!!… I cant wait for the good ol days to return… pool 2 has had some down years… but its still one of the best around!….

Fellas-Can’t help but chime in here. I’d agree that pool 2 is about as good as it gets. There could be an argument that a couple other fisheries can compete with pool 2 but I’d take pool 2. You don’t have to drive five hours to catch numbers of quality walleyes/saugers. The bite has been up and down on pool 2 but I do not question the number of walleyes in the water. The “poor” fishing at times can be attributed to the incredible amount of baitfish. If you’ve spent plenty of time down there you’ve seen the hoardes of baitfish cruising. If you’ve ever been around there near sunrise you’ve seen the surface exploid as the smallies and whities feast. Also, in May and June, before the baitfish become bite sized the fishing is tops. Then, every year, it slows a bit. Those walleyes have so much to eat it becomes more difficult to talk them into our baits. And the other thing, you don’t have to worry about too many fishermen there as the catch and release rules scare most off. Fine by me.

Yes, Pool 2 is alright in my book as well.

DaveB,

Had a fun night there last night. 3 passes, 5 fish. So, I turned around and pitch jigs and just wallopped them as well the rest of the night. Did not seem to matter what you trew at them, Plastics, hair, cranks, and even a pitched jigging spoon!
Thanks again for the hot tip buddy, let me know when you are ready for wingie fishing and we will hook up!

Lots of 17-20 inch fish with a couple just slightly over!

You guys care to share what stretch of pool 2 your nailing them in?

Jim W

It is below the dam and above the confluence. There, I just nailed it down. The fact of the matter is, there isnt a lot of water to fish up there. Right now, with the water so high, the fish are only in a few areas where they can be out of the current.

For those of you who arent familiar w/ the Ford Dam area of Pool 2, it is narrow w/ gradual bends and relatively shallow- 17′ right now and 12′ normally. After the MN river dumps in, it gets wider and deeper. The areas that we are catching fish now would be dry or almost dry during a typical summer. Right now the current is VERY strong, I would guess 3-5 mph.

Thanks DaveB!! I fished pool 2 for the first time in the SPring with Moderate success. I thought that was the case.
Have you been anchoring, drifitng or using your trolling motor the most? Leeches, crawlers…??

Thanks again! We’ll give her a go!!!

Jim W

From May or June into fall I just use crankbaits. Normally this time of year the fish are pretty spread out and cranks let me cover a lot of ground.

This year, although the fish are more concentrated-the current is too strong for me to try and hold a spot and jig or cast. Plus, my boat is small and so like to be able and turn into waves should I need to. I have been almost swamped achoring and taking waves over the top

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