Pool 4 Backwater Panfish

With the forecast calling for colder temps and snow, Ron (RHW) and I decided to take one more trip to the pool 4 backwaters before they start to freeze up. We didn’t get to the water until noon. By then the temps had already started to fall. The fish were not aggressive and seemed to be almost in a negative mood, but we were able to coax quite a few into biting.

The lure of choice was once again a mini-mite jig tipped with a waxie. The jig was set 2-4 ft. under a bobber. We also tried to straight line the jigs to the bottom, trying something like an ice-fishing technique but the fish preferred the suspended jig under a bobber.

The majority of the fish we caught were bluegills, but some nice crappies also showed up. There were lots of small gills and perch in the mix of larger fish. The bite was very light. We would see the bobber slightly twitch and it was impossible to get a hookset without perfect timing. The fish were barely hitting the lure and only holding it for a split second.

By the time we quit around 4:00 it was downright cold, close to 40 degrees and a bit windy. This was likely the last time the boat will see the backwaters this season. I couldn’t help but think that ice-fishing is probably just around the corner. Sure was a fun year chasing those big panfish in open water, but now all I can say is – bring on the ice!

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Just had to tease me with all them crappie pics din’t ya. Wish I was there. Sounds like alot of fun.
Thanks, Bill

Thanks Mike for your reports. Let me just say this: the bite is slow like you stated. I have been fishing crappie minows and pike minows. I am going to switch to waxies because the areas that I fish I have a lot of bites on the minnows and then the fish leave. Believe me I have caught a lot of fish with minnows even up to yesterday (10 fish and sometimes less ). I have been fishing early morning (before day light) and am done most mornings before 10:00 a.m. and lots of time I am back in town before 9:30. I have been catching crappies and the average keepers average 11 inches. I only take 10 fish at a time and I think that the crappie limit should be reduced on the river. If you actually need to take more than 10 crappies from 11 to 14 inches you are a fish hawg. This is not to mean you Mike. It is just a feeling I have.

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This is not to mean you Mike. It is just a feeling I have.

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I think most people know that I don’t keep many fish. I have no problem with people keeping some to eat either.

Good Fishing,
Mike

I don’t keep any but I sure do love catching them.
Thanks, Bill

Mike,
Any thoughts on the upcoming ice season for the backwaters? I’m interested to see where the fish will set up this year with the lower water levels as opposed to the higher water we had last year.
Remember the consistent action we had in a couple of the classic spots last season!? Might be doing more walking this year after first ice .
Thanks, Chris

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Mike,
Any thoughts on the upcoming ice season for the backwaters? I’m interested to see where the fish will set up this year with the lower water levels as opposed to the higher water we had last year.
Remember the consistent action we had in a couple of the classic spots last season!? Might be doing more walking this year after first ice .
Thanks, Chris

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Sort of leaning toward the traditional spots, but some of the areas that I normally hit once the first spots get slow might be worth a check a little earlier. Some of the area marinas might be good for first ice. The areas that had current because of high water last year should be good bets because there shouldn’t be current this year.
I just wish we would get a few days of below 20 degrees to get the ice set up!

Good Fishing,
Mike

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Mike,
Any thoughts on the upcoming ice season for the backwaters? I’m interested to see where the fish will set up this year with the lower water levels as opposed to the higher water we had last year.
Remember the consistent action we had in a couple of the classic spots last season!? Might be doing more walking this year after first ice .
Thanks, Chris

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Sort of leaning toward the traditional spots, but some of the areas that I normally hit once the first spots get slow might be worth a check a little earlier. Some of the area marinas might be good for first ice. The areas that had current because of high water last year should be good bets because there shouldn’t be current this year.
I just wish we would get a few days of below 20 degrees to get the ice set up!

Good Fishing,
Mike

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Great info! Good point about the high current last year. A couple locations I wanted to hit never even hardened up with the heavy flow. It might even be a season of new discoveries(or revisiting old ones)!
A week or two of below freezing temps would be fantastic as long as it is followed by more moderate temps so we can stay out at Red Wing . I think I might finally throw the crappie pole in the boat to try and pick off some of the schools I keep marking on the graph that look to good to resist.
Thanks again Mike and see ya soon!
Chris