I keep reading about all the big walleyes on P2 and it may be my best chance of a personal best walleye.
Having basicly no exprience on P2 I’m just wondering what a few basics would be to find one of these beasts.
Not looking for anybodies secret spot or such, just maybe a general area and basic baits to try?
A oz under 8 pounds is my PB so far.
I may be looking for someone to fill a seat too.
Al
Try fishing for flatheads with a large bullhead, works every time! My largest eye ever came on a bullhead last year. Seriously, to me pool 2 fishes pretty much like any other river, look for current seems and such, water entry areas. The wing damns are a good bet, pitching blades and jigs over the edge usually works for me. Rip rap shorelines can be productive too, a jig and some meat. For the expert advice, ask Mike W, he’s good!
Fish shallowed then you might think. Troll cranks up steam on current edges and hire Mike!
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Try fishing for flatheads with a large bullhead, works every time! My largest eye ever came on a bullhead last year. Seriously, to me pool 2 fishes pretty much like any other river, look for current seems and such, water entry areas. The wing damns are a good bet, pitching blades and jigs over the edge usually works for me. Rip rap shorelines can be productive too, a jig and some meat. For the expert advice, ask Mike W, he’s good!
Well you may have a point, my biggest flathead (37″) was caught walleye fishing with a jig and minnow so maybe using a bullhead just might get me a walleye..:)
I’ll check with Mike too..thanks
Al
The best tip I can give you if a hog is what you are after is to eliminate all water deeper than the ten foot mark, actually maybe even six foot. Most of my biggest walleyes on P2 have come from very shallow water. I don’t even mess with water over 10′ deep down there because there’s so many fish shallow that it isn’t worth my time. Other than that all I would say just put in your time because an 8 lb. walleye is definately attainable down on P2. 
I learned a ton from Mike W and others over the years just by running into them on the river and at the landing and asking and watching. Everybody is very friendly down there.
That being said…your time up the learning curve will be shortened dramatically by hiring a guide. If you decide to … make a list of questions a mile long and ask all day long…it will make for good conversation, and years of time on the water will shrink into hours.
JP
I’ve been fishing P4 for a bit now so I have some idea’s but mostly been targeting smaller walleyes, if much of what works on P4 will work on P2 I should be ok, the tip to try shallow water helps, as I tend to lean towards fishing deeper water.
Haven’t quite the wing dams figured out yet, but seems they’re a popular spot, seems in front of them works better than behind them????
I suppose hiring a guide is what I should do, just can’t bring myself to spend that kind of money..:)
Al
In all honesty, 8# is sort of a high mark for this time of year but you certainly have a realistic shot at it. The second honest thing is that if you haven’t beat that mark on P4 you probably won’t on P2 unless you do something different than what you’re doing down there. Try anchoring above wing dams and throwing crank baits and you’ll have a shot at catching some fish if you move around a lot and stick with it.
A day with Mike will help more than you can imagine.
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In all honesty, 8# is sort of a high mark for this time of year but you certainly have a realistic shot at it. The second honest thing is that if you haven’t beat that mark on P4 you probably won’t on P2 unless you do something different than what you’re doing down there. Try anchoring above wing dams and throwing crank baits and you’ll have a shot at catching some fish if you move around a lot and stick with it.
A day with Mike will help more than you can imagine.
I don’t plan on going on a P2 crusade for a PB, but considering all the press it gets I figured it’d be worth a few trips anyway.
Plus it’s close and I can even hit it after work.
P4 is still my favorite part of the river, and the fact I can take a few fish home sometimes makes it even better.
I just haven’t figured the big walleyes there yet either..:)
I’ll have to work on the wing dams some more…:)
But I would like to try P2 and see what happens, I hear a lot about it and would like to give it a few tries.
Thanks for the info.
Al
yeah, if pool 4 is your home water stay close to home, dont bother with 2, large fish are just as common down in your neck of the river IMO. If you do want to learn it call up Muddy Waters Guide service, you will have a very accelerated learning curve.
The best way to get a 8 pounder or bigger out of pool 2 is to go fish it. There are plenty in there. To catch a big walleye your best chances are to fish big fish water and pool 2 has plenty of that. Next its a matter of putting the time in. Trying this, trying that and eliminating those small and mid sized fish spots.
Taking what you know from pool 4 and trying it on pool 2 would be a good start and most likely get you on fish in short order. From there its a matter of weeding out the unproductive spots and small fish spots. It can take some time but the big fish will start to show. Whats really nice about the river is that can happen just about anyplace and at anytime. There are plenty of them in there.
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The best way to get a 8 pounder or bigger out of pool 2 is to go fish it. There are plenty in there. To catch a big walleye your best chances are to fish big fish water and pool 2 has plenty of that. Next its a matter of putting the time in. Trying this, trying that and eliminating those small and mid sized fish spots.
Taking what you know from pool 4 and trying it on pool 2 would be a good start and most likely get you on fish in short order. From there its a matter of weeding out the unproductive spots and small fish spots. It can take some time but the big fish will start to show. Whats really nice about the river is that can happen just about anyplace and at anytime. There are plenty of them in there.
It’s that time I was hoping to shorten…:)
P2 is long enough I could spend more time than I care to fishing the wrong spots, and while I’m not looking for anybodies secret or hard earned spots, a few general area’s to try would be nice.
Just looking for a few basic spots to fish.
Wing dams seem to be one for a start.
They ought to keep me busy for a bit..:)
Thanks all.
Al
This time of the year trolling cranks can put you into fish pretty quickly and you can always anchor up on spots that produced and pitch. We are still a lot higher than usual so backwaters or tight to shore should be good still. Going out with Mike or a guide in general is good for finding the kind of flow you are looking for. Spots change all the time. What is good today might be lousy next week. Good luck!
Lots of generally good points, here’s a few thoughts that might point you in the right direction. some of these are repeat some not.
Wing Dams_anchor upstream of them about a cast away (30-50ft). Generally the brighter in the day the further out on the dam (deeper). Early mornings can find fish real tight to shore and shallow. Pitch plastics, hair, blades, cranks or jigs w/ crawlers or leeches. Look for nice clear boil where wing dam should be and you can suspect the actual top of the dam is upstream of that water disturbance by 5-10 ft depending of flow.
Rip Rap_is crap shoot unless you know a really specific part of rip rap that you’re targeting. you’re looking for little spots where the rocks are breaking the current to allow fish to sit in and ambush. troll rip rap or slip the current and pitch to it. Same baits as above.
Current Breaks_anytime you have current breaks or current seams you can anchor and pitch or troll along it and you’ve got a good shot at finding walleyes.
Trees_ this time of year with the water high, look for downed trees along shore creating current breaks and don’t be afraid to lose a few baits cause there will be walleyes in there!
Good luck, get out there and cruise the river looking for fishy spots and just put some time in. Think like a single college guy and you should do fine. The most food/beer for the least amount of work and you’ll find college guys! Most food/forage for the least amount of work and you’ll find walleyes.
Hope that helps. If you want to get out ever and want some company on P2, message me and we’ll see if we can connect.
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Lots of generally good points, here’s a few thoughts that might point you in the right direction. some of these are repeat some not.
Wing Dams_anchor upstream of them about a cast away (30-50ft). Generally the brighter in the day the further out on the dam (deeper). Early mornings can find fish real tight to shore and shallow. Pitch plastics, hair, blades, cranks or jigs w/ crawlers or leeches. Look for nice clear boil where wing dam should be and you can suspect the actual top of the dam is upstream of that water disturbance by 5-10 ft depending of flow.
Rip Rap_is crap shoot unless you know a really specific part of rip rap that you’re targeting. you’re looking for little spots where the rocks are breaking the current to allow fish to sit in and ambush. troll rip rap or slip the current and pitch to it. Same baits as above.
Current Breaks_anytime you have current breaks or current seams you can anchor and pitch or troll along it and you’ve got a good shot at finding walleyes.
Trees_ this time of year with the water high, look for downed trees along shore creating current breaks and don’t be afraid to lose a few baits cause there will be walleyes in there!
Good luck, get out there and cruise the river looking for fishy spots and just put some time in. Think like a single college guy and you should do fine. The most food/beer for the least amount of work and you’ll find college guys! Most food/forage for the least amount of work and you’ll find walleyes.
Hope that helps. If you want to get out ever and want some company on P2, message me and we’ll see if we can connect.
Thanks, some of this is the same as P4, and also the places you suggested will give me pleanty of spots, thanks much.
Ya, you aren’t to far from me, we should try and get out.. 
Al
You would do yourself a huge favor by focusing one mile in either direction from the 494 ramp. If you don’t catch a big one there you probably aren’t going to. And, as you already know, wingdams are key structure in that stretch…as is riprap, and also longlining on any sand structure you find. Backwaters can be great early in the spring. Good Luck!
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You would do yourself a huge favor by focusing one mile in either direction from the 494 ramp. If you don’t catch a big one there you probably aren’t going to. And, as you already know, wingdams are key structure in that stretch…as is riprap, and also longlining on any sand structure you find. Backwaters can be great early in the spring. Good Luck!
I like that advise! It does not have to be just that area either but anyway you go about it really break down sections and learn them. Nothing will help you more than time on the water!! If your spending time and not seeing big fish try something new or different. What ever you do dont go out and do the same thing every time. Everyday these fish will go on different bites. At times they will get pinned in a spot for a few days but not too often!!
Also learn the bait! Just like a walleye you can pattern a food source!! Unless there is food in the area good luck catching fish. Let alone a big one. I like how Micah put it “Think like a single college guy” Where there is food and the right amount of current there will be fish. What you have to do is find that spot on the spot and figure out a way to get that bait to her. The big girls will be sitting right at sniffers row 
Last allow yourself the time. If you do not get a lot of time a guide will shorten the learning curve. Dont expect him just to show you spots to fish but how to contact them fish and more or less what to look for! Either way there are a ton of fish in there between 29.5 and 30.25 this year from what I am seeing. If you do stumble on one focus on why she was there. By the time you really learn a few miles you will be able to match that bite and maybe get a couple more.
Thanks guys, I have enough spots now to keep me busy..:)
I’ll have to work a bit more on wing dams though, been trying other stuff, but seems like I’m missing some very good spots by not hitting them.
Al
With the water high and going higher and current up if you work wingdams go to the ones further down in the series and work towards shore. The wingdams at the start of a series are probably getting blasted. Good Luck!
dd
Thanks, planning on putting in near St Paul Park so that should work, today’s trip didn’t work out, so we’re gonna try later..maybe things will calm down a bit in a few days..maybe..:)
Al
I know you have gotten plenty of info by now. I would simply like to reinforce a few things some of these guys posted. Czech is absolutely correct about the bullheads. A few friends and I have been targeting walleyes with bullheads and having great success doing so. There were several other good suggestions made but, if you fish a bullhead with a bottom rig on a wingdam your chances of catching a 10lb walleye are very high. This has worked best for me fishing in less than 10 ft of water. I use up to 80lb braid, no-roll sinkers,and a 12-18 inch lead of 20-30 lb mono. You will be glad you tried it!
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I know you have gotten plenty of info by now. I would simply like to reinforce a few things some of these guys posted. Czech is absolutely correct about the bullheads. A few friends and I have been targeting walleyes with bullheads and having great success doing so. There were several other good suggestions made but, if you fish a bullhead with a bottom rig on a wingdam your chances of catching a 10lb walleye are very high. This has worked best for me fishing in less than 10 ft of water. I use up to 80lb braid, no-roll sinkers,and a 12-18 inch lead of 20-30 lb mono. You will be glad you tried it!
They work huh…ok, and here I thought czech was just trying to get me fishing cats instead of walleyes…
I’ll leave the bullheads up to him, with Moore’s gone, not to sure where to get them, I still have 400+ nightcrawlers left from the sturgeon trip disaster so I’ll bring some of them..:)
Hoping to get out there soon.
Al
Yesterday me and a buddy headed out to a backchannel in pool 2 and pulled my PB walleye by far. Ive never used bullheads for walleye but remember reading this forum and decided to give it a shot. Not 10 minutes into fishing i pulled a fat 32 1/2 out. I didnt have a scale on me but id definately say she was a good 10. I’ll prob target these walleyes this way more often. Thanks a ton for some good advice! 
Caught all my bullheads at lions park pond in inver grove heights. By highway 52 and 65th street.
A 32+ walleye is a true trophy. Hopefully you were able to get a pic of it.
JP
QUIET! You are going to get BK in here!
dd
Oh i did. I still need to figure out how to post pics on here. She was a beauty.
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Oh i did. I still need to figure out how to post pics on here. She was a beauty.
When you are creating a post, just above the textbox where you enter the text there is a button labeled “Manage Photos”. Click that and a window pops up. In that window click the “browse” button and choose your photo. Then click the “Update” button to upload the photo. Once you are done uploading all your photos click “close window”. I don’t know how many you can upload, but at least 5.
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Oh i did. I still need to figure out how to post pics on here. She was a beauty.
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