Pool 2 – Mike W. Schools Jon J.

Mike W was kind enough to offer up an open seat for a short pool 2 run last night. So after work, I grabbed a couple rods, some BFT jigs and plastics, a few choice cranks, the rain suit and of course my dog. I’m lucky that I can go from sitting at my desk in downtown St Paul to sitting in Mike’s boat in a speedy 45 minutes!!

As soon as I got to the ramp we were greeted with the start of a light, cool drizzle. We both commented about the same time how much better 66 degrees and rain sure beats the heat and humidity we’ve had all summer! Bring on the fall!

Mike had a few recent trips under his belt and decided to pick up where he had last left off. Our first stop was a wingdam with some decent flow over the end. Mike went with a BFT jig tipped with 1/3 of a crawler, I went with BFT jig and Moxie. Didn’t take long and Mike was into the first fish of the night a chunky 23 incher. He followed that up with a pair of 24 inchers in short order. That spot slowed and off we went in search for another likely wingdam.

Spot #2 did not give up any fish. Spot #3 was slow, but again Mike put a very nice 25er in the boat. At this point I make the switch over to jig and crawler. Probably a move a little late for me. Spot #4 get’s Mike yet another fish. A scrappy 20 incher off the end of a dam with slower flow.

We make one more move to an area that has been kicking out fish trolling cranks. About 2 minutes into our first run Mike sticks the best fish of the night a nice 27 incher on a grappler shad in 7 fow on a shoreline break. That fish ended up being the last fish of the trip. Mike = Slam-a-jamma, JJ = Skunk-o-rama.

Since Mike did not have a net for this trip, that left me with the opportunity to play with the video camera and get a few clips of the action. Now, please keep in mind that my dog is not a constant spaz while in the boat. But if the rod is bending or the drag is screaming, he is going to get very excited about what is going on!! He is Mike W’s cheering section.

Thanks Mike! Fun as always.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgeRzWxfjnk

-J.

Next time take some crawlers!

I think it’s shaping up to be a good fall season on Pool 2.

Awsome video, 3 questions for Mike, I noticed you had a sock out, is this to hold the boat rather than useing a 2nd ancor? 2nd was it just on the video that your depth finder was going crazy or does it happpen often? 3rd wheres the net

There was a pretty good wind coming out of the south yesterday. I threw the sock out to catch current and hold us from being pushed up river. This works well in mild wind. Now high wind or areas with very little current it does not work as well. Some times if needed Ill just run the main motor in reverse against the front anchor to hold us in place. A kicker motor or transom trolling motor would work well to.

Yep. My electronics are on the fritz. GPS doesn’t get a sat. signal and my depth finder keeps flashing threw the light cycle and also has issues picking up bottom. Im back to the old school was of finding dams and structure of lining up spots on the shorelines and throwing a lure out to see if there are any fish in there.

The nets in the garage. Had the boat cleaned out for taking the kids swimming on the croix for the last month or so.

Great video Jon. Nice relaxing trip last night.

Jon and I where talking about this fall last night to. Water temps are dropping all ready. Low 70’s yesterday. There is still some decent flow going on the river to. I like the falls where the temps drop early and we keep some good flow going. That can mean a long period of good fishing.

I might need to get down there, Only 45 minutes from my arm chair to the launch also! Thanks for the reply Mike

I would have done everything possible not to catch fish, just to keep the dog quiet.

I know that pool.

Mike looks like a bear snatching those fish out of the water. Who needs a net?

Nice fish guys.

awesome fish guys.

toyota’s takin my truck …gonna be bummin rides in the short term.

jp

In Beanies Boundaries/By-laws on another post today, could not find any rulings on substituting Rotweiler for landing net; however, you do earn a special mention in the next edition of Fishing for Dummies for remembering the video camera instead .

Nice fish and video. What size jigs were you guys using on the wingdams?

One thing about pool 2 is that its all catch and release for walleyes. If the walleye fall off at the side of the boat its not really that big of a deal. It was quickly going to go back in anyways.

Ont he other hand take me fishing on another body of water and it drives some guys nuts. Anything under 20″ is getting hoisted in the boat. I have even hoisted a few to 25″s or more. Having to release all of your fish gives a person a little bit different perspective on fishing for them.

For jig size I was using a lot of 1/4 and 5/16th. This was plenty heavy for the tops of the dams but just right for hitting the bases.

Nice fish and nice video guys!

Joel