Got my butt kicked on Pool 4 yesterday.

Man I saw the numbers and knew the river was lower than we’ve been used to the last 2-3 years but I was shocked at how it looked. More importantly how all the spots I like to park my rig looked.

We marked a lot of fish today but all we could manage were a few small saugers here and there.

I talked with some guys at the landing and heard very similar stories. How did everyone else do this weekend?

Thankfully the guy I took along NEVER gets to fish the river and was happy just catching the small sauger we did catch. That and getting the opportunity to learn/experience the river was an exciting first for him. So I was the only disappointed one.

The sheriff also felt the need to stop me and inform me that my “wake” was to big in the no wake zone. Thankfully while he was discussing that with me a Tuna Boat decided to go through the same zone on plane. We watched him get that boat and one other in about 20 minutes.

I got out on sat. Cought 3 keeper saugers and 1 crappie on the back channel than towards dark tried trolling the channel at covil and had about a 20″ sauger on than got off while I was getting the net. than cought a 17″ walleye below the bridge in red wing. Seems like all they wanted was raps and nothing else. Can’t wait till the fall bite begins

Sounds like similar reports to pool 2. A fish here and there on the wingdams. Trolling for saugers put out little better numbers but not much for size. It was hard not to enjoy that weather on the river over the weekend.

The wallabie folks I spoke with had “slow” luck dragging on the clam beds.

The channel cat bite was slow but steady.

Thursday and Friday night the flathead bite was awesome, unfortunately my boat was looking for channels and shovels those days.

Awesome fish there. I do love them sturgeon.

The river will always find a way to humble you from time to time.

We caught approx. 35 walleyes on Saturday, big fish right around 26 inches-all fish dragging SHALLOW-now with the flow finally getting down to 20K, many spots are now opening up that previously had way too much flow. Most fish were eater size–even a couple pesky channels came to the boat.

The water level on pool 4 is nearing normal summer lows. So be CAREFULL OUT THERE. There are places now that are to sallow to float your boat! Fish your normal summer spots now. The walleye bite has been fair to good this past week. DENVER RIGS or DRAGGING JIGS with crawlers have put the most fish in my boat. rrr

Randy,

Did you see me Sat. when you buzzed by? That area was LOADED with fish!

We fished the upper end of the lake on P4 yesterday with a very mixed bag of fish but nothing big. Draggin jigs with crawlers caught most of our catch but we did not try trolling cranks. Pitched some plastics and hair but not much going on that. Picked up some nice crappies and gills along with a few keeper eyes and some channel cats. back water channels with current in about 10′ were the most productive spots.