Pool 2

It’s my first year fishing the river and I’ve been spending most of my time in Pool 2. We started out down by the 494 bridge and had no luck. Then, thanks to this forum went down by the dam and at least had some action. We caught a bunch of small catfish and a couple dozen walleyes on a jig and minnow. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much for size. Anyone been having any better luck? I’ve heard the bigger fish run down by the dam, but when?

Putting up with the small fish and light bites was all worth watching my buddy take his first catfish off the hook. I gave him a glove and a pair of tongs and you’d swear he was taking a deadly cobra off the hook.

Good times on the river.

They are there. Have you fished the tail of the island? Anchor in 3′ or so and pitch jigs downriver on top and each side of the break around dusk. Tough getting “the” spot this time of year though. Low light you can vertically jig these fish and get some from time to time too. Otherwise, fish other slackwater areas on the current break away from the crowd.

How big are the smaller ones? 18″? Under?

Hope to make it out on Wednesday!

We fished that whole area on the back side of the island. The far north end was full of crappies and south end was where we caught most of our walleyes. Like I said though, they were very small. We caught a few, that would have been eaters if we were keeping them, that were over 15 inches. When I said small, I wasn’t kidding. We talked to a few other fisherman in the area and they were having the same luck. Only one had caught a fish over 20 inches and he had been there all day. If you catch them at the right time is this a good spot to fish, or are you better off to make the trip to pool 4?

I have always found March-April (once the water comes up) to be real hit or miss for me on Pool 2. It seems like I will have one good day for three bad ones. But the good ones are real good- a handful of fish over 24″ are not uncommon on the good days.

One note-I am a lazy fisherman. Just jigging or trolling, no casting. Some others do very well fishing different methods that I havent taken the time to try.

June has been my best month for cranking on the upper part of Pool 2. Big females still on the upper part of the river looking to start feeding.

I went out last night. The bite wasnt great. That bait shop near Lilydale wasnt open-so no minnows. I know plastics dont work and my daughter tagged along, so I just pulled some cranks. 2 nice sheepies (3lbs+), 16″ eye and smallie. I saw some dude on shore catch a 16′ eel. I am glad that wasnt me, my daughter would still be screaming. All the fish came on a jointed firecraw shadrap. Other colors didnt produce a fish.

Flow was fast, but the water wasnt that high. The water was fairly clean, but still some leaves and trash in the water. Clarity was poor, but typical for this time of year.

The night was shortened when the rain came, but it was nice to be out on the water for the 1st time in a long time.

Am I reading that right??? 16 FEET!!!

IT WAS HUGE!!!! It grabbed the 2 fisherman and started to pull them into the murky depths of the mighty Miss when I pounced on the savage beast…

Either that or it was only 16″

Hittin’ the cold ones a little hard the other night on the river??

It sounds like a lot of people eat fish out of the river huh? I wasn’t sure if the water was clean enough, but I’d love to bring home a walleye for a sandwich every now and then.

How’s the bite been lately with the water rising? I was thinking of heading out tomorrow morning, but I’m not sure weather to fish Pool 2 or head to Pool 4. Any suggestions?

If you’re looking to keep any you better go to Pool 4 because Pool 2 is Catch and Release only