Pool 9 Report

After catching up from being over at Petenwell for most of the last week and a half, I finally got out on Pool nine in the rain this afternoon. This is the time of year with the transition from spawn to post spawn your depthfinder is the number one tool in your Boat. I us an Fishfinder 2(really and X51), and when it shows fish on the bottom it is almost always walleye or sauger. Whether on Pete or the Miss.

Anyway there are very large concentrations of sauger and walleye in several spots up and down Pool 9 right now. Were talking 10-15 per hour. Most are from 13 inches to 16 inches and females don’t seem to be biting. This is the move
we see each year as the Saugers come in heavy right after the walleye finish spawning. Again if you do have a fishfinder don’t waste much time if you don’t see the marks.
10-14 feet of water was by far most productive depths. If I was going to find the schools on my depthfinder to fish them I would concentrate on 12-13 feet.

Used three-way live bait again today, using Magnum flatheads. Whenever they are available they seem to move the average size of your catch up nicely. Captain Hook’s in Genoa has a good quantity of Mags right now, but I will probably grab most of them in the next three days, because I will have my bait keeper in the water again tommorrow.

Today I didn’t notice much difference when changing from bright colored to red hooks. Ofcource the Magnums probably kind of cover any loss of interest brought about by the brighter hooks. I pulled the riggs upriver, downriver, across the river and really didn’t see much difference. I did notice a difference in the length of the snell… when I went to 6 feet I couldn’t keep it from snagging, and less than three feet and I seemed to get less bites… Again let me stress that if you go to a spot that you usually catch fish on and you don’t see the marks on your depthfinder…move to the next spot.

Lawrence:

Thanks for your very informative and descriptive post!

As a newcomer to the Midwest Mississippi walleye scene, it really helps hearing about the techniques. I still have yet to catch my first ‘eye or sauger, but I am slowly taking it all in and having a blast learning about fishing the Mississippi.

Work keeps me off the water more often than I would like, but I try to get out at least once a week. Reading is great, but the river itself is the best classroom. You have a great website that has lots of useful information. I have almost talked one of my buddies at work into booking a trip with me under your guidance. Stay tuned.

Regards,

Joe Jiacinto

Saugers are still there…small keeper to 2# walleye being caught all over… The trash floating now as the water goes up about 6-8 inches a day makes three-way cranks a bust.

Well Lawrence just wanted to thank you for a good day on the water it would have been great if it had not been raining and cold. We all had fun and got to catch some eyes and saugers and them other things even if you did get the biggest one . I don’t know about Terry but I learned some things like make sure I take gloves and boots or you will have wet feet all day . Beleave me I know that much. Not realy you helped quite a bit weather you know it or not . I enjoyed the day on the water with you and I’m looking forward the the next one on the 13th & 14th of May. I only hope the weather is better then. Hope to get on some bigger eyes also in May but you can never tell. All we can do is our best and hope that is enough. Thanks again and see you in May. bsu (before sun up )

I’m gonna be gone for some personal fishing for a couple of days and just wanted to report that walleye/sauger are still active in the Dam and Victory area. Clements fishing float still is by far turning out more nice walleye than most other locations right now.. Still topping out around 20 inches and still surrounded by lots of smaller fish right now including a little white bass action. Yesterday quite a few 30+ inch northern were being caught from hole in the wall to the dam, with one boat anchored near shore by the dam catching quite a bunch of the fresh water Gators.

On a personal note…those of you who know Jerry Boardman might want to give a shout and tell him your praying and thinking about him. Still getting tests, but he seemed confident that his throat cancer had been caught early. When he heads up to Mayo I will try to get a room number from his wife or family, so anybody that wants to can mail or whatever.

I was sorry to here that. I will pray for him and I wish Jerry and his family the best. I have known Jerry since I was a little kid.

Lawrence. Keep me informed about Jerry Boardman. He a good guy and a tough guy. Email me his address or post info.
Thanks, John Mannerino npaa#473

Not sure whether this belongs under walleye or bass forum, but I guess I’ll put it on both.

I don’t ever remember things,(temps,etc), coming together to put the walleye’s hard move to the wingdams, the sauger spawn, and the heart of the smallmouth run coming all together at the same time but “BROTHER” it has happened. I have to say that it actually hurts to raise my arms right now. At one point I counted over 15 casts without the lure coming back fishless.

Park on any wingdam or shallow rocks that you can get your baits down on and just drag them over the top and wam. wam, wam, wam… Tons of smallies almost all keepers up to just over three pounds,(at least today), many keeper walleye,(15-17 inch), saugers and yes even a bucketmouth here and there(biggest BM was 18 inches).

The story wouldn’t be complete without the set-up. 6’6′ medium spinning rod and reel, 6lb Stren Hi-Vis, and crayfish brown Mizmo Tube(salted and garlicy ofcourse), on Taylor Tackle current cutter tube jighead. Walleye seemed to love them as much as the bass. You could sure tell when the juice was running out though. Just light pickups and drops when the taste was gone. Put a new one on and wam…right back to the action.

Want to apologize to the guys with the Ranger…if you don’t want to get schooled don’t stick your head so far into the classroom. Sorry guys I had to rub it in a little.
I know you guys read this forum and the way my tourney season has been going so far I need as much brain edge,(psych), as I can get. See you guys in a couple of weeks at the BWS.