Quick Report from Pool 2 – Aug 27

Well, here’s my pool 2 report for August 27. There’s not that much to report. At least for our boat, anyway.

I made it out tonight with Joel Nelson for a few hours starting at 4 PM looking to see if we couldn’t round up a few eyes. We started trolling cranks on lead core upstream of 494. Nuttin. Not a sheephead, sauger or whitebass. Nuttin.

So we started bouncing dams throwing cranks, hair and plastics. Cranks just weren’t producing. Same for hair. Plastics put all our fish in the boat with the action improving as we got later into the evening and as we worked south of 494.

Not that there was a hot bait for us or anything but everything we caught came on Honey Oil Chart Tail. All told we caught a handful of walleyes, one of which was found to be deserving of the net. Throw in a couple crappie, a channel cat and a smallmouth or two and we had enough action to keep us content and on the hunt from one dam to the next but we never did find a group of fish in any one area.

Water temps were 72 – 77. Flow was light and water clarity was OK by Pool 2 standards.

We had planned to fish until dark but when it came time to check lights about an hour before sun down I found my bow light was out of commission so we had to head back to the landing before prime time.

So, nothing too exciting to report but as a buddy of mine is known to say… it beats a sharp stick in the eye.

There were a number of boats fishing just south of 494 right before dark as we loaded. Anyone else make it out with anything to report?

Been pretty slow for me as well lately. Been chasing the channel cats in 3-11 fow lately on leeches. Few walleyes here and there on jig and crawler around 8 fow. Few smallies found on rip rap really close to shore on jig and crawler. Might have to try plastics next time.

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Been pretty slow for me as well lately. Been chasing the channel cats in 3-11 fow lately on leeches. Few walleyes here and there on jig and crawler around 8 fow. Few smallies found on rip rap really close to shore on jig and crawler. Might have to try plastics next time.

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I’m at a loss for how poorly we did on cranks. Both casting and trolling. A bit unusual for this time of year…

Nice fish James and Joel.

We were out on Sunday for the majority of the afternoon tho we didn’t fish real seriously, spending a lot of time on shore for puppy swim breaks. We couldn’t buy a fish trolling but had plenty of action on the wingdams pitching Trigger X leeches and crankbaits, just nothing real big. There’s some amount of disappointment when you catch around 20fish in an afternoon but the biggest only goes 23inches; at least by Pool-2 standards.

I’m ready for fall

Thanks for the river walleye report. Don’t see them very often from ido reporters or members anymore.

It’s been hot and cold…one day you find good numbers and then the next time it’s been quiet. If anything, the Walleyes seem to be deeper right now. I’m used to pulling #7 Flicker Shads in 10 feet of water but right now you’re better off pulling a bigger bait in deeper water, 12-15 feet. The bigger fish (27++) haven’t been around much either.

Last Friday I did catch a humongous Sheephead on my 6 weight flyrod so I still have those things dialed in

Rootski

Seeing those pictures of fish with plastics hanging out of there mouths sure gets a guy looking forward to fall.

Never did get down to pool 2 over the weekend. Kids out voted me and ended up going swimming on the upper croix. Did get out one evening last week. Best bite going then was trolling the main channel north of 494. Picked up 5 walleyes in 3 passes but nothing real big.

I wacthed a guy on Friday night riding down the river on a deadhead log. He may have had too much to drink because he was loud, and profane. He had most of the pleasure boaters teed Off.
I tried to get some picures but he was just too far away.

I guess you had to be there to believe it

I took my nephew and BIL out Sunday. We caught around a dozen eyes, all trolling cranks. We hit a couple of dams, but were mostly getting sheepies, so we went back to trolling. We did catch quite the assortment of fish. Got one nice pike also trolling. No one lure really shined. The eyes were mostly 18″ – 20″, with the biggest going 23″

Can native Americans keep eyes out of P2? I didnt want to start a new post for this question. Thanks.

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Can native Americans keep eyes out of P2? I didnt want to start a new post for this question. Thanks.

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Pool 2 is not in the ceeded teritory. Pretty sure the lake farthest south they can net is Green Lake in Chisago county.

-J.

Besides the fish, highlight of the night was a Clackin’ Rap I lost, then found.

It’s been a good rock/walleye bait for me this year, and it did well particularly up on Rainy, so I thoughts I’d toss it to some wingdams. Well, the wingdam didn’t give it back.

We came back to fish the same dam later in the evening with jig/plastics, as it produced a good fish for James earlier, and I snagged up in the same spot. Not uncommon for a dam to have some specific snaggy spots, but it’s still frustrating. Grabbed the spool, pulled straight back, and both my jig and the Clackin’ Rap came back. The jig hook almost pulled straight, but still held onto the hook of the crankbait.

I wish we would’ve taken a picture of that beat-up bait, but we both agreed, that doesn’t happen everyday!

Joel

That daymarker doesn’t seem to have fish on it very often for me — glad you found a couple there!

I usually don’t spend much time on 2 in August or September just because the fishing gets so tough. But of course there are always fish to be caught!

I’m thinking that honey/chartreuse color will be a real killer out there this fall. Nice work, BFN!

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I usually don’t spend much time on 2 in August or September just because the fishing gets so tough. But of course there are always fish to be caught!

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Tough?

These fish are from last Friday and Saturday. And last September on P2 was the best trophy walleye fishing I’ve ever had, and I wasn’t even fishing for them. Lots of eyes over 27″, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this September is just as good!

It would be nice to get a lure back once in a while. Especially a $10 one and one that has been catching fish! I seem to donate one to the cause on almost every trip. Those dams never give me mine back Just gives me an excuse to go to Fleet Farm or Cabelas (like I need an excuse).

No kidding. Last year I was so proud of myself. I’d just bought a $10 fancy glass rapala that my fellow IDOers said was the bomb for wing dam fishing. Couldn’t wait to get out and try it out. Lost it to a wing dam on the first cast. Sigh. heh, heh.

James,
A buddy of mine actually saw you out there that night. We fish pool 2 by the 494 bridge a lot. Our best luck has been fan casting the wind/g dams with 3/8oz jigs tipped with a half a crawler. We have been doing VERY well besides the fact we go through a spool of line and 5-15 jigs each per outing.

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I usually don’t spend much time on 2 in August or September just because the fishing gets so tough. But of course there are always fish to be caught!

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Tough?

These fish are from last Friday and Saturday. And last September on P2 was the best trophy walleye fishing I’ve ever had, and I wasn’t even fishing for them. Lots of eyes over 27″, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this September is just as good!

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I can’t say I disagree with John23. August and Sept are nowhere near as productive as October and November.

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Our best luck has been fan casting the wind/g dams with 3/8oz jigs tipped with a half a crawler. We have been doing VERY well besides the fact we go through a spool of line and 5-15 jigs each per outing.

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Lord knows I’ve donated my own share. I’ve been avoiding the crawlers the last couple times but I might have to break down and bring them along next time. I keep praying for cold weather that never shows so I might have to give in. Thanks for the info.

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James,
A buddy of mine actually saw you out there that night. We fish pool 2 by the 494 bridge a lot. Our best luck has been fan casting the wind/g dams with 3/8oz jigs tipped with a half a crawler. We have been doing VERY well besides the fact we go through a spool of line and 5-15 jigs each per outing.

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Try pitching crawlers on Draggin jigs. The 1/8th should work well on top of the dams right now. 1/4 on the face and deeper. I loose far fewer of these than regular jigs.

Lots of eyes over 27 inches? Mind sharing a pic or 2?

Atta Boy!!! Love it! Nice Pic, Nice fish! Theres a ton of info in these posts! Thats absolutely awesome! I still cant get the image of that honey/char jig in that fish mouth outa my mind. I been praying for cool weather and normal fall myself. Warm SW winds were dominant most of last fall, ducks were confused… Cant wait til 5″ k grubs, huge chubs, and large cold water cranks all become irresistible!! soon…

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Atta Boy!!! Love it! Nice Pic, Nice fish! Theres a ton of info in these posts! Thats absolutely awesome! I still cant get the image of that honey/char jig in that fish mouth outa my mind. I been praying for cool weather and normal fall myself. Warm SW winds were dominant most of last fall, ducks were confused… Cant wait til 5″ k grubs, huge chubs, and large cold water cranks all become irresistible!! soon…

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Once we get through Tuesday things will start to head in the right direction.

Yes, it is a pain, retie after retie but the outcome is something not to complain about. I find myself re stocking my jig collection every time I go. The color selection is a hard thing to pin point, every time it is a different color. Unpainted, pink, chartreuse and blue seem to be doing the best. Between catfish, smallmouth and sheephead we go through 2 dozen crawlers a piece easily. But, when I buy my crawlers from Dick at Dick’s Tackle off Concord its hard not to buy extra (great guy, great bait). That colder weather is def in the forecast and I know where I’ll be…

You got a link to the bait shop you use? Never heard of them before. Is it close to 494 landing?

I don’t believe DicksBait has a link but he’s pretty easy to find. He’s located close to the concord and grand intersection. Head west on grand then south on concord exchange st. Bring cash. You won’t find better prices!

This info was provided in a previous post:

Dick’s Bait Shop
144 S Concord Exchange
South Saint paul
ph 651-783-2087

Yes its very small shop and very easy to miss. Great guy and yes great prices.

Have been there before. Didnt think it was open anymore. Good to know they are still around.

First cast of the evening produce this fish tonight. DT10 on a wingdam. Did manage a few walleyes and a pike to. Very nice evening to be out.