Mississippi Newbie

Hey guys,

I heard about this site through a guy at work a few months ago and am just now getting on here to check it out – great site and looks like it is full of great info. He also told me about the fishing on pools 2 and 4.

Needless to say I’m looking to learn to fish these pools and looking to see if you guys can throw any hints my way – launches, tactics, things to look out for, etc. Also, I have a bachelor party coming up and we’re interested in a guided fishing trip with a few of us. Do you guys have any recommendations of guides (or do any of you guides out there have openings in early March)? We would love to get out with someone that could show us the ropes out there.

Anyway, just wanted to get my feet wet in the forums here. Thanks again for all the good info and I look forward to “hanging out” in here.

All I can say is… when it comes to fishing pool 4 go to Everts Resort and ask questions, lots of them ,they have a few guides out of there also.

Stop into the baitshop and talk to Steve ,he will steer you in right direction on ALL your questions and needs for pool 4.

Welcome IDO, what part of the country you hale from?

Thanks Trumar! I am up in the North Branch (MN) area and am soon to be out in Hopkins on the west side of Minneapolis. Not a bad drive down to Everts it doesn’t look like!

You might want to make a trip down to ask about the guides soon,I know they fill up quick with the spring rush.

You can PM River Rat Randy or call him and to check his schedule RIVER RAT GUIDE SERVICE 651 764 0002

Go slow on the river. Things can change over night with logs floating in. Enjoy looking at new territory because there is always more to look at and learn.

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Do you guys have any recommendations of guides (or do any of you guides out there have openings in early March)? We would love to get out with someone that could show us the ropes out there.

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I would highly recommend Mike Westman as a P2 guide…Great guy to fish with and knows the river as well as anyone does.

If you are interested in his services you can PM him right through IDO.

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Stop into the baitshop and talk to Steve ,he will steer you in right direction on ALL your questions and needs for pool 4.

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STEVE?! If you want to know the real scoop on P4 talk to Kari at Everts. Steve’s just the token pretty face.

Cmon bk quit ripping in my boy!

Wasn’t BK’s walleye guide service coming online in March

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Cmon bk quit ripping in my boy!

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That’s no fun.

Russ that’s coming April 1st.

Back on topic…Trombs, do you have a boat?

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Back on topic…Trombs, do you have a boat?

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If not, BK’s is back to the dock by sunrise and is free to your use until sunset.

Yep, have a boat but if BK is offering… From the sounds of it we may have to upgrade trolling motors, though. Ours has been getting weak and if current gets strong in the spring it probably won’t cut it.

I will try getting a hold of the guides you guys mentioned. Thanks again for the tips!!

BK, am I picking up that you’re a catfish guide? Or just a catfish enthusiast? I spent about 10 years down in TX and did a lot of catfishing down there – I may have to try that out too and looks like a lot of potential for a trophy cat on these pools. Some nice pics out there!

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the fish are biting now! (the buckets in the fish house have been used quite a bit this week)

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Hmmm, no sense in waiting I’ll give you guys a holler here soon. Open on weekends?

Hah! they are open all the time.

I’ll be selling the stink down there this weekend, if you have a chance to stop in, please let us know who you are.

I’ve caught gar on the Trinity and Blues on Texomha. That’s about the only TX fishing I’ve done unless I count the little “strippers” on Texomha.

My guide season doesn’t start until April for Channel cats and the flathead season doesn’t kick in until mid to late May depending on Mother Nature.

There’s a calendar on my Briank’s World website that lists open dates.

Pool 4 is mostly known as a sauger factory and for it’s 8 to 10+ pound walleyes it kicks out every year in Feb/Mar/April. What many don’t use or appreciate is it’s other species.

White Bass
Channel Cats
Flatheads
Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Shovelnose Sturgeon
Bluegills
Crappies
Northern Pike
Sheephead
Carp
Buffalo

Did I miss anything??

Learning where, when and how to fish successfully for all the above is a huge undertaking…but fun!

Everts is a great place. There are also two public ramps in Red Wing that open up later in the spring. Colvill Park is on the south side of Red Wing. Bay Point park is in Red Wing and a good access with tons of overflow parking. And there is also the WI back channel ramp. Get a Mississippi river guide from the DNR. Lots of useful information on the river. Get a hot spots map for pool 4. Doesn’t show everything but can be helpful. Pool 5 down by Alma has a lot less pressure and a nice set of ramps. We went with Turk on pool 4 and the learning curve was huge. His boat control was ridiculous. Many of the areas are heavily fished and referred to as community spots. Jigs with plastics or minnows, blade baits and three ways are the go to methods. Keep it relatively simple. Biggest hurdle for most is the current and tweaking the jig weight and trolling or slipping speed. Keep the line vertical. Keep the line vertical. Keep the line vertical. And the jig within 6″s of the bottom as a rule of thumb. Smallest jig you can do that with is best. I go 3/32, 1/8, 3/16 or 1/4 ounce. If I have to go 5/16oz I usually start looking for less current or go shallower. Flow usually dictates water clarity. Clearer the water, the earlier and latter the bite will be and the deeper it will be. High and dirty, go shallower and the day bight gets better. For me I’ve always found orange jig heads to be one of the better producers but have had good luck with glitter colors and even unpainted jigs. If I had one plastics color to use it’d be firecracker with a chartreuse tail. With the plastics don’t be afraid to down size. Or go big. Blade baits are as close to bass fishing as walleye fishing can get. It’s a lot of fun when those fish destroy one. Navigation is always fun on the river. Stay away from the sides and the wing dams. I saw a group motor over the wing dam before the Vermillion River last year. Right over the top of it. They were going slow but the motor bucked and hammered on the rocks. It kept going after that, yikes! Middle of the week sees less pressure than the weekends. But a nice day gets everyone down there. Good luck with it.

BK, you forgot about the trophy mudpuppys. I’m not going to give up my secret mudpuppy spot though.

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BK, you forgot about the trophy mudpuppys. I’m not going to give up my secret mudpuppy spot though.

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There’s a state record out there someplace!

You can’t go wrong with Pool 2 or Pool 4. 4 might be a better choice for your time frame; but learning pool 2 will be better in the long run for your pocket book. Hopkins to South St. Paul is a considerably shorter trip than down to Red Wing. And you can’t go wrong learning it from Mike.

dd

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Steve’s just the token pretty face.

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As hard as I try, I just can’t get a rise out of them guys.

If your driving through Red Wing, stop in and see the guys at 4 Seasons Sports Shop. They have their finger on the pulse of the P4 bite too.