Pool 5 Results for 3/24/02

All I can say is ouch!Driving into Alma,I tend to get a bit anxious waiting to see how crowded it is below the dam.Today was no different.Poking along watching the eagles,I eagerly awaited the point in which the pool was visable.When it appeared,I was excited to see all the availabe room for me to fish.Then reality set in…why were there no boats?Oh,there all in the channel I thought…sure thats it,all in the channel.A few blocks later reveal that,the channel too,is a lonely place.Hmmmm.Pulling into Cenex I am somewhat happy that the price of gas is 6 cents a gallon less than back home,so I decide to fill up.Walking in,I see Randy casualy hangin out with the locals,no doubt talking bout the better days ahead.I didn’t even have to ask,the look on his face told me the whole story.I said I have to at least try as long as i’m in town.(Randy did mention something about an open tavern!)Another bad sign was the minnows…they looked out at me and yawned,completely aware they were in no danger.Pulling into the ramp area revealed only three rigs were out.

I did notice a lot of big,boat gouging,chunks of ice perilously floating about.I tried down river wingdams,a couple backwater bays,and of course below the dam.Jigs,ringworms,twisters,minnows…didn’t matter,nothing was biting.I noticed the water temp hanging a steady 35.3 degrees,a full 5-6 degrees colder than at pool 4 yesterday.I can only wonder if this is a result of the ice chunks from Pepin.I did manage to scrounge up one Sauger about 4″ long.At first I thought it was my minnow,but soon remembered I hadn’t been using one for awhile.Oh well,better days ahead.

That trip sounds so familiar. We had one good night last week, and that was the best day we had since January. I feel for you man. The only reason we found them was the seagulls were going crazy we came into the area and found shiners ( not shad) floating. We thougth right away that there had to be walleyes pounding the shiners. Sure enough, and that became our best day on pool 5 this year.

Yeah pool 5 sux. was out on saturday with a buddy and we caught 2 catfish in 5 hours. I highly suggest going to pool 4 due to the fact that it is the only place that produces decent fish.

Hey Riverrat. There was nothing casual about the conversation. We were discussing what kind of dynamite works best for cold water walleyes.You didn’t bring back those fillets you promised me. Say hi to that pretty wife of yours . Seeyou next week.

Hehehe,dynamite.How much is that a pound?Do you use a stinger with it?Oh,i’ll try to remember my quarters next time too,maybe I can get dealt in on a hand of poker with everyone…lmao!