AFTER THE HOT BITE…

Once the annual “Hot bite” is over and the crowds settle down a bit this Spring, how is P4 after that, say the first part of May?
I really hate pulling cranks even though I have a bazillion of them, i still like the jig, pulling spinners, Lindy Rig, or bottom bouncer presentation thing vs. just trolling cranks, how is it there?

I need to stay closer to home this spring and Summer and won’t be able to venture to South Dakota as much as i normally do which is my preferred location.

Tips, tactics,what the Walleyes do, and how they transition after the spawn, and how you fish differently for them at that time vs. now. Any advice at all would be appreciated

The post spawn bite on pool 4 is “NORMALY” Awesome. Starts the 3rd week of april and lasts to the end of may depending on water conditions. If you havent fished that time of year before cut the learning curve and hire Guide. River Rat Randy…..651 764 0002… ….rrr

It’s terrible. You should go anywhere else. There’s no fish in Pool 4 after the opener…or before

Actually as mentioned it is quite good and a guide cuts down dramtically on the learning curve and the number of boats drops a lot due to inland openers.

Good question. There are days in May or June or July or August when I’ll go out and just pull spinners and crawlers because I like to and Fish can be caught. Then there are days when I just want to drag small jigs and nightcrawlers or leeches and fish can be caught. Then there are days when I want to just cast live bait rigs with Willow cats and fish can be caught.

Not trying to be a smarty-pants or anything but I like to fish a lot of different ways and pool four is the best fishery that I’ve ever fished where a person could use a variety of techniques to catch fish all summer long.

Where and when…well, if I knew that much I would be somebody named River Rat Randy. And I am not in his league. Yet

Dumb question here Scott K (i’m a rookie still on the river thing) but what the heck are “Willow Cats”?

Willow cat basically looks like a small bullhead. BK will most likely throw in the correct Latin name and origin of the species as well. They are like walleye candy and as expensive as imported chocolates too!

nice picture

Quote:

---

Willow cat basically looks like a small bullhead. BK will most likely throw in the correct Latin name and origin of the species as well. They are like walleye candy and as expensive as imported chocolates too!

---

..Where rrr those 2 willow cats now i want them. …rr rr

Mad Tom (willow cat)<<

I wouldnt worry about Willow Cats. After the spawn and once the fish have left the grounds and moved shallower it is crawler time. Ill grab the trolling rods and make runs in several different side cuts/channels to pinpoint the fish and then come back and drift crawlers over them. This is still my 80 yr old grandpas bread and butter in the wisconsin channel, split-shot, hook, and 1/2 a crawler. Dont be afraid to go shallow (<3ft) and even during the brightest part of the day. If you dont like trolling you can drift and cast shorelines with raps also.

I find the spring/summer pattern, atleast for me, is a more consistent bite.

I hear rice lake has some walleyes.

Quote:

---

I hear rice lake has some walleyes.

---

Until they rotenone it this yr. There is an article in the globe gazette today

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I hear rice lake has some walleyes.

---

Until they rotenone it this yr. There is an article in the globe gazette today

---

Got a link?

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I hear rice lake has some walleyes.

---

Until they rotenone it this yr. There is an article in the globe gazette today

---

Got a link?

Globe gazette article

Thanks!

I would say the real “hot bite” on the river/Pepin is in May and June. The only reason its a zoo early is because it is one of the only places you can fish eyes legally for Minnesotans that time of year.

Better numbers, better size, catch them any way you want and all up and down the system. May and June are kickass down there.