Hello

Hey everyone. I am new to this site but not to walleye fishing. I am originally from eastern illinois but live in eastern iowa now on the mighty miss. I have chased walleye at lock and dam 12&13. This year I am looking to expand my areas a bit. I am interested in pool 4. I am planning on making a trip up but not sure when the best time would be. I was thinking early april. Any tips would be appreciated. I run a 16 foot v hull with a 55 suzuki tiller. Not the best walleye rig but she floats and is faithful. Don’t consider myself a pro but am willing to listen and learn. This will be a weekend trip with almost a six hour drive either way. Please pm me with any helpful tips. Don’t want your secret spot or bait. Just a couple pointers to help make my trip successful. Thanks.

Welcome aboard.
April is a great month to come up.You will need patience to deal with the crowds but the fishing is usually well worth it.

Welcome to Ido!

What’s your favorite way to fish rigging wise?

Because Pool 4 is one of the few places open to walleye fishing at that time of year, I would suggest finding a place to stay now. I know Everts Resort (banner above) is generally booked a year prior and that spills over to the motels rooms in Red Wing.

You’ve come to the right place for info on good ol’ P4!

Welcome! Watching this site and what the river flow is doing may determine when you come up. April can be a cruel month…spawn, post-spawn, high water, run off…good fun!

What type of fishing do you like? Chasing pre spawn big girls? Numbers of fish on cranks? Jig?

Many, many fantastic opportunities on pool 4. Your rig is just great for this water.

Welcome! I personally have no experience on pool 4, a wrong I hope to correct this year.
You’ve already made the biggest move towards success, There’s enough knowledge of that spot here to fill a library.
Get used to navigating around the site and using the private message system.

While I’m thinking of it, going through old posts helped me out tremedously.

Another way to go is to go the the Reports section LINK TO REPORTS< and change the search settings for the time and area you would like to fish.

TONS of P4 info there!

You’ll be reading from now to April 2015 and all good info!

Thanks for the replys. I usually vertically jig or run three ways with minnows, leeches, or crawlers. Have caught a few on cranks. Not used to artificial plastic baits too much. Around home I use light braid. Is that suitable for up there? Sorry for all the questions just want to be prepared for anything. Gonna look into some plastics to try as well. And as far as the crowds, I’m used to playing bumper boats. Been doing it for a couple years now. What is the current like up there during that time of year? Guessing it would all depend on the melt and such. Maybe ill see some of ya up there. Ill be the guy who seems lost lol. I have watched some videos and read some articles so I think I have an idea of the tactics. We shall see. Just excited to try a new area with a large number of walleye.

Welcome to IDO.

So I just called up to Everts and the woman I spoke to on the phone was very polite and informative. Seems like a top notch outfit. I will deffinitely stop in there to either stay if possible or launch. I am getting more and more excited with every thought. Would like to possibly hook up with someone who knows the area. Anyone willing to help me cut my teeth up there? I will pay my way and help with all expenses.

welcome to IDO — great side

You won’t be alone in April might want to avoid the tourney weekends too hard to get a place to stay.

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So I just called up to Everts and the woman I spoke to on the phone was very polite and informative. Seems like a top notch outfit. I will deffinitely stop in there to either stay if possible or launch. I am getting more and more excited with every thought. Would like to possibly hook up with someone who knows the area. Anyone willing to help me cut my teeth up there? I will pay my way and help with all expenses.

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I would be willing to help you out although I’m a catfish guide. To guide for walleyes I would need $2000.00 per hour. I have a reputation to keep.

BUT whether is Steve and Kari at Everts or me, the part time over worked and under paid help, we’ll do the best we can on getting you on the bite at the time.

Most of the time there’s someone that time of year to go out with you or you go with them. It’s just too early to line anything up now.

Looks like the dates I’m looking at coming up are tournament dates. Might have to reschedule or just take a chance. Prolly just gonna chance it and hope for the best. A buddy of mine was fishing yesterday morning and hauled a couple nice eyes through the ice just before this front moved in. Its been a rough winter so far. Dreaming of 40 degree temps and running the boat.

Can you get weekdays off work to fish?I would be willing to show you around a little during the week.

Yes I do have days off during the week. I have vacation the beginning of april. I will be off for two weeks that’s why I was planning a trip up there.

Being up there during a tournament isn’t a bad thing. Granted, its crowded and a lot of boats moving around. But it also gives a good snapshot of where a lot of structure is if you are observant

Check your PM’s.

If you want to have your best action, schedule your trip in the mid May-Mid June time period. The prespawn and immediate postspawn bite can be real fickle. That date range I gave you is generally the best bite of the year. Also, inland walleye season is open and the fish spread out more thoughout the pool so it isn’t nearly as crowded.

I’m guessing ill probably make more than one trip up there. From what I have heard and read its a great fishery year round.

Stuart will take good care of you if you go out with him. One thing I’m surprised no one has mentioned yet, a bag of cookies goes a long, long ways with information down there. I know several guys who would sell their best friends best spot for fresh cookies.

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Stuart will take good care of you if you go out with him. One thing I’m surprised no one has mentioned yet, a bag of cookies goes a long, long ways with information down there. I know several guys who would sell their best friends best spot for fresh cookies.

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Stuart is one of the best non guide guides I know. He’ll take good care of you.