Pool 4 virgin

I didn’t want to hijack the recent “P4 Red Wing” thread that I almost started this in.
I have never fished pool 4, I don’t even know what a wingdam is! I would really like to get out there sometime in March. Not sure about heading out alone. So I would enjoy the opportunity to fish it with someone familiar with it. We could use my boat but I’m guessing if I went with someone who knows their way around they would probably want to drive their own boat. I have about thirty bags of plastics yet I have the feeling that the one their biting on I’ll have to buy!
So if anybody finds themselves looking for a second let me know. I’m good with a net and I’ll pay for the gas, bait and bring snacks and whatever you want to drink.
It sounds like I’m missing out on some pretty enjoyable fishing with chances at some big fish!
Thanks!
Scott

Big Fish?

When in March?

My boat will still be sleeping.

OH! You’re talking walleyes aren’t you. Never mind.

You could give your p4 fishing skills a huge jump start just hiring a guide. I would recommend Marty Hahn at http://www.mississippiriverwalleyes.com

Not a bad deal when you consider the knowldedge a guide shares, his boat, gas, bait, lures including jigs and plastics, quality rods and reels.

You could fish a lot days on your own to learn what a guide will show you in just 6 to 8 hours…

Marty is good.

Brett King is guiding as well.

I can’t speak to the guides, but I will say that whatever you end up doing, Everts Resort on P4 is a wealth of information. If you do end up heading down there with your boat, I’d start with launching at Everts and ask them for some general advice. They’ll even point out the wing dams for you. Good luck.

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I can’t speak to the guides, but I will say that whatever you end up doing, Everts Resort on P4 is a wealth of information. If you do end up heading down there with your boat, I’d start with launching at Everts and ask them for some general advice. They’ll even point out the wing dams for you. Good luck.

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X2!

Last year I went down to Pool 4 for the first time ever. I launched out of Everts and made a point to stop in a talk to them. They provided me with a lot of great advice. I told them it was my first time down there and they brought out the map of the river. They pointed out the hazards and even pointed me in the right direction to reel in some fish. The wing dams were on my GPS, but it sure was nice to have them reassure me of where they were when we looked at the map. I was afraid to go to pool 4 as well, and I still am a little weary to go again, but overall it was a really fun time with absolutely no hassles what so ever. I highly recommend that you load up the boat and head down there to enjoy the fishing. Don’t let the river scare you from getting a line wet. Just use common sense and look out for things floating in the water and you should be fine. Good Luck!

One thing I have wanted to ask is, what are the proper ways of navigating the river when there are a bunch of boats around. I have heard people on here complaining about how people didn’t use common courtesy when they are navigating the river. Some people say go slow and cause no wake, but on the other hand if you would go slow by every boat out there it would take 2 hours to get from the launch to the dam. I understand if you have to drive close to people to slow down, but where does a guy draw the line? Please educate me on what is the proper way of going from point A to point B, because I plan to make another trip down there this spring and I think it is good information for anyone thinking about going down there for their first time.

Call me different…it’s ok.

From Everts to just down stream of the Vermilion I’ll go however fast I like.

When I get to the group at the vermilion, I put along at no wake speed.

Then I’m on plane up to the first (furthest down stream) wing dam. At about that point when there’s boats fishing I’m at no wake again. Yeah it takes a bit longer but it also gives me time to see what’s going on with other boats.

The boats that are on plane up to the dam annoys me, but as long as it doesn’t endanger other…no big deal.

As always it’s up to everyone in the boat to help watch out for the other guy. When in the group they can help push off of other boats too.

Most folk are very calm when it comes to fishing with a couple hundred other boats. Pay attention to where your going. If someone is pitching to the shore line, you should be able to spot that before you’re driving between them and shore.

As many boats that are up there each year, I’m still amaze as to the kindness and thoughtfulness of these anglers. Sure there’s occasions when two people puff up their chests and have at it, but it’s a very small portion of the boaters.

Almost forgot!

If your on the MN side near the dam and you notice a person that’s waving frantically at you…

He’s not happy to see you or mad at you…so don’t wave back or flip him off.

He’s trying to let you know you’ve forgot about the wing dam you’re about to hit.

Just don’t be that guy plowing water going maximum speed without the boat being on plane. Either idle past a group of boats at 5mph or if there is a wide berth to go around go on pad trimmed up with some hull out of the water.

Or just do what I plan on doing, and avoid the crowds completely! All the boats can have the smaller high pressured dam fish, and seek out the big girls away from the masses.

J/k this is an awesome thread being a newbie myself, keep it coming

Thanks Brian for the Info. I happened to witness a guy with a brand new tiller Lund last year with a Brand new 75HP motor on it drive right onto the wing dam. I couldn’t believe it! Is this something that happens quite often? The thing that I couldn’t believe is that you could see the ripples rolling over the dam. It wasn’t like you couldn’t even see it.

This is the Pool 4 virgin thread isn’t it??

That guy didn’t read the forums. It’s posted most years. Wing dam #2 humbly named “The Prop Killer” stands out like a sore thumb IF a person knows what to look for.

I’ve stopped waving at people that are about to hit it. The take their hands off the wheel to wave and that’s just not a good thing.

Heck, I’ve been told there’s a white Johnson motor out and behind #2 buy a fella that had an underwater camera.

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Or just do what I plan on doing, and avoid the crowds completely! All the boats can have the smaller high pressured dam fish, and seek out the big girls away from the masses.

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Not a silly statement at all.

When fishing the dam, we’re only fishing 1/6th of the productive water. The folks “in the know” head down stream of Everts. Keep that under your hat.

Great info guys! I’ve gotten some very generous pm’s as well and have a trip on the calendar for March 9th.
As far as Everts I think I would be foolish to go anywhere else, in fact I’d feel like I was cheating on them.
I’ll have to buy some blade baits I suppose(don’t own any)I’ll get those at Everts.

Keep the info coming. The basic things all you pool4 veterans don’t think of anymore would be good stuff for newbies.

things to learn on Pool 4:

1. vertical jig in current (meat, hair, plastics)
2. drag rigs (dubuque rigs, dragging jigs)
3. pitch baits to current seams (blades, jig N plastics/hair)
4. 3-way rigs (cranks, meat, plastics)
5. Dork rigs

if you can do them all at the right time and place you will be very successfull. easier said….

What’s a dork rig? Never ever heard of that.

Also, do you use a heavier jig head than in a lake do to current?

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What’s a dork rig? Never ever heard of that.

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Anything BK is fishing with.

Jig weight is relative to how you are fishing. If you are verticle jigging and slipping with the current, you can run pretty light jigs. Dragging down stream you usually run somewhere in the 3/32 range, give or take a size. Upstream maybe 1/8 but I have dragged the middle of the channel down on the can line going upstream in 20+ feet of water using 5/8 and pounded sauger. It all depends on where the fish are holding and how you want to go after them.

Hire a guide like someone said. You will significantly cut your learning curve.

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What’s a dork rig? Never ever heard of that.

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You can view or purchase the Dork Rig here Angler’s Guide HQ – Dork Rig

-J.

How do you guys decide whether to use three ways or bottom bouncers?

Good topic to post this, you guys who have water level offset on your lake master chips, what do you set it at, if any?

bottom bouncers or 3- ways? … Comes down to preference I suppose. i use almost always use 3 way rigs because of all the snags in the river and I just lose a weight and not the whole set up. i can also adjust the dropper length.

I too, a virgin to pool 4 will be heading out this weekend. Any tips you could send me, much appreciated. With the warm weather, I am sure the dam will be jamming. Any other good spots?

Also, is Evert’s the only spot to launch this time of year?

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I too, a virgin to pool 4 will be heading out this weekend. Any tips you could send me, much appreciated. With the warm weather, I am sure the dam will be jamming. Any other good spots?

Also, is Evert’s the only spot to launch this time of year?

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Everts is the only spot to launch an have all your questions above answered at the launch.