Pool 4, April 12th

I took the afternoon off and headed down to Pool 4. I fished from the dam and worked my way all the way down towards the lake but only caught one small walleye. I tried most of the usual techniques and worked close to several shorelines to get out of the stronger current. I also tried a little bit of the back channel down where it dumps back into the lake. I had a difficult time trolling or casting cranks due to constant fouling with leafs, reeds, grass, etc. I worked a sand flat until about 8:30 hoping for a late evening bite but didn’t get anything there either.

I only saw one fish get caught by another boat and there were a ton of boats out today. Seemed like most people were running around a lot. Talked to a couple of guys at the ramp and they also struggled today.

Anybody else find the fish today on Pool 4? I think I’ll try the Prescott area tomorrow and maybe the Croix for some crappies.

Good Luck,

Boone

Hi Boone, I was out on pool four on Friday also. We went out sometime around 8:30 am and stayed till 5:15 or close to that time. My fishing partner kicked my butt for the day. He had numerous walleyes and sauger. I refused to do what I was doing to catch 8 or 9 inch fish. Ha Ha He did end up catching one that was around 18 inches on a on a three way rig with a small floater. One foot weight dropper and about eighteen inch to the minnow. Your right there were plenty of boats out and about. Saw very few decent fish caught although I saw a nice catfish caught and some skip jacks. On the brighter side of things it was a great day to be out on the water. It was a little damp in the morning but when the sun broke free it was beautiful out. I should have been trolling on the main lake ?

Man, this sounds like a lot of work! I’m heading out tomorrow morning, so if anybody has any good reports from today (Saturday), please post them! Has anybody tried pitching the flooded timber for the walleyes. I would think the high water levels coinciding with water temps in the 40’s that the hog walleyes would be in shallow spawning areas. It sounds like the sauger bite has been hot! Where do they go when the water raises like this? Do they go very shallow like the walleyes, or do they just move up into the 8-12′ depth. Any replies to help us guys heading out on Sunday would be great?

Good luck to all this weekend!!

We fished from 7:30 am to around 5:30 and didn’t touch an eater fish. The son-in-law had my daughter’s new 1800 Pro V SE out for the very first time, and he was more interested in learning the new boat than he was about fishing. The new boat wasn’t set up with rod holders yet so we didn’ t pull any 3 ways, but did work the dam on down to the “Y” and took one large white bass. The fishing should pick up in the next couple of days, I hope, will be back on Sun. Sounds like maybe rain, but “Oh Well”

Good Fishin’

TBO/MN

Water was dirty but cleaner on Friday than on Sat. Found the bite to be better on Friday than on Sat. too. Nate popped a 9.70 lb. walleye Friday and got a few pics then released it. Found most of my fish down from the dam a few miles on Friday and naturally they were gone on Sat. Hear James caught a nice piggie today [Sat.]. Are you going to give us the details James if you happen to read this?

I fished Pool 4 for the first time with “fireflick” (pro-staff guy for Pool 5) of riverguiding.com. the thing that sticks out most in my mind is the enormity of the saugers! unbelievably fat!

never caught anything like that down by Trempealeau or the ‘Croix.

we did exceptionally well in my mind. 5 or six piggie saugers, some dinks and 2 walleye. one really nice walldad that fireflick picked up in shallow water after dark. (should have been mine, long story. lol) I need to get better at vertical jigging!!! learned some great techniques and more about Pool 4. caught some white bass on super doos. That was a blast.

I highly recommend fishing with “fireflick”. He put me on fish on what a lot of people would call a tough day. Roller gates were wide open and a ton of debris.

Thanks Jarrad.

The little women and I put 15-16 legals in the boat on Sat.We started out towards the lake with no prevail.We ended up on the Wi side down from the dam,and put saugers in the boats at 2 or 3 a pass.13 to 17 ft was the depth and handling was the method.Running cross current was the key.The hottest crank had to be purple demon and in second was #5 black and gold rap.See you on the water

We fished all day friday and saturday morning. We did ok friday, but not as well as the guys fishing next to us. We watched them catch two 7 pounders and one that was pushing 10. They were in an eddy within 20 yards of the back channel landing. We fished there for about 4 hours and only caught one 2 to 3 pounder. It was fun to watch, but frustrating not to get one of our own out of there. We fished there for awhile on saturday with no success. I have fished the river for a long time and i learned something new on friday, which makes me all that much more excited to get back out there.

good luck all,

labsrule

Went out on Sunday morning and braved the lightning storm! We found an exceptional sauger bite downriver froom the dam in a current break. The best depth was 18-20′. We also picked up a couple very nice walleyes on the top edge of the break, and lost one hogger. We tried pitching jigs into the flooded shore near this same area to no prevail. We were vertical jigging 3/8 and 1/4 oz. chartreuse jigs tipped with a ringworm and minnow head. We also had some ~ 3-5″ chubs that they were hammering, but we ran out pretty fast. The big walleyes will now be up very shallow, but you will need patience to catch them. The quantity will probably be low, but the size will be great. If you prefer to catch a bunch of really nice fish, with the occasional big one mixed in, then look for those current breaks, along with some rock/gravel nearby and you’ll find plenty of fish.

Good Fishing!