Pool 2

Just thought I would send a little info to anyone that has interest in fishing Pool 2 right now…..

Spent last weekend down there with some mixed results. The wingdams prevailed to be real slow for me yet for walleyes, although the white bass were more than willing to cooperate.. I think the walleyes should start to turn on wingies as summer rolls on here and water levels continue to lower to summer patterns.

Trolled the sand flats on the inside turns on the main channels pretty shallow (4-11ft) with some small walleyes and saugers. These fish hit #5 Raps. There did not seem to be a particular flavor (color) here just speed and depth. Fish ranged from 14-17in. As the morning grew older the fish seem to wander slightly deeper near the breaks of the main channels.

Pitched and trolled the rip rap shorelines with more white bass and sheepies and again no walleyes here.

Heard some info coming from the dam area producing some walleyes up near the island on the lock side with again some mixed bag of fish as well.

Ditto. Out twice over Memerial day and have picked up a couple of reports since. Very similar, mixed bag of fish, w/ the best bite coming on cranks in under 10′.

I appreciate any info on pool 2. I moved into the area a few years ago and took up river fishing. have caught some nice fish on pool 2 but still need to get to know the area better, along with the tactics of river fishing. It has been my experience that the fishing correlates with how much the dam is open. Any suggestions on where to fish when the current is really moving?

I mostly fish above the MN river confluence. I have gone exclusively to trolling shad raps when the water is above 50 degrees or so. When the water is cold, jig and minnows w/ some 3 way fishing.

For me spring into summer my best luck is current breaks, esp near deeper water staying under 8′ of water. Either rip rap or all the inlets and back sides of the subtle bends and points. Troll on the edge of the fast water and slower moving current breaks.

When the water heats up in July and August, look for fast water. The faster the better. And troll at least 3-4 mph-still staying under 8′.

For most of the summer, I find fish in the same stretches of shroreline, but not many large schools. Keep moving and cover lots of ground and go back to the spots that produce fish.

Below the confluence is an entire different ball game and I have only fished it a few times last winter-so I will have to let others chime in on that.

I tend to fish the middle to bottom portion of pool 2 most of the year. Pulling cranks will put some nice fish in the boat for you this time and pull shallow. (sand, rip rap). Like DaveB mentioned, speed can trigger alot of bites in these areas.

I like to spend alot of time also on the wing dams when conditions are right. As the summer rolls on, the wingies will heat up even more and congregate more fish. I like to cast cranks, bucktails and big plastics on the faces, tops, bases of the wingdams. Everyday can be different on their respectable locations on the wingdam and even changes as conditions change (weather,passing barges, wind,etc..). One thing is for sure about the wingdams is that it will not take you very long to find out if the fish are here or not.

Good luck

If the weather holds, I will be heading out tonight w/ a guy I work w/ from St Louis. He finds it curious that people actually fish in the Mississippi. Down there-it isnt too nice.

Anyone else going to be on the water????