P2 Report

I was out again today, I messed up communications with Mike so I went solo, I ended up with:
1 walleye 13 inch
1 sauger darn near 21 inches
1 Toothy critter (northern) hammerhandle
1 Nice smallie a fat 16″
3 Sheepies meh…
1 white bass biggin around 18 inches

All trolling cranks, working various depths, fish seem to come again from around the 12′ mark. Not an awesome day by any means, but not boring, I covered a lot of water, never really put anything much together. Saw Dee zee out pulling in to the access, didn’t get a chance to see if he had been out.

Seems to be a good shad hatch on right now, I think the fish are pretty well feed at the moment, though I didn’t fish for smallies, I’d venture a guess to say the smallie bite is probably pretty good, just from the amount of smallies I seen jumping and smackin shad.

Sorry I missed the boat today Nick. Ended up taking my girls fishing this afternoon. They do love to fish. Think they had all there snack eaten by the time the boat was launched.
We started out in lillydale and poked around some structure there. Even stopped by the shanty town to listen to a quick tune from the squaters there. Interisting. Nothing but a small mouth up there.
Next stop was some wingdams around the airport. Cranks, hair and plastics. No fish there either.
Next stop was a few trolling spots. We caught plenty of white bass trolling the rip rap and sand. Still no walleyes.

It was heading back to lillydale after that. Ended up trying some new trolling spots up there and at first it was looking pretty poor. Ended up dragging the crankbaits threw some major current breaks up there and 1st pass threw picked up a nice 20″ eye. Cool. Thought it was alot bigger in that current. swung back around and headed up river threw the next opening and wham. The other rod got nailed. ended up with a nice 24″ eye on this one. As it came up to the side of the boat is was interisting to see that there was no hooks in the fish. The bomber had wedged its mouth open and not a hook was in the fish. Wish I would of had the camara with.
About the time that fish was let go my girls said it was time to go. So that was it. Atleast ther is allways tommorrow. Since my old spots are not turning out many walleyes it is going to be a morning or checking new structure and hopefully new fish.

The front seat is open for the morning. Planning on hitting lillydale by 7 and fishing until noon.

I’ve fished a few times during August, mainly fishing around 494 and St. Paul Park. Similar results as those posted here. Both casting and trolling cranks – usually a few walleyes and a ton of white bass. If you’re targeting ‘eyes the cranks may not be the best approach — but I’ve kept using them since the white bass have been a bunch of fun. I’ve also seen a ton of emerald shiners my last couple times out – the fish seem to have a ton of food available.

I haven’t fished for them of late, but if you’re looking for some fun now is a good time to go after catfish – both channels and flatheads. Lots of good kitties to be had on Pool 2.

…won’t be long till October.

Was able to hit the water again this morning for a little while. Was all pumped up to check out some new structure on pool 2. Areas that I had driven past non stop for the past 3 years. Bridge pileings. Spent about 3 hours this morning focusing on them. Not alot of fish to show for it but it was fun to check out new water. Managed 2 eyes and one lost at the side of the boat. 1 15′ and the other to where over 20″.
My approach to this new structure was either pitching lures just like a wingdam or trolling crankbaits next to them. If I would of had more time I might of tried jigging them.

This is the second day in a row that I have found fish around the bridge pileings. Not alot of fish but it is holding them. Looking forward to checking them out more. Any one else spend much time fishing these structures?

I plan on spending some time exploring them myself, atleast now that I’m pretty confident the fish aren’t where I’m used to finding them.

I hear you Nick. Made one trolling pass from 35e to the confluence yesterday. Up one side and down the other. Not even a tap. Last year one pass could easy be 6 fish. Nothing this year. You would think there should still be fish in those areas. Maybe just need to change the approach. I did bring some meat with on this last trip to try some jigging or dragging. Never did get to that point.

With the great late summer weather my wife wanted to get on the boat someplace. We put in at the 494 landing and headed down river. I Really didnt intend to fish much but brought the gear along just in case.

Anchored up above one of my favorite wing-dams. The dam sits on the point of an island with good current breaks,with nearby depth and stucture. Casting clown colored Bombers I ended up getting one 26 inch walleye that came in just under 7 pounds and a 20 inch fish. What a great night!

Nice Job Professor

Gotta love those Blue Bird Days.

Thanks~! The size of the fish on Pool Two always amazed me. I’m no river rat by any means, I catch a fish here and there…. but without a lot of consistancy. But man, when you get one its usually really nice size.

I do have a question. From time to time I read about people getting into some nice silver’s. I have as yet really gotten into them and would like to focus more attention to catching them. Can anyone give me any suggestions on areas, patterns, etc, i might try on Two this fall.

Thanks

Professor: I’ve had good luck with white bass the last couple weeks around 494 (more upstream than down). The area in front of the Pigs Eye discharge channel is popular for white bass, though my fish of late have been coming around wingdams. In general, these fish are mobile and move around. They can be just about anywhere, but other places to check include wingdams, rip rap shorelines, current brakes, etc. They also can be “loosely” associated with the structure, meaning they can drift around. You definately want to move and cover water. One of the easiest ways to find them is to look for surface activity — actually seeing fish chasing bait. The more fish you see in a short amount of time the better, and if you find an area a lot of action pull up and give it a try. I prefer to cast topwater baits and watch them slash at the bait — but just about anything will work (small cranks, twister tails, spinners,etc).

If you’re not seeing fish on the surface, don’t be afraid to cast specific spots (such as wing dams) or troll adjacent areas. Sometimes the fish don’t show on the surface, but you can find a group of fish in an area.

My approach is usually to chase other fish (like walleyes), then have a rod rigged up so when I come upon a feeding school you can cash in. You’ll also catch a number of incidental white bass when using artificials for walleyes.

Professor, I regardto white bass I have gotten into them hot & heavy on wingdams, not specificaly looking for them but while walleyefishing in the early morning when its calm I would notice fish smacking the surface in a school, being an opportunistic fisherman I move down and start casting small cranks in shad color, what a blast the action can last for an hour catching a fish about every other cast. This was in the eddy below a wingdam right at shore, minnows were jumping and a heron was also feeding on the huge school of minnows in this eddy.Mornings seem to be best.

Thanks….. Hope to get out this week-end. Your suggestions are appreciated!

Professor,
Another thing to keep a look out for is seagulls. If you see birds over the water they are more than likely feeding on minnows. There will be a good chance the whites are in the area too.

Good fishn to ya!

Made it down to pool 2 for a few hours last night. Spent a little time on the wingdams with just a couple sheep head to show for it. Did do better trolling the sand for walleyes. Managed a 24″, 20″, 17″ eye in just a couple of passes. They all came on crankbaits.

Sure wish I could find fish like this in winona.

Anyone else have a current report? Looks like I’m taking a South Dakota transplant out fishing tomorrow I’d apperciate any help, normally I can find a few, but I haven’t been out for awhile. Pm’s are just fine too

Slooooooooow day out there I had to be off the water by 11am so we didn’t try a lot, tried some trolling up stream no luck, tried pitching wingdams, no luck, and one eye for the day (my only fish) came in a sandy area around 12 FOW, on my favorite crankbait. 22 incher, My buddy caught one super small flathead, had to go about 7-8 inches perfect bait size I kid! I kid! release to grow up, a lot.

My last couple times I did OK right under the 494 bridge and the rocky shoreline from Minnehaha to the dog park.

I fished some pool 2 wingdams with my father monday morning and found some nice white bass on the inside part of two of them. 6 were over 15 inches long and hit on plastics in white or chartruese pepper. No walleyes made it to the boat, but I did get a nice 5lb channel cat. I tried cranks and crawlers too which suprisingly did not produce any sheephead. I hope it cools down soon, I am ready for fall.

Interesting, haven’t picked up a fish on either shoreline you’ve mentioned this year ? I didn’t spend any real time up river since the reports didn’t mention any luck upstream, and I guy I talked to out there didn’t have any luck the day before either. Not to mention the hiddenfalls access was closed when I got there , so I ended up going out of lilydale.

fish them all was that you in the alumacraft on wingdams north of 494?

A buddy and I were out on Sunday in the rain. It’s amazing what weather I’ll put up with when my schedule allows for some fishing. We were on the water by 6:30am at the 494 ramp and fished until 1pm. All of the fish we caught were before 10:30, ( about the time it started to clear up). Two nice walleyes 25.5″ and a 23″ off a wingdam and numerous smaller eyes, sauger and white bass from an slightly off channel eddy.

All fish were caught on croakertails in either chart. or silver/chart tail.

The current is crawling and I’m looking forward to fall fishing.

Nick, ya I was in a black/grey alumacraft with a 40 merc.

Cool that was me in the red lund giving you the eye as we went downstream , I seen you fishing the wingdam I wanted to

Thanks for the update guys!
Being that I am not guiding on Mille Lacs this fall, that means I will be back on Pool 2 in early October getting a head start ont he fall bite. Looking forward to it.

Has anyone tried trolling the main channel and wingdam tips with deep cranks at all lately? This has given up some nice fish in the month of Sept in years past. Just a thought with the slow current speeds right now.

Steve,
It’s great to hear you’re going to be back to prowling these waters. I and everyone else have missed your reports. It was always nice to know that someone could get these rascals on pool 2 figured out.

I was trying something very similar to what you are asking about a couple weeks ago. I tried lead core trolling a #5 shallow shad rap in various colors. I fished the main channel in various areas from 13-20′ without any luck. I did try down by the red cans near St Paul Park without any luck. I should say though I’m very new to lead core trolling so I may have screwed something up.

I haven’t been on the river that much this summer, it seems like things have been slow. Keeping an eye on this forum and also pool 4 it just hasn’t seemed to be a very good year. Hopefully things will pickup considerably for the fall plastics bite.

Again, glad to see you back!

Good fishn to ya!

Thank you Jim.
I was just throwing an idea out there. Its been a while since I have been on Pool 2, so I would not know whats the first thing going on down there right now. I keep an eye on everyones findings during the summer and fall months so its helps me keep in tune a little bit come time for my return. Everyone has something to share and everyone has something to learn from each other!

Keep the reports coming!

O.K. Steve, you are correct sir! I was on the water this morning for a few hours. Launched at the 494 landing. The flow rate was up quite a bit from where it’s been, still not gushing, but up a bit. The water color was a bit dark today too. Water temp was 72. I trolled some rip rap and got a 21″ eye using the old stand by-#5 shad rap fire tiger. Went over the spot I caught that fish again and had another fish on for about 2 seconds. The first fish I got was barely hooked so thought maybe firetiger was a bit much for them, so I switched to perch. On my third pass I go a shorty-smallie. Tried trolling another area adjacent to the main river channel, had another near miss-fishon-fishoff. Tried casting the tops of 6 wingdams. At one particular wingdam I caught 3 fish on my first 3 casts, 2 silvers and then a nice 24″ eye. This was on a perch jointed shad rap. That was all the action I had. I did try one other presentation that didn’t pan out. I anchored in front of a couple wingies and threw a lure called a “Spin rig” (discontinued by Lindy) tipped with a piece of pork. It’s kind of like a baby bass spinner bait. It’s much like how we’ll be fishing ringworms soon, only you have a blade rotating in the water giving off good vibrations. I have had tremendous luck with this in the past but not today-a higher flow rate would of helped to really get the blade thumping. I was on the water from 9am til noon. It was a beautiful day a bit windy but it was a southerly breeze which actually helped make the tops of the wingdams much easier to see.

Good fishn to ya!

They are starting to bite guys. Have had action from both pools 1 & 2. Pool 1 the jigs were working, and pool 2 put 6 eyes in my boat yesterday on natural colored cranks(#7) trolled in about 10′ of water give or take 2′. That was pretty good action for fishing for an hour and a half at noon.

Can you keep eyes out of P1? If so I would think it may be an issue locking them back to a P2 boat landing. Thoughts?

Good to hear. It’s time to get ready for a cool weather bite.

dave were u fishing from a small camoflage boat? I think i saw you I was fishing from shore at fort snelling next to pike island.

Fishing was slow for me, i caught a sucker, a smallmouth, 3 sheepshead a white bass, but they all were about ten inches. and a 6 pound dog fish that just swallowed my reefrunner.