3/23/2003 – Mississippi River Pool4 by James Holst

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Chappy finally figured out which end of the rod to use and came up with this nice fish today… Notice, no whiskers! It was a nice week for you Chappy! Nice fish!
Tuck

Nice report James, It is looking like a good year for 03, I’d say a move from 9″ to 24″ for first guide fish is a move in the right direction. Finally got back from CA, and am way behind on my FTR post reading. see you on the water. Jack..

Thanks for the report James, its great to see you are back on the water agian

Yeah James… great to see ya on the water again!… great AND frustrating!… to see how easy you make it look…. I think I need some more lessons!! these eyes have been sending me to school and Ive been flunking out …. only one good day for me in the last month!!

oh man james, it seems like every time you go out you catch boat loads of fish , and if you didn’t have pictures to prove it, i wouldn’t believe a word of it. i guess that’s what you get for putting in all your time and effort into fishing.

From most folks (myself included) I would be hard pressed to believe someone with stories like this.But after meeting James when he was filling in for Steve I know he is the real deal.But you guys are right,he does make it look easy.I notice all the guides here make catching look as easy as the fishing.I wonder if it is the neat EFN hats they wear.If I get one will I catch more too?

Only if you wear it!!!!

Fishing reports without photos are just fish stories!

Add in the fact that the vast majority of the people I guide have become regular visitors to this site, what are the chances I could get away with telling fish stories? Not very good. When I say we caught fish, we caught fish. If I don’t want to share a little nugget of info, I’ll never BS you with some nonsense to lead you in the wrong direction. I prefer to say nothing at all. Hopefully most everyone realizes that the reports here, are VERY accurate. Truthful. Backed by boat loads of customers that would certainly spill the beans if we were blowing smoke up people’s skirts.

And yes, it’s hard being the only completely honest fisherman alive! (Now there’s some smoke ‘fer ya!)

And just when I was about to open the logic wallet and buy into another sensible explaination, he goes and pulls the rug out from under me again! Kinda like Charlie Brown and kicking a football…………it never gets old, does it James!

“Is it foggy in here or just hard to see through all the BS?”

Yeah, I did pretty much shoot myself in the toe at the end there… but I knew I was doing it when I did it so hopefully guys recognize it was all in fun.

Seriously… nearly all my personal business comes from guys that are visitors to this website and I mention names and forum handles of the guys I fish with, to add credibility, in nearly every fishing report I make. There’s no way anyone is going to let me refer to them by name in a fishing report and then say we caught X number of fish using technique Y when it’s baloney. Not going to happen. In fact, the more I think about it, we have a pretty nice set-up going here…. visitors policing the reporters to make sure everyone’s keeping things real and on the up-and-up.

James, nice report…. Karen and I can’t wait to get back on the river. We’re looking forward to reading and learning more from your reports. You really make it look easy….

Kurt

Ditto on all the nice words for your reports James….and Ezhook, he “does” make it look easy. One of the things James fails to stress often enough is “boat control”….and what a master he is at that! It doesn’t seem to matter if there are white caps, raging current or flat water, he puts the boat exactly where it should be and keeps it there! This is not an easy task to accomplish but after a day on the water with him, then back in my own boat, makes me realize just what a master he is.

Not only does he maintain ideal boat control, he’s continually bringing fish to the boat….. We’ve fished with him twice(once on Mille Lacs & once on pool 4) and I walked away amazed at his fishing abilites(for lack of a better word)…. Perhaps I could sell by boat and use the money for his guide fees…. I need to get to the river real soon, this work stuff is getting old…….

Yep, I forgot to mention that little detail…..in addition to handling the boat, and two of his own rods, he is helping the clients with tips and tricks…AND helping land fish into the boat.

I want to thank James and FTR staffers for the honest and accurate information they share! The knowledge I gained from FTR staffers and everyone else that contributes, allowed me to have a game plan heading to pool 4 yesterday. I had never fished the upper end of pool 4 but yesterday I got a good taste(literally) of what it has to offer. All I have read on FTR helped me fight the urge to join the masses and put quality fish in my boat. Thanks for the knowlegde FTR!!! By the way how is the job market in Red Wing anyway.lol Keep up the good work!JD

I’ll vouch for Jamees and all the other people who post here. Been fishing the river for 30 plus years, found this spot last summer and learned more reading this than I did in those 30 years. Sunday we were catching some decent eyes and snagged a carp. Had it up by boat once, lost it,all I had was a scale off it. That scale just about covers a silver dollar. Biggest carp I’ve ever seen. Thanks again guys for all the info.

I’m with you James being honest made the Rock River Forum take off with great success.