Sat morning pool 2

Got in a short trip to pool 2 this morning. Was eager to try out some new lures I picked up last night. The plan was pitching wing dams like jon J had reported on a few days ago. I have pitched plastics on them but have done very little pitching of cranks. About the fourth cast with a new grappler shad and I was on fish. A nice 20″ eye. This was cool. The shad was a very nice running lure but about 20 casts later I still hadnt hooked into a second fish.
Spent the next couple hours checking different wing dams with no luck. Had on hookup while trolling the shad along some rip rap but it got off half way to the boat. The shad was impressive trolling. Had it running about 10′ deep with the lip nicely bounceing off the rocks once and a while. If it did get hung up a quick twitch of the rod and it would pop right out.
The last wingdam of the morning hooked me up with fish. Same thing on the cranks. The shad and bombers I was using ran great but no takers. Back to plastics and here came the fish. First cast with the big ugly grub and a 24.5 was on its way in. Managed about 6 other eyes in the next hour with again a nice 23.5 eye. I tryed alot of different plastics there. Some would just get bumped others would pick up fish and then go dead. The scented plastics seemed to do a little better. Just keep changing up.
I was also suprised that this run of eyes came between 11 and 12 today.
Good luck fishing

Nice report I really have to drop my boat in here someday, but I’m really leary since I have not fished rivers much, and have yet to locate any maps of the river whatsoever. I guess I have I hard time just heading out there blind, nut man I work off right here off pool 2 5+ days a week, I could probably drop in for a couple hours before or after work someday, and catch me some big ‘eyes
Where are you launching from? I was thinking about luanching from pig’s eye lake area.

I put in under the 494 bridge. Right now is a good time to check out the river. With the high water you are less likely to run aground. The river is pretty deep down there anyways. In between the red and green cones is the channel. Between the cones and shore can be tricky.
I am heading back down there in about 2 hrs to give it a try again.

Good report Mike and nice fish!
How was the flow over the wingdams?
How was the water clarity down by the 494 area?

I picked up my river maps through the Army Corp of Engineer’s website. They are helpful for daymarks, boat ramps, some wingies, Lock and Dams, etc. Here’s the link Army Corp. Just remember the river changes so keep your eyes on the water and your electronics

Thanks for the report Mike. I made it down there Friday night and Saturday afternoon/evening. Nailed quite a few fish ripping cranks off of the face of wingdams… but nothing over 19″. I was concentrating on cranks, so I didn’t throw any plastics.
My trolling spot is still holding fish, managed a 27″ on Friday, and a 27.5 Saturday.
DeeZee- the current over the wingies is still pretty fast, but getting better everyday. Lots on NICE white bass are on the tops, and a sauger here and there. Clarity is still poor… I think the Minnesota river has alot to do with it. Like a couple other have mentioned before, I’ve been having luck on dams with less current, and/or closer to shore rather than the deeper ends.

I made it back out on sunday afternoon. Only managed 2 eyes on the wingdams. Both came in on crankbaits.
The wind and lots of boat traffic didnt help my fishing at all. There are alot of boats out there on a weekend afternoon.
Looked like the guys sitting at the discharge of pigs eye where pulling in a few fish.