FLW Walleye League

I’m starting my planning for the upcoming event in September. I’ve have never fished pool 14, 15, or 16 and looking for general information. Is there a good overall fishing map of these pools? I have the US Army Corps of Engineers book, but wondering if there are others. Also, is there any place in the area were you can get “willow cats”. My understanding is you can not bring them from Wisconsin because of the VHS rules, so you need to find a supplier that is local. The good news is I will have plenty of time to pre-fish just need some general insights

Some of the guys have been putting out reports on Pools 14 & 16 over the last month…..might want to look back at those or pm them. Will be down there as well. It sounds like wing dams and clam beds. Good luck.

Guys
There isn’t much in the way of maps except the corp, and fishing hot spots did make a book for 16,17,18 but they are hard to find. As far as the willow cats there is nowhere here that carries them as of this date. We will be trying to fish as much as possible between now and the tournament and keep everyone updated on conditions, as you know the river changes everyday . We had a low flow last week and low water , and last night we got 4 1/2 in of rain with more to come tonight, So the closer we get the more info We will try to get to you guy’s. If you are looking at maps and planning your statagy, I would concentrate on pools 14 and 16 and skip 15. our slot limit here is between 20 and 27″ must be released. Generally speaking you are talking about typical river conditions , Wing Dams ( We have a Million) sand flats, both between the wing dams and running out to the channel, clam beds and current breaks.

There is no place to get willow cats in this area. Ihave hit just about ever bait shop between here and Red Wing no one will sell them to you . I fished a tournement in praire du chein in may some of the guys had a supplier drop some off at the boat ramp . That is against the law in Wisconsin you can’t retain anything alive that came out of the Mississippi. If you are up there this fall you have to kill your minnows after each day of fishing no more saving them over night. By the way all the willow cat guys cashed checks in that tourney. Some one needs to figure out how to pond raise them so we can all enjoy the rewards of fishing with “CRACK FOR WALLEYES” it almost like cheating.

some guy in OH was raising them and selling them for acquariums….a bit pricey though. It did appear he was breeding them though. Someone with a some land and time could make some decent dough if they could get the conditions right for breeding in a pond.