Pool 4 report

Yesterday I decided to take a break from the headwaters (St. Cloud area) and fished at Red Wing. My partner for the day was Randy Halverson, another Annandale river fishermen. We started at the dam pulling three ways and plugs and quickly switched to powerbaited jigs and jigging spoons, with no success. We moved downriver to the lock area rip-rap and picked up two 21″ walleyes and a few bass casting powerbaited jigs. We fished this area for approximately an hour. The next area we fished was at the head-of-the-lake. The saugers were responding to three ways with cranks in 10 – 15′ of water. We kept three fish. This pattern worked for 1-1/2 hours then we moved up river and returned to casting powerbaited jigs to rip-rap. We kept two more walleyes and released more bass from this method. The biggest smallmouth of the day, 15″, went to Randy.

For the day, we noticed the walleyes were scattered and shallow and the saugers were holding deeper and in the current. Now that I’ve got that trip out of my system, it’s back to fishing the river in the St. Cloud area.

Good Luck.

Jon Navratil

Sounds like a pretty descent day, considering lately fishing has been tough for most folks. keep checking this page next month, when the water cools down to the upper 30’s, fishing will heat up. It really is a good time. ST Cloud area has some very good river fishing, but Pool 4 is tops yearound, and winter time, the best, BAR NONE. Jack.

Jack,

I always enjoy fishing at Red Wing and it is a world class fishery. What contrasts Red Wing from St. Cloud is that we don’t have as much summer traffic from pleasure boats or fishermen. Its hard to believe the St. Cloud area has an under-utilized fishery, especially once you try this stretch of the river. Jon

Hello Jon,

I’m interested in other differences, how about depth differences, I didn’t think that stretch of river up near Cloud, has much depth?

I have two boats, but I always assumed in that area except spring, I still couldn’t float even my 16′?

It sure looks relaxing, boy it does.

And don’t forget the eating quality is probably better than Pool 4!!!

Keep catchin’

Turk

Turk,

I fish this area in a 680 ranger with a 50HP. The only place that I need a smaller boat is at the three dams, Blanchard-Sartell-10th street. You can fish the 10th street dam in most 14′ boats with a 10HP. Hope this helps. Jon