Pool 2

The airport area continues to be a good spot to fish. I fished this spot from 11 to 3 and had plenty of action. Most fish were in the 17″ to 19″ range and I had a saugeye that was 21″. All fish were plump and healthy. Blue jig/minnow combo worked well. I tried a few wing dams without much luck.

It was a very nice day on the water for the 17th of December.

Dinosaur,

Good to meet you the other night at the landing.

What depths did you have the best luck at up there?

Thanks

I was working the edge of the channel in 18′ to 22′. The stretch from the south gates of the plant to the buoy seemed to be holding a greater concentration of fish. The corner of the wing dam right there was good also.

I should have been there yesterday. The forecasted wind did not start until 3 pm. It was nice to meet you and I am sure we will see each other thru the winter.

Dino

That tip of that wingdam has kicked out many big fish over the years. For some reason, that one is a magnet for this time of year through march. One day a couple springs ago, I sat there with the aqua-vu for about 2 hours and watched fish roll through this area. I saw so many different species throughout that time frame, was really interesting how many different species use a spot like that for carousing and on the prowl for food.

I will most likely be down there tommorrow night or friday night. and for sure over the weekend.

We will see you soon.

DeeZee, How was the visibility on the Aqua View?

Hey Chris,

Not very good at all. Even with the Infared bulbs on, I maybe got 1 foot. Mostly what I would see would be a tail swing through the area and maybe a head or a side, Enough to make out the species though.

I wonder how it would work on pool 4 in February when she really clears up? Especially the catfish hole below the dam…

Tuck

I’m hoping to be able to answer that for you very soon. I can borrow a camera anytime, just haven’t taken the time to mess with one down there yet. I’m thinking next trip I’ll bring it along just for giggles. Last Saturday the scour whole appeared to be loaded with fish according to the graph…..It will be interesting to see what’s actually down there. Just hope a big cat doesn’t think its a meal. LOL

The time frame I was using it down on Pool 2 was in march and we had the early stages of run-off happening at this time which dirtied the water a tad. I bet Feb on Pool 4 would be a lot better.

When we first got the camera, We spent alot of time with it down in Red Wing. We spent more time down in the back channel areas checking out different bottom content, pretty interesting.

Let me know how well it works in Feb

Later

What did you see in the back channels? I have 2 cameras and use them both at the same time for ice fishing. I face them opposite directions in the same hole so I can see both ways or both lures at same time. I have a hard time fishing without them. Not as boring as it used to be. Also camera is nice to be able to pinpoint the fish and depth. Don’t need depthfinder much when using the camera. Would love to take it down to the river and just look instead of wanting to fish all the time. Hard to fish, though, when you have camera out. I put it in a backpack and put the back pack (It’s not an Aqua View) on backwards and close up both sides of pack so just a little hole is open on top. I can look and have my hands free while running trolling motor and lifting the cable up and down. Works great when icefishing because I can cut holes and go back through wearing the camera and be able to stand at the same time. I used to move the portable around just so I can see clearer. This backpack deal works great! Amazing what you can see down there.

What is better than working on Dec.20th? Being on the river. I was able to use some more of my ice fishing vacation time on open water, I found more willing walleyes and saugers by the airport area. The fish I found were not relating to any type of structure but were scattered in the main channel. They were biting light most times. I was just swimming the jig a couple of inches off the bottom to stir some action. Minnows worked better than hair or ring worms.

With no wind it was a beautiful day to be on the water. Looks like winter may make its arrival this weekend.

Dino

Sounds fun Dino!!!!

Thanks for the update. I will be grabbing my Dad’s boat today for the rest of the winter. When the roads dry up I will have my boat ready!!!

See you out there!

I visited the ramp area yesterday while walking the family Lab. The city pulled the dock earlier in the day. There was a shelf of 1″ to 2″ ice out about 100 yds. There was a good amount of ice on both sides of the channel. It would take a bit of boat action to get out. It may be to our advantage with the dock out. The ice should not get too bad and will get moved out easier by the current.

Dino

On Saturday I was at the ramp and saw that the NW wind had helped push the ice downstream from the ramp. It was open and usable! Much to my surprise there were fresh tracks that proved that someone had been on the river. It takes a serious winter open water angler to brave temps that were less than 20 to fish. My hat is off to you!

better put that hat on before you freeze your head off!!… no wonder dinosaurs are extinct… except for you I guess…..

Ive been out on pool 2 when its below zero… its not bad if there is no wind and the sun is shining… but the ICING on the boat… its rediculous….. gets so I cant pull up my stern mount electric, and the outside of the boat makes me look like a chunk of floating ice….. and Im busting ice out of eyes constantly… still there are days when its worth the price… and the fish are on a tear.. and there is NO one out there…..

though now that I know some of you guys guess I dont mind a bit of company……. I know Ive seen you out there before Dino…. just did not know who it was…. and Ive seen Jon J too….. heck, probably all the pool 2ers….. but not this year.. not till the house is done…… *sigh*…..

Hey Dino,

I was down there on Saturday morning checking out the landing as well. You were right someone had launched there that morning sometime. I was there about 9:30 am. Maybe someone got a couple hours in and headed out or maybe a winterizing thing, not sure. Sure looked cold with that NW wind blowing. I am thinking of loading my fishtrap in my little boat and heading over to mudlake sometime soon to ice a few eyes or saugers.

Later