Chappy, let me know how you did, like I said, the current is still strong, but try the insides, near the shoreline. I couldn’t get any takers out at the ends. I may give it another try tommorrow or Sunday if it’s not pouring rain.

Yep, your probably right. I was just checking on the Army Corps of Engineers web site, and last year at this time the river temperature at Red Wing was 63 degrees, this year it’s 54 degrees, also the flow last year was 16,000 cfs, compared to 33,000 cfs this year. 10 degrees water temperature differance, with twice the flow. Kinda explains why I was catching fish last year at this time on the wing dams, and nothing Thursday. Hey Chappy, how the 3M contest go this morning on the rivers. Had to work 12 hour Midnights again this year and couldn’t make it down this year. Any report from Saturday?

I fished Big and Middle McKenzie for about 15 years when I was a kid. (Quite a while ago.) Our family used to stay at a resort on Middle Mckenzie the 1st 2 weeks in June.We used to catch quite a few walleyes in both Big and Middle Mckenzie at that time of the year. We used to troll with 3 inch or 3 1/2 inch floating rapalas with a 1/4 ounce kiel sinker about4 feet in front of the rapala. (Silver or Gold)The weed line that time of the year ran at about 10-15 feet. Many smaller northerns, 18-22″, also caught quite a few crappies in the cabbage weeds, about 12 feet of water that time of the year. Both lakes have many good sandbars, and weed lines. They are the 2 lakes were I learned how to catch Eyes. I have tried both lakes earlier, (May) and didn’t do as well with the trolling method. Good luck, and if all else fails, head to West Point for lunch and and see if you can pick up any pointers there. (The bar/resturant is right on the lake.)

Just In! All the St.Croix Eyes know about the regulations, and all have decided to swim to the Wisconsin shoreline Friday night. Goofiest, most messed up fiasco I’ve ever seen. Good Luck everyone, I’ll be at work this weekend, see you later this month on the “Rivers”.

I’m headin up to Siren tonight after work, Going to give Big and Middle Mckenzie lakes a try. The rivers rollin pretty good, and expected to come up even more. I’ll be on vacation the rest of the week, and should be back Thursday night. I’m not sure of the best way to hook up with you for Friday, give work a call and get my home number? I should be around as I said Thursday night. If not, just leave a message on my machine, I should be ready to try the river again by then. We can go in my boat, nothing special, small. (I have a hard time catching fish in high; muddy water conditions, but we can sure give it a try for a few hours) Wife’s headin to Maine for a week, so I’ve got a lot of free time to try a few new areas. LETS GO!

OK guys, Not to get on the defensive side I do have more than 1 friend, and this time of year I seem to attract even more friends. Wouldn’t you like to catch Eyes each time you went fishing? I kinda run a “unofficial” guide service this time of year, the fishing had been excellent, and I told you how I catch them. I do know the laws and the limits……… But thanks, everyone needs a reminder every now and then! NOW LETS GO FISHING!

I’ve got a feelin that the next week to 10 days (At least) may also be VERY SLOW, by looking at the Army Corps of Engineers web site. River levels in the Minnesota are expected to continue to rise quite a bit. Pools 2,3 for sure are going to be very difficult to fish as there are already Large limbs, sticks, you name it, coming down the river. Another 2-4 feet rise, and faster flow will not be good. Best 2-3 weeks traditionally on the river and we’ve been hit with the monsoons! Get the rain out of here already! The drought is over! Have to do more of this.

I fished Pool 3 on Friday. There is a lot more big stuff floating down this way as well, along with tons of little stuff. Fish have stepped the bite down somewhat also.

They have slowed down a little. Friday 3 of us caught 5 in 6 hours of fishing. I boated 1 sheephead. Not sure what was going on. It seemed like all the conditions should have been excellent for a good bite, but it wasn’t there. They were caught on nightcrawlers, none on a Rap, not even a hit!

About half and half. Half on crawlers, half on #7 shad raps. We went this AM again, we managed to boat 10 more, but the wind blowing down river with the current became tough. The Shad color was the best color,(all the ones on raps taken on this color today) the Firetiger was best the previous days this week. Tried the Slough the other day (Tuesday), didn’t turn up a thing, but maybe I haven’t found the “honey hole” or maybe they arn’t there? I caught a few in there last year but they were not there Tuesday. I think were going to try it again in the morning, (I’ve got that long weekend off, day and a half, start 12 hours on Saturday again), gotta get out when I can. Sounds like a southeast wind in the AM which should help a lot, better control, probably a falling barometer before more rain this weekend. Stop! Stop! , don’t need more rain! Good luck, try crawlers and Raps!

Fished pool 3 Monday morning 5/24. Not much at all for debris. Fishing was Good also. 0630-0930AM we boated 15 Walleyes.(2 of us) 12 eaters. About half on crawlers, half on Raps. Didn’t see another boat this morning. Kinda cool, but they are a bitin. Now is the time to be hittin it! I’ll be there again in the AM, you can’t beat fun!

Fished Pool 3 this morning. Did real well. My son and I caught our limit between 630 and 1000 AM. Wing Dams with crawlers, Lindy rig. Also picked up a couple on #7 Shad Raps. They hit em hard. About half our fish were 3+ pounds , with the largest around 4#. Looks like they “turned on” quite a bit since Tuesday. Should be excellent from here on into the next month or so, (If the rains hold off a little). Thanks, Chappy, we had a great morning on the river, and you did an excellent job of running the tourney. See ya on the river soon, as I’ll be spending quite a bit of my spare time on the water!

I agree with Chappy.Kinni area has been very slow the past week. I’ve made 2 trips up there from Prescott in the past week and have boated only 4 Eyes. 2 legal. Tried only crawlers on Lindy rigs. I also didn’t see many other fish being caught by anyone. It may have been “fair” on the opener, but has slowed since. I’ll be giving the rivers another try this coming weekend, and next week. They have to pick up soon! Now Chappy, I’m probably writing this from the same place you did. Work? The differance …., I’m suppose to be at this desk, what are you suppose to be doing.

Chappy, I was up there this morning also (5/11). Only stayed about an hour and a half. Slow,Slow, where did they go. Caught 1 small eye, about 10 sheephead. Dragging crawlers on Lindy rigs. I’m not sure whats going on, but I’m kinda struggling to find the elusive eyes. Worked in the past 20 years or so, but kinda slow for me so far. Headed down river to the Wing dams between Prescott and Diamond Bluff. Hit a few of my favorites, but still came up a little short. 1, 18″ eye more sheephead. I believe I caught more sheephead today on the wing dams than ever before. I still think we need some warmer weather to get them to turn on. Any ideas? Like I said, this method has worked well in the past. Patience, Patience I quess.

Fished the Croix Thursday 5/6 above the Kinni. 40-15 feet of water. Very slow. 3 Walleyes, 12 or so sheephead from 3-7 PM. Did’t notice a whole lot of action from any of the other 30 or so boats fishing the “Narrows” either. A few here and there, but overall I would have rated the action very slow. It can only get better. WARMER WEATHER!

Fished the Wing Dams again today from about noon till 3. Had a great time! Used nightcrawlers and Size 7 Shad Raps. The Shad Raps took the bigger fish today. 5 Fish between 22-24″ on the Size 7. Dams are heating up! The size 7 seems to run about 8-10 feet? Sound right? Anyway, they are working. I’ll be hittin them again in the
AM. Get out there and getem.