21.2 total weight
8.6 biggy

Weight 28lb 4oz
Big Fish 7lb 8oz

23lb 4oz for 5 fish, biggy 7lb 3oz

Notice how much tree bark this big boy picked up from the time the photo was taken till you tagged him. He was working things hard.

Notice how much tree bark this big boy picked up from the time the photo was taken till you tagged him. He was working things hard.

I was on 4 as well on Sunday. Caught about a dozen walleyes at the head of the lake dragging crawlers, problem was, they were all 12-13″ and were all within a 100 yard stretch. Also, many, many little channel cats. Did some trolling up river and on Maiden Rock and did not catch a fish. Did here from the DNR survey person at the landing that someone came in at a Wisc. landing and had caught 10-15 walleyes in the 16-18″ range but not sure where they were at, I’m guessing up from Red Wing, maybe Dean can shed some light on the very upper pool activities.

A bunch of great gifts, I’m entered.

Rootski,

Got out Sunday morning for a few hours and the thing that surprised me was how stained the water was on “D”, looked like chocolate milk. As such, expecting a big topwater bite this led to zero. Did pull 4, one 18 1/2″ on crankbait deep, nothing shallow. Ventured over to Olsen and it was completely clear water???? Not sure why it was so different. Felt more comfident with the clear water but blanked. Tried a little of everything, but do not have the spots figured out on that one yet.

I am in Italy right now for business but plan to hit the water this weekend when I get back so you may see me out there in the same area with Senkos locked and loaded. I could very much go for a 23″ momma, this is not the only one I’ve heard of that size coming from there.

Rootski,

Great to see you’re pulling in the big ones and even better that topwater is coming around. I haven’t been out for a couple weeks but had the frogs show up on the garage with the hot weather and figured the bass would be surfacing. Do you ever venture through the channel to see what Olsen has to offer? I hear in summer it produces better than “D”?

Dan,

I’ve been getting to the landing at 5:00 this past month an am usually about boat number 3 but things are filled easily by 6:30. As the weeds grow and fishing gets more challenging I would expect less people like I saw last year.

Dan

Did you get out to ‘Montre this weekend? I was determined to get a topwater bite going so I went to Jane on Sunday, still nothing happening on topwater but I couldn’t get any pattern going. Only ended up with 9 but one was 20 1/2″ so I’ll consider it a decent outing. Caughgt them from 1-18’fow which tells you how locked in I was

I’ve been hitting it once every weekend and still am catching fish, around 15 in a 4 hour span. They seem to be scattered everywhere but most of my fish are still coming from 5′ or less of water. Covered alot of outside weedline last weekend with nothing to show. Size is still good with 4 over 18″ last outing. Nothing what-so-ever on topwater on any area lakes that I hear. Weeds are in good shape, thats where the fish are.

Rootski

That was me on the water you are speaking about. Did very well on Saturday and again on Monday throwing Senkos. Had 25-30 bass on Sat. and 21 being solo on Mon. A couple times I had 4 on 5 casts. Most were in the 16-17″ range but had 4 18″+ each day, also saw many swimming. With the mass of people on the water felt pretty good about the catch. Color seemed to make a big difference along with speed.

Was down Sunday and managed to pick up a few walleyes, ended up with 7 fish 15-19″. Caught one here, one there, all throughout the day. Crawlers on 3-ways was the set-up, fished the head-of-lakes area. Water dropping but still at 55 degrees so we have a few more days to wait until they pick up the pace.

Was on on Lake Jane yesterday for a few hours. Had 8 tips ups spread from 7-15 ft and not one flag all day. Other nearby had similar results. Not sure where they were hiding?

Hit the water Monday afternoon. Thought with the cloud cover and drizzle there might be a good bite pitching. Picked up 10 nice walleyes for the day 18-21″ and one smallie. Wing dams were the key with Pearl Blue K-grub early and Char Pearl later. About 4:30 fish really turned on with a bite on almost every cast. No biggins but a great day when you can fish without gloves in December.

I would think the Coville rocks and Youngs cabin stretch would offer some good rip-rap fishing, these areas drop off to deep water fairly quick, do you typically look for areas that have a larger flat off them? Thanks for the comments!

James & Dustin

Looking to get out Monday for the big bite before the storm. This time of year, do you see it worth the effort to fish downriver from downtown or do you recommend working from Baypoint up? Not alot of horsepower to be running so trying to map out a gameplan for shallow pitching.

Thanks

There were still alot of guys out but scattered all over. We only had one other boat near us. But as fishing goes, my buddy went out the next am to the same area and nothing. Apparently the shad schools moved and the saugers followed. I see the same theory play out on the Croix as on Pepin, find the seagulls, find the fish.

Hit the water in the Hudson area for a couple hours Sunday evening and had some of the best fishing ever. Boated 25 sauger, with half of those over 17″, with biggest at 19″. Fireballs and minnows in 18-20ft, fish were just stacked and hungry.

Was out Sunday and trolled all day long, lead and longline, ended up in the neighborhood of 40 fish, mostly sauger but a few stripers, northern and catfish in the mix. Worked the 10-14 ft mark, action pretty much all day long.

I’ve always wondered this? Why doesn’t the Corp of Engineers mark that back channels, especially those that have high traffic use, anybody know?

I run 6 1/2′ catfish rods with large Shimano reels. I use 28# leadcore with a 6-8′ leader of Proline, help with rocks and clams. I’ll run any bait; raps, wally divers, hot n tots, deep divers. I will also use it at any depth 6-25′, the key is to keep the bait banging the bottom, on average I run out around 3 colors of lead. I pull back the covering, break off the lead, and tie up to a small swivel that runs through the rod guides. The key is to keep pressure on the fish, you will see alot of slack in your line with the weight of the leadcore. I’ve hooked it directly to boards, works either way. Good Luck, you’ll come to enjoy it.

Steve, Wanted to run this one by you. I have always found the better wingdams to be “cleaner” with rock exposed but I have been reading some of your past reports and you said you found some of the more silted in ones producing better this spring. I seen good wingdams turn bad on pools 2-5 after they have become silted in. Any thoughts on why you were finding fish on these “dirty” dams?

Was out Thursday and slow for us as well. Nothing at the Y, caught a dozen fish at the dam switching back and forth between sides. The fish we caught were nice 17-18″ fish but bites were few and far between. Purple Doo’s in the morning and Purple/Char ringy in the afternoon, needed to also have a splash of orange somewhere on your bait. 13-17′ seemed to be the best bet. Watch out for the carp, they were hungery.

Boone, is this a public launch or private pay launch? This time of year do you find yourselves fishing down (494 areas) or up by Hidden Falls? Would help in making a launch decision.

Thanks Jim for the clarification. Great article and something I will be trying this summer. Oh goody, more tackle to buy. I encourage everyone to read the full article in the NAFC. It’s these little tricks that separate the men from the boys. Thanks for sharing!

Actually they are running the Blue Fox Vibrax Minnow Spin as you show, also inline Mepps type spinners or original rapalas with a “smile” spinner blade. They are keeping the hooks on the inline bait and tying a 4-6′ leader off the back hook and then attaching this to their shad rap. So it is 2 baits with hooks.

I’m not saying they are doing anything illegal just was curious to understand the law on the water as it always is confusing, I assume the same rule applies for a Dubuque rig.

They also point out a place in Lake City, Lake Pepin Customized Lures that will repaint your lures, very nice from the pictures, they show a hot pink, orange, and pearl shad rap that looks nice. Very interesting article and something I will be trying this summer. I hope Jim or Tom can add to this post.

I just saw the report for next week and 30’s are on the way for early next week. Gentleman, start your engines.