Dominick Winge wrote:

Wondering if anyone knows of any productive spots to bank fish Walleye/Sauger between Kaposia landing fields and the Lilydale boat launch. I’ve been dragging and jigging minnows and soft plastic paddletails really slowly primarily between the Smith Ave bridge and Robert St bridge and haven’t caught a single fish or even gotten a bite for the past 3 weeks. TIA

I’ve nabbed a few at Kaposia Landing. The stretch below and above the railroad bridge. Slighty upstream of lilydale at the convergance is good, too. I know this is out of your zone, but it might be worth the effort, more seams and small rocky shoreline transitions.

Jim wrote:

Fished up by the dam and caught some small
<strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>Walleyes today. Bummed I have a motor problem.

New in August 2019 Marc 60 hp. Has run great and used regularly.

Ran to the dam from HF and while going slow motor beeped 4(?) times and died. Turned the key, nothing. Not even the alarm. After about an hour it started and the trim and tilt worked.

On the way back to the ramp it died again at half throttle. Would get the starting alarm but nothing else when turning the key. Trim and tilt worked.

Motor started after I got it on the trailer and at home.

Any ideas on what is wrong?

Jim wrote:

Fished up by the dam and caught some small
<strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>Walleyes today. Bummed I have a motor problem.

New in August 2019 Marc 60 hp. Has run great and used regularly.

Ran to the dam from HF and while going slow motor beeped 4(?) times and died. Turned the key, nothing. Not even the alarm. After about an hour it started and the trim and tilt worked.

On the way back to the ramp it died again at half throttle. Would get the starting alarm but nothing else when turning the key. Trim and tilt worked.

Motor started after I got it on the trailer and at home.

Any ideas on what is wrong?

Jim, I would say it is a Poppet valve issue. Secondly, maybe the impeller or themostats. I don’t think you’re getting enough water pressure at slower speeds. Just a guess, but the river does a number on the Poppet valve.

I caught a juvenile Muskie this year on P2…same day I snagged a Gar. Both were firsts on P2. I caught them both in the feeder channel (water treatment plant?) north of the 494 bridge were the barges tie up on the east side.

Matt Moen wrote:

This was in SI last night…it’s a big ass fish. Not sure what it would be 5’ of water.

My brother-in-law and I pulled this guy up Monday night trolling rapalas in 8FOW…could be the same fish! This Kitty was 44″, we didn’t get a weight, but it was a heavy one, she about broke the net.

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Matt Moen wrote:

Anyone have a report on clarity south of the Minnesota? Planning on being out later this week but if it’s soupy further south might fish from the confluence to the dam.

The Minnesota is up 8ft since the deluge…I’m going to go out on a limb and say it is probably pretty soupy south of the confluence. I’ve been using rattling hornets with luck when the clarity is poor. The extra noise seems to make a difference.

Well, I got out the other day and landed a nice Kitty. She completely blind-sided me while trolling and almost yanked the rod out of my hand. Nabbed a few Walleye as well, but the bite was pretty slow.

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Got out late yesterday. I was able to net this 29″ chunker for my brother-in-law. Trolling Tail Dancers in 7′.

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FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Abe Fischer wrote:</div>
The ‘eyes seemed to be relating to the bottom transitions, specifically, the mud to rock bottom transitions.

I think you’ll find that it is the current not the transition, what happens when you have rock to mud, is a hard seam. Mud settles in slack, rock stays clean in fast.

Nice fish!!

Thanks for the feedback! I knew there must have been more to it than “See rock, fish rock”.

kidfish wrote:

I have to ask, are you guys pulling shap rap type baits or stick baits with a little weight with them? TIA

Most of the time I troll with shad style lures…I agree with Matt about banging bottom, too. Typically, I will go one sizer deeper and really jack hammer the bottom.

Good night last night south of the 494 ramp. Caught this 27″ in 8′ trolling cranks at 1.4 mph upstream. Also, had a few other mid 20’s, some smaller ones, and had a real giant get off at the net:( The ‘eyes seemed to be relating to the bottom transitions, specifically, the mud to rock bottom transitions. Hope this helps someone else have as much fun as I did last night. Also, don’t be a fool and forget to reset your drag after pulling out a snag…it will cost you a big fish.

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Matt Moen wrote:

We didn’t have a great day out there. Water was a bit dirtier than I expected and we fished midday. Picked up a handful in different spots. Cranks and light jigs with crawler or leech.

Second cast of the day did produce this good one….26.5”.

I’ve never seen 494 Ramp so busy.

Matt, we just missed you guys. We had a slow day as well, but at least had a couple of nice Pike to keep us entertained. We fished north of the Confluence. The MN river was chocolate milk. I did talk to a guy who boated 15 ‘eyes with a 5lb’er in the mix.

Matt Moen wrote:

Anyone have a report on the clarity south of 494? Heading out tomorrow and need to make a decision where to head. I would assume it’s cleaned up by now.

Matt, I’ll see you out there today! Launching at 6:30 @ 494…coin flip whether we go north or south. Haven’t been to the river for awhile, raps or jigs?

Matt Moen wrote:

Ok day out there for me today. Took awhile to get it dialed but once I did I got some decent fish in the boat.

All fish on cranks either pitched or trolled. Up and downstream worked. Biggest fish was on a jointed rap pitched on a dam. Trolling was #5 flicker shads in 8 to 10 feet.

Nice ‘eye! I wish I made it out there today.

Matt Moen wrote:

Abe, I think you guys were launching. When I was getting my buddy. I was in the Reata parked there on shore.

We had the same outcome – walleyes on cranks in current. A mixed bag on the colors but jointed shads in firetiger or purpledescent produced the most. A mix of trolling and pitching. Water has actually cooled from last week a few degrees so I would expect this bite to get even better. We’d find pods of fish and try live bite but not a sniff on fatheads.

Our biggest was 24.5″ with a nice handful in the low 20’s. Water sure is low and slow.

Matt, I was in an awful hurry to get on the water! Next time you see me, give me a holler.

I was thrown Black Gold Sunset Flicker Shad in size 7. Most of the bites were after slight pausing after bumping into structure.

Cranks were hot tonight. The biggun of the afternoon was 27″. Had a net mishap and had to boat flip this one.

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New to this forum. Thanks to whoever set this up! I grew up in Cottage Grove and have great memories fishing the backwaters in Grey Cloud Island. I returned to the mighty river yesterday and had a tough go, but was able to catch a really nice 2.02lb White Bass and a decent Northern…sadly no ‘eyes. My Stepdad and I fished between Trappers Bay and the Airport. I would glady appreciate any tips as far as tackle or patterns to help better my luck next time out. I am hooked on the river again and looking to get out there on the regular….