They are lowering the water 4ft starting on October 23 this year [2023]. Time to get out fishing while the water is still up.

Enjoy the new puppy. Mine loves being in the boat. He has even figured out how to get in the boat when its on the trailer. He loves licking the fish and is excited to see where the fish go when I release them. The Lord gave me a keeper for a fishing partner.

The water temp over the past few days has been 69 to 70 degrees. Crappies were more than willing to bite where there was rocks and also out in the open water. The bluegills are in the spawning mood so good action is coming with them. Casting to sand and weeds we found some largemouth bass, not many but a few. Even the northerns would show up close to the shoreline. Lots of fun for a guy who hadn’t been down there for a year and for many years prior to that. Everything was released to be caught again.

No, he didn’t. He went to Byron High School and then John Marshall High School in Rochester. He fished alot of walleye tournaments even back in his teens so maybe that’s where you could of heard of him. He bought his first boat even before he bought a car. He had a buddy who was a year older than him who towed the boat. lol. Its like I said, he got hooked. lol

PS. Sorry I didn’t notice your post until now. Sorry

THANKS Jimmy for the report. That lake always seems to take longer to heat up. Its nice to see the dirty water is moving down towards the dam but it won’t move out of Ryans Bay as fast unless the dirty water is more in the open area instead of being tucked way back in. I still have some of the plastics that you use and also the jigs I bought from you years ago. But I do still love my Mini-Mites that Mike got me hooked on way back then. lol. Way back then…..gee…..you would think we were old or something. lol. Oh well, maybe older, not old, but older in body but young at heart. Especially when it comes to fishing. Thanks Bud

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As a kid, I used to fish from one of my dad’s friends docks on Lake Zumbro – with nothing but a bare hook and catch dozens of “striped bass.” Yes, better known as White Bass, Silver Bass, etc.

Many years ago I got my youngest son Nate hooked on fishing down on Lake Zumbro when he was only 3 years old. Boy time flys as he will be 40 at the end of this year. The stripers back then were very nice size and tons of them in the water. We would catch anywhere between 68 to 88 fish in three hours of fishing between three of us. Thats the good o’l days when a 14ft boat with a 6hp motor and a son who was young enough to want to go fishing with dad and a buddy. Now Nate has a 20ft Ranger 620 and a Mercury 250hp Pro XS motor and a 15hp Mercury Pro Kicker motor for trolling out on Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Green Bay, etc where the big walleyes live. Yup, he’s hooked lol. And dad {me} got rid of the white 17.5 foot Alumacraft and bought a 16ft white Alumacraft with a 25hp and 8hp kicker motor for pulling live bait or crankbaits. But I do have to admit I do miss the larger boat but this one is much cheaper to toll and operate and especially when you don’t have the paycheck and are on social security. I do plan to, besides fish the Mississippi River Pool 4, fish Lake Zumbro as its only 12.5 miles from my driveway to the Ponderosa boat ramp. You guessed it, I live in NW Rochester. Being retarded, I mean retired [can never resist that one lol] I can get down there and fish during the week when the boat traffic is alot less. You guys have a great week and I hope to see you down there.

Thanks Brian. Please keep us posted.

I usually don’t answer a call unless I know the number. I got tired of all the insurance companies calling me trying to get me to change medicare insurance company and also got a ton of teleprompter calls. Enough was enough so I quit answering unknown numbers. Now a days they can change the phone number that shows up as a local number that you see to fool you.

Around ten or more years ago a friend told me that the DNR told him that by 2050 Lake Pepin will be nothing but a channel from Red Wing to Lake City. I sure hope not. I love that body of water [pool 4]. Its like Gods Country as its so peaceful being out on the water in a boat catching fish. I can remember many years ago when I was new to the lake and had a little 14ft boat with a 6hp motor it and a flasher for my fish locator. I was coming across the lake from the Wisconsin side to the Minnesota side below the head of the lake and my flasher said one and a half feet of water. I couldn’t believe it as I was out in the middle of the lake. I took my paddle and put it in the water to see if that depth was correct and unfortunately it was. I just hate what is happening to the lake. It holds a special place in my heart. And I know I am not alone as there are many many others who feel the same way. May the Lord help us.

Lots of rain around the Mankato area over the weekend

Plus the Minnesota River had been up over 8 ft so lots of water coming our way for sure.

My dog and cat both sleep with me. Small dog though, whew.

I hate to be a party pooper BUT a hundred dollars won’t buy enough gas to get to Florida let alone something to eat. Wonder if thats how they live so high – off of the money from lots of people. Pros at it???
I hope you get what you are hoping for.

THANKS BUDDY. Like WOW!!! What a report. Thanks. Been waiting for warmer water temps as my old fishing buddy is coming up from Iowa whenever I give him the call that both Lake Zumbro and Lake Pepin is hot. THANKS.

Steve Plantz redid his floor on his Lund boat years back and could give you some advice on how to do it. He is a member of IDO so should be easy to find.

May I ask why Tom is no longer on here? Feel free to PM me if you prefer. Thanks, Bill Cadwell

I know the bait is delivered to Scheels on Wednesdays so my guess is that is the day the rest of the bait places is stocked too in town.

Every fall there is a drawdown so any repairs needed to the dam can be done. It also helps home and cabin owners to not be flooded in the spring.

Its nice to see that we have a bait and tackle store on the north side of town. THUMBS UP!!!

Yes this old man is still around. Haven’t been fishing alot for quite awhile but going to get back at it. How are you doing?

Does anyone know what the current water temps are on the lake? Thanks.

Go to Tom Boley’s fishing website and try asking him what he ran on his last year (he has a Warrior now) with a 90hp Suzuki and was running 36mph.

VERY nice boat James. I guess I was surprised to hear you are already 50 but I guess I’m not the only one getting older. I’m 71 years old. You mentioned downsizing when you get older. That is something I did back in 2010. With the 2008/2009 economic crash taking place alot of people who were looking at getting into fishing were looking at smaller boats due to money and boat prices. I had done some on the water testing of a prototype Evinrude Etec 30 hp motor on a new Alumacraft 16ft Fisherman model boat and liked both the motor and boat combination. With myself getting older and figuring I was getting close to retirement I downsized my bigger Alumacraft boat for a 16ft Alumacraft Fisherman with a 25hp Evinrude Etec motor. And sure enough, I was put on disability social security several years later for my neck, back, and hands injuries. Alumacraft has now replaced that boat with the Escape model which is a very nice boat for someone wanting to get into fishing. My son Nate runs a 620 Ranger with a 250 Mercury Pro XS and really likes it so I think you will be happy with the Mercury. Now if he just wouldn’t be so darn busy with work and family he might take me out fishing in it. Have fun and enjoy fishing in the new boat Jammes. You earned it.