Pool 8 La Crosse Predator Bite 7/16/11

After some deliberation on the phone, when, where to, and what for stuff, it was decided the pitching and casting tackle was the gear for this trip and early morning was the time as to beat the heat. The where to, that was in the middle of the pool with hopes of finding some gators and green fish hangin’ near timber and weeds.
For the first few hours of morning fishing REO’s tune “Riding the Storm Out” kept playing through my head Hard rain, light rain, a flash in the distance then followed by a low rumble of thunder were the conditions but, the bite was good making the wet worth it This is only the third 2011 open water trip together for Mike and I, not the best conditions but the pike were hunting in packs and the Bass were tucked in weeds and willing to hit what ever swam by.

The river is still up there and the shorelines in the backwaters are loaded with perfect ambush spots such as flooded timber. Also what lily’s and weed beds we could find had lurkers waiting for a passing by meal. The water clarity was better than expected but this might be changing when the big dump of rain to the North gets here. The river stage has been high for the last 2 years in the La Crosse area, as much of the rest of the Mississippi river pools. With these conditions fish were found in spots that never produced for us before during this trip.

Starting off at the tip of a series of islands which stretch out for a mile we found some spares lily’s and it wasn’t but the third cast a snot rocket piled onto a swim jig. The stretch was worked casting through the lily’s and to trees standing in knee deep water. From there we rounded a corner and headed into a bay. First thing noticed was the lack of vegetation. Where did the weed mates go, where did the big flats of lily pads go The high water has been holding such structure at bay. The first part of the stretch and bay never produced anything for bass or any bigger gators than hungry sized hammer handles.

Still moving on fishing the next island there was a tad more current as the slough necked down. It wasn’t long and the bigger fish (not monsters by any means) were found. Sparse lily pads along the current edge produced 26-30inch Pike and some dandy sized Bass. Moving on there other predators found near flooded wood lined banks. The key was finding some flow pushing into the cover from 3-5fow.

Being on a good bite it didn’t take long for my bean cap to start thinking Northern fish fry a 28, 27 and 26 inch toothy were soon in the live well and I must have rubbed off on my partner who decided to take a 30incher home. The big fish award with the 30 inch Pike went to Mike, it was a nice wide fish with the head of a wolf. The gator put up one heck of a fight boat side as I kept yellin’ choot, choot em Lizbeth

Purple swim jigs tipped with a 5” Cotton Candy K Grub, and a white tandem spinner tipped with a 5” Firetiger K Grub were my go to baits. Mike did well with the same colors with a bonus blow up on a bone colored spook. It was a true toad that threw the spook right back at the boat after a great aerial display!
Going on 11:30am the sun popped out and the heat started to set in. It was time to call it a day and head for fine refreshments. It’s a good time sitting back while sippin’ suds and replying the morning hours adventure back through the built in memory screen on the back of the peeper lids. This bite was one for the books in these two old coots opinion.

Sure had a good time buddy Mike. Thanks for getting me out!!
For the rest, get out early and beat the heat….the predators have the feed bag on!!!

Good Luck Fishing People