Its been a little while since my last report due to some on the road seminars that has taken place as of recently. Too much of my surprise however, the Pool 2 multi-species bite has rebounded back considerably in the last several outings compared from my last Pool 2 report.. I can honestly say that many presentations are taking many different species of fish right now. From Catfish to smallmouth bass, crappies to white bass, and including some hefty walleyes also showing up all in the same areas.
Like I mentioned, many different techniques and presentations are producing fish as of right now. Late last week, I ventured to some backwater cuts for some shallow water trolling. Both current swept sand/silt and riprap shorelines areas have proven best when trolled shallow and quick. Most of my fish in these areas have been taken from 4-8 foot depths. My best crankbait right now is the new smaller Grappler Shad from Cotton Cordell (CD14) in the crawfish or firetiger patterns. Keeping the crank close to the bottom is a must for getting bit at times and this especially holds true on the riprap shorelines. Making contact with the rocks seems to definitely provoke strikes as fish react almost immediately after a series of several bottom contacts. Pitching these areas with jigs and or cranks in the morning or evening hours will definitely produce for you as well, but covering water by trolling this time of year seems to be the key.
Another bite that has taken a turn in the right direction in recent trips has been the wingdam bite. Pitching cranks and hair jigs has been best here and I have exercising both presentations at all my wingdam stops. When you first arrive at a wingdam of choice, I like to pitch cranks first to cover water quickly and find the biters. My most consistent crankbaits for casting wingdams have been the Bomber 6A and the CD15 Grappler Shad. Both of these are effective and have a different enough action to get a reaction out of the fish in one mood or another. Run your bowmount trolling motor in front of the wingdam and keep the boat on the upward side of the wingdam and fan cast the top of the wingdam for best results here. I actually overcast my target a bit so when my lure comes through the area, its already obtained the running depth that I need to make contact on the rocks of the wingdam. Once you have covered this area quickly, I like to slow down quite a bit and pitch Jimmy D’s Green Weenie hair jigs to the wingdams just like you would fish any other jig, only our best presentation has been bulking up the size quite a bit (3/8th oz) and exercise a snap jig approach back to the boat. With water temps hovering around 60 degrees, the fish have responded well by picking up the pace at times when things appear slower than normal. Some fish have come from the topsides of the wingdam and some have come from the base on the front side. Work it all the way back to the boat side as I have been finding fish to follow it a bit out away from the area.
Both of the techniques and presentations that I have noted above have taken several nice sized channel and flat head catfish on the last couple of trips. One of the flathead absolutely inhaled my Bomber 6A crank and she put on quite the display of fighting power as they are so well noted for! The walleyes that have been showing themselves have been a huge mix of sizes, from 19”-29”. We have boated 5 fish over the 26” mark over the last couple trips including a couple 28”-29” fish. Catching these fish this time of year compared to the cold-water period is truly a fun experience. The fish are no longer sluggish and they give you every ounce of fight that they have! I have about 3 more trips before I end my spring Pool 2 season and take my way up to Mille Lacs Lake for guiding and tournament fishing. I will have another report up about midweek to keep everyone informed of the conditions and bite outlook.
Good luck fishing!
Here is one of several flatheads that have made their way to the boatside on the last couple trips. This particular flathead inhaled a Bomber 6A crank on a high speed retrieve. My guess she is right around the 25# range possibly? I am no expert by any means, but I know this fish gave me a thrill! After a couple quick photos, she was back in the river to swim again.
Here is my brother Tony and his best buddy Jake with a nice average walleye taken on a Graapler shad pitched to a rip rap shoreline.
And speaking of best buddies, I could not help but get a picture of my best pal Bailey with another walleye during our day on Saturday. These two dogs got their fair share of running up and down the shorelines throughout the day! Needless to say they both hit the sheets hard that night.
Here is my biggest sheepie to date! This briuser drilled a CD15 Grappler Shad in a far extreme back water as I was probing around for some walleyes. This fish hit like a freight train going 75mph the other direction. Fun fight!
Great report Steve. Last year was the first time I spent any time on pool 2 in the summer months.It was a blast. Trolling cranks and pitching wingdams.
Some of the points that you made that bring back memorys of last summer are. Crank bait lips hitting the rocks. It can be amazing how if you where not in the rocks you where not catching fish.
Over sized jigs on the wingdams. Working the jigs right to the bottom and out to the boat a little. The snap jigging brought in some nice fish for me. It was very cool to walk a heavy jig down the face of a dam. Give it a quick snap and fish on.
Almost headed down there tonight. Looks like monday night insteed.
Amazing fishing Steve! I guess I’ll have to see if the Grappler Shad works on th LBDN Saturday!
That was your brother? Thanks for the introduction
Thats one heckuva flatty! Those catfish boys might be a little jealous.
great report Steve, must be nice to be able to spend the quality time that you seem to put in. am envious. keep them great reports coming. and good luck up on ML this year. Jack.
Hey steve, Nice report those were some nice looking walleyes and that was a hell of a nice cat. I was wondering where exactly pool number 2 is. I mainly fish the croix but I’d like to fish the mississippi. It is such a huge river. For somone that doesn’t fish the miss where would you start, and how do you spot the wing dams. I was also wondering what pool that is below the ford dam and have you fished it. If I was to fish there do you have any tips. Thanks alot
Plungepool
NICE CATCH ON ALL STEVE AND WAY TO GO
Nice fish Steve. Thats one big smallie you got there.
Jack,
Thanks for the nice words on the reports and glad you find them enjoyable!
My yard could use a cut, trim and a rake job. But since we both know which job gets put on the way side? 
All kidding aside, it does take a special supportive wife that I have at home that has been behind me 100%. I cannot thank her enough for all that she for me and my family!
As for the consistent time that I put on the water every year? Unfortunately it does not come without sacrafices elsewhere.
Plungepool,
The Miss river can be an overwelming body of water at first, but following the little things that I have described in my report will help you step in the right direction. Pool 2 is about a 25 mile section of river that runs from the Ford Dam (St. Paul) all the way south to the Lock and Dam #2 in Hastings, Mn. I guide on Pool 2 and average about 100 days a year on this Pool. This is my favorite section of river to fish. Its open year round with a catch andrelease policy year round on the walleyes, sauger, LM and SM Bass. The average size of the fish continue to grow each year respectively.
Here is a map put together from the Army Core of Engineers.
River maps
As for fishing this system right now, get out your crankbaits and cover some water. Troll shallow current swept(outside bends of the river) rocky shorelines. Let out enough line to bump the bottom. Concentrate your efforts here and you will start to make contact with some dandy walleyes! Good luck!