Physically getting a boat on Pool 2 in the last several weeks have been a struggle to say the least, but a few mid 20+ degree days have welcomed a little chisel work at the boat ramp to get a small winter boat in. Some days the work was well worth the effort and others….well lets just say it was a good morning workout! There are some big walleyes to be caught this time of year if an angler is willing to put up with Minnesota’s typical dose of January bitterly cold elements.
Last night John Nesse (aka..John23) invited me to hop in his winter boat for a last ditch effort to get on the water to chase a few walleyes before the deep freeze that they are predicting in the coming days. Again with a little work John had the ramp open by the time I have arrived and we were ready to hit the water ready and armed with BFT’s lighter 1/8th-3/16th oz precision jigs and plenty of YUM plastics. Our fist stop at a wingdam proved to be our main stay for the next couple hours. Pitching these plastics to the wingdam was a very gentle but methodical approach. Light winds, at our backs, light current and 30+ degree weather gave us full control of our offerings. Anchoring just up river from the tip of a deeper wingdam is my typical approach for this time of year.
John and I shared good conversations as well as plenty of hook sets that gave way to 6 fish total for the evening with 4 of these beauties over the 25” mark. For a 4-1/2 hour trip, the numbers do not sound all that appealing for enduring light snow and freezing temps….but rest assured that most any serious angler will consider quality over quainity any day of the week. By about 9:00pm, the forecasted strong 30+ mph winds started to show itself and made boat control as well as pitching the light jigs nearly impossible so we headed for home. Thanks for the fun trip John!
The 494 ramp in South St. Paul was still in pretty decent shape for launching little boats. A four wheel drive tow vehicle is an absolute must for the ramp. The ramp itself has about a 8-10” drop at waters edge to contend with, but little boats are still easy to dump in. As for the closure of the road to the ramp, the gates that they had been closing at days end are removed for now and the ramp is fully accessible 24 hours a day now. As for the weather and near future trips, I would strongly suggest to curl up in a fish house or break out your favorite fishing videos to pass the next week by. The ramp will have significant ice built up after this cold snap. I will begin working on the ramp again late next week and will update my progress as I go.
I hope to see all of you at the 2005 IDA Ice Get Together down in Prairie Du Chien, WI on Saturday January 29th! All welcome!
Well worth the effort in my book. Those are some nice fish guys!
Steve, next time you go to work on the ramp, let me know. I’d be glad to help out and I can bring the propane fire throwing tourch.
Also good to learn that the Dept of Trans hear us and took that gate down. Squeeky wheel got greased so to say.
-J.
Steve
What color plastics worked for you guys? I would assume the water would be very clear and that the more natural patterns would be the ticket.
Thanks for the report. We’ve all been taking it much to easy on the river ‘eyes of late.
Jon,
I think I speak on behalf of all of the Pool 2 visitors this past fall/winter by saying thanks to you and all the others that took time out of their schedules to voice their opinion on keeping the ramp open! THANK YOU!
James,
All natural is right. Chartruese pepper/firecracker and Ozark Smoke..Water clarity is as good as I have seen it all year (about 3-3-1/2 feet).
Nice fish Steve. There was something that just didnt seem right about sitting on south center lake yesterday. Thanks for showing me what that was. Pool 2 had come to mind a few times yesterday when I noticed the eye lets on the poles where not freezing up.
Thanks for the update on the ramp also.
Steve,
I had a great time as well. I’ll take a 1 – 25″+ fish/hour average any day!! I sure love the river…
I think I’ll have to take a walleye-display lesson from Steve as his fish look a lot bigger than the one I’m holding!
Here’s a funny lesson I learned the hard way last night: The ramp was very slick and even with 4WD I had to gun it to get the boat out. Just before I pulled the boat out of the water and jumped it up on the ice, Steve asks me, “Do you have a strap to keep the boat on the trailer?”
I responded, “Nah, it won’t be a problem.” 30 seconds later my boat bounces off the trailer and onto the concrete!
It’s a good thing we were fishing out of a boat that weighs less than we do… 
John
Nice fish Steve
How was the fishing today 
Burrrrrrr
Great report Steve
See you on the 28th and 29th. 
God open water fishing
That’s just awesome Steve and John, I can’t wait for spring 
You lucky guys, I would of been happy with one 25″
GREAT REPORT STEVE ALSO GOOD ARTICLE WITH IN-FISHERMAN MAG.
YOUR BECOMING QUITE A FISHERMAN AROUND TOWN
Thanks guys! I am chomping at the bit to get back on the water. This deep freeze is driving me crazy. Keeping this guy bound up in the house for days on end can be hazardous to everyone around me!
Looks like the weather is going to turn around quickly…may try to get back on the water later this week. Its going to take some effort to clear the ramp enough to get the little boats in. Hopefully have some news for you guys later this week.
I hope to see all you guys down at the Get Together on the 28th and 29th!!
Pool 10 Get Together
Hey Steve,
Haven’t spoke in a while. Hope Life finds you well. Been very busy myself, yesterday my wife gave birth to a 7lb. 6ounce, 22 inch beautiful girl. I am more proud than that 30″ eye you put me on this past fall. (very close though)
You guys are maniacs!! those are some dandies!!
Great job on the In-fisherman article that just came out. You didn’t give away all your secrets I hope??
take care, and nice work.