After spending almost two months in hibernation I finally hit the river. I think that was the longest streak ever for me for not being on the water. Man, I hope I don’t have to go through that again. Actually, it was kind of nice spending some quality time with my boys before the big rush of spring fisherman come. They grow too fast.
My boat was totally cleaned out from being in boat shows so I figured that all I was going to throw in the boat was a few ringworms, a few jigs, a St. Croix rod and my new Marcun UnderWater camera. I figured I would pitch all day and would live or die by this presentation.
The morning started out really good seeing 16 legal walleyes by 8:30. After that it completely died. I was off the water by 10:30 and never boated another fish from 8:30 on. Best presentation was pitching current breaks and rip rap shorelines. Most fish were of good quality ranging from most 20-24″ with only a few under 20″. Oyster colored ringworms put all but one fish in the boat for us this day.
Most of my time after 8:30 I was playing with my new Marcum Under Water Camera. One spot we went to I dropped it down and I found a nice school of walleyes and even one smallie. I told Josh to drop his ringworm down to see if he could catch it and sure of enough these are the results. From camera to boat.
I then moved on to another area to check out a clam bed that I was interested in seeing a little better. The bottom was littered with clams with a few walleyes mixed it. I turned on the In fared View and there eyes glowed. One thing that baffled me the most was some of the clams were moving. After the brain finally registered that clams don’t have legs, I noticed the entire bottom and turtles moving around. HUH!! What is going on with that? I thought they dug themselves into the mud and totally shut there bodies down for the winter. Anyone have an explanation? I did flunk science class during spring quarter one year in high school because I was out fishing. Maybe I should of stayed in school those days.
Dang
Those are some awesome fish. Great report 
I too am curious about the turtles 
Thanks for the report Bud. Is your new toy one of the ones Scott is selling? Sounds like it worked pretty good.
Glad to hear the ringworm bite is getting hot.
Thanks, Bill
Bill,
Yes it was the one Scott Steil was selling. I could hardly pass up the Great Deal
I was considering selling my Scout, but after reading your report maybe I should keep it and try it out on the open water first
All I have to do is put the stabilizing fin and ballast weight on the camera and it is ready to go.
Jarrad,
Great looking walleye in the last picture.
I think I know where you saw the turtles. I hooked ones shell and pulled him up last week. He had his head pulled so far back in his shell it reminded me of parts of my anatomy when I come out of cold water.
nice fish…that sounds like a real good day for the average size you were catching…how is that camera compared to an aqua-vu? can i still get one for that great deal? thanks
Great job Jarrad,
Those are some healthy looking fish there. See you in Bull Shoals.
Jarrad,
Awesome report and those were some VERY nice fish! I work on Pool 26 monitoring fish pops and water quality and we have a herpetologist here in our office and I asked him about the turtle experience you had. He mentioned that turtles sometimes don’t actually hibernate, they “over-winter”. What the difference is, I don’t know. But, he said it’s not uncommon for turtles to be active during the winter, just not really active. If turtles are completely under ice, they will shut down and can survive for up to about 3 months using anaerobic respiration. But, if open water is around, they will stay active, just not really active. I guess that’s why you saw them moving around. He was very curious as to what they were doing over the mussel bed though.
Thanks for the reports from pool 4. I think I’m actually heading up there around the end of March. My dad lives around the LaCrosse area and we’ve fished around there quite often, but have never made it up to pool 4. I’m looking forward to it!
Anyone from IDA going to be at the St. Louis Boat and Sports show later this month?
Cheers,
BJL
Mines shipping out today.
Thanks, Bill
Pool 4 newbie, if you want one pm him very soon as hes getting very low on them and when they are gone they are gone. He is leaving for Red Lake Friday for awhile but let him know you want one as first come first served if you know what I mean.
Thanks, Bill
Yes you can just click on the link below and follow the directions needed to order one.
Click here–Marcun Under Water Cameras
Maybe the walleyes were herding turtles for the big spring roundup.
Hey Jarrad, i know they winter in the mud here and my dad told me when i was a kid they absorb oxygen from the mud through thier skin. This is why thier systems slowdown too just a few heartbeats a minute just like bears. This is the first time i’ve heard of them on the bottom of deep water but it dosen’t surprise me because of thier winter metabolism. I’ll bet it was pretty neat seeing them a first time. I’ll bet the current flow had to play in where they were. It may be thats why the clams are there too because of the slower stable current so they can stay in an area and not be moved around by the swifter dam current elsewhere.