There was a post not too long ago about where to go for a shot at that true trophy walleye here
in Minnesota? A lot of replies to the post mentioned Pool 2 of the Mississippi River near the top of the list! Although these fish are not all that common no matter where you fish, it is definitely best to always put the odds in your favor. Like the In-Fisherman guys always say, “Want big fish? Fish big fish waters!!” This past week, I was fortunate enough to boat yet another true giant. This massive walleye hit the tape at over 30” long and was estimated over 11-1/2 pounds. WOW! Needless to say, this fish gave me the thrill and excitement that all anglers patiently wait for….and it’s worth every second when that time comes!
My success on the river this past week has been unfortunately still a bit inconsistent. Looking for fish shallow right now is best in the lowlight conditions of sunup and sundown. After this, you can either go deep and go vertical or stay on the move and hope for a couple willing fish to be cooperative in the shallow haunts. Based on my last couple trips, I would opt for going after some numbers in deeper water for now until we start to see waters dirty up a bit. The clear water that we have right now only promotes a lowlight bite. This will VERY SOON change with all the mild weather we had the past couple days. Run off will start to filter in the river.
My #1 presentation has been 1/8th oz – 3/16th oz BFT Precision jigs coupled with a cotton candy colored YUM 4” ribworm. This color has been my absolute best hands down this past 2 weeks. I have had trips this week where color has made all the difference at days end and this is the one I have had to pull out more often than not. Having a confidence color is something that an angler always has within arms reach. If the river decides to cloud up a bit in the coming days, I will be more likely shifting my attention to the two tone colors as well as the chartreuse colors as well.
A little bit of sun and warm temps is starting to send the big females in to an early pre spawn feeding frenzy. Look for these fish to stay on the move right now in their voyage hunt for prime spawning environments. This is the time of year where anglers vertical jigging the deeper holes can tangle with a true giant as they make their seasonal movement.
If yesterday’s 50+ degree weather was a tease for what is to come in the weeks ahead…I will take another dose!! Good luck to all!
What a horse. OVER 11.5# is right. Dare I say 12? Nice job, Steve. My cotton candy ribworms and other YUM plastics arrived on Friday … watch out walleyes.
John
Wow, nice fish Steve. Have you been fishing Wing Dams? Shallow Sand? Have you noticed an increas in activity among those big females lately?
YUM YUM YUM!!!!Thats a fish DREAMS are made of Steve. Good work!
How deep was she? Were you pitchin or vertical?
John, your timing could not of been better!
John pulls up on me just as I was fighting this horse of a walleye. He was nice enough to snap a couple pictures for me!! Thanks buddy! Unfortunately, I did not have my scale in the boat with me, otherwise I would have weighed it quick. I know it was huge though!
Scott,
Both dams and sandflats have produced as of late. The big fish seem to have waken themselves up a bit from the long winter. These are right on cue with years past. Starting to see more fish concentrated now, which is typicall what I see this time of year on 2.
Well, my timing could have been a little better … if I hadn’t spent 30 min. getting my outboard going I might have been the one holding her!!!
I wish we had weighed that fish, Steve. I had a scale, but I always forget about it!
But I’m glad I got to see that monster in person either way. 
Here’s a measley 27″ that I got after Steve landed his hawgosaurus.
John
Steve thanks for the posts and photo and info. It keeps people like me that are just learning to fish the river going. Some day some time I will see a fish like that in my boat. Thanks for the tips.
Good Luck
Adam
Great fish Steve. I saw you out early on Saturday morning, I was in a duck boat up by the airport. Do you move off the main channel much, such as cut-ins/back channel like Baldwin lake? Running down by that area on Sunday, I noticed there is tremendous structure through there. Here’s to hoping one of those 30-inchers finds it way into my boat, although until I get my bigger boat out that fish would have towed me around.
Hextap,
I am glad you and others find the reports we put up enjoyable and educational! All of those large females are all obviously still swimming out there waiting for you!
Terry,
I will start venturing to these areas in about a month’s time frame. Once waters warm a bit and the levels are up, I will be hitting these structures on a daily basis. There is a ton of water that is capable of producing some trophy fish pictures! You will also find that these pieces of structure are often under utilized and often overlooked by many. Find a honey hole and you will have it ALMOST to yourself!
Here is another shot of that big walleye!
What a Moose! Nice fish Big Guy!
Wow!
Tuck
Nice ‘eye Steve!
Nice tuna Steve!!!
HOly Moly!! I want one!!
Are you seeing a difference in the a.m. bite vs. the p.m. bite or generally are the low light periods producing equally? Thanks
Nice fish Steve!
Awesome to see fish like that.
All that hard work has finally payed off in a really big way.
Congratulations!
JWB
Bshimp,
Every trip has been a little different, however overall, it has been pretty consistent for producing fish. From sunup until about 8:30-9:00am and again from 4:30-6:30pm. ONce we get some warm sun for a couple days straight the day time bite should turn around in a hurry!
Steve,
thanks.. 
what a beautiful Walleye, and check the girth on John’s 27″er. getting fatter by the minute I’d say.
I need to go check out and learn more about Pool 2 for sure.
them those great reports and pics coming and often. can NOT get enought of them.
Jack…
WOW!!! Very nice fish Bud. Looks like somebodies having lots of fun.
Thanks for sharing the report and pics. 
Thanks, Bill