This weekend I ventured to Pool 18 in attempt to learn a new pool. I must admit to being a little beaten up by this pool. Maybe it was not just the fact that this was a new pool as other stated they were having a tough time too. I did manage to catch several largemouths on Saturday in a couple of the backwater areas between Keithsburg and Oqwuaka. While I did catch several Saturday, only one was keeper size at 2.5lbs. On Sunday I spent the entire morning in the Boston Bay area. This area surprised me as it was much larger than was shown on the GPS maps. There is much more structure and current there that I believed from looking at the map. I had roughly the same results here. I don’t think I got as many fish but I did find a handful of short fish and one nice 3.25lb largemouth.
The water temp was from 69 to 80 degrees with the cooler water found in an incoming tributary just outside of Keithsburg (Pope Creek?). Most of the main river areas were in upper 70’s. Both days were partly cloudy with light winds with temps in low 80’s. While, I tried a little of everything I only caught fish on a green watermelon tube and a spinnerbait. Both keepers came on the River FINatic spinnerbait which I’ve mentioned before.
Ken, the bite was tough this weekend. I was on the water in pool 14 for several hours on Friday. The water is up approx. 18 inches and is muddy. I am guessing that pool 17 was the same. The fish we did catch though were all very pale which I have always believed meant they had not been actively feeding for a few days. Our big fish was just over 4 pounds, a respectable River bass. We worked much harder for our fish than I wanted to. Water temps were similar to what you found. We did find cleaner water in some backwaters, but the bite was no better. I think muddy water and post spawn conditions bit us in the butt.
OK makes me feel better to know I wasn’t the only one struggling.
The bite is still tough. I fished a club tourn. last night and only one limit was caught. Normally lots of us have limits. The corps has said we can expect water conditions like this for about 3 weeks. Pools 1 and 2 are closed for all navigation.