Thought I would give the lower end a go this afternoon.
I was searching for eyes but I found a bunch of little Buffalo’s instead. Man do these things scrap.
This is the time of year that it is truely fun to be a fisherman. Most of the Crusier’s are in dry dock and the river is calm for the most part.
Right now if you can find one bass you are most likely to find a bunch. And they do have the feed bags on.
What an afternoon I had launched at noon and back on the trailer at 4:30 had a walleye dinner to prepare at 5:30.
Here is the first pair a couple of hotties.
This was a great four hours on the water it was non stop action. Once I found them that took me two hours but the other two hours were rod bending excitement.
All these fish came on hair jigs. I threw cranks and plastics all for not cause they wanted the bucktails.
My first fish to the boat was on a Black bucktail and it was just a touch under 19 inches. This wound up being the biggest. I threw all that other stuff trying to get some bigger fish to go but I had to settle for a bunch of 17 incher’s.. Poor me, Poor me…
Here is another pair
I was fishing a drop off and the fish were on top at times and just off the edge.
Snap jigging those bucktails just lit their fire.
When all was said and done I had boated 13 legal smallies and one shorty. Also had a few of the sheep head thrown in for good measure.
Those smallies are very sassy and full bellied.
The shad were boiling all around me.
Here is another pair.
Well once you start taking photos they kinda all look alike.
But it was a great afternoon spent catching Bronze backs with an attitude.
This next photo is a shot of all the colors on the lower end.
I still can’t make it look like real life cause the river right now is breath taking with color.
It is great to be in Southern Minnesota and on the mighty Mississippi River.
Here is another shot of a Rod bender.
Another one that didn’t get away. They were just pounding the jigs.
Here is one that didn’t get away either he was just camera shy!
One last pair.
Nice fish Bud. Mike will be proud of you when he heres you are finally catchin ”BASS.” [so will john]
Thanks, Bill
Hey Bill SHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Don’t tell Mike I was out Bass fishing with walleye equipment.
I have a feeling John already knows..
And if John knows you can bet Mike will know as they like to chase bass together AND now Uncle can take him bass fishin too.
Thanks, Bill
HEY MIKE……………
I was out in Monticello with John Stears today, he said you had hammered the big smallies down there. He wasn’t kidding, nice fish
Well let me tell you about today.
at off field antics that won’t be addressed by some people whom I guess are famous.
those mungo smallies again.
Cause I am pissed
Famous people live by different rules then us plain folk.
Enough said about Purple pride.
Now let me tell you about my day.
I was going to spend it chasing
However I was so excited and must have still had one eye closed when I was pulling the boat out of the garage.
I dang near ripped the whole door off with one side of the trailer. Jeez I hate it when that happens.
So I messed with it for about an hour and said heck with it I’m going fishing.
Well I’m in the boat kicking my butt for being so stupid and in a hurry.
Finally after about an hour and a half that is one sheephead and one Northern.
I decide to just pack it in and go and try an do some repair work.
Man I wished I made 10 million dollars a year I’d just buy a new garage.
All I can do is laugh about it.
Man what a putz..
That happens to us guys who are so darn excited about fishin.
You did say you wanted to make a bigger garage door area so you could buy that new wider boat you want. But Bud, there is a better way. 
Great report, great fish, great fun, and now for the great garage door repair. 
[looking forward to the garage door report, lol]
Thanks, Bill
Yah, John knew about cuz I fished it an hour earlier but the wind blew me off it
. There is something the walleye guy’s use that us bass guys can learn from, an anchor 
. Way to go Greg! 
I can add is pool 4 below the Chippiwa is in great shape, but the MN side is still very dirty. The results of two days of poking around is no SM on the MN side of Pepin, a few LM on spinnerbait on the MN side and schools of good LM from Big Lake on down. The best fish were a 19” SM from the WI side of Lake Pepin and a 20” LM off pool 5. Greg is right, the river bass are on fire. 
John,
So does that mean my phone will be ringing soon?!?!?!
Rick