What a day we had. Words cannot describe the fantastic fishing that exists on Pool 4.
The temps when we awoke were 18 degrees but after a lay off day we loaded up and were on our way. The snow started to fly as we were entering Lake City. When we arrived in Redwing the boat had a couple inches every where.
As we were unloading my shifting cables were very stiff.
The old line if it don’t go don’t force it..Well I wound up breaking them.. but we had come so far we were not going home. So off we went under kicker power.
Here is Mike this am taking us to our first trolling run.
We were fishing by about 9:00 am. The snow was really coming down and the wind was starting to pick up.
Our first trolling pass we had five fish in the boat.
Here is a photo of Mike with a set of doubles. We did not have any triples today but we had doubles three times does that count?????
This next little piggy was one of four this size we caught today. This was just under 20 inches most our fish were 16 to 18 inches. With a couple eyes thrown in to boot.
Most all the fish were hanging on the 20 foot edges.
We took them all on Rapala’s today. Firetiger ruled.
Mike and I were going to fish the Turkey Combo. Uhh until I busted my cables. This is the first time my Suzuki has let me down..Oh well I helped with a heavy hand.
Well all said and done Mike and I had four legal limits of fish today.
We had a ball. The fishing was very fast and furious.
On our way in we stopped by and visited with Dean at Evert’s. He has all the latest tips and best tackle in the area. Good to see you Dean.
This is a photo of Mike on the way in with today’s catch.
Here is a picture of Mike with a walleye.
We did get snow I don’t remember if I had mentioned that.
Ho HO HO!
I am so excited from tomorrow! we are hitting up pool 8 for some of that sweet action. Its about time! i havent been walleye fishing for a month!
Time to jump right into the action ‘eh?
Nice post!
This is another sauger.
Want to wish everyone fishing the Turkey Combo Good luck!
It should be a good bite with some nice weights.
oh and after re-reading your post, i noticed you used firetiger
I have had a fire tiger fat rap rigged up and ready to go on my three way since yesterday..can’t wait to give it a shot. Your information was really helpful. Hope they are reacting similarly tomorrow, even though the weather conditions will obviously be way different
Here is one last Photo of Mike until next June.
We kept some fish to clean so he would have a meal up in Duluth.
Everyone drive careful and allow extra time the roads were good for me in 4-wheel drive.
The Ramp at Gene’s was really icy and you will not get in and out with out 4 wheel. The Big rigs better use Everts.
Good fishing.
Its hard to beat on the river fishing pictures like that vandy, nice!
Hey Cade,
Yes Fire tiger was the ticket for us today.
We were using stick baits #5,#7,#9and #11’s we just kept changing sizes.
The flow here is still fairly strong so we were using 5 and 6 ounce weights.
Good luck and let the big girls go.
We released all our bigger fish we clean two 18 inchers and the rest were 16 and 17..
Thanks for the report and pics guys. Knowing Mike I ”know” he had a great time down here fishing with you Greg. Thats something that means the world to him. Too bad about the broken cable. By the way Mike, enjoy the hair because knowing uncle Greg like I do it will get shaved off again when you come down for the summer months to stay with him.
Anyway, it probably won’t matter to you as the only girls you will be chasing down here will be girls with big guts and scales. [big female fish] 
Take care guys. Have a safe trip up north today. 
Thanks, Bill
i am currious on what weights you use on your 3 way riging and how long you keep your lead lenghts on weight and bait? thanks Larry
Great report Vandy!
Missed you this year…Jarad was willing but I just couldn’t squeeze it in this year…now I’m kickin myself
We’re both after some really big bucks that have got our attention…but it was easier to do after the incredible fishing we had a couple weeks ago.
Keep fishing and keep me wishing!!!!
Hate to say it-
It wasn’t us either. We did not see another person catch anything either and we were watching relatively closely. talked to a guy that had been fishing all day and caught one fish. We tried trolling three ways (had no problem keeping the cranks on the bottom with 4 ounce sinkers) and we jigged..I tried a jigging rap tipped with a minnow head, i tried superdoo’s, kalin’s grubs..My dad used hair minnows..There were no fish! I dont know what happened. Either the weather change totally turned them off, or it is just our lack of experience with the walleyes..
I feel awful.
Today left a bad taste in my mouth, as we didnt catch anything in 3 hours of fishing
I dont think 4 pools would make that much of a difference either in the walleyes..maybe im wrong.
Keep me updated on how it goes, i still want to tie into a couple more fish for the season!
PS: water temperature was down- way down-to 32 degrees so it was pretty different from what it was for you yesterday. It was tough to troll too because there was lots of floating ice coming from the dam
Hey Larry,
We were using 5&6 oz weights this past week. I have 1 to 12 oz weights that I use for this presentation. One of the biggest keys to the threeway presentaion is your line going into the water should be as close to a 45 degree angle as possible. This can change as the flow rates change.
The leader lengths and dropper’s are and easy rule of thumb is 1 to 3(dropper/leader) so one foot dropper three foot leader and so on…. I hope this helps.
Hey Tom we will save a few for you
Good luck on your bucks.
Cade,
Worst day on the water is still better then sitting in front of the TV.
Sorry to hear you didn’t hook up…But you need those days too.
Makes the catching days even better. Yea dodging ice flows is no fun either. We have the Big nuke plant just North of Lock and Damn 4 and that helps keep our water temps up and the ice down all year long.
Good luck next time.
Well I just got back from taking Mike to Duluth.
Wow the roads this am were glare ice for the first 90 miles, never went more then 45. Then when I got near the cities the fog started so I hope this makes some since I am just unwinding now.
Take care and Good hooking.
Hi greg
Nice fish. Well deer season is over for us and ice is 6 to 7 inches fall fishen was great up hear caught a 52 in sturgeon 45 mi on 4 # test. eyes have been good looking forward to ice this year we got a fish house. All are well.
Hi John,
Glad your enjoying the North land.
Say hello to Annie
Take care
Good luck this hard water season.