Red Wing Pool 4 Walleye Fishing Report 11-30-05

Fall weather has come and gone. The colder temps are upon us but the walleye and sauger fishing on upper pool 4 has been pretty good for numbers of nice fish. This fall has been somewhat different in terms of water conditions. In early November we were faced with dirtier water that slowed the number of fish brought to the boat. Then the water temps went from 50degrees right down the upper 30’s in a matter of 3-4 days but cleared up. Despite the water conditions, the fishing over the past couple of weeks has been good for sheer numbers of walleye in the 17” to 22” class. I have only been on the river twice in the last 2 weeks and have not boated a fish over 5lbs on either of those outings. On a “normal” late November all day trip is it is very common to boat 1-3 walleyes over 5lbs while casting jigs/plastic to the river edge. But that has not happened for me on the last couple of outings. Maybe the dramatic drop in water temps has been associated with that. One things for certain, we missed a good couple a weeks of some big fish action with stable water temps in the lower 40’s never making a showing.

The last two outings I have exclusively pitched jigs to rip rap and sand flats. Both are holding good numbers of eye’s right now but fishing one or the other during the right time of day has been key for me to put a couple extra fish in the boat. Early morning and evening, the shallow rip rap areas have been good. Once the morning bite slows, moving to the sand has been where I have reconnected with some action. Black or plain lead 1/8oz and 3/16oz precision heads have worked best for me in 12’ of water or less. Once I am forced to pull off those shallower depths brighter color precision heads have been better for me. Ring worms in the oyster shell, pro-blue, firecracker and purple/chartreuse tail patterns have taken top honors in my boat. The B-fishn paddle tails have taken some fish for me as well but not like they were earlier in the month of November. Once the bite slows in an area I am working switching up to the minnow style bait has proven to put a couple of extra fish in the boat but ringworms have been best for better numbers while casting as of late.

Anglers vertical jigging paddle tails in the deeper depths for sauger have had great reports over the last week. From some of the second hand info I have received, the 3-way and crank guys are still running in to good numbers of fish as well. Have also heard respectable reports of fish coming on Hair jigs, plain minnows, and the all mighty “super doo“.

I spent this Wednesday fishing with IDA’s Todd Miller. Todd and I were one of nine boats braving the colder conditions on this day. The wind was very light so it wasn’t that bad, even fished with my gloves of for a while. We saw a good early morning bite on the eyes with more than half our fish making it to the boat in the first 2 hours of the trip. Once the early morning bite died, we bounced around the rest for the day struggling to find another honey hole. We were still able to boat an eye here and an eye there keeping my interest high enough to hook in to a big mama eye so I left the vertical jig bite alone. It was a pleasure fishing with you Todd! I look forward to doing it again in the future.

Todd headed home around 3:00pm. Myself and Dean from Everts Resort headed out for the evening bite. The action was not as good as the morning bite but there were some nice eye’s brought to the boat

Looks like the cooler weather is going to be around for a while. To anyone wants to brave the temps, there is a some very good fishing to be had.

See ya on the river!