I spent another late afternoon and early evening chasing Walleyes and Saugers down on Pool 2. A lot of things we pretty much the same from my last excursion down to Pool 2 on Valentines day. Just like last time I jumped on board with Mike W. from the site. However, this time instead of his flat bottom rig, he pulled up in an Alumnacraft powered by an E-TEC. This was a boat that I was awfully familiar with, as I had spent late nights and all day trips in this boat. 
Congrats to Mike on his purchase of Chris Tuckners “sweet baby”. Tuck, Mike looked like he had been born to Captain this boat. What a great boat and man did Tuck leave it loaded with all the goodies. It still catches nice fish too. 
Read the rest of the report to see how our day panned out catching fish like this one shown here.
The game plan this afternoon was to again to vertically jig the channel break in search of some walleyes and “pregnant fat” saugers. Then come dark, we would anchor and pitch to a few “wingies” trying to locate a productive wing dam and plastic color. Another thing that stayed constant from my last trip to P2 was we vertically jigged B FISH N TACKLE’S 4" RING WORM’S . Again, I was glad that I did not have to mess with dipping my hands in a cold, wet minnow bucket yesterday. Although with all the fish those Ringworms were producing, I found my hands getting just as wet from handling all the fish. 
The other thing that held constant from last time was the number of trains that collided with our Ringworms. 
Who said that Walleyes and Saugers are light biters and need to be finessed to catch them??? Man these fish absolutely crush these baits. We vertically jigged the river channel and the fish seemed to be out in 20-23’ feet of water. It seemed yesterday that they would either crush the bait when we were holding it still 6” to a foot vertically off the bottom. Or, when we dropped the bait back down to maintain bottom contact. The fish would swim into investigate and inhale the jig off the bottom. When we went to pick the jig back off the bottom, they were on and we would just feel the weight of this fish, before setting the hook.
Well another thing that was not quite the same as my last trip down to Pool 2 and that was color. Last time the fish seemed to like bright colors. Well this time there was a few colors the fish seemed to like. These colors were Firecracker, Firecracker and Firecracker. 
It just happened to be the color that I threw on first. Another thing that they seemed to like was a Pink jig head along with there stiff diet of Firecracker. I soon had Mike switching over to Firecracker and he was getting fish, but my Pink jig head seemed to out produce against his Chartreuse head. This third picture here was a common thing when we would bring a fish into the boat. To see the entire Ringworm and jig inhaled in the mouth of these fish. It did not matter on the size of these fish even 15-17” fish were inhaling these B FISH N TACKLE’S 4" RING WORM’S . We were picking up 4-6 fish every short drift we made. The majority of the fish were ranging in the 17-20” size, with the largest fish of the day being the Walleye pictured above. These saugers that we were catching were FAT and looked like there stomachs were going to explode. 
In the last picture I was trying to show you how fat this 15” sauger was. It was the fattest fish I have ever seen for it’s size. Not a great representation as it flipped over right before I was going to take the picture, but look at the girth across her back. 
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The other thing that held constant on our trip was we could not find a productive wing dam or perhaps a productive color for these Walleyes after the sun disappeared. 
We went a few hours and a few different wing dams with out so much as a nibble. Hopefully, I can get down there and find where these BIG GIRLS are hiding and find a productive pattern to have a few of them visit me boat side. One thing that was very nice about last night was the wind laid down and it was warmer at night than during the day. It was great to be back down on Pool 2 and I’m itching to get back down there already. The 494 ramp just had a few chunks that the wind blew against the ramp, otherwise it was in great shape. The Lilydale ramp was frozen shut and not accessible. There was some pretty decent size chunks floating in the river, so be careful navigating out on the water. I want to thank Mike for another great afternoon on the water. Mike wanted to remain pictureless for the day, unless he pulled one of the BIG GIRLS from the wing dams. I’m hoping to get back down there sometime next week. Until then, stay safe. 
*Click on the Red text above to bring you to BFN’s Website Ringworm page. Where you can view the different colors available and order some of these Walleye and Sauger Slayers.*
*CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE*
Rob,
Thanks for the report, sure sounds like fun
Congrats on the new ride Mike
dave
Nice report.
Mike, congrats on the new boat. I know Tuck took really good care of that boat. I saw it at the GTG last year and she just sparkled.
Thanks guys. Mike sure does have one nice boat.
After reading Brian K’s P4 report, it reminded me that Mike and I also tried draggin’ Ringies yesterday on P2. Mike actually hauled in a nice 5-6 pounder. The only problem was …..it was a Buffalo fish
We were knocking the jigs off the backs/ heads of schools of Rough Fish shallow (11-15′). You could feel your self getting hooked into the sides/backs of them before ripping your jig free. Well Mike ripped one time hooked up to one only to have it come off after a few seconds and then instantly hooked up to his Buffalo fish that he brought into the nice new boat. 
I checked out the Hidden Falls ramp today over the lunch break and it is clean and open for anyone who is thinking of checking out the upper end of P-2 this weekend.
-J.
Nice report Rob! I never did get out in Tuck’s boat although we came close to hooking up a couple of times. I guess I’ll just have to hook up with Mike in that boat
This year Mike! And congrats on the new ride! 
Marty and I are going with James Sunday on p4 and I am stoked! 
dd
Thanks again for the company yesterday Rob and the schooling on catching saugers. My day started a few hours before Rob showed up. Check a few areas with just a couple of fish to show for it. Made a couple of drifts by the airport and picked up a couple of fish. Thought it was just going to be one of those slow and steady trips. That was until Rob shows up with the fire cracker ringworms. He picks up 5 fish on the firstshort drift and then continues on like this for awhile. Some days those fish just want one color. Other days you could throw the kitchen sink at them and they would bite.
Thanks for touoching on the dragging jig bite going on at the airport Rod. For you guys looking for some good action on bigger fish this is the way to go. For lures I would recomend jigs with extra heavy hook and very sharp points. Dont want your hook to straighten out.
Nice report Rob!!
I’ve really gotten the itch for open water over the last few weeks. Especially after all the nice fish I’ve seen you guys catch!! I think I may have to get the boat ready this weekend and try my luck down on the river.
See ya on the water
Josh
Great report Rob!!!
Ice and open water…You lucky guy!!!
That’s it…..I am going to get my boat from storage this next week and I plan to hit the water next weekend. I would get it this weekend but I have family obligations.
Good job guys.
I hear you Fish. I finally got mine out of storage mode and turned around in my garage. I’m heading up sledding in Two Harbor area this weekend, but next weekend I hope to get the old girl out on the water and pound some more Pool 2 fish.
Josh, you sure you know what to do on a river.
It shouldn’t be to bad for you cause those Wingdams are rocky. Tuck and I found out last Fall, with out a rocky bottom you can get turned around and confused pretty fast. Now that you know the West side of Mile Lacs is not 2 mile. You should be ok. 
Luke. I was fishing on Ice one day and a few later I was on the open. That is why the Twin Cities is awesome.
Mike, I know how excited you were in anticipation of getting your new rig…Thanks again for the trip out last week!!! Good to see all that good karma from Tuckner rubbing off on you guys on your maiden voyage.
I’m going to try getting out today or tomorrow on P2 (wife permitting)
You guys just keep getting me excited for the early spring bite.
If not, Drewsdad and I are going out with Holst on Sunday to learn
Good job guys!!!
Rob, you are right I don’t know if I will know what to do on a river, I haven’t been on one for about 5 years!!!
Heck, I finally found out last fall Mille Lacs had weeds in it. 
I’m too excited to get out on some soft water to worry about that though. I got the boat partly ready tonight, going to finish up tommorrow. Should be ready to hit the water next week. It’s suppose to be nice weather next week so I’m definately going to make it out.
Josh Hukriede
Kid, you always have a spot in my boat!
That is unless your Dad takes it first!
Even if he does, I can fit more in!
Tuck, when you getting the new ride to break in. I’m definately looking to do some river fishing this spring!!!!
Josh
April
Hey Tuck, Happy B-Day! March 4th is a good day!
Mike
Lip ripper, have you tried going up river yet? Sometimes the dam area gets a few fish going.
Thanks for the report guys.
This report got me so worked up I had to get the “new” boat wet yesterday. Boated 10 walleyes with the biggest 25-1/2″ and weighed close to 7#. She was a fat one. Still the lowlight was the best for me. Got a few fish midday draggin plastics just off the main channel inside the current seam in 12-15 FOW.
I will have more of report on the new rig in a couple days!
JiggninJim. I have not tried up river yet. Have not been North of the airport. Perhaps when the Lilydale ramp opens up I will get up there to try some of the spots up there.
Congrats on the new ride Steve
. I’m interested in seeing some pics of this river carving machine! 
Josh, weeds in Mille Lacs? Where are those???
Well will have to go searching for some more this year. 