This report will be more of a recap April 4th thru April 11th than what is currently happening on the mighty river. I know James was on the river the last couple of days and if were lucky he’ll give us an update of how great the fishing has been for his boat 
I had several presentations put fish in my boat over the 8 day stretch. With the water levels steadily on the rise in at the beginning of last week, vertical jigging and 3 -way rigging on main river current edges was my best presentation. This was the most effective approach because of the water levels rising at a very fast pace. The walleye and sauger were always on the move an seemed to hold on those edges waiting for their next meal versus spreading out in the bigger eddies like they did once the water levels stayed put for a bit. The depths targeted varied from spot to spot. Depths we fished were dependant on the current seam location.
Later in the week when the water levels had crested and remained at one level for a period of days, the pitching bite really took off for me. Best fish for my boat for the 8 day stretch was the first walleye pictured in the report. She was 10.6lbs on the digital scale. I was also fortunate to land the next fish pictured in the same area on the same day, this was a post spawn female weighing 8lbs. The 10.6lb eye was caught on a firecracker 5” k-grub with a sour apple colored 1/4oz precision head. The other big walleye was caught on a 3/16oz sour apple precision head tipped with a firecracker/blue tail ringworm. Both fish were caught casting edges of flooded timber in 8’-12’ of water.
Prior to the weekend, all walleye brought to my boat were pre-spawn fish. On Friday the 7th ,my boat saw it’s first post-spawn walleye for the season taken while 3-way rigging. The rest of my trips we saw a good mix on the pre and post-spawn eye’s.
I would again like to thank those of you that shared my boat over the above 8 days, It was a pleasure fishing with you and am looking forward to fishing with all of you again this summer, and fall. All trips were unique in there own way, but one trip vividly stands out from my stint on the river.
It was the day myself, Tod Bellrichard and Kerry Nielsen were lucky enough to boat 9 walleyes over 6lbs with the best fish of the day going to Kerry with a post-spawn 30” eye weighing 9.5lbs 
. Nice fish Kerry 
. Todd was close behind with 2 pre-spawn walleyes that weighed 9.2lb and 8.5lbs 
. We had 17 walleye come to the boat on this day with our smallest fish weighing 3.9lbs. All fish, except for one, were caught casting 3/16oz and 1/4oz sour apple precision heads tipped with firecracker/chartreuse tail or firecracker/blue tail ringworms in to the edge of flooded timber. I did have two 7lb fish on a 5” firecracker k-grub and Kerry caught our best fish of the day on a purple hair jig. But that was the only fish we were able to turn on hair. I will have pictures of our spectacular day posted below.
If the water levels hold for a while fish should remain in the areas they are found. Once the water levels start to recede it will be back to walleye hunting. Man I love High water 
See ya on the river! 
Here is Brian with a 7lb fish caught on a fire an ice ringworm. He has 2 other fish over 24″ that he is pictured with in the above report from the same day.
Here is Kerry Nielsen with his 9.5lb post-spawn fish.
Here is Kerry again with 7.5lb walleye
Kerry with another 7lb eye
Kerry with a skinny 5lb walleye
Tod Bellrichard with his 9.2lb walleye
Tod with his 8.5lb walleye
Todd with a 6.5lb walleye
Tod with a another walleye just over 6lbs
Tod with a 5.2lb walleye
Tod and Kerry were nice enough to let me hook in to a few of those hogs
. Here’s me with a 7lb walleye.
Here is my other big fish for the day. Another 7.5lb fish.
Tod had his scale along on this day, as you can see he sure got his use out of it. All fish were released. This is the only guide trip I have had this season were we were unable to boat an eater walleye. It’s a good problem to have as a guide if the fish are all to big to keep.
We did have 4 sauger that would have made good table fare.
Not quite sure why there is red x’s in my report. Here is a test shot of the 10.6lb fish.
Yet, another great report Dustin. I need to bag a turkey, so I can continue with fishing.
Hey Dustin,
Now you got all the luck…
A T-SHIRT………man I have had to have a rain suit on most of my time on the water.
Nice Shirt..
OMG
Great report and awesome pics Dustin
Sweet success. Good job Dustin.
chad
There are some bigguns being caught lately! Nice job Dustin!
Awesome report Dustin!!!
Great fish, Dustin! I’m very impressed!!!
WOW!!!
Good job Dustin!!!!!!
WOW NICE FISH…..Congrates
Nice fish Dustin!!! Was the best day on Monday or Tuesday perhaps? It seems water stability and warm weather may have helped to produce the nicer fish. You would think its summer already with all the t-shirts and sun burns.
Well thats just a heck of a problem to have
Wish I could have been there.
As Dustin indicated, the fishing on pool 4 has been out of this world with the “big fish” bite rivaling ANYTHING I’ve ever seen on Pool 4. Wednesday my boat saw 15 fish over 25″. Thursday the average size and numbers were actually better.
I’m busy trying to wade through the change to the new server but I will take the time to get photos up over the weekend. Thursday we had 7 or 8 ( I need to look thru the pics on the camera to be sure) fish over 28 inches!
Figures! I have not had the chance to get out since tuesday
. Might be able to get out this weekend if I’m lucky.
Pat, all of those days were good for me. Monday was slow in the morning but realy fired up in the afternoon. Each day I found fish in different areas. It was nice to actually fish in a t-shirt but that didn’t last to long. When that wind was blowing a guy still needed a sweatshirt or coat on.
Super work Dustin
If those pics don’t get the fever stirred up, might need to check for a pulse
dave
James ol’ buddy…… what you doing this weekend???
Last I saw, he was leaving the brewhouse in Duluth, on his way back to the future in-law-to-be’s house! I’m not sure if it was good to see that old sob…or if I shoudl kick him for coming to Duluth while the fishing is soo good in Red Wing. I have the next two days off…..and could be there!!!! Instead I have to listen to stories of how awesome this last week has been in Red Wing while sitting in a bar in Duluth!!!!!!!!
Steve
You 2 didn’t 
cry and hug did you? Good to hear from you.
Man, it sucks I need to get down there to P4
Another year goes by that I missed out on this bite. 
I’ll be in Hermantown today picking up my new toy 
Bringing her home and getting her ready for the pond 
Must be tough Rob…
Take some pics…I wanna see it 
[quote Instead I have to listen to stories of how awesome this last week has been in Red Wing while sitting in a bar in Duluth!!!!!!!!
Steve, the walleyes are done. We got into these darn things in the back channel fishing with corn…
We got 4, biggest was 4-14. Pitching ringies for walleyes..
What did you do Rob??? Come to your senses and buy Yamaha motors for your Crestliner??
Steve, the walleyes are done. We got into these darn things in the back channel fishing with corn…
SAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!! Looks like it is time to start catfishing Tuck! If you get a few more like that for cutbait, we should be ready to get some nice channels!!!!!…..Only kidding of course, Everybody knows you can’t use Largemouth bass for cutbait when you live in MN
….but when you live on the Wisconsin side, oh man…..nothing better for early spring channels than a thick slice of largie belly meat! 
