The bite on Pool 2 is slowly heating up day by day and week by week it seems. Overnight temps in the high 20’s to low 30’s have dropped the water temp down to 44-46 degrees already and the walleyes seem to be responding as predicted. This the time of year where all summer long you wait for a fun jig bite and its creeping upon us as we speak. The big fish are still a bit sporadic for the most part, but that I believe is days away from showing up.
This week’s big fish consists of a 30” monster that Shane Novotny of Woodbury, Mn reeled in before I even had a chance to get my line retied upon arrival to a new spot. This tops Shane’s personal best that came last year at this time of a 29”+ fish when him and I were doing some scouting for some upcoming guide trips. Congratulations Shane on a true trophy! After a quick couple pics, this fish was released gently back to the water to fight another day. This beautiful fish clobbered a 3/16th oz Jimmy D chartreuse colored weenie hair jig. Hair has accounted for nearly 80% of the fish on past 4 trips. We have been seeing on average about 25 fish consistently per outing on nearly every 6-7 hour trip now. Yesterday we started out slow in the afternoon and by about 4:00pm, the bite took off and we proceeded to catch fish at a pretty steady pace. The majority size of the fish we have been seeing the last handful of trips have been in the 20-24 inch fish. Where can a angler go and have an average like that?
The hair jig bite has been pretty consistent for my boat for the last 4-5 trips now and we should see this remain this way well into November and possibly into Dec. The BFT’s Precision jig and YUM ribworm combo has been starting to turn some fish as well for my boat as of late. As water temps continue to cool, look for the plastics to shine even more. Depending on the wind, I have been pitching 3/16thoz and 1/4oz on most days. The other day I had a stronger north wind and had to switch up to 5/16th oz to get the job done. The other day, fellow IDA member “Rootski” threw me a PM and asked me about the color white on the hair jigs that I been throwing. I said it is usually a good color, but I have not thrown it very much this year as I have gotten stuck in my ways of confidence colors. Yesterday, I thought I would take Rootski’s advice and throw some white for awhile. Thanks to him we boated a handful of fish off a white weenie hair jig. Thanks Steve!!!
Right now with low flows, the fish are just starting to stack up on those high percentage spots. The slow current does make identifying good spots a bit tougher, but take your time and look over your spot before you fish it so you get a good idea of the layout of the spot. The next month should unveil some fantastic walleye fishing for those who love to pitch jigs.
Here is another shot of Shane and his big 30″ walleye.
Holy Piggie! That is a true hog. Congrats!
Great looking fish Steve, thanks for the update. I’ll be down there on Friday checking it out. Hopefully I’ll have some good pics like those to post.
Great report!!! I have got to get up there and catch some of these pigs. Looks like a ton of fun.
Congrats Shane on that fat pig!!! Awsome fish!!!
Nice report Steve.
Congrats on the big fish Shane!
Some very health looking fish.
JWB
Steve, Thanks for the reports.
Shane, Great Walleye, Congrats..
Jack..
Hi Steve,
I was the guy that stopped and watched you fish and asked a bunch of questions yesterday about 2pm.
Thanks for taking the time to pass along some of your hard-earned wisdom-I appreciate it.
Good Fishin’
Ingy
My pleasure Ingy. I hope to see you out there from time to time in the future. When you saw us, it was pretty slow for the next hour in a half or so before we started connecting with fish.
or stop on over! 
Did you end up having some luck down there?
Stay in touch out there, if you see me throw me a
Good luck to you Ingy!
Awesome report, as usual!
And, Shane’s fish is what dreams are made of….I’m gonna try to get one like that this weekend if it kills me!
Steve, what’s it gonna take to get some increased current on pool 2, or should I just resign to the fact that this is how it’s gonna be this fall with the low flow? I guess I’m most worried about it freezing up down there!
What’s your experience, have you ever seen it like this before this time of year? Thanks! 
Nice report Steve! Looks like I’m gonna have to get my butt down there soon. Haven’t fished Pool 2 for Walleyes since June.
slip,
I got a feeling it will be this way most of the winter due to the lack of precipitation. I had a year like this in the late 90’s and the fishing was fantastic, but it was definately subject to an early ice up. The fish will start stacking up in big numbers within week or more and once you find them, it will be easy pickings for ya! I am loving the lack of current right now..only because I know whats to come!
schump,
I bet the river will definately look a bit different to ya since June, thats for sure, but I like what I am seeing. The numbers of shad appear to be on the decline with cooling water temps…A little less competition hopefully for us humble fisherman!
Great report Steve
Congrats a true trophy Shane
dave
Thanks for the report Steve. I hope to be on the Lake, err I mean the river real soon. The slow current really makes the fishing interesting.