Your odds are better here!!! No not the Treasure Island Casino, Pool 2 right now is offering up some of the best chances to score a real trophy of a walleye. I have been waiting for this time to get here for the last couple weeks and its finally starting. The big walleyes are starting to get on the move and on the chew with anticipation of the winter months ahead of us. This is the time to be on the water.
I have been pinned off the water for nearly a week due to catching the flu from my kids. Yesterday I finally felt good enough to get back out there and give it a go. Mark Elert and his friend Paul teamed up with me yesterday with hopes of finding some really big walleyes. It did not take us long as our first spot gave up some action right off the bat. Mark Elert is shown here with his first fish of the morning and what a fish it was. This big beautiful specimen of a fish would have pushed the scales at nearly 10#. After we snapped a couple digital photos of her, she was back in the water to fight another day. Nice fish Mark! Little did we know that Mark would not stop there and proceed to have a good day for the bigger fish?
Whats has been the ticket for these fish? Pitching plastics was the main meal of choice for my boat yesterday as we let the fish dictate what they wanted most. I spent the day pitching hair off and on throughout the day to no avail and quickly found myself going back to the ol’ reliable of a 3/16th oz BFT’s Precision jig coupled with a YUM ribworm in a variety of colors. Purple started out being a hot color and as the sun grew higher in the sky, the lighter more natural colors took off for us like Cotton Candy, Ozark smoke, and BFT’s firecracker. Don’t count out the hair jigs quite yet as I believe there are some good days ahead yet.
The best structure right now with the low water levels are mid river structures, such as wingdam tips, current swept rip rap, day markers rimmed with rock, etc… These structures all have something in common and that is current and rock. This low water period positions the walleyes in very predictable target locations for ambushing their next meal. One thing I did notice yesterday that was clearly evident for my boat was the fish were willing to show themselves within the first handful of casts and then you might as well continue on to the next spot. One or two fish here and then move on. This was our best thing going yesterday. We tried to wait them out on a couple spots to little to no luck, but if we let a spot sit for a couple hours and returned, the fish were usually hitting on the first handful of casts. So food for thought might be to keep moving for the best odds at more numbers of fish. From what I saw yesterday, the more numbers you have right now means the more big fish you will have in the boat!
The last several weeks we have been seeing plenty of smaller fish mixed into the day’s bag. Since then the bigger walleyes seem to be taking over some of these spots and over ruling the smaller fish…That’s good news for us right now!
I have seen a lot of emails and posts lately regarding “Where do I go to get the best odds at producing a big walleye?” Well look no further than the Mississippi River right now. Whether it be Pools 2-5, you can count on a fantastic pitching bite for these big walleyes starting right now!
Here is Mark’s buddy Paul getting into the mix with a nice shallow water walleye. Paul would go on to lose a HUGE walleye late in the day only to come unbuttoned within 10 seconds of setting the hook. Heart breaker for sure as it had all the makings of a real giant! Tough loss Paul, she is waitign for you next time!
Here is Mark with another nice fish for the day. I think I lost a bet to him on this fish. “$5.00 to the guy that boats the next fish.” Nice catch Mark. Revenge is always sweeter!
Holy Smokes! Awesome walleyes, guys!
Decisions, Decisions….Pool 2? Mille Lacs? Pool 2? Red Wing? Pool 2? Life’s decisions are tough sometime!
Thanks for the great report, sounds like I have to dig out the plastics and put away the hair, huh Steve?
Awesome fish Steve, Pool 2 is definitely the land of the giants. I saw you guys down there yesterday and was wondering how you were doing. Looks like you guys did very well.
Steve, Great report!!!!! and its good to hear your feeling better! but I dont know if them walleyes are too happy about it
Great looking fish !!!!!!!!
Congrats on the nice fish guys!
Steve,
Great Walleyes and report…
Amazing is about all I can think about..
keepem coming.
thanks, Jack..
Wow!
Steve, as usual, you put my buddy and me on fish and it was a great time, lots of laughs (“every one has their own style” right?)
I’m looking forward getting out there again with you asap.
For the rest of us Dezurik P2 Master wannabes, and if you’ve never had Steve take you out as guide, I highly recommend forking out the cash, and pay the man, for a trip on Ol’ Miss. It is worth 50 times the value for knowledge gained as Steve holds nothing back in revealing keys to catching these toads. He is a gentleman and put us in perfect position again and again, such that we had the best angle, etc. It is a real treat.
WOW!!!!
Nice pigs Steve!!!!!!!
Jack, when you going to pool 2. I was fishing by the lock caught some walleyes there but nothing to match these nice hawgs.
Saw the water temp drop 17 degrees in 7 days. Time to head down river. Steve great catches. 
Thank you guys for all the support!
Thank you Mark. I sure appreciate it. It is always fun to fish with you. It appears you got the knack for the big fish. If my memory serves me correctly, this spring you boated a real big fish as well when you were with me?
Jim,
How has the bite been up that way?
A person with a blind fold on could catch these mules with you putting them on the spot on spot.
However, I’d make color 24×7 a priority if money is on the line. 