The sub title might read Pool 5 bass (part 2). Saturday was the first of 4guide trips scheduled over the next 6 days. My guests were Dan Jasper and Steve Haumerson. Dan and Steve were with me last spring on pool 4 and the conditions were very different. Last year was all largemouth so this year they wanted to see pool 5 and fish for smallmouth. We spent most of our time fishing current breaks, rip rap and wingdams and the smallies cooperated! The fish that Steve is holding was the best of the day at 4-7. What’s amazing about her is she didn’t make 19”. She was 18 ¾” long, 12 ½ around and gorgeous. This fish came on the hot bait of the day. Steve was throwing a Xcalibur Xr 75 rattle bait (lipless crainkbait).
By early afternoon we had gone through most of the spots I had located so we so we went exploring and scouting for fish that have moved. Most of the fish we were catching were staging near spawning areas. It appears the warmth of the day has move a bunch of fish shallow. We found several bays with water pushing 60 degrees and biting LM. The picture is of Dan with his first buzzbait fish of the year.
Seems like every year we come across a couple of big northerns. The fish in the picture is a 36-37 incher Steve caught on a ¼ oz spinnerbait. The picture doesn’t do justice to her size. She’s spawned out and doesn’t show her girth. I could hardly get my hand around the back of her head.
Conditions are changing fast here on the river. On Wednesday when I started scouting the water temp in the channel was 48 degrees Yesterday it was 54 with temps close to 60 in the backwater. The level and flow are coming down and the clarity on pool 5 is very good. There are a few bays that are still muddy but the moving water looks great. Watch for a report later next week.
Here is a picture of the hot bait.
John, great report as usual!! Greg
Those smallies you’ve been getting are gorgeous! My first smallmouth trip of the season to the BW is still a good month away but these pics are getting me pumped. Might have to dust off the canoe and try a few backwater spots!
Nice report John and some great looking fish
I am looking forward to your next report 
Thanks for the report John. You’ve got some warm waters going there. This time of year, when you’re fishing lipless cranks, were you burning them or did you have to slow things up to get hit?
Some very nice fish there John. Thanks for the report and pics.
Thanks, Bill
hi John,
Excellent report, and really nice SM and LM.
Looking for more of your Pool 5 reports.
Jack..
nice report and pics
, pool 8 is also heating up.
Well done young man!
Nice fish John! The largies are starting to really move up shallow here on 8 also. I have not targeted smallies yet but might have to jump into that soon. I am honest when I say I truely think the fish here on pool 8 are ready to spawn- I caught them in as little as 1-1/2 feet of water today and they were fat!
Great to hear there are fish to be caught on buzzbaits!
the coloring on that big smallie is awesome. thanks for the pics.
John~
Thanks for the report and as mentioned above that smallie has some awesome color there…Nice picture!!
Thanks everyone, that smallie is a real looker. If I were Steve I’d a replica of her. Cade, as you have seen on pool 8 there has been a major movement into the shallows. My take is the fish want to warm their bodies to mature their spawn. The first true spawn we see here on pool 4-5 starts around May 1. You have a few days head start on pool 8-9 so it may start sooner.
Another good day…4-0 smallie
39 inch northern
Another big pike