Pool 4…can it get any better??!!!

Jim Wilcheck decided to try something different…he pitched a Northland Whistler jig/ringworm toward the rocky shoreline…Suddenly his line stopped and he thought he was snagged…the "snag" took off in a drag burning spurt that severely arched his rod…several tense moments later the net slid under this 30.25", 12.2 Lb beauty….by far his best Walleye of his 60+ years on this planet! I applaud him for a CPR of this great fish!

Two weeks ago, inspite of cold weather(and water) we caught some awesome Walleyes. When I checked in to Everts Sunday afternoon I never dreamed it could get better.

I have been fishing P-4 for only seven years…hardly a pittence compared to the many IDO Guides and "river rats" here. Being a teacher and fishing Guide I am constantly trying to "absorb" information…on every trip…The Pool gives you a new "wrinkle" or two every time you are on the water. I enjoy inviting new friends from my church and home town every year. This year it was good friend and member of my old Gospel/Bluegrass band…Ron Hawkins. Ron borrowed my extra Guide suit and put some needed "karma" on it with this nice eye taken drifting a minnow/jig combo. I explained our custom of CPR on the big spawners and he obliged, sliding the fish gently back into the cold water…

The water temps had dropped with the icy runoff but we found fish scattered wherever there were current breaks, sand flats, rip rap eddies or backwater entries.

Fish were caught mostly with Lindy rigged minnows on Sunday and Monday…although I (the die hard) managed some on plastics and blades, drifted vertically…This post spawn lady smacked a sour apple 1/4oz jig dressed with a Oystershell Paddletail on the tail of the sand flats.

My good friend Al (GuidesChoice) Erickson is a long time tournament fisherman and guide. He is always tinkering and experimenting on the water…an avid student of the sport of Walleye fishing. Wednesday afternoon we hooked up for an "R&D" session on his new 3/16oz pitching blade. I hadn’t seen the tiny blade but on my first cast I marvelled at how responsive it was on every rod lift when it was hammered by something very strong! Al netted a nice 24" Eye for me moments later…Two casts later Al’s AV63MXF was curled over by a svelte 23"er! During the next two hours several more 20-24" Walleye fell to the tiny blades. As darkness fell a real "tanker" grabbed my blade, severely testing my LE 66MLF rod. A beautiful 29" fish was netted and quickly released. The River had been very good to us and we showed some gratitude…my camera battery had died so Al and I took a mental picture as we gave thanks to a great day in God’s Creation.

It was again a lot harder to find the 17-20" "slot" fish for some fillets but we did see more sauger start showing up by Wed along with some very nice Crappie and White Bass. Pitching during dawn and dusk periods and vertical jigging during the rest of the day was the most productive. Colors on the jigs/plastics were varied with no clear cut favorite, but Paddletails and trimmed Ringies worked well. I will say that my BFT Red Tiger 1/2oz B3 blade outfished the other blades during Wed morning.

It was great to see so many IDO friends on the water! AS usual Dean’s advice on tackle and techniques was money in the bank…(well worth the Macadamia Nut cookies!) As I usually say (and say again) fishing is only getting better! Get out there and take a kid with you!