It has been a season of limited opportunity for me, with work and family concerns taking up most of my time. I have been able to get out several times in the last couple weeks for varying amounts of time with some great company. Fortunately the fish have been very cooperative on most outings.
In an effort to broaden my comfort zone, I have focused on several presentations on these outings. Tony A and I trolled cranks in the backwaters, my friend Galen and I pitched jigs and plastics on current seams in several areas, and I spent some time with family pulling bait rigs on wings, and casting cranks. Dragging jigs has also been productive, with each presentation working well with little time spent on fine tuning.
With the flow slowing and the temps rising, I have been focusing more on wing dam tips and deeper current seams. The arrival of the summer bite was delayed by high, muddy water and constantly changing conditions for June and much of July, but the bite we normally see in June is happening now. Fish can be enticed to take offerings made in almost any presentation right now. Trolling cranks and dragging jig/bait will be the favorites soon, but casting jigs and bait to wings, pulling 3 ways and bait across the face and trough of wings, and casting cranks to the top of wings are all bringing fish to the boat currently.
The quality of fish on this pool is ramping up each season. While I have not found too many fish over 26", the percentage of 20-26" fish has been close to 50 percent of fish caught for my boat. It truly is becoming a great fishery with the slot limits paying big dividends in the number of quality fish and the overall population as well. If you have not had a chance to get in on the this great bite, it is still not too late. Get out and catch a few!
Nice report John.
Glad to here the Ole Miss. is finally easing up and allowing you guys to get out and chase walleyes again.
Nice fish!! Good to see pool 14 is still hot.
nice fish and great report John!
Nice report John. I’m getting the boat loaded in about 10 minutes and I intend to focus on some eyes today. (little bassin too)
It’s amazing what the slots are doing for your fishery down there. I remember when a 26″ fish was a rare trophy for your pool.
I knew the slot could only help our fishery, but did not expect to see the results we are seeing. In the last year there have been more 6-8 pound fish in my boat than in my lifetime before that. What is really great is that these fish are being left to reproduce, which can only help increase the population and keep the big fish genetics alive and well in our area. It’s a win/win situation for walleyes and those of us who love to chase them!
Great fish and great report John. I can’t agree with you more on how many quality fish this pool has been producing. In my opinion just amazing. I have always been envious of the guys up at pool #4 but this fishery is easing that quite well now.Hope to see you out there sometime to say hello. Oh does Galen have to always wear that Packer shirt!! Ha Ha
Glenn D
nice report……it’s nice being able to catch fish on different presentations…..great job guys!!
Nice report John!
Hope the family is well. We seem to be in the dog days up here on pool 2. Last couple of outings were less than stellar; but June and July were gangbusters!
Joel
Good to see you guys getting into them John!
You have plans to hit Pool 4 this Fall?
Nice report John . I hope you will be able to get more boat time this fall, when all those slots turn into footballs with fins. I was out for a couple hours tonight the bite was very slow 3 eyes in 3 hours of fishing. I hope it was just the day and not the end of this fantastic run we have enjoyed the last few weeks. I will be back at it sunday , hope to see you on the water.
Outstanding report John
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Yah, even with that scary shirt that man can put fish in the boat! I always told my brother in law he could not wear his Packer stuff in my boat, it would scare the fish. Guess that myth is busted.
Tuck, I was planning a November trip to pool 4, but with gas prices and time being limited, I am not sure it will happen now. I should have a little more free time come fall though.
Jigfan, I can’t wait for the fall bite to kick in down here. Should be some great line stretchin’ goin’ on.
DD, the family’s doing well now, thanks. Are you going to make it down to visit your Illinois relatives any time this year? If so, let me know and maybe we can get out after some ‘eyes while you are in the neighborhood.
Your right on about Galen puttin fish in the boat John. I got to know him through the Walleye League Heartland Div. He’s a good fisherman. You guys take it easy on the “eyes” this weekend. I have some family things to do so I have to take a pass on the pool 14 thing for a few days. Good fishin to you guys. Glenn
Nice report john. And nice of ya to let tony hold a fish,I do that from time to time also
Great report John
The slot limits have been over the top in helping eye populations on certain pools. I wish the DNR would get off their butts and install a slot limit on the entire river.
They have to see the huge benefits thus far. The closing of the season by the tailwaters for a few months doesn’t hurt either
Todd, I did one better than that. I even let him reel it in!
Jeff, the reason you don’t have the slot and closed areas on your pools is cause Wisc. didn’t think it’s needed. And it’s all just experimental soon to be over. We’ll have to wait and see the official results put out by the DNR.
Thanks for the report
Hey Jeff –
Realistically – the winter closing protects sauger more than eyes with the loss of ones pulled up from too deep… Although I have heard of eyes being injured by extreme cold – in most cases if it’s that bad out there wouldn’t be many anglers floating around out there. I resist the jump to closing recreational opportunities – but would gladly embrace the slot limit… we have had a 20″ length limit in our boat for quite some time! Hope to see you fishing on the river this fall – it’s been a few months already! Chuckles
just remember that pool 4 stays open all year and they seem to do alright with producing a few large fish in a year