The fishing on Pool 2 has been very good over the past week for both numbers and better than average sized fish. Several patterns have shaped up as well over the past week to offer both big fish and well as the numbers game. With the water temps hovering around 42 degrees, the river bite is in its prime state right now and will continue this way until winter decides to move in and take over. With the dreaded word of “winter” on its way, this time of year triggers a big feeding frenzy for river walleyes in preparation for the cold water lethargic period that will be on its way. This is the time of year when anglers can catch that fish of a lifetime…..think night time!!
Let’s start first by talking about the bigger fish patterns that I have experienced over the past week. Wingdams have been by far the favorite for consistently catching bigger walleyes right now for my boat. Pitching light hair jigs and plastics to the wingdams has yielded several very fat walleyes over the 25 inch mark this past week. Jimmy D’s light 1/4oz “weenie” hair jigs in the purple and green hues have been my best daytime producing lure while targeting the wingdams. Staying mobile from wingdam to wingdam has proved to catch the aggressive fish within the first 15 minutes of your arrival and then moving on to the next spot is the best thing you can do right now to put more fish in the boat. Re-visiting productive wingdams periodically throughout the day can prove to be advantageous as well for catching more fish. Once the sun hits the tree tops in the evening however….consider switching over to lighter plastics. H2O’s precision jig heads in the 3/32oz coupled a 4” YUM rib worm has counted for more walleyes after dark than any other pattern right now. Fishing at night this time of year can be exceptional for consistently catching big walleyes in waters less than 3 feet.
As mentioned earlier, with the water temps cooling down fish have started to stage in their “wintering” holes and the vertical jig bite with both jig and plastics as well as the standard jig and minnow have been taking fish pretty consistently now. In the main channel look to depths from 12-20 foot for your best results here. Backwater lakes and marinas should not be ignored this time of year either as these areas have taken some very nice fish in the last couple of days. Snap jigging long lined heavier jig and plastic combos have taken many fish from 6-10 foot of water near the first break in these backwater lakes and marinas. Simply snap the jig in a quick 1 foot sweep and let the jig fall back on a taut line to the bottom and repeat. Most of the strikes occur when the jig starts its descend after the initial snap.
Pitching the rip rap shorelines over the past week has slowed considerably for me. I have only experienced one decent rip rap bite in the past week and that was very short lived. These areas still should be investigated because they can produce some nice fish, but it has proved a little inconsistent for me recently. Overall Pool 2 is in its prime fall bite right now and will continue this way until the weather decides to take a turn for the worse. DO NOT put that boat away yet as some of the years best fishing is happening right now. I look forward to this time of year all season long!! Good luck!
Great report Steve! Those are some darn nice fish!
Those are some dandy Eyes Steve, excellent report.
Sure do appreciate your posts, always great info. Noticed that after hitting a wingie after it has been hit by others that is when the cranks seem to do well, givin them a little something different they haven’t seen all day. Thanks again for another great report
Nice report Steve! I think of fishing often these days as I sit in the deer blind at 5:30 AM waiting for the sun to come up on the damp cold forest floor. But a flash of antlers would cheer me up fast….
Thanks for the support guys. Believe me, I have as much fun getting data for the report!!
Honestly, there is nothing I would rather be doing. Every single day I get ready to launch the boat for another day of fun, I get so darn excited I can hardly control myself….Still that much fun after all these years!! Gotta love it. 
Crankemup,
Can I ask what kind of crankbait pattern you have been working recently? Glad you are having some good luck with the cranks, really I have not spent much time pitching cranks for the last couple weeks. Whether it be cranks, hair or plastics, they are still so much fun!
Hey Steve, I haven’t been out a ton, but when I have been able to get out, we are jumping from one wingie to another as you are, my partner pitches jigs and has done alright, and I have been pitchin cranks, mainly red devil jointed #5 shad rap. Picked up a few nice fat eyes in the 27in range.
As you answered my last post, casting over the wingie and as it comes up on it I have slowed the retrieve, most of the fish have been hitting were on a nice 2-3 second pause, caught a few that I am assuming followed off the wingie and to the boat and hit almost as I was pulling it out of the water. Really is hard to tell if it is a consistent pattern though, I just haven’t had the opportunity to get out as much as I need, ok, want to. 
Haven’t pulled a ton of fish but the ones that are hitting the crank, are the nicer fish. Hopefully I will get out tomorrow!!!