After a tough spring for this fella, I figured the only way to put some fish in the boat was to actually hook up the trailer and head on down to my home stretch of the mighty Mississippi. The river is coming down slowly but surely and the temps are right where they should be this time of year. My guess is that the post-spawn wingdam and hair jig is right around the corner.
I started the day in some pretty typically post-spawn areas that fish should be funneling through on their way from spawning grounds. I focused my attention on pitching plastics, hair jigs, and dragging crawlers…all to no avail. Not even a bite in the first 3 hours out.
If the river has taught me anything, it’s be flexible and creative. I know that fish should be hungry, and they should be located in some pretty predictable areas. So I pulled out the crankbaits and started to cover some water. First pass on a side channel cut with a great current seam, this fat and sassy 25 incher inhaled a fire tiger jointed shad rap. Sorry for the pic, I need to figure out my self photo set up a bit better.
Thinking I might be on to something, I stuck with the trolling bit and hooked up on 4 more fish this morning. One was perfect eater weighing in 15inches. And the following was a really healthy and long sauger caught on some rocks.
If you’re out and get a chance to fish the river in the next few weeks don’t leave home with out your arsenal of hair jigs and a few crank baits to pull around old pool 2. Good luck to everyone this weekend, be safe and have fun.
Thanks Micah. Great report. Looks like opening weekend will find me heading back to pool 2. Its been a long time.
Nice report
Nice to see someone else likes to pull them cranks.
Nice report Micah
Mike, I know you love that trolling bite up on along the rip rap. I was thinking about you and the stories you told me about it…should be heating up soon. Might hit Tonka from 12am-sunrise or maybe even one of the Mpls lakes. Anyone fish Calhoun/Harriet for walleyes?
There are no “eater’s” on P2. Catch and release only!
p.s. I know you know that!
Nice report Micah! I’ve been having lousy outings since March so don’t feel alone. Harriet and Calhoun can be real good. I’ve also had some decent luck on Nokomis.
Mike, I’m hoping to hit it this weekend too on 2. We’ll have to compare notes.
dd
Good report! I also made it out on the river yesterday to try and change the way the spring had treated me. Well I was not disapointed. Eyes and saugers we got were holding on current seems and whacking ringworms. It was nice to get back on some P2 fish.
Ingy,
yes I do know that there are no eaters on pool 2, but if there were, the fish I caught WOULD have been perfect.
Nice to finally see the bite heating up down there. It has been very slow so far. Great report!
Thanks Micah! Good to see they’re snappin’!
Joel