This week with the AM temps below zero and daytime highs of 10 degrees or less we Cooney & Pat from IL were here to open water fish.Not worried about which auger,ice shack,flasher,or any of that other silly ice gear.LOL! These guys are truly open water Ironman walleye sauger fisherman!
After several layers of quality outdoor clothing to get through the day and with Gus helping them out in the shop,the key was to stay out of the wind as much as possible.The bite was much better than I would have anticipated for such a cold front.Catching fish was not stupid easy but active enough to keep you on the water.
Presentations were reduced to two main methods.Pulling miller rigs upstream and vertical jigging small profile plastics drifting back down.Both presentations were producers,but Pat & Cooney noted that it seemed as if more of the quality fish came on Miller rigs and the numbers bite came verticle with the quality not being quite as good.
So for you die hard open water guys,the bite continues to be productive here on Pool 4.The real key is quality outdoor clothing and avoiding wind to extend your open water season.With the holidays coming up,perhaps mother nature will give us a bit of a break weather wise.But my hat is off to Ironmen Cooney & Pat for their trip this week and the number of fish they caught.Hope you enjoyed your trip!
These are examples some of the plastics used recently.Overall,changing up colors will kickstart your bite if things slow down a bit.That is what is nice about the Miller rig,colors,profile size,and styles are endless possibilities.
The second photo is of a Superdoo and paddletail from a recent outing that just was anililated my mean ol saugers on the chew.Kinda like me on a fresh baked cookie!
Nice job guys.
That looks like fun to me!
Depending on the weather, (and Nancys plan’s) I’m going to see if I can sneak over there for some holiday fishing.
Thanks for the report & tips Dean
Sounds great Dean, see you in the morning.
Anytime that air temp sneaks into the mid 20s with light winds is a great opportunity to hit Everts for underpressured mid-winter walleye and saugers.
Dean,Dean,Dean…you sure know how to hurt a guy. Would love to sneak up there for a day if it wasn’t for the long drive. gonna have to try to coordinate a “business” trip to that neck of the woods when the forecast calls for some decent days.
Then all I have to do is worry about mooching a ride. You hear that Lenny?? 
Thanks for the update and helping me keep my mind on open water. Not into the hard stuff too much.
Nice pics of the tools and great report. Thanks Dean and friends.
Dean, only you would set somebody up with a pink and neon green hairjig
.
You have a problem with pink Steve?
I’ll be down tonight for the buffet at the Bluff’s and then tomorrow…well, tomorrow will surprise me.
Only if it’s the color of a dress you’re wearing!
PS. Hats off to the boys that went fishing that day! I’m guessing they didn’t stick their hand in a minnow bucket that day!
The second photo is of a Superdoo and paddletail from a recent outing that just was anililated my mean ol saugers on the chew.Kinda like me on a fresh baked cookie!
From my recent visit to Everts,Dean & the Saugers both seem to be on the big chew!
Speaking of freshly baked cookies.You see that superdoo,its nothing compared to what a grown man,with a lil help can do to a box of 5-6doz cookies in a afternoon. 
Pleasure to see you again Dean.Customer service is top notch as allways!I will add a big thank you for getting my Croix fixed up & allways a pleasure conversing with someone that really knows & seems to enjoy his buisiness. 
Happy holidays everyone & hope to see some of the fellow IDOers on the river again before spring. 
Until then,best of luck fishing all. WHITE TIP
Thanks for the REport Dean.
Next day in the 20’s, I just may have to bring Steve and Jeff down for a couple of hours.
Jack
Don’t your livewell pumps freeze with the little bit of water that is left in them when you pull the boat out of the water? I tried to turn both of mine on sitting in the garage, and both are frozen, or so stiff that they both popped the circuit breakers.
We call them an ice box in
the winter!
really good report on the walleye, your fishing up there is so much better than our area. i liked the photos of the bait set ups you used.
I tend to plug any water inlets that go into or out of my boat.Keeping rags handy for wiping any residual water that you might find after a days outing.At least for the water thats not froze when you return.
Then possibly a warm water power wash to remove any ice that you might find present when you return home. 
If you decide to keep a few fish a cooler might be best to keep from blowing breakers.Speaking of I just about blew a couple breakers also.Having a look at your Avatar! 
Mojo can you freeze that so my eyes quit rolling about in my head? 
