It is a sure sign of spring and post spawn when the walleye anglers spread out and head north and south of the Red Wing Dam area to find the ever roaming walleyes. I have been talking to buddies fishing way on the south end of Pool Four, and other spots in between at the “head of the lake” (Lake Pepin that is). During this time frame, I usually choose to go north of the Dam area and look in Pool Three of the Mississippi River. Pool Three is very fun and there are well known community holes and places to get away from the crowds as well. There are running sloughs and tons of wing dams.
In the last few trips to Pool Three we have been catching mainly saugers. The size is a mixed bag where they can run from 12 to 20 inches. On yesterdays trip we caught a three man limit of saugers (the average fish was 16 inches). You do have to do some sorting as there are little bait stealers in the mix, but heck that does keep you on your toes. We have been targeting fish with two main techniques one is dragging jigs (in 12 to 20 fow)with bait and trolling cranks. Both fatheads and crawlers are catching fish. We have been using hair jigs and plastics as well.
The river is about four and a half feet higher than normal water level you would find in summer time. So the flow is where a river angler would like it. Many of the fish we are catching are coming from similar places I target on pool four, you guessed it current seams and back flows.
For trolling cranks we have been keeping it simple and trolling three ways rigs at a 45 degree angle. Rapala bleeding pattern floaters are fast becoming my favorite floating Rapalas!
We have also been getting a few walleye here is a pic of Bernie with a nice walleye caught yesterday. Catch and release.
It feels like summer is already here, the birds are singing, the grass is green, and the fish are biting.
Keep Catchin.
Great minds think alike Turk—this time of year I always wander over to Pool 3 and the bite seldom lets me down.
Early morning I had really good luck dragging plastics in shallow. I love those 8’3″ Limit Creek rods for the dragging bite—they load up perfectly and give me a second to feel the fish before they feel me. When the sun got above the trees I went vertical. Something about paddletails seems to trigger the bite for me when I go vertical. It was good seeing you on the water and thanks for the good information.
At least we think so!
Turk,
Nice day on the water,
Jack
Good seeing you the other day Turk! It’s been a while!
…and I see the walleye are still following you around.