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Report from the Weekend


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Spent both days on the river fishing for bass with so-so results. Warmest water we found (65 degrees) was all the way back in Grey Cloud. Best fishing was in another little backwater where we got into a bunch of 16-18" smallies on spinnerbaits. Water temp there was 59 degrees.

Could not tell if fish had yet to come into GC or had already left. Fish we caught we neither bulging with eggs or beat-up. Did see a bunch of little jacks running the banks though. Was surprised at how weedy it was already. Seems like this is about 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule.

Fish in the other backwater were definately pre-spawn - huge fat bellies and not all scarred up from nesting/spawn.

Some nice LM scattered in with them but generally closer to main channel than the SM.

Daze Off

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Take me - Take me! I made it to Baldwin but never made it back to GC - kinda got lost. HT, Big Mike and friends went to GC on Sat AM. They had a good day. I caught 1 15" largie in Baldwin.

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LOL - I should not have tried to get my boat back into GC either. Did not mention it before but it cost me a prop repair to do so. I was even idling barely above trolling speed with the motor trimmed high. 1/2" crack in one of the blades. I will be a passenger in someone else's boat every time I go in that part from now on.

Even some of the guys with bass boats on plane "polished their skegs" a bit on the way in/out.

Daze Off

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Baldwin...isn't that in WI? I haven't been to Pool 2 yet..but it will be soon. Didn't do too well on Pool 4 a couple weeks ago lots and lots of pressure, I may have to go to P2 very soon..

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WHATT - how ya doing? Baldwin is a Mississippi backwater lake. There are a lot of backwater lakes south of St. Paul. But finding the fish is another story confused.gif

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Daze - what the heck did you hit? There are a zillon stumps, but I haven't ran into any rocks.

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I have been back to GC a couple of times this week. I have the 17' tracker if you saw me.

We did decent on bass and pike waaayy back in there. They were on the shallow flats adjacent to the deeper channels.

I was most certainly dragging skeg through several areas. Good thing I know those areas and all muck :P

If anyone wants to get out there with me let me know!

[email protected]

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EB -

I found a rock - probably the only one - on my way out o' there - it was a couple of hundred yards south of the bridge and a little to the south of a line between the bridge and that lone tree by the water on golf course.

Felt it nudge the bottom of the boat in the rear a milisecond before it slammed the skeg/prop. Definately a rock because I also tapped a stump or two and you can definately tell the difference.

Daze Off

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Hmmm I didn't tap anything on my way out of there on Sunday grin.gif Seen ya out there Daze, I was in the white Lowe

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You guys fished out there in Sunday in that wind!!!! Cripes - ballz of steel. I never made it out all weekend. The bass shakes are creeping up. May hit up hidden falls after we change out my buddies batteries on his bass boat. First run of the year - we better stay upstream tongue.gif

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I'm fairly unfamiliar with the backwater at Grey Cloud. Could you tell me how to get there by boat or car? I'm gonna fish pool 2 tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon about 3:00 pm (did real good, 4pm to 6pm, by the lock a few days ago - C&R'ed maybe 30 fish for two of us -- six species -- missed one real big one, too!)'til dark, so I need an answer by then, if you possibly can. Thanks guys! - DonMc

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Cool! Wish you had said something!

Daze Off

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donmc -

I don't think that there is a way to fish it except via boat unless you know some landowners back in there with their own accesses. We put in at Lion's Levee Park (near Willie's Hidden Harbor in SSP or Newport) and run down the river to the entrance and then go north into it. Only other thing I can tell you is be very careful once you start in there - if you are on plane then stay there and if not, don't try to get up. There is definately a "path" alogn the eastern shore and then a cut-off over to the bridge that you do not want to wander too far from.

Daze Off

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Thanks, Daze Off, for the info. and the quick reply! -- DonMc smile.gif

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Quote:

I don't think that there is a way to fish it except via boat unless you know some landowners back in there with their own accesses. We put in at Lion's Levee Park (near Willie's Hidden Harbor in SSP or Newport)


actually, i believe both lions levee and willies are in st. paul park just for a heads up.

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