Red Wind Dam

[ike's tackle]

Stop in at our store in Red Wing, I can show you the best jigs for pitching plastics. We use the nuckle ball jigs. They are a stand up jig which keeps your plastic off the bottom. They have a great design to keep your plastic on the jig. We have a full line of ikes hair jigs, sonars, ring worms, k-grubs,super doo's and live bait. We will give you the latest reports. This weekend looks to be great weather.

Ike

[skunked_again]

Hey Ike,

How did the open water fishing go at the dam this weekend? Or anyone esle, how did you do? Also, how early do you open on Saturday Ike?

[Mike Walerak]

Skunked Again,

The bite was somewhat slow. We did alright in the size dept but lacked on the numbers side. We ended up with 9 fish ranging from 19-20". It seemed the fish showed a real preferance to the new trial "Thumper Tail" ringworms Dean has in the bait shop at Everts's Resort. The action is dramatically increased at needed ultra slow speeds.

I'm headed back out today so I will post back!

mw

[MPH]

I agree it was somewhat slow. We boated 8 fish, 6 of them being keepers from 15 1/8" - 19". We did see a guy roll backwards out of his john boat and into the river. The other 2 guys in the boat were able to drag him back into the boat rather quickly. Needless to say I think his fishing day was done but he had a smile on his face when they took off. Lucky guy, that 35 degree water couldn't have felt too good.

[ike's tackle]

skunked again the bite was a little slow on saterday but some nice fish were caught the sauger were running about 18-22 inchers ikes hair jigs in the brighter colors tipped with a fat head minnow seemed to work best red and white ring worms or any color with a white tail seemed to work also.vertical jig or drift as slow as posible.we are open at 6am on week ends stop in or give me a call for more info. good luck IKE

[SCONASOTAN]

just giving my Sunday results. started out slow, but after noon it picked up and got 6 fish ( sauger 17", 18", 18", 20 1/2" - walleye 18", 18") . Sauger hit ringworms in firecracker/chart. tail and chart/green core both on 3/16th sour apple jigs. walleyes hit vertical jigging hair jigs with minnow. saugers hit with a vengence. great day to be on the water.

[Lil Hom]

I'm heading down this weekend and was just wondering how deep you guys have been fishing? Hopefully the bite picks up a little.

[MPH]

We caught fish any where from 18' to 60'. The saugers do about rip the pole out of your hand.

[markkstanley]

Mike and I were out again yesterday. Morning bite by the Y was slow so we headed down stream and were rewarded with a good bite. Dragging ringworms on 5/16 jigs upstream was the preferred presentation. We started out in 25 to 28ft (the main channel break) and followed the fish shallow as day wore on. 18" to 21" sauger were just slamming the ringies. Sauger were very particular about color. See Mike's report for some pics and the color of the day as well as our impressions of a new rod from Limit Creek - an 8ft 3" rod designed for rigging or in this case dragging.

[SCONASOTAN]

most productive water was 18'- 22'. more of a main channel bite versus shoreline related for me. This was the first time I have experienced that.

[Cooter]

Typically, when is the best time for a shot a one of the big girls?

[Superduty]

The river is very clear right now. Low light periods are best for the big girls. If you meant what time of year is best, I would say early April when the water is higher, warmer, and dirtier. You can catch a pig on Pool 4 any time any day though!

[harvey lee]

Last year in mid April, I caught a 11.5# eye on a hair jig at 11am. Seems the morning I usually do better then the afternoon. I have never stayed for the early evening bite yet. Never really needed to.

[walleyecaber]

I would say from now till they spawn is the best chance at a trophy walleye.I have caught alot of big eye's 8 lbs plus my biggest being 12 lbs 6oz and yes guys & gal's it's on my wall 33 1/2 inches.Early march till sometime in april when they spawn then again a week or 2 after the spawn.These big eye's are fun but please if Get one and not going to mount it take a picture put a tape on her for length let her go gently so she may make many more eye's for year's to come. Happy fishing.

[markkstanley]

Right now some big eyes are being caught after dark. Not typical for Pool 4 but with the water clarity understandable. ONce the river muddies up the hours around sunrise and sunset are key times. The last two weeks of March and the first two weeks of April are prime. You are not likely to catch a 10lb eye by the roller dam or even in the Y area. You are also much more likely to catch a big one pitching jigs or blades than vertically jigging. You need to do some exploring away from the crowds. I'm not going to spell it out in detail but think of where the walleyes are actually going to spawn and try to intercept them. The 13lb eye in my avatar was caught pitching rip rap close to such an area. Some real big eyes have been caught right in the trees when the river gets high enough.

[hhguide]

Wow I'm coming down in a few weeks and I cant wait to have the chance to catch one well over 30 Inches!

[wastewaterguru]

Always ready to go....

Harvey Lee.....when are we going???