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Mississippi River Pool 4 Fishing Reports Pool 5, 6, 7 , 8 & 9


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Not assuming anything,but isn't the min on walleyes still 15"?

Correct. 15" minimum size on walleye on the MN-WI section of the Mississippi.

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This report is a little slow but we were down there on Sunday. Only caught 1 eye and two saugers. All three were caught by the hay where the water was a a little calmer. We actually caught the eye in 6 feet of water which might have been a fluke. The surface temp was only around 35 degrees so I'm pretty sure that they aren't moving up yet. The other two fish were caught in 18 FOW. It was the first time I've ever been on the river that I've actually had to point the trolling motor downstream to keep the bait vertical. Just a thanks to everone down there but even with all of the boats, everyone seemed to be real polite about working around one another. I thought it was worth mentioning since too often we see a forum complaining about boating etiquette and I experienced the opposite this weekend.

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Wakeguy, I have noticed that as well. One would think that having 200 boats in one tight area they may all be grummpy, but that was not the case. Of course there is all ways one persone who rolls their eyes at ya.

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Wakeguy, I have noticed that as well. One would think that having 200 boats in one tight area they may all be grummpy, but that was not the case. Of course there is all ways one persone who rolls their eyes at ya.

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Any reports after the rain and colder weather? Are the big girls shallow yet? water temp? i will better fishing there tomm.. my buddies are out there today. i will keep u posted on how they do.

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Wakeguy I noticed that as well. I think it's more the fact that the people out there right now are the actual fishermen not the pleasure cruisers. It's nice to get to the landing and see everyone unload or load their boats in a matter of a few minutes rather than 20 minutes like some do in the summertime. I was out on Sat. and fishing was real slow for us as well.

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I fished the High Bridge(a few suagers) and the dam(2 nice walleyes). The current was tough. I had to stay right on the edge of the fast and slow water. I used up my trolling motor battery.

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Sunday 3/29 was tough for me. Fished 7 AM to 2 PM without a bite. Fished some seams (east and west shores) down from the dam. Tried by the Vermilion mouth and temporarily with the slough of boats left of the Y. Finished by Hay Creek with no joy.

Pitched rigworms/paddle tails 75% of the time and did hair jigs/minnow the other 25%.

I hope others did better.

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drop in h2o temp, steady increase in flow.... might not make it down there for a while. Hope it won't take long.

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When is the fishing gonna get better.... I was down ther last weekend really slow. Didn't see many nets in the water.. When will the water slow down. What is the water temp when the eyes start running up water. Thanks for the info. Good Luck

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I struggled on Sunday with the [PoorWordUsage] open and the fast current. I have several questions that hopefully some of you river experts can help me with.

1. Now that the [PoorWordUsage] is open the water was much higher than anytime I fished it last year. Will they leave the [PoorWordUsage] open and how long 'till the river level drops back down to the levels of two weeks ago?

2. Why was everyone fishing on the lock side of the Y? Did they know something I didn't or were they just sick of dealing with the increased current?

3. What tactics work in these conditions? I tried vertical jigging (but afraid we are moving too fast) and pitching in the current breaks. I'm new to the 3-way but everyone I see doing it is moving slowly upstream. I have a buddy who guided for salmon and said that they used a technique called back bouncing with a 3-way. Basically they were pointed upstream but drifting downstream much more slowly than the current. The idea as I understand it is that you can find little dunes in the river bottom that create a subsurface current break for the fish. Has anyone tried this. Would you use cranks, a spinner or live bait and a hook?

Frustrated for the first time this year and hoping for advice.

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I'm no expert and I did struggle too on Sunday. The line guides kept on freezing and I was out with the lady who was complaining about the cold, but we did manage our limit. I think the fish are always around, just need to find them. People are fishing the lock side more because of the slower water versus bumber boats or trying to stay positioned in the rough waters. What worked for us was hook and minnow on 3 way orlindy in 5-15 ft of water. I could say fish were in the slack side. Tried to stay away from the groups since there is too much competition in that area, everybody dangling jigs over the side with the 50+ boats neck to neck is way too much pressure.

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This nansty weather makes it tough to fish.the few fisherman going out seem to being doing ok.less boats seem to be helping. thurs.fri.sat.and sunday are looking alot better.theres supose to be alot better weather.alot of smaller sauger and some walleyes are being caught.start by the tepee at bay point park then move north stop at all the openings on the way up to the dam.use a bright colored ikes 3/8ozhair jig tipped with a fat head.keep your jig as vertical as possible.if you have any questions call or stop by the store.IKE

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Weather looking a lot better??? what forecast you looking at?? I hope you are right but every forecast I see (news, online)doesn't reach 50 and winds/snow showers. A lot better?? I like your optimism and you are a bait store owner, so I understand. But come on. with that said I'll be down on Monday. see ya then!

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sconasotan my computer forcast shows thurs.46 and partly cloudy fri.sunny48deg.sat.49 and partly cloudy.that doesent sound to bad. I am a bait shop owner but I still want all my fisherman to catch fish.good luck IKE.

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Mine shows the same as yours Ike. 49 sounds pretty nice compared to what it has been, and 6-8 mph winds I don't think it gets any calmer in Red Wing than that. Thanks for the info IKE

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It's April, SCONASOTAN--this weather loop we've been stuck in for the last two weeks (one sunny day followed by two cold windy days) will be over soon, even if that isn't tomorrow. Plenty of warm weather and good fishing is just around the corner.

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whEN THE WATER IS HAULING YOU CAN'T FISH IN IT THE BAIT DOESN'T get TO THE fISH. ThAT I WHY GUYS WERE FISInG IN THE LOCK. Fish in the slower current that is whre the fish can be had. the dam may be open for awhile they corps decides that with no warning to fishemen. my guess it will be open until end of may or later. The water will be high for sometime. that is not a bad thing it groups fish up into slower water. that is easy to target. hope that helps good luck.

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Originally Posted By: MuskieJunkie
Anyone have a recent water temp on P4?

37-38

Thanks.

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Forecast does sound a lot better - still think I'm gonna wait another week, funds are limited.

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sorry guys, just a little ticked at the weather lately. I am going on Monday and the Forecast keeps getting worse for monday. I would definitly take high 40's don't get me wrong but my fishing oppurtunities are limited and it sucks the good weather doesn't coinside with it. It doesn't matter because I will be there anyways and will always enjoy myself. But "a lot better" means something else to me, thats all guys. 35 (high), snow showers and wind will not make me happy (Feb great). have a nice day all. ike, no offense, I have been to your place a bunch and have nothing but good to say, just getting it off my chest.

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mid 40"s for temps.is not bad,just wish precip.would stop for a week or so.Then maybe current will slow and water temps.will rise,and fish will start going.It will be interesting to see weights of the Full Throttle tourney upcoming this weekend.

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redwing mn fishing reports - with the warmer weather moving in it should be a good weekend to get out and fish.if the water temp. starts to warm up it will get alot better fast.start at the mouth of bay point and work all the feeder creeks on the way up to the dam.start in about 10fow.and work deeper use a 3/8oz ikes brite colored hairjig tipped with a fathead.try to keep your line as vertical as possible.if you have any questions call or stop by the store.good luck IKE

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