Mississippi River Fishing Reports Pools 2 & 3

[WWW]

Thanks for the updates Old Timer. Anyone that spends any amount of time on the river this time of year knows that the water temps usually plummet once the snow starts melting. Have seen it in years past go from the 40s back down to near freezing due to this. Usually turns the bite off to when this happens.

[shamus]

Since it sounds like I'm not the only one that's experiencing a poor bite on pool 2 has anyone been to or heard any reports on pool 3, around the Hastings/Prescott area? Is pool 4 the only place for a decent bite right now?

Went down to L&D 2 again yesterday afternoon and again, nothing. Watched probably 4 boats come up river to the dam and each of them spent about 15-20 minutes looking for fish and took off back down river.

Also, I've been checking water temp with an instant read thermo. when I go down and what oldtimer is saying is what I've found as well.

[RuKiddingMe]

Pool 3 I believe is closed to game fish - so that leaves pool 2 or 4.

[shamus]

Really? I thought the border water from Prescott down to L&D 3 was open year round.

[WWW]

Pool 3 is not closed for game fish. Just can not fish from prescot to the dam for game fish.

[mohr06]

thanks for the web site. i will be down there sat. and i will let u know what i find. i was going out friday but i think u can understand why i did not make it. hope that i did not affend u with my other comments. if i did i am sorry no intention too.

[old timer]

thanks for the web site. i will be down there sat. and i will let u know what i find. i was going out friday but i think u can understand why i did not make it. hope that i did not affend u with my other comments. if i did i am sorry no intention too.

Thanks. No offense taken.

[RIPN LIPS]

Wheres the report?

[BrandonJ]

Wheres the report?

Yeah, what he said.

[old timer]

9:30am - 12:00, water temp 33.4 degrees F, Minnesota River opened up,

1 monster flathead catfish caught above Lilydale, nothing else caught. wind blowing hard downstream of confluence, Hidden Falls ramp open and clear. Lilydale open but icy, another fisherman said he caught a few at the confluence the other day? It has to get better.

[old timer]

9:30am - 12:00, water temp 33.4 degrees F, Minnesota River opened up,

1 monster flathead catfish caught above Lilydale, nothing else caught. wind blowing hard downstream of confluence, Hidden Falls ramp open and clear. Lilydale open but icy, another fisherman said he caught a few at the confluence the other day? It has to get better.

Finally got the photo uploaded. That is a 36 inch tape measure on the seat above the kitty.

[RuKiddingMe]

Nice kitty old timer bet that was a lot of fun on walleye gear.

[shamus]

Fished from shore near the confluence today, not a single bite. Watched a few boats fishing at the confluence and it didn't look like there was much action in their boats.

The only sign of life that I saw in the river was thousands of small black bugs (kind of looked like a beetle) swimming under water near shore.

[EBass]

Suppose we need a warm up to get them moving.

[buzbunni]

Anyone get a water temp reading?

[fisherjmb]

Was on pool 2 on Friday and the water temp was about 38.5 degrees. Can't imagine it is much warmer after yesterday and today though.

[gritsnham]

Could not catch a thing in a short outing Friday or Saturday. Water was 39 friday and 37-38.5 sat.

Marked some fish and tried tons of different spots but ouldnt get anything to go on artificials. Sure was nice to get the boat wet again and see the thousands of birds along the river.

Decent amount of debris and ice still floating so keep your eyes open!

[fisherjmb]

It was fairly slow on Friday for us too. Caught about a half dozen eyes between 18-22 inches. Didn't try plastics, caught everything on a 1/4 oz jig and a fathead. Water was still very clear for this time of year. I bet it will get a bit dirtier in the next week or so. The water temps should increase as well. Maybe that will help the bite a bit?

[mohr06]

sorry about the report had some personal things happen and had to go oout of town. i didnt make it out. but it sounds like i didnt miss anything. i am going to try to get out tommorow.

[mohr06]

i went to pool 2 yest afternoon and we got 6 eye all 20-23 inches. in the slack water by the lock. nothing at the confluence. marked a lot of fish in both places but the bite was pretty slow. just one here and there. the water temp was 36.8 pretty cold. there were about 6 other boats out there and they were catching just a couple here and there also. it seemed like most of the fish were caught with a jig and minnow. but some were taken with plastics. the current is ragging by the dam.

[shamus]

Had a day off work yesterday and spent the day hitting multiple shore fishing areas. Landed 7 eye all 13-17", missed a bunch as well. All were caught on a 1/8-1/4oz jig and minnow. All were caught casting into the first current seam off of slack water areas and most hook ups happened within 5-10 yards of the shore line.

[BryanL]

Caught one eye tonight in front of the Mississippi flats condos at upper landing. Had something big hit hard and snap my line. Was good to see my son catch his first decent size walleye. See if we can have anymore luck tomorrow morning. I have never river fished before and have no idea what I'm doing so were just happy to have caught something.

[shamus]

Caught one eye tonight in front of the Mississippi flats condos at upper landing. Had something big hit hard and snap my line. Was good to see my son catch his first decent size walleye. See if we can have anymore luck tomorrow morning. I have never river fished before and have no idea what I'm doing so were just happy to have caught something.

I'm a novice as well, but like I said in my little report. If you find slack water areas and toss small jigs tipped with a minnow you should have some luck. Maintain contact with the bottom and jig the lure slowly back with small pops. I was out again for a few hours yesterday afternoon and caught 2 walleye, 2 sheepshead, 1 white bass, and 1 smallmouth all with a 1/8 oz jig/minnow. Good luck!

Edit: sorry, technically I didn't land the smallie. Had it up to shore and was bending down to grab it when it took the opportunity to give one final shake and got off the hook. Would have been my first smallie too. ARGH!

[NKLCOLT1911]

hit pool two for the first time saturday, caught a small flat and two small channels nothing big but still nice to break the ice.

[DREZLER]

Went for a cruise yesterday from St Paul on the Miss to Afton on the St croix.

Wonderful weather and going through the lock was a new experience.

We only dropped the leadcore lines for about 45 minutes but did manage to catch a small white bass? and a catfish of some sort on the Wisconsin side of the St Croix in 25 fow.

A catfish hitting a Salmo at 2.5 mph?

I cant say I've ever heard of that but then again I can't say I really know anything about Catfish either.

[TruthWalleyes]

Channel cats love heavily vibrating crankbaits just like salmos.

[Bass Whacker]

I am going to be home visiting family the next couple weekends and I'm wondering if I should be bringing home the ice fishing gear? Will there be walkable ice at Dushanes or preferably North lake?

[bobbymalone]

No 2014 posts yet...?

Skunked twice up by the dam. Its pretty tough from shore right now. Water needs to come up for the shore people to really get into them.

Plenty of boats around the locks. Saw some nets and cameras so somebody's catching something.

[jlw034]

I was one of the guys at the shore at Minnehaha.

Nothing but carp biting.

Did you happen to get the water temp by the dam?

[bobbymalone]

I didn't even see the carp while I was there.

Didn't get a water temp up by the dam, but the USGS says its's 46 at Pike Island and has been trending upwards about 2 degrees everyday this week.