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Mississippi River Fishing Reports Pools 2 & 3


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I have been fishing pool 2 hidden falls/minnehaha area for the past year or two and have caught quite a few walleye and pike and some smallmouths, however they have been mostly on jerkbaits and a few crankbaits; I have never been a live bait type and rarely a softbait type and apparently I suck at softbaits/jigs as I haven't caught one off a softbait/jig, I have mostly stuck to Ripple Shads in black and in black and white, and the Berkley Gulp Alive minnows same colors, varying from 2"-4" with 1/8 jig head and 1/8 hair jig. I usually jig it such that it jumps from the bottom a few inches and drops back down and then pause for a second or so.

So any advice from anyone would be helpful - anywhere from presentation to lures.

I am also usually from shore.

Last I checked within a few days, water temp was 42.5 up by the dam

One from within the last couple of weeks (if I posted right)

full-46541-44397-img_0008.jpg

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River is way up and rising. Current went from 9000 cfs to 19500 cfs in two days. Very little fishable water by the locks. Caught 1 small walleye at the confluence, but the wind and current made boat control a challenge. Not much for fishable current seams. Unless Red Wing tempts me, pre-spawn walleye fishing is over for this guy. Good Luck and be careful if you go out. Ole Miss is really rollin.

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River is way up

What? Not even close.

Using the footbridge at Minnehaha as a guide, it's down for this time of year. A lot of times you need a pair of rubber boots to cross that bridge, now you can almost cross the creek with rubber boots.

I've seen that bridge totally underwater before too. That's easily 10-12 feet higher than right now.

I'd say it's down compared to the average spring. Here is some reference from a few years ago, granted that was a high water year: http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubb...ely#Post2560703

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I'm pretty sure he means "up" relatively speaking to the last couple days not "up" as a whole - plus it seems the current is really ripping for the river level right now.

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Went out today, I know I've been out in worse current and I am kind of a wuss when it comes to the river. Forcast looks like it won't come up much further any time soon. I wouldn't be scared to go out, glad I did, the posts before almost scared me out of going.

Forcast:

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=mpx&gage=stpm5

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Glad you enjoyed yourself. My goal in giving fishing and condition updates is not to scare people off. It is to provide information so others can make an informed decision about heading to Pool 2. Kind of disappointing to pull in to the ramp, planning on some nice,relaxing vertical jigging, to find out most of your favorite spots are in flood. Here is a link with more current data. www.mvp-wc.usace.army.mil/projects/Lock1.shtml

ps. Ole Miss current increased 4000 cfs in 24 hours. It is currently at 23500 cfs.

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[using the footbridge at Minnehaha as a guide, it's down for this time of year. A lot of times you need a pair of rubber boots to cross that bridge, now you can almost cross the creek with rubber boots.

I've seen that bridge totally underwater before too. That's easily 10-12 feet higher than right now.

I'd say it's down compared to the average spring. Here is some reference from a few years ago, granted that was a high water year: http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubb...ely#Post2560703

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Can anybody comment on how treacherous it is out there? Going to take the boat or for the first time tomorrow, Just wondering if I should drop it in a small lake or try fighting the current

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The current went from 5ooo cfs around April 1st to 33600 cfs today. Island by the dam is almost underwater. You be the judge.

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I'm actually going to launch out of Watergate today for a couple of hours. If you are further south then head down to St. Paul Park and launch out of Willie's Hidden Harbor. There is no current back there and you can fish back there and maybe get some action.

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The current is moving along pretty good and the water level is up but not as much debris floating around as last week.Did pretty good yesterday on the walleyes.Biggest was 19" but plenty of fun to catch a bunch.Water temps was around the 39.5 mark most places I went,found one spot that was 40.2

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Hi Expl,

How were you catching the walleyes? I tried last weekend but only caught leaves and sticks!

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Jig and fathead,9-17 ft current seam areas bounce bottom once pull it up 3inches and hold it there.They sometimes smack it or just barely hit it,somedays they are aggressive and some days not but they dont like to much jigging action it seems.I didnt see another boat catch anything last weekend and if one saw me catch one they came rite over and crowded me out and still didnt catch anything as I continued to pull fish in.There are alot of followers on Pool 2,if a boat sees me fishing or catching as they are cruising by they allmost allways stop and get real close and screw up my drift.Sometimes I fish where i havnt caught a thing just to lose the followers.Was down on Thursday 4-24 for the evening and picked up 9 walleyes biggest 23" along with a couple bonus Mooneye.Was down there Sat.4-26 again from noon till dark,I tried a few different areas and picked up a couple walleyes at each spot.Along with a few crappies and smallies,which kinda caught me offguard,the wind made it a pain in the @

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  • 4 weeks later...

Any comments on the river lately? Flow, Debris, Bite, Ect....

I only live 1 mile from the 494 launch and I'm ashamed how infrequently I go out there

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I was out last weekend and the current was really ripping, but there wasn't too much debris. I would not try to fish in the main channel right now.

As for the bite we managed 3 decent smallies and missed several more in just a couple of hours while fishing cuts downstream a ways of Lions Levee. Probably could have managed some more if there weren't boats all over the areas that we wanted to fish, lots of guys out.

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  • 1 month later...

Hidden Falls ramp is open. Walleye are hungry! We were out today from 9:30 am - 1:15 pm. Lots of walleye caught. 11.5 fow -12.5 fow. Water temp 73.9 degrees F. Lots of mayflies hatching. Crank baits through medium to slow water. Not a single sheepie, catfish or smallmouth caught. Go get em ladies and gentlemen!

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  • 3 weeks later...

I'm going to hit the river tomorrow in search of some smallies, Anybody having any luck on the bass out there lately?

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Found a couple little smallmouth on riprap. Missed a nice one and got this Walter on a DT10

IMG_20140802_154324_zpsbios0xl0.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

I caught a bunch of Smallmouth yesterday trolling amd throwing a #4 crayfish hornet up to the rocks,most were small but did lose one monster that had to be well over 18" trolling.Did good on walleyes and sauger also caught some white bass,sheepshead,and a bunch of channel cats.

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Friday was a slower day for bass,but after a little searching and fine tuning of presentations I did lock onto a consistent walleye and sauger bite.They wernt interested in crankbaits trolled or casted,but a jig and leech or crawler did the trick as did a 6foot crawler harness with a silver or blue blade tipped with a crawler or leech,put the leech on the back hook as the fish dont seem to know theres a hook with no bait,lol.Pretty slow for everything else minus a few sheepshead,they didnt seem to give a dump if you casted,trolled,or rigged livebait they still bit, not as many as previous outings tho.Satuday wasnt the same story,tried a few different areas and not a whole lot going on,walleyes seemed more scatterd out but when found were biting cranks trolled or casted,jigs,and rigs with leeches or crawlers it didnt seem to matter,you would only get two or three per spot and then move along cuz youd be wasting your time if you stayed and tried to pull more out.Friday you could catch as many as you wanted to from the same spots.Fish are weird and no matter how hard I try,I know I will never figure them out completely,I guess thats why I love fishing.

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Were you on Pool 2 or 3 Expl? I was on 2 saturday and caught some walleyes. Couldn't get more than 2 from one spot either. I blame the northeast wind for the tougher bite. Still fish to be caught, but they were biting lighter than usual. Some would just grab the jig/bait and run rather than pop it like a walleye usually does.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Sorry didmt see your post.I allways fish Pool 2,never fished 3 before.I do hit Pool 4 but only early when the ramps are not open on 2.Havnt been down to 2 simce that last report,probably this weekend I will be down there tho.

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The flow and levels are both up some this week. I was on the paddleboat for lunch yesterday and noticed several nice logs coming down river

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Did pretty good on Sat. aftn/even. trolling and casting cranks,I'd say between the two of us we caught around 25 walleyes/saugers and numerous other species.Sun. was a bit slower but fish were caught trolling,casting and some jigs/rigs and minnows.

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I took my mom out last saturday for a boat ride. Current was moving pretty good. Found a bunch of little smallies in any eddies I could find. also got a nice whitebass.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
    • 11-87
      Looking for recommendations on scope or red dot    I basically hunt turkey and whitetail, live in southern MN. So it’s all deer/ shotgun    looking to add a scope/ red dot as my eyes don’t work like they used to to with the open sights.    my gun options are 11/87 12. Browning BPS 12    not looking for the most expensive or the cheapest    pros and cons of one over the other
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