Mississippi River Fishing Reports Pools 2 & 3

[B Squad]

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)

[old timer]

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.

[bobbymalone]

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

[Shack]

It will come quick. Even overnight or from morning to evening this time of year.

[RuKiddingMe]

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.

[KickNBass]

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

[old timer]

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.

[rosspj59]

[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

[Flaco651]

Minnehaha creek empties into the 'Sippi up river from hidden falls launch.

[Craigums]

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

[old timer]

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

[jigginjim]

How big of boat/motor you running? Launch at Watergate marinia, well worth the money.

[bassfshin24]

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.

[rosspj59]

Minnehaha creek empties into the 'Sippi up river from hidden falls launch.

Thank you!

[expl]

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

[Capt. Quicksteel]

Hi Expl,

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

[expl]

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 @

[Capt. Quicksteel]

Thanks. That makes sense.

[Craigums]

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

[Mons]

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.

[old timer]

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!

[Craigums]

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

[Craigums]

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

[expl]

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.

[expl]

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.

[rosspj59]

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.

[expl]

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.

[rosspj59]

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

[expl]

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.

[Craigums]

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.