Report Pool 4

[Turk]

Here's a report for you boaters...

12-11-04 Mississippi River Pool 4 is seeing a very typical winter pattern become established – and that is a great bite for numbers of fish mostly saugers with walleyes in the mix being caught on the vertical jig presentations (many of these saugers are 2 pounds). Really any jigging lure will work from a leaded jig head teamed with a plastic body or a minnow to jigs used for ice fishing. Most of this vertical bite happens in 16 to 26 feet of water so extreme heavy sizes are not needed, and ¼ to 3/8 is perfect for the low winter level Sippi water flows. Walleyes are being caught shallower and there is essentially a wall in the water - where if you want walleyes - you need to fish above, essentially these fish are in 16 feet or less consistently. At least eyes are in these shallower depths to feed.

Boating pressure has been constant with the above average temperatures of November and December, the dam area drifts have been seeing at least 10 to 20 or much more boats every single day for two months – which is why in terms of what should be taken from those classic drifts is less. Usually there are a few periods of plain cold weather (or wind) that keeps the dam area clean of boats. We have taken limits at the dam lately, but other holes south of the dam all the way down to Red Wing are also producing fish meaning less bumper boat action. River stage in Red Wing Minnesota is 2.8 and the water temp is 37 degrees.

GOOD LUCK!

Turk

[Jim W]

Thanks Turk!!!

I was down at Red WIng with Sarge yesterday. Not realizing two rollers were wide open and with the "slight breeze" made for a tough bite. We missed a few and boated only one sand pike.

Anyone know how long the rollers are to be left open?

Keep the rods bendin'!!!

Jim W