1-24-13 Thr

1-24-2013 Thr 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Weather:
SE 8, 12 ˚, mostly cloudy, 30.38 falling
Water:
639.38 steady, 12.3 kcfs, clear
Location:
Pool 7, Trempealeau dam
Caught:
Approx. 12 walleyes and one sauger. Kept 1 – 12” sauger and 1 – 17” walleye
Partners:
None
Comments

It is again that time of winter when the ice below the dams has become thick enough to venture out onto the frozen platform. This type of adventure is not for the faint of heart. It is safe, but some caution is warranted. The current velocity and patterns can and do change rather quickly below the dams, so always carry a spud for checking ice thickness and strength.
I started out walking across the main channel from the Trempealeau landing and fished straight across form the boat landing at the end of a wing dam. I was fishing in about fifteen feet of water and the fish were very active for about the first hour. I did catch numerous fish here and kept the one sauger.
After dark the bite slowed and I decided to hike back across and fish just below the bull nose, where a small group of other anglers had gathered. I was able to wiggle my way into a spot among the other anglers and settled for two hours of action packed fishing. The bite was very good. I caught a respectable amount and easily missed three times as many fish as I caught.

Observations:

The ice conditions from the landing across to the Minnesota side were very good. I would have to say the ice depth was easily ten inches the entire way. On the other hand the conditions from the long wall up to the short wall were a different story. In some spots the ice had broken up and re froze making the journey a little dicey. Once up by the short wall I would have to say the ice thickness was around the four inch mark.