April 26, 2016 Tue 615PM-745PM-bass and pike fishing by myself
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7, Lake Onalaska
Weather: (1853) E12, overcast, 49°
H2O: 6.03↓, 45 kcfs, 58 °, clear
Caught: 1 pike 24”, 3 LMB 14-18”
Observations: The redbud tree in the back yard is blooming and the lilac bushes in the front are close to it. The flowering crabs around the area are in full bloom. The water is so low in the back yard that my goat boat was no longer floating; it was resting on the mud!
It was a cold and breezy fishing night. I cannot complain though even with the bad conditions the fishing was pretty good. I tried multiple spots in a very short time, but I only had success at Ashley Point.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
April 24, 2016 Sun
April 24, 2016 Sun 930AM-730PM-bass and pike fishing with Scott
Where: Mississippi R. pool 4, Nelson, WI
Weather: (1255) E10 G21, light rain, 55°
H2O: 7.6 →, 30 kcfs, 62 °, murky to clear
Caught (aprox.): Me: 15 pike 18-22”, 2 LMB 12-14”
Scott: 40 Pike 18-31’, 3 LMB 12-18”, 1 dogfish 24”
Observations: The water is extremely low up here and there is very little aquatic vegetation.
Today was an extremely frustrating day for me. I had contemplated bringing the goat boat, and I wish I had. The shallow draft and the lightness of that boat would have made navigating much easier. Maneuvering my big boat was very difficult on account of the shallow water. I was even forced to get out of the boat twice to push it off shallow areas.
The pike bite was pretty good, however the size of the pike were small. Scott had a good time catching the fish but it just added to my frustration!
Where: Mississippi R. pool 4, Nelson, WI
Weather: (1255) E10 G21, light rain, 55°
H2O: 7.6 →, 30 kcfs, 62 °, murky to clear
Caught (aprox.): Me: 15 pike 18-22”, 2 LMB 12-14”
Scott: 40 Pike 18-31’, 3 LMB 12-18”, 1 dogfish 24”
Observations: The water is extremely low up here and there is very little aquatic vegetation.
Today was an extremely frustrating day for me. I had contemplated bringing the goat boat, and I wish I had. The shallow draft and the lightness of that boat would have made navigating much easier. Maneuvering my big boat was very difficult on account of the shallow water. I was even forced to get out of the boat twice to push it off shallow areas.
The pike bite was pretty good, however the size of the pike were small. Scott had a good time catching the fish but it just added to my frustration!
Saturday, April 23, 2016
April 23, 2016 Sat
April 23, 2016 Sat 545-745PM-bass and pike fishing by myself
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7 upper stump area
Weather: (1853) S14, clear, 69°, 29.96
H2O: 5.89↓, 43 kcfs, 62 °, murky
Caught: 2 pike 18-22”, 1 LMB 12”
Observations: Some of the early trees are really starting to leaf out. The rhubarb leaves are about the size of saucers. My red bud tree is also close to blooming. The cattails have started to send up their shoots.
Fishing was pretty slow tonight. I am not sure if it was because of the low water or the reduced visibility in the water on account of all the wind. Anyway, I really had to work for the fish I did catch. I never caught anything on the spinner bait, but the swim bait did catch a couple.
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7 upper stump area
Weather: (1853) S14, clear, 69°, 29.96
H2O: 5.89↓, 43 kcfs, 62 °, murky
Caught: 2 pike 18-22”, 1 LMB 12”
Observations: Some of the early trees are really starting to leaf out. The rhubarb leaves are about the size of saucers. My red bud tree is also close to blooming. The cattails have started to send up their shoots.
Fishing was pretty slow tonight. I am not sure if it was because of the low water or the reduced visibility in the water on account of all the wind. Anyway, I really had to work for the fish I did catch. I never caught anything on the spinner bait, but the swim bait did catch a couple.
April 22, 2016 Fri
April 22, 2016 Fri 7PM- 1AM Walleye fishing with Scott and Steve Scauf
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8 Dresbach Dam area
Weather: (2153) NW5, clear, 49°, 30.13
H2O: 6.02↓, 45 kcfs, 61 °, clear
Caught (approx.) me: 2 white bass 14-17.5”, 2 sauger 10-13”, 4 walleyes 13-16”
Scott: 2 white bass 14”, 4 walleyes, 2 LMB
Steve: 4 walleyes 14-17”, 3 white bass 14-16”, 6 LMB 12-15”, 4 SMB 14-16”, 1 pike 23”, 1 dog fish 22”
Observations: The red bud trees along with the pear trees are blooming in the city, and it looks as if the apple trees are very close to blooming. It was a beautiful full moon tonight!
It was a much later night than I had expected, but that’s what you get when you go fishing with Scott and it is his boat. The walleye bite has definitely dwindled.
Tonight I experienced something I have never seen before; the bass were biting after dark. Steve was throwing a rattletrap off of the willow point by the dam and he was schooling Scott and myself. He was consistently catching both large mouth bass and small mouth bass.
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8 Dresbach Dam area
Weather: (2153) NW5, clear, 49°, 30.13
H2O: 6.02↓, 45 kcfs, 61 °, clear
Caught (approx.) me: 2 white bass 14-17.5”, 2 sauger 10-13”, 4 walleyes 13-16”
Scott: 2 white bass 14”, 4 walleyes, 2 LMB
Steve: 4 walleyes 14-17”, 3 white bass 14-16”, 6 LMB 12-15”, 4 SMB 14-16”, 1 pike 23”, 1 dog fish 22”
Observations: The red bud trees along with the pear trees are blooming in the city, and it looks as if the apple trees are very close to blooming. It was a beautiful full moon tonight!
It was a much later night than I had expected, but that’s what you get when you go fishing with Scott and it is his boat. The walleye bite has definitely dwindled.
Tonight I experienced something I have never seen before; the bass were biting after dark. Steve was throwing a rattletrap off of the willow point by the dam and he was schooling Scott and myself. He was consistently catching both large mouth bass and small mouth bass.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
April 20, 2016 Wed
615-8PM-bass and pike fishing by myselfWhere: Mississippi R. pool 7 mid pool backwaters
Weather: (1853) SE8, light rain, 60°, 29.88
H2O: 5.98↓, 45 kcfs, 62 °, clear to turbid
Caught: 1 SMB 19”, 1 pike 22”, 1 LMB 14”
Observations: The plum trees are blooming and some flowering crab apple trees are close to blooming. The water is very low for this time of year and navigation is already a challenge. The sedimentation on this pool is very bad and worsens each year. The submergent vegetation (kelp) is profusely growing and is at the surface in most of the back bays.
Fishing was not particularly exciting tonight. The only dramatic thing that did happen was that I got stuck and had to get out and push it off the sand. However, I did catch one super sized smallmouth, which was quite the thrill. In fact I was very surprised I caught it where I did. It was caught out of an old decayed rice bed that was in about one foot of water. I never did have any consistency tonight; I just caught a fish here and there. I never did catch two fish in the same area, however I do think I lost another jumbo small mouth where I caught the nineteen incher.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
April 18, 2016 Mon.
April 18, 2016 Mon. 6-830PM-bass and pike fishing by myself
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7 stump fields and mid lake areas
Weather: (1653) S8, mostly cloudy, 80°, 30.16
H2O: 6.46↓, 51 kcfs, 67 °, clear
Caught: 15 LMB 12-17”, 2 pike 20-25”, 1-20” dogfish
Observations: The tree buds are starting to pop and the bulb plants are profusely blooming. In certain areas there is lots of submergent plant growth. That same type of weed is littered all over the surface in some areas. I don’t know if it is because boat props had cut it or if it had just broken off from the main plant and floated to the surface. Also, I observed a pod of carp out on the lake spawning!
The fishing was not quite as hot as it was last night, but it was still good. I caught some of the bass where I caught them last night, but they were not there in the numbers as last night. As far as the pike fishing goes, it has not been good as of yet. I either have not been able to locate them or they just aren’t very active yet.
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7 stump fields and mid lake areas
Weather: (1653) S8, mostly cloudy, 80°, 30.16
H2O: 6.46↓, 51 kcfs, 67 °, clear
Caught: 15 LMB 12-17”, 2 pike 20-25”, 1-20” dogfish
Observations: The tree buds are starting to pop and the bulb plants are profusely blooming. In certain areas there is lots of submergent plant growth. That same type of weed is littered all over the surface in some areas. I don’t know if it is because boat props had cut it or if it had just broken off from the main plant and floated to the surface. Also, I observed a pod of carp out on the lake spawning!
The fishing was not quite as hot as it was last night, but it was still good. I caught some of the bass where I caught them last night, but they were not there in the numbers as last night. As far as the pike fishing goes, it has not been good as of yet. I either have not been able to locate them or they just aren’t very active yet.
April 17, 2016 Sun.
April 17, 2016 Sun. 5-8PM-bass and pike fishing by myself
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7 stump fields
Weather: (1853) S6, overcast, 78°, 30.25
H2O: 6.7↓, 53 kcfs, 67 °, clear
Caught: 15 LMB 12-17”, 5 pike 20-24”, 3 dogfish 22-31”
Observations: Spring is finally here and with that said the mosquitoes cannot be too far off. The lily pads have not yet made it to the surface, but they are definitely developing on the river floor. The Rhubarb is beginning to leaf out and the lilacs are forming flower blossoms.
It was a very good evening of fishing! Things started out slow, but for the last hour I had the fish dialed in. It appears the fish are staging to make their move into the far back bays of the lake. Oh, and the dogfish were extremely active; fun fish to catch but not very fun to deal with after they are boat side. I have never had so much action from this prehistoric fish. I bet for the three I caught I probably missed ten. These fish are one mean critter with very powerful jaws, but I think I learned how to handle them tonight. Most of the fish were caught in extremely shallow water that averaged one to one and one half feet in depth.
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7 stump fields
Weather: (1853) S6, overcast, 78°, 30.25
H2O: 6.7↓, 53 kcfs, 67 °, clear
Caught: 15 LMB 12-17”, 5 pike 20-24”, 3 dogfish 22-31”
Observations: Spring is finally here and with that said the mosquitoes cannot be too far off. The lily pads have not yet made it to the surface, but they are definitely developing on the river floor. The Rhubarb is beginning to leaf out and the lilacs are forming flower blossoms.
It was a very good evening of fishing! Things started out slow, but for the last hour I had the fish dialed in. It appears the fish are staging to make their move into the far back bays of the lake. Oh, and the dogfish were extremely active; fun fish to catch but not very fun to deal with after they are boat side. I have never had so much action from this prehistoric fish. I bet for the three I caught I probably missed ten. These fish are one mean critter with very powerful jaws, but I think I learned how to handle them tonight. Most of the fish were caught in extremely shallow water that averaged one to one and one half feet in depth.
April 16, 2016 Sat.
April 16, 2016 Sat. 1230-10PM-miscellaneous fishing with Scott
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8, Dresbach Dam and adjacent back waters
Weather: (1553) S13, partly cloudy, 81°, 30.20
H2O: 6.58↓, 53 kcfs, 62 °, clear
Caught: (approx.) me: 5 white bass, 4 pike 22-25”, 2 walleyes 24”
Scott: 4 white bass, 7 pike 20-31”, 1-18.5 SMB, 1-14” LMB
Observations: The water is still in a state of dropping and the water clarity is good. The maple and other early budding trees are starting to “pop” and the insects are out. We observed quite a few fishermen catching bluegills in slack water areas adjacent to the main channel and off the main channel.
It was our typical afternoon of competitive fishing between Scott and myself. Unfortunately I have to say Scott out fished me. I started out strong, but unfortunately for me Scott took the lead and never looked back. We hit the white bass where we caught them yesterday but they were not as numerous today. We targeted pike for several hours and never really got into any numbers. Yesterday I said I was done early season walleye jigging, but we tried it again tonight and had very little success with it.
Today I also did have the opportunity to help out a fellow boater. We came upon two fishermen in a boat that would not start. They asked if I would tow them to the boat landing and I said no problem. When we got there they offered me some money but I refused and said that someday they may need to repay the favor to me. It did take away a little time from our fishing but that’s what other boaters do, they render aid if necessary.
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8, Dresbach Dam and adjacent back waters
Weather: (1553) S13, partly cloudy, 81°, 30.20
H2O: 6.58↓, 53 kcfs, 62 °, clear
Caught: (approx.) me: 5 white bass, 4 pike 22-25”, 2 walleyes 24”
Scott: 4 white bass, 7 pike 20-31”, 1-18.5 SMB, 1-14” LMB
Observations: The water is still in a state of dropping and the water clarity is good. The maple and other early budding trees are starting to “pop” and the insects are out. We observed quite a few fishermen catching bluegills in slack water areas adjacent to the main channel and off the main channel.
It was our typical afternoon of competitive fishing between Scott and myself. Unfortunately I have to say Scott out fished me. I started out strong, but unfortunately for me Scott took the lead and never looked back. We hit the white bass where we caught them yesterday but they were not as numerous today. We targeted pike for several hours and never really got into any numbers. Yesterday I said I was done early season walleye jigging, but we tried it again tonight and had very little success with it.
Today I also did have the opportunity to help out a fellow boater. We came upon two fishermen in a boat that would not start. They asked if I would tow them to the boat landing and I said no problem. When we got there they offered me some money but I refused and said that someday they may need to repay the favor to me. It did take away a little time from our fishing but that’s what other boaters do, they render aid if necessary.
April 15, 2016 Fri.
April 15, 2016 Fri. 5-10PM myself and John Riek walleye fishing
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8, Desbach Dam
Weather: (1853) SE15, clear, 73°, 30.08
H2O: 6.91↓, 58 kcfs, 58 °, clear
Caught: (approx.) me: 8 white bass 12-14”, 1-14” small mouth bass, 4 walleyes 12-15”
John: 1 white bass, 2 walleyes 13-14”, kept 8 white bass
Observations: The river is dropping like a tub with the plug pulled and I expect the fishing to really pick up with the warmer weather and good water clarity.
It was an after work adventure with John tonight. I was targeting walleyes for the last time this spring. The walleye fishing has really died, but we did get into some white bass on a secondary slough that had a good sand drop.
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8, Desbach Dam
Weather: (1853) SE15, clear, 73°, 30.08
H2O: 6.91↓, 58 kcfs, 58 °, clear
Caught: (approx.) me: 8 white bass 12-14”, 1-14” small mouth bass, 4 walleyes 12-15”
John: 1 white bass, 2 walleyes 13-14”, kept 8 white bass
Observations: The river is dropping like a tub with the plug pulled and I expect the fishing to really pick up with the warmer weather and good water clarity.
It was an after work adventure with John tonight. I was targeting walleyes for the last time this spring. The walleye fishing has really died, but we did get into some white bass on a secondary slough that had a good sand drop.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
April 14, 2016 Thr.
April 14, 2016 Thr. 6-8PM-bass and pike fishing by myself
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7 stump fields
Weather: S14, clear, 66°, 30.08
H2O: 7.1↓, 60 kcfs, 56 °, turbid - dingy
Caught: 4 LMB 13-16”, 1-20” pike, 1-24” dogfish
Observations: Spring has sprung; finally! The bulb plants and the magnolia trees are now blooming. The pond lily plants are starting to develop underwater in the back bays and in short order they will be on the waters surface.
Tonight I was expecting and hoping to catch a bass or pike or ideally both. And I did! The fishing was not fantastic, but there was enough action to keep me interested. The fish have not seemed to have made their journeys to the back bays of the upper reaches of the lake.
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7 stump fields
Weather: S14, clear, 66°, 30.08
H2O: 7.1↓, 60 kcfs, 56 °, turbid - dingy
Caught: 4 LMB 13-16”, 1-20” pike, 1-24” dogfish
Observations: Spring has sprung; finally! The bulb plants and the magnolia trees are now blooming. The pond lily plants are starting to develop underwater in the back bays and in short order they will be on the waters surface.
Tonight I was expecting and hoping to catch a bass or pike or ideally both. And I did! The fishing was not fantastic, but there was enough action to keep me interested. The fish have not seemed to have made their journeys to the back bays of the upper reaches of the lake.
April 12, 2016 Tue.
April 12, 2016 Tue. 5-11PM-walleye fishing with coworker Nate (Nate fished till 9PM).
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8, Dresbach Dam
Weather: (1953) SE6, overcast, 50°, 30.21
H2O: 7.64↓, 65 kcfs, 45 °, clear
Caught: Me: Approx. 7 walleyes 13-22”, Kept 3 -15-16”, 1-5lb drum
Nate: 3 walleyes 13-14”, 1-2lb sucker
Observations: There is not too much to report on with the new signs of spring. However the next seven-day forecast is looking more spring like. The walleyes appeared to be spawning or spawned out. Lots of small walleyes were being caught just above the willow point.
Nate from work joined me tonight. We started out south of the bridge and had virtually no action there. All the action came from the willow point just downstream of the fishing float.
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8, Dresbach Dam
Weather: (1953) SE6, overcast, 50°, 30.21
H2O: 7.64↓, 65 kcfs, 45 °, clear
Caught: Me: Approx. 7 walleyes 13-22”, Kept 3 -15-16”, 1-5lb drum
Nate: 3 walleyes 13-14”, 1-2lb sucker
Observations: There is not too much to report on with the new signs of spring. However the next seven-day forecast is looking more spring like. The walleyes appeared to be spawning or spawned out. Lots of small walleyes were being caught just above the willow point.
Nate from work joined me tonight. We started out south of the bridge and had virtually no action there. All the action came from the willow point just downstream of the fishing float.
April 10, 2016 Sun.
April 10, 2016 Sun. 2-530PM-myself bass and pike fishing
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7, Trempealeau Lakes
Weather: W9, clear, 60°
H2O: 7.76↓, 66 kcfs, 46 °, very clear
Caught: 2-14” LMB
Observation: I had no pike action and the water in third lake is very clear.
Today I fished the Trempealeau Lakes area for bass and pike. I chose this area because I figured the water would be a little warmer in the sheltered area these lakes are in. And it was. The water was about four degrees warmer in the lakes than out on the main river areas. I fished with a suspending jerk bait and a finesse jig. I caught the two bass and a perch on the jerk bait and I lost a very nice bass on the finesse jig. I had no pike action
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7, Trempealeau Lakes
Weather: W9, clear, 60°
H2O: 7.76↓, 66 kcfs, 46 °, very clear
Caught: 2-14” LMB
Observation: I had no pike action and the water in third lake is very clear.
Today I fished the Trempealeau Lakes area for bass and pike. I chose this area because I figured the water would be a little warmer in the sheltered area these lakes are in. And it was. The water was about four degrees warmer in the lakes than out on the main river areas. I fished with a suspending jerk bait and a finesse jig. I caught the two bass and a perch on the jerk bait and I lost a very nice bass on the finesse jig. I had no pike action
April 9, 2016 Sat.
April 9, 2016 Sat. 630PM-130AM-walleye fishing with Scott
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8, Dresbach Dam
Weather: (1953) SE18 G25, clear, 39°, 29.98
H2O: 7.9↓, 68 kcfs, 41 °, fairly clear
Caught: Me: walleyes 2-21” 1-15, 1- 14
Scott: Approx. 7 walleyes 13-16”, 1 – 12” sauger
It was a brutally cold and windy night to be out walleye fishing. I caught a couple of nice fish, but it was oh so slow! There is no way I would have fished that long if I would have been doing it alone. But, when you fish with Scott you are going to be fishing for the long haul. No one area was more productive than another; we just got a fish here and there.
Where: Mississippi R. pool 8, Dresbach Dam
Weather: (1953) SE18 G25, clear, 39°, 29.98
H2O: 7.9↓, 68 kcfs, 41 °, fairly clear
Caught: Me: walleyes 2-21” 1-15, 1- 14
Scott: Approx. 7 walleyes 13-16”, 1 – 12” sauger
It was a brutally cold and windy night to be out walleye fishing. I caught a couple of nice fish, but it was oh so slow! There is no way I would have fished that long if I would have been doing it alone. But, when you fish with Scott you are going to be fishing for the long haul. No one area was more productive than another; we just got a fish here and there.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
April 6, 2016 Wed
. 630-1115PM-walleye fishing with ScottWhere: Mississippi R. pool 8, Dresbach Dam
Weather: (1753) NW16, light rain, 39°, 29.64↑
H2O: 8.48↓, 73 kcfs, 41 °, discolored
Caught: Me: 58” sturgeon, 5 walleyes 14-27.5”, 1-14” sauger, kept 2 walleyes.
Scott: 6 walleyes 12-21”
Observation: It is still very cold; spring has been put on hold! I did see a few tulips in Lacrosse that were blooming, but they were the exception.
It was a very successful after work fishing trip for us tonight. The weather was brutal (cold and windy) but the fishing was very good. My big walleye of the year came just before dark off of a flooded grass point in about three feet of water. The fish just slammed my Pulsar bait!
One half hour later in the same spot I hooked into the big sturgeon. It was a Forty minutes battle with lots of take by the fish and more give than take by me. Finally the fish tired and we were able to get it into the boat for a couple of quick pictures before releasing her. The last two hours of the night were not nearly as dramatic, but were good. I did notice the last half hour of our trip the intensity of the bite really picked up. Unfortunately it was a work night and I did have to get some sleep. It is always so hard to leave when the fish are biting.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
April 3, 2016 Sun.
April 3, 2016 Sun. 4-730PM-pike fishing with Scott
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7, Brice Prairie area
Weather: (1753) N21 G25, sunny, 66°
H2O: 8.5↑, 74 kcfs, 46 °, turbid to clear
Caught: Me: nothing, Scott: lost small pike at boat side
Today I really did not expect to catch much, and we did not. However I was hopeful we would each catch a fish or two.
We combed the water and tried many early season pike holding spots but it was to no avail. Looking back I wish I had fished a slower presentation. Perhaps something like a floating Rapala or maybe a Fluke.
Where: Mississippi R. pool 7, Brice Prairie area
Weather: (1753) N21 G25, sunny, 66°
H2O: 8.5↑, 74 kcfs, 46 °, turbid to clear
Caught: Me: nothing, Scott: lost small pike at boat side
Today I really did not expect to catch much, and we did not. However I was hopeful we would each catch a fish or two.
We combed the water and tried many early season pike holding spots but it was to no avail. Looking back I wish I had fished a slower presentation. Perhaps something like a floating Rapala or maybe a Fluke.
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