High water fishing Adventure

This past week I officially changed from the winter mode of outdoor activities to the living in my boat way of life.

For several years I have written about ice fishing for northern pike on the backwaters of the Mississippi River near Trempealeau. My plan this week was to fish below Lock and Dam No. 6 for walleye and perch and head five miles down river to see if I could hook into a big gator with a rod and reel.

I also planned on sleeping in my boat

Friday, April 2

High 57, Low 30

Switching over from winter camping on the ice and traveling by snowmobile or foot to fishing out of a boat is a fairly significant job. With my work behind me, I arrived in Trempealeau early this morning. I was really excited about spending the next 36 hours living in my 16-foot MirroCraft and hopefully catching some nice fish.

The first thing that I did while rigging up my boat at the boat launch near Lock and Dam No. 6 was talk to several fishermen that were either fishing off the long-wall of the dam or were launching boats. Every report that I was given was of a nearly nonexistent bite due to high water that had every gate open on the dam and all the islands under water.

While I was preparing for my adventure, I did see a fellow that was fishing on the long wall catch a perch in the 14-inch range and I definitely stored that vision in my memory banks.

The first thing that I did was motor across the river and try jigging for walleye below the fishing float that was being pushed hard by the type of current that a person would not want to swim in.

The next thing that I did was go on a five-mile adventure down river and find my ice-fishing honey hole. I have never seen this spot unless it was winter, and generally I come in from a different direction.

As soon as I found it I was hoping that there would be some hungry gators swimming in its waters because I was in paradise – no people, roads or houses. I had several 6-inch suckers along as well as a couple of dozen fatheads.

My plan was simple: watch bobbers that were baited with minnows and catch northern pike, jumbo perch and slab crappie.

After not having a bite for four hours and trying several locations, I decided to make a move back to the dam as there was a really nasty storm approaching. The journey by boat was a pretty good-sized adventure due to strong current, hard winds and a nasty storm racing me to the landing.

While I was waiting my turn to trailer my boat, another fisherman told me that he just heard on the radio that 60-mph winds were approaching. I was wearing chest waders and had just got my boat on the trailer when the storm hit.

I made an emergency decision to drive home and come back in two days!

Easter Sunday

High 65, Low 40

The gates were still open on the dam when I arrived this afternoon and the fishing report had not changed. My pups, Ice and Brownie, were my crew for a night on the big river and as usual were happy just to be on an adventure.

I had been told by locals to fish inside of the long wall and concentrate on perch and walleye. I did just that and had a good time watching dozens of fishermen that were either fishing in boats or on the long wall. We all had one thing in common we were fishing for fish that were not hungry.

I watched at least two dozen Hmong come and go, and only saw two perch caught between all of them.

Probably the coolest part of this adventure was watching the fishermen on the long wall. They all seemed to have fun and fish in a simple and inexpensive way.

The following morning I was still on the water when the sun came up and I did see a gator in the 12- pound range caught from the long wall as well as maybe a dozen perch and bluegill.

All the water has to do is keep dropping and warm up, and the long-walls will be an excellent place to catch fish.

Keep your hook in the water!

Sunset