Pool 9 has been flowing at ‘action stage’ for over a month. Heavy rain which flooded Rochester and Milwaukee over the weekend had no impact here.

The River is projected to fall to normal summer pool levels over the next few days. Water clarity is good. Temp 77-80 degrees. Weeds are already somewhat of a factor already.

Bass-LMB,SMB & WB have been the most predictable species…which is just what you would expect in mid-August. The walleye bite continues to be a dawn & dusk thing with active feeders cruising in 7-13 fow.

There are a gazillion 3′ long shad in the system now with all gamefish species chowing down on the bounty.

Bluegills are usually stacked on wingdams and other rocky structure by mid-August. Picking up a few good fish here–just one or two per spot.

If the River continues to fall as projected. The rock bite for gills should be pretty easy by about Aug. 18.

Shad should also be schooling in huge numbers by then too, with bait clouds typically suspending 5-9 feet down back in the running sloughs.

Find the shad and a chrome Rat-l-Trap will tear ’em up. I always have one loaded…but a wacky rigged #yamamoto senko or a blue fleck Ned TRD have been catching a lot of fish all summer long