Several factors combine to trigger the annual Spring walleye spawning run on the upper Mississippi River. Water temp, moon phase ,walleye belly status, River level and weather are all considerations which drive the timing of peak spawning activity.

Unseasonably warm weather just after ice out warmed surface temps to 47 degrees. ‘Eyes typically spawn at 45-48 degrees. Take a dozen eggs out of the freezer and throw them in a hot skillet. They won’t be ready to eat in 45 seconds!

47 degree water temp on march 14 have since cooled to a more seasonal 43 degrees. Over the past 25 years we usually see 43 degree water about April 5. Six years ago we had an early spring warm up. Walleyes were goin’ at it on April 1. Long term the average is about April 20.

Rapidly cooling water temp or rapid rise in river level caused by snowmelt can moderate the timing and pace of the spawn. Not a factor this year.

On the upper Miss, walleyes tend to ‘stairstep’ into shallower water as the spawn approached. At ice out you’ll find them in wintering holes–30+ fow. As of yesterday ‘active’ fish were in 22 fow–at least for me. The bite was a sheep-o-rama. Goats usually got to the jigs n blade baits first.

The walleye behavior pattern is not dialed in for me yet. They are clearly starting to move up the stairs. Given the variables of water temp, moon phase and firmness of female walleye bellies I THINK we may see serious walleye spawning by April 9.

Barring outrageous weather conditions like howling wind driven sleet storms I’m usually out there on the River about 5 days a week.

Blogging today cuz the weather outside is a howling beast. Probably won’t get out again til thursday afternoon. i’m not a great fisherman. don’t claim to be. Just out there and average of 175 days annually for the past 50 years or so.

26 year old kids with stiff necks from staring at live target sonar probably catch more fish. I never plan on owning this level of technology. Nothing to prove. Joy is from the River experience, not a box.

If i was a 26 year old kid again I would have live target sonar, an electric outboard and EV pickup truck. The long term weather trend is definitely global warming. yessiree, Bob. Good thing they took down the coal fired power plants At Genoa & Lansing. Much less air pollution now….

There is a fine line between a fishin’ blog and an old guy rant, so adios

This time last week I was fulfilling a bucket list dream: Fishing the Santee-Cooper in S. Carolina. These lakes were 1st in the nation to see a population of ocean rockfish (pure stripers) which migrated in from the ocean 100 miles up the Cooper River over a half-century ago.

My guides, Kevin Davis & Johnnie Johnston, fish ’em out of a 30′ pontoon boat with foot-long herring for bait, spidering 6 rods around the boat, cuz when stripers hit, they RUN.
Santee guides call the fish in with an old 2-stroke, 4.5 hp Mercury outboard–not making this up!

The biggest fish out of Black’s Camp the week I was down there was over 30 lbs. We caught nothing that big. Santee also has a world-wide reputation for monster blue catfish. Blues over 100 lbs get caught every year. didn’t fish for those. We have plenty of big cats in the Miss, even though ZERO blue catfish swim this far north in the River.

There is lots of history around Charleston. Got to visit the grave of Francis marion–the Swamp Fox. Monck’s Corner, just a few miles away was the site of over 30 Revolutionary War battles.

Kevin Davis’ brother-in-law is descended from Rebels who found a treasure of Yankee gold buried in the cemetery of an old black church. After the War of Northern Aggression they built the nicest brick house in Cross, SC.

Kevin, Johnnie & me caught a nice mess of slab crappies and honkin’ big LMB. Specimens of both grow bigger than they do here on Pool 9, but I could hardly wait to get home–after convincing my new fishing brothers to visit the Driftless later this year.

Over the past week the River has entirely opened up, with just small vestiges of ice remaining in some of the backwaters. Navigation is easy beyond the channel BUT as the remaining chunks of ice break loose and become growlers those bassholes running willy-nilly looking for walleyes might discover the sticker shock of lower-unit replace.

A flotilla of boats are camped below lock & dam 8. Clement’s fishing float is pretty much elbow-to elbow. walleyes, sauger & perch are being caught, but playing ‘bumper boats’ is something i just don’t wanna do.

The fish are also swimming downstream, with boats clustered at community spots in lesser numbers, still something i try to avoid–and in 5 other spots I probed where only one boat was within a quarter mile at one of them.

Water temp is beginning to tickle 40 degrees on the River mainstem. With little snowmelt coming from up north we may see a spawn around April Fool’s day like we did a few years ago rather than the usual April 15.

That’s the beauty of the Immortal River. Who would have thunk we would be at major flood level for 6 weeks beginning in June last year?

A cold front and heavy rain is supposed to blow in later today. We’ll deal with these pickles if and when they arrive. Right now, dawn is just breaking. The boat is hooked up & I’m gonna go catch a couple ‘eyes for supper before the crowds & weather show up on a Saturday morning in the middle of March.

Back in the winter of 2015-2016 i did a couple of ice fishing segments with Tom Gruenwald Outdoors on Pool 9. It was an exceptionally cold winter.

In one segment we were catching crappies & pike in Indian slough, a little wing of Minnesota slough just north of the Iowa/Minnesota state line. The ambient temp was -15 degrees. We caught some respectable pike on tip-ups and talked about using HT Enterprises product to catch a 13″ crappie. Tom said “we better put him back down the hole before his eyes freeze”.

The next day we lightfooted across the ice from Wisconsin just above Lock & Dam 8 at Genoa then walked down to catch walleyes, sauger and perch in the pool 9 tailwaters below Clement’s fishing float. Perch were in about 13 fow, sauger and eyes about twice that deep. (some things never change!) We were standing on 13-20 inches of GOOD ice.

The tailwaters segment aired the weekend after we filmed. The Week after that. A couple days before the Indian segment aired Tom called to ask how the ice fishing was going below the dam. He was blown away when told ice below the dam was already GONE.

Fast forward to Feb. 26-March 5, 2025. Mark Clements used his work boat to clear the area between the Genoa boat launch and the dam tailwaters of ice for fisherman access on March 1.

On Feb. 26 I had already been catching slab crappies up in the Indian for a couple of weeks. Nice fish up to 14.5″. Since its almost a mile walk up there, I took my UTV equipped with 1000 lbs of floatation.

There was 20+” of clear ice on the Minnesota slough mainstem on Valentine’s Day. By Feb. 26 ice depth in areas with a slight current was 13″. You needed to drill two holes about 18″ apart, putting the transducer down the 2nd hole to monitor a #3 puppet minnow fished thru the upstream hole.

My ol’ pal Ronnie Barefield jumped in the UTV yesterday for another trip to “the well” looking for those slab crappies that have been coming thru the ice for over a month. We caught a few, plus 8 walleyes/sauger. All but one was short. But Ron got broke off 3 times.

I went to check the ice down by the “S’ turn. Had to use a #5 puppet minnow with the transducer 2′ downstream, fishing thru just THREE INCHES of good, clear ice.

Needless to say, the UTV was parked on white ice out of the current before lightfooting out to look for walleyes. From 13>3 inches of ice in less than a week!

Ice fishing trips on the River will be by foot only starting today. I plan on being back in the boat by March 15–Lord willin’. Between now and then a quick raid down on the Santee, which will likely be the subject of my next blog.

The guide biz shingle goes back up next week. The first open date is March 24. FINALLY got my Coast Guard credential on Feb. 27. Now River legal til 2030…if i live that long. The USCG has had the completed paperwork since Oct. 24, 2024. Maybe i’ll call ol’ Elon and sic the DOGE on these loafers.

So what’s the headline about a snapdragon ? The winter River is a lot like that. Don’t think the winter River will kill you quick? buzz around and find out!

Fishing has been ‘tough for almost 3 weeks. Foot surgery and a blown powerhead on my outboard hobbled me til Valentine’s Day. Back with a vengeance since then but the fish just didn’t wanna dance much

here’s the deal…for the past several days I’ve been on quality panfish in 9-12 fow,  walleyes in 22-24’. Only averaging about 1-2 fish per hour. Reason is low dissolved 02 levels and profound arctic high pressure until 48 hrs. ago. Since this time we’ve seen a lot of snowmelt which is finding its way into the River. There is now water on the ice. ATV access still fairly ‘safe” in the backwaters for the next 7-10 days. 12+” of clear ice this morning, but we’re losing 2+” per day. There is less ice at creek entry points, around springs and current areas in running sloughs.

I predict the bit will pick up dramatically within 72 hours as water starts to run into the holes which fish have refused to come thru for the past week or so.

The River mainstem is still ice covered. This should change by the weekend, both on pool 9 and the River upstream. I plan on being back in the boat here by March 1 WITH A SOLID PLAN B FOR RECOVERING THE BOAT as upstream ice will likely block egress for awhile.

I plan on fun fishin’ until March 15. Available to guide after that, but first open day is March 24.

The decision to continue working was not an easy one. Purpose is a major drive in a man’s life. My mission is teaching others about the majesty of the Mississippi as long as physically and mentally capable, or until age 78–which ever comes first.

However, the days of grinding as a fishing guide are over! I plan on working a max for 2 days per week going forward, with at least 70% of the trips being established clientele. I’ve had to adjust multi-angler guide trip prices slightly this year primarily due to outrageous cost of gear replacement.  All taxes & fees are included in stated trip prices.

Every healthy day on the planet is a gift from God. When this alloted time is counted in dog years fetching the stick isn’t part of the program.

Going forward I’m just gonna sit in the boat and bark. A select few who are good with this situation are welcome to join me.

Stay safe out there!

The last time I got out fishing was January 19. Ambient temp was tickling 40. The only open water was essentially trout streams–with ice a factor on trout streams, too.

The recent arctic blast which had folks making snowmen on the beach at Panama City, Fla. Shut hardwater fishing down on the upper Miss for a few days too.

Experience teaches the most productive dead-of-winter action in near French Island on Lake Onalaska and off of Fisherman’s road off I-90 exit 2 in Black River.

Use extreme caution here. There is one secret spot where the bottom drops away from 6 fow to 20+. Walleye/perch right on the breakline, crappies suspended about halfway down.

On lake Onalaska, the flats out from the “goal post” landing lights on the approach to LAX airport hold a nice mess of panfish, mostly perch, on tip downs baited with rosy reds while working a 3rd rod with a # Puppet minnow or small Buckshot Rattle spoon in perch pattern.

Last winter we had fairly safe access to the Genoa dam tailwaters by Feb. 16 via boat @ the power plant launch. This winter it may be March 1st before we can break out the long rods here again with at least a 50/50 chance of not getting trapped by the ice.

I’m going under the knife next Thursday to fix a foot which has been giving me grief for the past 21 months. The doc says i will be off the foot for about 3 weeks. Plan on honoring the MD’s order…unless we see above freezing temps for 3-4 consecutive days which should mean at least limited access to the open water option.

The Lund is in the shop for its annual WINO (winterization in name only) treatment. Sadly, open water fishin’ is probably done for the year. But if it isn’t too brutal tomorrow, maybe I’ll take the flatbottom out.

The bite is essentially within 1/4 mile of the dams. I’ve had better luck at Dresbach the past couple days. Same distance as Genoa from the compound.

Walleyes have been active in 29-34 fow, primarily snap jigging blade baits. There is an article on this technique in the Lan. issue of Big River magazine, just out on the newsstand today.

There is a lot more action going after saugers BUT when you winch anything up from 35+ fow there air bladder will burst, killing the fish. The fish may swim away, but its gonna die. This is why I target water less than 32 feet.

B-Fish-n Tackle offers the best bang for the buck in their B3 blade. My fave is purple glitter, but orange glow catches a lot of fish. When in doubt, go with the gold.

The weather pattern the past several years has been anything but a pattern. This year things locked tight the day after Thanksgiving–a month later than ’23. Pool 9 opened up on Feb. 15 last year.

There are years when the River doesn’t open til mid March. These years we often see a “January thaw” for 7-10 days. In my opinion, this window offers the best walleye fishin’ of the entire year–ending when we go arctic again or the River comes up a bunch.

The WINO treatment includes greasing wheel bearings. The bags of sand/salt and a scoop shovel will likely remain in the back of my truck til March.

There is much to be said about being the 1st rig at the ramp when ambient temps are below freezing. If the second rig shows up 15 mins. later the last 15 seconds prior to launch are thrilling. The sensation will pass when the rear truck tires find open water at the end of the ramp. This is a good time to spread a little sand.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. The Admiral & I don’t go out on “amateur’s night. Some stay at home folks eat oyster stew on Dec. 31. Others eat prime rib.

I think the 18” walleye that was still swimming on Christmas day will make a wonderful entree.

Best fishes all & a Happy new year!

Saturday will be a good day to go hole-hopping on backwaters of pool 9. Travelling light. Just a scoop, electric auger & a couple of 36″ poles in the bucket towing the small sled One pole will have a chartreuse/pink head custom Jigs & Spins Demon on it.

The Demon is most effective when fished horizontally. This means you have to slide the knot after every fish to make it so.

I almost always use plastics on my pannie lures. But Saturday i’ll have a couple of crawlers left over from gill fishin’ back in october. “Garden hackle” is often more effective than a waxie or a couple spikes when you’re just looking to get your string stretched.

One nice thing about living on the River is you can get out for as long as you want whenever you want. With a forecast high in the 40’s, simply gotta go.

I haven’t guided ice fishing in almost 10 years. Only get out fun fishin’ when it is possible to travel light.

The ice guiding gig ended after i crunched the numbers. To make the effort worthwhile you need to guide at least 4 clients, drilling at least 6 holes per client, through at least 2′ of ice 4 X 6 X 2 = enough weight to plant at least one telephone pole.

Besides a gas powered auger, the trip required 4 Vexilars, ice scoops and at least 10 ice rods..plus lunch, heaters & other stuff.

No live-target sonar back then. Fish had to be located the old fashion way. When the parade of at least two sleds behind the ATV arrived on station, the equivalent of planting a telephone pole was completed & all clients received a quick course in sonar use ang jigging technique—with an ambient temp of maybe 20 degrees–at least one client would ask why he wasn’t catching any fish even though red marks on the Vex said fish were down there.

When I realized my ears would get frostbit wearing a top hat with a rabbit under it with social security & medicare cards in my wallet–under 6 layers of clothing–I finally realized i was like the guy who spent all day beating his head against the wall cuz it felt so good when he quit.

A couple years after that i had the same epiphany pulling a Fish Trap tent a mile across the ice through foot-deep snow. My 1st Fish Trap was GREEN. Bought it from Dave Genz when fishing Mille Lacs about 1980. Berkly had just come out with a Lightning Rod for ice fishin’.

An ice fishinig spinning rod is not necessary for at least 70% of productive pannie water on Upper Miss backwaters. Ditto electronics. When you see a red blip headed toward your lure, most of the time you’ve already missed the bite. Not taking your eye off a wiggling spring bobber which suddenly changes cadence puts more fish on the ice at the end of the day.

Which brings us to the Demon. A gold Chekai tungsten jig drops quicker, finding the fish zone about a foot off the bottom quicker. BUT a slow falling, horizontal-rigged Demon has pannie attention from the time it drops under the ice until it waffles down to the fish.

Back about 1980 I was fishing the Madison chain of lakes a lot. A lure called the Little Atom was DEADLY on gills. I relayed this to Bill Klingbeil who used to own CJ &S long before Walt & Poppy or Bob Gillespie

At season’s end i sent Bill the only 2 Little Atoms I had left (one had a broken hook). He made a mold, and the Demon was born.

Back then there were far less than a dozen effective ice lures. The Candy Stripe & Rembrandt worked well for crappie. Gills liked the Little Atom & Dot. Perch jumped all over the Dot rocker & rat finkee. Of course, all species would hit any of these lures. The Swedish Pimple caught a lot of walleyes and was a perch killer, too.

Since the Demon was born, ice fishing has truly evolved into fishing’s 4th season. Genz used to hype his Fish Trap tent as his “winter bass boat’.

Investing in a bunch of hi-tech year is probably a good idea if you fish mostly lakes and are serious about the sport. But if the Mississippi River is out your back door and you’ve spent a lifetime pullin’ a plow its more fun light-footing across the ice when weather is a friend and not an adversary

Water temp on Nov. 20 was an outrageously warm 46.3 degrees. ambient air temp was 36, with snow showers driven by a sustained 15 mph wind.

I only fished about 4 hours. Boated several short walleyes and a 3-foot sturgeon. By the way it fought I thought sure it was the BIG ONE.

A lifetime spent fishin’ the River has led to the conclusion that dancing with big, fat walleyes under brutal conditions is my favorite thing in the outdoors.

Talkin’ November into ice up in December & early February into mid-March as soon as ice goes out. these times are a study in fishing instead of catching. There are days when you might catch 50 walleye/sauger. Other days you might only tussle with a couple of fish.

The unknown is why i don’t actively seek guide work during these times. I would work–but few folks are willing to fork over hard earned cash with a possibility that only a goat or sturgeon will stretch their string. That’s okay. Nov. 15 was the last guide trip on the books in 2024.

Looking back on the past 3 years in comparison to the 3 years before that guide income was 30% in 20-24….even facoring in the year of perpetual flood and a global pandemic.

In the 20+ years i’ve been guiding on Pool 9 there is a month to 6 weeks when severe flooding causes folks to cancel or reschedule guide trips. That’s okay. Fishin’ can be tough. This year we had serious flooding from June 7 til almost the end of July.

I remember one solo trip when the 2 mile long road to the New Albin boat ramp was under water clear up to the edge of town. I was catching bass with 10 fow under the boat ON THE ROAD about 300 yds. East of town. Not a soul in sight.

My USCG captain’s license is set to expire next March. After serious soul searching, I’ve decided to renew it. the reason? I’ve realized teaching folks about fishing the River is at the top of my purpose of life list.

There may not be many more blogs between now and ice out late winter in February. But know, Lord willin’ I’ll be out there, fishin’ til the end of my days. Hope you can join me in 2025

Water temp in pool 9 has finally dropped to 50 degrees. Walleyes started arriving at wintering areas downstream from the dam Wednesday afternoon, starting to chew a little yesterday.Today should be a good day if the water temp is a solid 48 when the boat gets wet about 9 a.m.

Today we will target fat girls instead of eaters. Weapon of choice a BFishn Tackle B3 blade of Cotton Candy Ribb finn soaked w/ Liquide Willowcat.

The arrival of <50 water is about 3 weeks behind the norm. Looks like i’ll be guiding until mid-december this year.

Fish were holding @ 15-17′ contour yesterday. don’t expect this will change much over the next several days.

Caught more 12-16 ” goats yesterday than walleyes. Not a bad thing. Sheep are the vanguard of walleye migration. When they start showing up in good numbers, the eyes are usually far away.

Probably won’t post or blog much over the next couple weeks. i’ll be on the water.

btw–River is up almost a foot from this time last week. A fair amount of fence post sized wood is floating down the mainstem. Be careful!

Water temp was 54 degrees on the pool 9 mainstem yesterday. Bass have been crazy active cuz they know the big temp drop is coming. Walleyes have been more than a little interested waiting for the change.

The bonus round will kick off later this afternoon on a stiff NW wind with a couple inches of rain. A week from today USACE predicts a half-foot rise in River level.

i’m guessing it will take until maybe Saturday before effects of the approaching cold front will be a net positive regarding walleye willingness—with fishing getting incrementally better as water temps fall into the mid-40s.

If the USACE river level prediction comes up short by this time next week, walleye fishing will be crazy good once the rise stabilizes.

With the high wind & cold front I probably won’t get back on the River until Friday, with plans to be out there essentially every day until the iceman cometh.

I plan on shutting down the guide biz on Nov. 15 for the year. If i can pass the USCG physical I plan on guiding at least two more years…Lord willin’

I still have 5 open days between now & Nov. 15. Not actively seeking more work, but my life’s mission is teaching how to fish the Miss. So there ya go…

tight lines!