Was able to get some open water fishing in on pool 2 last weekend. A much needed break from ice. Little pick, ice saw and chisel work quickly took care of the landing. Didnt take long to find the walleyes are still there. Slow pulling crankbaits and dragging jigs with plastics did the trick for some nice fish.
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For some reason Sunday I ventured back out on the ice looking for pike. Lets just say this is about how dead that bite was. At least the wolf herd in the area is getting well fed.
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Nice fish Mike – when I drove over the bridge on the way home from P4 I looked for boats down there. I’ll bet it was nice to have that stretch all to yourself.
It was the first week of Feb last year I was on P2 – looks like this cold snap might slow that back down.
Yep. Doesn’t look good for a while now. kinda a shame knowing those nice eyes are just sitting out there and haven’t seen a lure in a while.
Mike, I was down to the 494 access to shore fish the rip-rap this past Saturday, assuming that was your trailer in the lot. Nice fish! — and good work on the ramp.
I also swung by Hidden Falls and somebody had plowed a path down the ramp as of last Saturday, but 494 was in much better shape. Steep fall off the edge of the ice at Hidden Falls.
Looking at the river Friday, I would not have thought anyone would get out. 
-J.
Got to watch that river daily when the temps warm. Sometimes even more often than that. It opens and closes quick.
anyone get out yesterday? how about plans for the weekend???
Landing was still froze up yesterday. Main channel was open out front but looked to be frozen again from north of sunkin barge to downtown st paul. Not sure how the upper river was looking.
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I swung by 494 and Hidden Falls yesterday. Upper river is more open, at least upstream from HF, but ramp isn’t really close yet.
Pretty big change from last year at this time.
Landing was still froze up yesterday. Main channel was open out front but looked to be frozen again from north of sunkin barge to downtown st paul. Not sure how the upper river was looking.
Just need to do the quick slide and jump with your boat. 
The high bridge is iced in, the confluence has a patch of open water but above is iced in shore to shore.
I am going to keep my fingers crossed for the weekend!
Lots of melting going on today.
Mike, pm sent.
what is your landing of choice for p2?
what is your landing of choice for p2?
This time of year? Any one that is open. 494 and hidden falls are usually the first to open but not without some work. Chainsaw, ice saw, pick axe, sledge hammer, snow shovels and salt are all good choices to help them along. a chisel kinda sucks.
Ha gotcha! Im sure its worth the work!
mike w
Im sure the lions levee park opens late but how is that for a landing? are they safe at night? it sure would be nice to go cattin after the walleyes are done!
I would assume Watergate is also open – I like that launch if I’m going by myself but you gotta call ahead this time of year and get a code.
Watergate usually opens up very late.
I talked with Watergate, they think March or maybe even early April this year.
That’s surprising. They’ve been open in February the last couple years. I know it hasn’t been as cold but I assumed as soon as it got warm they would open things up for their slip owners.
They may be open but the ice doesn’t come off the ramp or out of the marina until mother nature takes care of it. Being out of the main flow the ice gets thick there and some of the last to go.
They have had the lockmaster come in and bust up ice in their harbor in past years, there is a video of it on their FB page. But at this point we’re still a ways from the corps being able to navigate down to them.
After 2 hours of chopping, sawing and bashing ice, we got the ramp open. Epic pool 2 boat launch. Got a few fish too!
-J
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Nice work guys! Do your wives know how much effort you put in just to go fishing? I’m guessing not. Otherwise you’d have a more ambitious honeydo list.
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Who looks at this and thinks “Yep, I can get the boat in there”. Guys who are serious about river fishing is who. Awsome job Dustin, Chris, Jon and Paul. Glad I still got a seat in the boat for showing up after the work was done.
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