I had the chance to head out and enjoy this mild weather we’re seeing right now yesterday. It’s been over two weeks since I last hit the river in search of mama walleye’s. Dean from Everts Resort spent the day in my boat. Our goal was to look for some walleye in some of those “out of the way locals“. We did just that but were unsuccessful in our hunt for big eye’s in new water. Once we worked over a couple of areas with no luck we broke out the underwater camera and headed to some areas that we were sure would produce a fish or 2 this time of year. One of the coolest things was where ever we saw fish on the camera we caught fish. Dean and I only fished one spot that we saw fish on the camera and did not get bit.
As always, I was targeting the shallower depths of 15’ and less looking for those big pre-spawn walleyes. Our main target was large sandy areas with reduced current flow on them. The most productive way to cover these larger areas and still run the underwater camera was to drag ringworms slowly up river in the 6’ to 15’ depths. The weirdest thing about yesterday was even though we fished strictly in those shallower depths our catch was mainly female sauger, not a lot of walleye brought to the boat 
. We saw a very good number of 17” to 19” sauger make a showing in these shallower depths. This shallow sauger bite is typical for late Feb/early March. Every year I have some great catches of mama sauger on shallow sand prior to the water temps rising in to the upper 30’s. It is fun catching these pot-bellied sauger but I would be much happier with a couple of big pot-bellied walleye. Maybe next trip 
!
Best set up for us was a black or plain precision head with firecracker or pro-blue ringworms doing most of the damage. Dean was able to test out one of the new colors offered by B-Fish’n Tackle (Cotton Candy) that we have read about in the last week and it did put some fish in the boat for him. Us die hard plastics guys know this is going to be one color needed in the arsenal as our own IDA staffer “Steve DeZurik” has done very well with this color on pool 2. All though, for those of us that have fished pool 2 know………..big walleye’s on pool 2 will eat anything 
With the longer days and slight rise in water temps as of late, other species have started waking up from their winter naps. 
I actually saw a few sheepies get caught yesterday by some guy in a Ranger fishing cat food ………..
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Don’t tell John Stears, we don’t need the increase in boat traffic on upper pool 4, but Dean and I woke up 5 of those bronze backs yesterday dragging ringworms in my walleye haunts. The surprising part of the smallie catch was they just hammered the ringworms. Harder than some of the sauger we put in the boat. I thought that was really weird . As most of the Bass fisherman know, you can’t even tell you got a bite most of the time when after bass…………..your line just starts moving the other direction! 
Talked to some on the other on the water acquaintances saying the vertical jigging bite in 19’ to 26’was good for sauger also. Chartreuse ringworms or hair jigs tipped with a minnow did the trick. Did see one boat doing well on shad bodies in the deeper depths. Not much for size but the numbers were good for them. Also talked to the creel survey guy at Everts. His report was good as well with lots of boats having a 2-3 man limits brought in for the day on Tuesday and Wednesday. Said one boat had 3 sauger over 20”. Those are some dandy saugers!
The fish are cooperating and will continue to do so more steadily as the days get longer and the water temps continue to rise. Get out and get fishin’!
See ya on the river! 
Thanks again for the great report
That report comes just in time for my trip up there on Saturday 
It’s good to see you got Dean out to relax a little. After all the time, energy, and tips he gives everyday at Evert’s, he deserves to get out and reap the rewards 
Dustin, make sure to get all that water out of your motor when you are done
You actually let Dean put Sauger in YOUR boat???
I heard she froze up pretty good.
It didnt take you long to get back on the water… Thanks for the report Dustin..
Nice report Dustin!! Healthy looking smallies!!
Dean- is that a St.Croix Legend Elite in your hand???? If it is…Sweet looking rod!!! I just ordered some St.Croix’s. The UPS man gives me a heart attack every time he “slows” down and then keeps going..
I envy you guys!!!!
Dean…be REAL CAREFUL with them “brown rods”!
Dustin…see ya the end of the month Bud!
Yes they are Elites,WARNING…do not put one of these in your hands unless you are prepared to buy one.An Awesome rod!
Yes Chappy,he did allow a sauger or two in the boat,but cant say too much because he allowed me in the boat as well!
For you vertical jigging guys ,I had a EXCELLANT report on oystershell paddletails yesterday in 19-21 ft of water,the best bag of saugers I have seen size wise this spring.
Thanks for the afternoon Dustin,I always learn something when I am in your boat!I am guessing those open dates for the first week in April are full by now?
Got that right! I love uneduacated big walleyes!
That just goes to show how good of a color Cotton Candy is if Dustin is catching fish on them! Especially saugers!
BTW Dustin/Dean….I need someone to help me christen the new rig on Sunday!
I got a St.Croix Legend Walleye Tourney rod in the mail yesterday. It is by far the best rod I have ever picked up.
Was wondering what conditions are like on the back channel. Is it ice free so a guy can get down to the head of the lake? What are water levels like back there?
Very low but ice is gone on the backchannel,proceed with XTRA_CAUTION!Congrats on the new ride Mike&Deezee,but remember to break the boat in,and not any of your body parts!
I would be there in a heart beat Steve but I will be guiding on pool 4 Sunday. With the way my guide schedule looks I won’t be able to make it up that way until the 1st week of April.
Steve,
Any pictures of the new rig?? Did you sell your other one yet?
Dean, is the water still clear? I’m thinking of coming down next week.
If the weather and honey-do-list work out. I took the wife down last year. She wanted me to launch in the back-channel. I told her I always launch at your place. 
She wanted to save a few bucks, Later she found out why. We had a great day on the river. Hope fully she will learn to jig fish this year. she just does the bobber thing for now. she still catches a mess fish.
Water clarity is excellant!We look forward to seeing you!
Great report!
Sounds like you and Dean had a pretty productive day. I have fished P4 a few dozen times, and with quality info from Dean I have managed a few nice walleyes. I am relativly new to the walleye sport, and I am always looking for advice and and empty seat. The saugers seem to be the most active based on this site, when will the momma walleyes begin to test the tackle?
Very soon !