Wow!Nice fish Jason B and thanks for releasing them!The fishing regardless of the weather changes,has been consistant vertically speaking.What presentation is best you ask?
Many presentations are puttting fish in the boat now.Pitching 1/4 0z blades,ringies,and hair jigs casting sand is putting the bigger eyes in the net.Craig Knock shown here with a nice batch of saugers dragging pro-blue ringies.Thanks for the pic and info Marty Hahn!
The Check group from Praire shown here with success vertical jigging cotton candy and oystershell paddletails.Both walleye and sauger liked this BFT plastic today!
Recent guests Roxxane and Al with a fry-pan catch for dinner and smiles along with them.Vertical with hairjigs and minnows put alot of fish in the boat for there group.In summary,no magic baits,but the fish do cooperate if you put your time in and put it in there face!My advice? Be flexable on colors and let the fish tell you what works!Good fishing everyone and have a good time!
nice bunch of fish, i gotta get up there
I am new at this but has anyone ant info on lockand dam #3
Thanks Dean, nice to see a piggy during the day..
Thanks for the update Dean. Great information as always. Looking forward to 3 days in a row, starting with the IDA Walleye Tour this sunday.
If you’re reading Dean’s report, and you’d like to try your hand in a well-run and quite fun tournament, check out the two IDA walleye tour events happening this weekend. They launch out of Everts on Saturday and Sunday mornings. For more information on these events, click here.
get ready Deano!!! The 2006 annual Yooper Invasion is in less than 2 weeks!
Yes…I will bring warm blankies this time Dean…don’t like to be in a hypothermic fetal position all night.
Wait until you see how sharp the new Zinco Lures are.
Why is there no snow on the ground or on the trees on that pic with the 2 eyes?
Those fish were caught this weekend before the snows.
Welcome Larry!!
About L/D 3, it’s off limits right now due to the inland water season being closed on walleyes and sauger. So, hopefully we won’t be getting any reports from there.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but LD#3 is the one just above Evert’s. Pool 3 is what’s between that dam and LD#2 in Hastings.
Another reminder to newcomers to Pool#4. There is a NO FISH zone up close to the dam to protect spawners. You will see a sign above the riprap on the wisc side that marks the down stream boundary…although I see guys above there all the time I have also seen them get ticketed.
Hello all IDer’s, nice to see that the bite has picked up. We tried to make in on monday but the blizzard of the year struck and we had to turn around in River Falls. But we did manage to make it down on tuesday. Had a great time, ended up landing only a few nice eyes and some monster carp but that was not the story of the day. Its kinda long but stick with me. So let me set this up, I was fishing with my brother and his girlfriend and we were having a good ole time,the whole day we saw only three boats, and we were minding are own business far, far away from where they were or were going. We were fishing OUT of the channel off that first river after the fork(I forget the name) probably about 20 feet off shore. When suddenly my brother says “what the heck”, I turn around and there is a boat coming right for us. I thought to myself sure, its probably the DNR coming out to check us considering the boat was heading right for us and no one wlse was within a mile. Then it happened, it wasn’t the DNR, they weren’t stopping and coming right for us at full clip. We started to scream and shout but it looked like this might be my last time fishing. About 20 feet away from the boat hitting us I would have predicted us all died or seriously injured. Now, let me remind you we can see three people in the boat NONE of which were LOOKING in front of them while they where going full boar
. They never even looked till after they hit us, it was three old farts, agian let me stress they drove staight from everts launch to hit us so obviously they were never looking ahead of them from the time they took off. Heres were the story takes a turn so I can still repeat this story today, out of shear luck the guy accident started to turn a little about 5 feet from my boat. He battle rammed us and glanced off my boat cause it was bigger and we all went flying, my brother lost his brand new pole in all the mess, and we could barely get his girlfreind to talk after and I needless to say needed a change of boxer shorts. Heres were I get chapped, the guys weren’t even going to turn around to see if we were alright but I scream a few dirty words at the top of my lungs and they flared around. They came up to us and he recongized I was in my younger years, I still see myself as a man at 21 but this old man thought he could still talk down to me and call me son. He just brushed the whole incident off and said we are lucky to be alive! 
Are you kidding me, totally ingorance and negligence caused this accident, if its too cold to look ahead the SLOW DOWN. To make a long story short the man who was driving was disrespectful as all get out even after he almost killed us. There was almost three dead and who know what would of happened to the other guys and this guy sees it as a joke. 
. Needless to say I may stay off pool 4 for a while. I hope this man never drives a boat again. Thats all I can say, other than that it was nice chit-chatting with Dean and I really enjoyed the new cotton cangy paddle tails. Thanks Dean and hopefully NO ONE has to expericence what I did that day.
Good Luck, UMDWalleyeGuy
Larryc, John 23
To clarify what kooty said. The MN/WI boundery waters of the Mississippi are open to year around fishing. The Mississippi from the confluence of the St Croix to lock and dam 3 becomes inland waters and follows inland fishing regulations.
John
Did you get his name and stuff? I would think think he has some damages to pay for. Lost pole , boat damage etc. I would have been on this guy like stink on a bad clam!!
Good reason to have a life jacket on all the time. You have to protect yourself from someone else’s stupidity.
Did you get a chance to get his registration number? I’d report it to the DNR/police, if anything to put the guy in his place. Sounds like he needs an attitude adjustment.
We did not get a chance to get any of this info down. As my brother stated we both thought we were dead. I mean as this boat was fifty feet away I started to get real worried when I looked over and did not see one face looking upriver. After talking with our Dad, he also brought this up, I basically told him we were in shock. This guy, after calling us “son”, started up his motor and took off like he didn’t have a care in the world. I had nothing to say to this guy and I didn’t want to start a fight which is about all I was thinking at the time. I told me brother we are heading downstream and not going to let this ruin our one chance to get out this early season. I think of all the precautions we take on this river, especially this time of year, and how he just did not care for anybody else. So basically this is a just a reminder to watch out for other boats, no matter how empty the river is.
Can’t wait ti get back up there, have not been on the Mississippi since October. keep the reports comming Dean.
That is nuts guys. This is the second boat collision I have heard of down there in the last few weeks. You let that guy get away wat to easy. I would of taken something like this very personable and would not of left these guys alone until I had seen there boat loaded up with maybe a few holes in it just to make sure it didnt get put back in the water. If it ever happens again you have every right to kick some
. IMHO.
I was just wondering how Jason B. was able to catch and release two dandy eyes at the same time?
Are you allowed two lines on Pool 4?
Was one or both fish welled and then CPR’d?
Its kinda like those pics. of a nice eye on a stringer saying that the fish was released.
Makes you say hmmmm. If your going to put a big hole in its mouth you should probably fry it up.
dandorn
The boat accident.. That boat that hit you is responsible for damages. I am certain this would be classified as something similar to hit and run with motor vehicles. That person should be paying for damages, and probably a few tickets to boot. If you can figure out who this person is.. the way things have happened, my best guess is that they would be paying some heavy fines and damages, and possibly sitting in jail for a short period of time.
If you think about it, they should be punished for it even if there was no major boat damage. Getting knocked out of the boat alone wouldnt be good in the icy cold water with very few boats on the river to help. It would help protect the next guy. There is no excuse for what happened. That situation would have ended in violence with me if the person tried to get away and I could not get assistence from athorities.
UMDwalleyeguy:
Could you ask Dean if he might know who they are, if you provided a description of boat/people in it? Maybe he knows them already, then you could have a officer follow up. Your story was scary from the start, glad to see you were able to relate it!!!
Mark
Wow, I can’t say I’d be happy about being hit…. I won’t say anymore…..
Lock and dam #3 is closed to fishing till opener. It’s concidered in land water. hope this helps.
Lock and dam #3 is in Hastings I live in Hastings. Pool 3 is open to fishing from Prescott down to Redwing. Hope this helps.
You can only hope that the close call will sink in and scare the hell out of them
Typically those fished are welled then a later picture is taken…then the fish are released. If hook holes in walleyes’ lips were fatal…there would be few big females left in Pool#4. Very few regulars on the Pool keep bigger fish over 24″. They employ CPR and keep the smaller males and/or Sauger for a meal.
Last fall I witnessed at least a 1/2 doz 8-11# Walleyes CPR ed in 2 hours on Pool#4.
This time of year with the cold water temps walleyes are fine for quite a while in a live well…even an older well that is not auto-circulated.
Summer temperature is a different story.
Well actually, you most certainly are allowed two lines per angler on Pool 4. This area is under border water regs.
We were thinking about this after it happened, although we felt a law was broken, we were not sure what one. it all seems easier after it happens(and tempers fade.) Basically we stayed within sight of everts that day waiting for these guys to make it back. When we returned we were the only rig parked at their facilities. So I don’t like violence but these guys definitely had me thinking about it!!!
I applaud this 16 year for learning at a early age,not only how to catch big fish,and to appreciate the joy of the release of BOTH of these trophys!Thanks again Jason for sharing these fish for all of us to see on IDA!
JD &UMD,WOW! I can only imagine what that had to have been like for you.You guys really made a huge effort to get here to fish in some nasty weather to have had an experience like that.Sorry that you had to have had that experience here.
I agree it is great to see Jason catch and release those fish. I also think there was something misread on the post. Jasons fish were released. The saugers with the hole in their mouth were not released are was never sted that they were released. They look like good eaters to me
Definately a great job on the release of the big girls!
You guys are mistaken. Lock and dam #3 is the Red Wing lock. The dam in Hastings is #2.
Lock and Dam #3 is Redwing. Sorry Boys I had a Brain Fart. Ilooked it up and went down to the Dam. Hastings is #2. Next time I’ll Get My head out of my
Before I report any thing. Drink green beer 
Why take the chance of hurting those fish. That’s really no excuse. I’m sorry but to continue the fishery Why even stress those fish out any more. That to me sounds like just bragging. take a picture let them go. Don’t even put them in a livewell. You know and I know we need them to continue catching them big fish and protect them for the future. I’m not a tree hugger I just don’t agree with your thinking or anyone who does the same. To me it’s selfish behaivor. Trust me I’ve let fish go that most people would have kept, Some even kept and eaten. To me not a good pratice and I hope people read this and don’t do the same. Bye the way I don’t have a Walleye on the wall. It needs to be at least 32″inches in my book to be a trophy and believe me I’m not the only one. Please people don’t do the same as this dude Take the picture and let them go to produce the next BIG WALLEYE. Just my views but I hope people listen and don’t be sellfish!
Walleyeguy, I have 2way radio in my boat and cell with me all the time. I have seen something this on a lake near Willmar. I called the police to report the moron. The boat owner didn’t have a cell phone. These bumms
would have no fishing if they would have done that to my boat. 2 to 4 oz. sinker flying in them. 
If we as fishing guys on the river see stupid people do these types of things. Tell everyone around these jerks. Maybe we could find a way to keep these guys from fish for the whole year.
Nothing was misread on the post. I just don’t feel that a fish you intend on releasing should be placed in a livewell for any period of time.
As far as my reference to fish put on a stringer, and then saying the fish was released, is just another example of stressing a fish you don’t intend on keeping. This reference is not directly applicable to this report.
This reference was mentioned to show that if your going to release a fish then do it. Don’t stick a big hole in its mouth (with a stringer hook or rope) just so the person who caught it can hold it for a pic.
I’m not talking about a single fish hook hole in typically the upper jaw of a fish. (Ref: Tom Gursky)
I feel the same way about putting a fish in a livewell, especially if you have other keeper fish already in there, that the fish you intend on releasing is being thrashed by.
We’ve all seen the stress of a few walleyes in a livewell for a short amount of time. They all look like they have bloody noses.
I don’t know the specifics of Jason’s great day on the water. It just peaked my curiousity that he was holding two fish, that were released, at the same time. It basically tells some of us that one of these fish (maybe both) had to be unnecessarily stressed for this pic. to occur.
IMHO Jason B.’s picture would have looked better as pictures anyways.
Its called “CPR” not Catch, throw in live well, Photograph, and Release after stressing.
dandorn
just a note. even if the fish endured a little stress. they have amuch better chance of surviving after being released from a live well than if they hit the frying pan.
To bad you didn’t get his info what kind of a moroon would run into someone and then have an attitude he is long overdue for an attitude adjustment. And as a retired law enforcement officer I used to salivate when i’d get a report
Glad your ok and hope all can overcome the incident and still enjoy a great area to fish. Chippman
on a jerk like him. We can just hope he reads this forum and learn’s something but with that attitude even if he reads it he’ll just blow it off.
Right on to what you just said
Let them go if your going to let them go don’t keep them for awhile then let them go. 
i was not even going to get involed in this but i have had enough. about the fish thing, speaking to dandorn and walleye chaser, #1 why does it matter to you wether he put them in the livewell so he could get a pic later? both fish were released in great condition to live many more years, and no laws were broken. the reason they were in the livewell was so they could get back to the resort to get a camera so they could get a pic. and about your post that a trophy is only a 32 incher or bigger is your own opinion. the only one who can decide wether or not it is a trophy or not is the person who caught it, so wether or not its a trophy in your mind is your opinion and i believe you should keep that to yourself instead of trying to belittle this very very good YOUNG fisherman. Just one other question for you 2 guys, If you are so against putting fish in the livewell then releasing them you must be against tournament fishing then, right? Reason being is that at MOST tournaments fish are kept in the livewell for the whole day until weigh in, then released. if you didnt put them in your livewell then they would be dead by the end of the day anyways. I also know of very, very few fish that have been put in a good livewell with circulation pumps that have died wether its been in there for 2 hours or 8 hours. and just 2 side notes, #1 i know for a fact that them 2 fish were not kept in there for more than 2 hours at max. #2 i would think that if a fish is in a livewell with plenty of oxygen and enough room to roam they would have less stress because they are not fighting the current of the river.
I will appoligize to those who are not involed right now, but i just had enough.
Good fishing to all, and remember a trophy fish is your own opinion.
And by the way Jason B them are two great fish and i hope to catch something like that soon.
Walleye Fool
I’ll agree here. Perfectly safe to box up a walleye for a short time when the water temps are still in the 30’s and 40’s. And I think we are all on the same page here. We don’t intend to keep or kill big fish. Fun to catch them and fun to get a photo for bragging rights! Hey, a big fish story without a picture is……well just a fish story!
Here is the flip side of Catch and Release of big walleye and the use of live wells. This will happen to me a few times a year. I’ll put a big fish in the boat, take a pic and attempt to release it immediately. Fish won’t swim away, goes bottom up on me. I’ll take that fish and box it up with the aerator and water pumps on full blast. With the water churning in there and while I hold it’s tail to keep the fish bottom down, I can bring that fish back. Sometimes takes over an hour, but I rarely lose a fish. Just something to keep in the back of your mind if you find yourself in that situation.
Good Luck.
I saw guys on Sat and Sun reeling up 12 inch saugers/walleyes as fast as they could in 27-30 feet of water.
The Eagles were feasting on those dead fish. I know you want to hurry and get the dinks off the line and get back down but give the little fish a break..
Yep, I’ve had that happen a number of times. I won’t let a fish go if it doesn’t look good. Sometimes a little rest in the livewell and it’s good to go. Just make sure to keep it upright and working it back and forth.
Another trick for helping the fish stay upright is to clip two ice fishing depth finders on the fins under the belly.
Kooty, that only works in the movies and South Dakota!
Well since I am being shot down like some clay pigeon that’s not moving.
I guess I have to put my own two cents in on This whole article. Okay yes I did put these two fish in the livewell-yes I took them back to evert’s Resort to get a picture. Since I don’t have the luxury of a working digital camera or a hookup for my computer. I thought it would be nice to give an extra effort to those who are on the borderline of wanting to fish there or not.I GUESS it’s not right to show pictures and not just words you know that would seem more legible for a story just words no pics. eh? I myself and would believe others like this website because of the pictures it would give a little more ASSURANCE to whether or not their story is true.But I guess I can’t disagree with you that a 32 inch fish is a trophy as a matter of fact I have a 32 1/2 inch walleye on the wall. and yes, I throw–no wait–RELEASE walleyes under this consistantly. My own opinionated trophy would be around 33 1/2 inches. Sorry for making you feel bad or anyone else out there feel bad for putting a picture of two nice fish which are swimming freely right now in the river. MY BAD
Hey everyone have fun and catch lots of nice fish this spring! Keep bringin in those pictures guys!!
Shore Shiner
P>S> If you want to discuss more about my 32 1/2 inch walleye you can send me a PM and you can gladly call me I will give you my address and give you the chance to touch a walleye of this nature.