Mississippi river, pool 10 bass report

Friday evening, after a pretty warm and sticky day, my youngest son Jack and I were carrying out plans to hit the southern end of pool 10 for a week end of top water bassin.

The river was looking terrific with the pads and moss still holding on to that deep September green color. The water clarity was the best I have seen all season making it easy to spot schools of bait being chased and recognizing castable structure.

Setting my youngest up with a 6 1\2 ft.MH spinning out fit with 20lb. power pro provided Jack with a good casting rig ,light enough for his comfort but strong enough to horse the bass when he needed to. Jack had some good action with an all chartreuse spinner bait, single silver blade with the a bright green K-Grub trailer. Other baits that provided on and off action were the green scum frogs, Moss Bosses and 1\2 oz.swim jigs. Usually white or chatreuse are comparable but this week end the fish were really on the brighter green pattern.

Sunday morning, Dan Tessman came along for the ride for a half day of bassin. Heavy rains the day before tinged the channel and running chutes a bit but nothing too bad.

Wanting to find the cleanest water possible we headed south to a huge backwater and tucked ourselves in on the far north end for our starting point. Great water clarity!

With the morning being overcast and a good NW wind blowing, the bass seemed to be a little spread out. We found the fish to be cruising the open water a little more not having to relate to the heavier cover. Casting to the smaller clumps of pads instead of the main weed lines seemed to work about the best.
Watching Jack in the middle and Big Dan in the front of the flat bottom was very exciting. (ok, dangerous!) How either one of those two never recieved a spinnerbait nose ring is way beyond me. After a few casts, both Dan and I were on full alert while playing Jacks favorite game called “ChuckandDuck”. All turned out well, no serious body piercings on this day.

A great week end with my little guy! For all of you out there who have kids I’m sure you would agree how special it is when you can get them out…. one on one! Not having to be the boat referee while breaking up sibling quarrels is kind of nice too.
A few nice bass came to the boat, quite a few pike too but the larger schools have not developed yet. The water is still in the mid sixties but you know how fast that can change. The fall colors are starting to appear on the bluffs, the jet skis and week end partiers are vanishing leaving the river wide open. What a great time of year!
Now, for the all important question. What should a guy do this fall? Walleyes, panfish, bass and pike? Mabe try for some fattened up catfish? Hit the smaller wooded streams for some great action? Did I say woods? Great, how about some bow hunting? Should take the boys after squirrels this year too! Oh crap, haven’t pheasant hunted for awhile, that sounds like fun! Ducks are flying, better get the lab ready! Whoa……….I need help!