mississippi pool 9

[duckhunt]

any walleye being caught? Heard theres open water so I am heading to the river for the weekend. I love the idea of getting my boat out as early as febuary. Im curious on how much open water there is. I know I can fish below the dams but Im hoping to get away from the crowds in some back water sloughs. I will give a report when I get back.

 

[Gellar]

The channel is 90% open, there might be a little bit of ice on the edge or in eddies. Sloughs with current are mostly open. But there are people still ice fishing in areas too. Pike are starting to move into the shallows. I heard of a few saugers and perch below Genoa in deep water. With 50s this weekend most of the ice from the sloughs will be going out, so watch for icebergs floating.

 

[Gellar]

I better add that I know you are getting the boat out, but there have also been a few people drop through the ice the last couple of days trying the hard water. It seems to be the ice near the shore is not safe from the runoff snow melt and I probably wouldn't attempt ice fishing unless with an air boat or hover craft to access the safe ice.

 

[duckhunt]

Gellar thanks for the info. Im thinking about starting by black hawk park.

 

[duckhunt]

Im late on my report but better late than never. Went to black hawk park on saturday. Other guys were backing there boats over a small shelf of ice to get into the water. Im not doing that so we just did some bank fishing for a few hours. Although it was fun we didn't get any fish. With the warm weather the ice cleared out by sunday so we put in and fished Minnesota slough. Missed 3 fish and nothing hooked. The flow was strong with alot of ice coming down. Was still awsome getting the boat on the river in Febuary.

 

[iaengineer]

I made a few cast in the Shell Rock last weekend. It was a little high no bits. Last year as soon as the ice was out we got into some really nice pike. I have to drive to Moline every week now. I think it is pool 15 that I cross but it looks good right now. No ice at all and water looks really nice. I will try the shell rock this weekend if it is not too high.

 

[Gellar]

Im late on my report but better late than never. Went to black hawk park on saturday. Other guys were backing there boats over a small shelf of ice to get into the water. Im not doing that so we just did some bank fishing for a few hours. Although it was fun we didn't get any fish. With the warm weather the ice cleared out by sunday so we put in and fished Minnesota slough. Missed 3 fish and nothing hooked. The flow was strong with alot of ice coming down. Was still awsome getting the boat on the river in Febuary.

Glad you were able to get out at least for a day. I should have said that the ice that was left was on the East bank of the river. I have good luck in the spring on the curve straight across from Black Hawk and downstream from the mouth of the Upper Iowa. If you can get up to Fish Lake the bite is usually good there too.
There are large chunks floating this week again and boating as of right now would not be safe in the Harpers Ferry area. The hover crafts have been going out of Nobles Island across the slough to Mudhen Lake this week.

 

[duckhunt]

Hey iaengineer you must work at the tractor factory if you are going to moline. Ive been watching the cedar and its bank full now. Taking my small boat motor in for repairs this weekend so hopefully its ready when the water drops.

 

[iaengineer]

I live right on the shell rock not too far upstream from the cedar. I normally make a few cast everyday if it is not too high. I will let you know when the walleye start to bite.