Let's start out by saying this was one of the most challenging summers to stay on a good bite for the walleyes with all the rains, triple mayfly hatch and the rising muddy waters.   With that being said when I work with  one of the best guides on the mighty Mississippi River.

   Marty and I bounce things off each other all the time from techniques to where we think we can find cleaner water.   Well it paid off because we managed to successfully make it through all the baracades this summer and put our clients on bites.  I couldn't of asked for a better partner in crime  that got me started into guiding way back 15 years ago.   Much appreciated Mr Hahn.  

Now to the fishing.  We pretty much worked bottom bouncer rigs and  dragged bfishn dragging/ and jacks jigs jall summer to produce fish for our clients.   Some days we had good bites and others it was slower so patients was a virtue for sure.   Finding the bite windows is key to walleye fishing.  

In last two weeks I've pretty much caught most of my fish in about 4-8 ft of water.   Finding the right current to drag in was key.   The river level made it a challenge for this but you needed to find the certain spot and it paid off.  We used several different colors from good,black blue ,orange, and of corse some chartreuse.   I did get fish on both crawlers and leeches until leeches couldn't be found anymore in the local bait shops.  The boys at four seasons let me know ahead of time they we're getting scarce to get from bait dealers.   

I did get a couple people on first ever walleye and some guys personal best to boot.   It's always fun to watch people have a great time on the water and even seeing eagles and other animals out there , they absolutely love this about our fishery.   

With the cooler temperatures we are currently going through you will have to start adjusting to a more aggressive bite coming up.   This can be my favorite time of the year for catching walleye and sauger.  You will be able to troll the rig, Dubuque rig, vertical jig plastics and or minnows and put lots of fish in the frying pan.   Everyone have patients at the launches it's gonna get real busy soon.   

I will give a shout out to one of my favorite guys I've had in my boat pretty much since my first year guiding.  Terry Fahey you will be dearly missed by me.   I hate it.   You were always great to have on my boat and I won't ever forget when we got stuck on the sand bar.    I actually looked forward to you , Jerry and Jay giving me shit from when you stepped onto the dock in the morning to meet up for our day of fishing.    

good luck out there guys and gals!!!! 
 

Mississippi River, St. Croix River, Pool 3, Pool 4, Walleye Fishing, Sauger Fishing, Red Wing, Hastings