RED WING, Minn. – On a gloomy practice day, the Mississippi River walleyes weren’t in the mood to cooperate. But on this southeastern Minnesota fishery, circumstances change more often than not.
After a weekend of rainy weather, the Mighty Miss is back on the rise. Last week, things were shaping up nicely as the river was dropping by about 8 inches per day. Subsequently, showers moved in and washed out many anglers’ patterns. Moreover, due to tributary flooding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is letting water down, and the river is suppose to rise another 2 to 3 feet by Saturday.
Along this river, walleyes and saugers hang near the bottom and are typically enticed by using jigs and minnows in the spring followed by leeches or nightcrawlers later in the year. But these are the best walleye anglers in the world, and if the conventional tactics aren’t working, expect them to get creative.
In addition to vertically jigging with minnows, FLW Walleye Tour anglers will be pitching crankbaits to willow trees, casting jigs, employing three-way rigs on wing dams and handlining.
Wing dams were the winning location when Robert Lampman earned $125,000 at the 2005 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Championship held on the Mississippi River near Moline, Ill. Although the tournament is closer to the Twin Cites than the Quad Cities this time around, wing dams will still play a key factor. A wing dam is a manmade rock wall that assists barge traffic by funneling the current toward the channel, thereby reducing erosion.
For much of the year, Mississippi River walleyes relate to the front of wing dams. As water churns against them, areas of slack form at the base of the face. Walleyes hide there waiting for an easy meal to drift downriver. Last year, Lampman caught his fish by dragging willow cats over the tops of these structures.
“It’s a great fishery, but you’re going to have to work to get your fish,” local pro Eric Olson said. “It’s incredibly diverse; there are so many places to catch fish.”
Olson explained that on this body of water, the fish will be there one day and gone the next. Other than Devils Lake, perhaps no body of water in North America offers the walleye diversity of the Mississippi. Anglers will be allowed to fish Pools 3, 4 and 5, and on this day Olson chose to test Pool 4 with co-anglers Dave DeDecker and Jimmy Cox.
“There is no single spot that is producing tons of fish,” said the Red Wing, Minn., pro. “All 150 boats will be spread out, trying to get something figured out. Getting five on day one will be crucial.”
Another interesting aspect in this event is the binding no-cull rule. Under state regulations, FLW Walleye Tour anglers will be allowed to keep seven fish and weigh their best five.
“So if I catch a 16-incher right away in the morning, do I keep it? Getting the five fish is tough right now for a lot of guys. My goal is to put five in the box and try and use the last two for big fish.”
Colvill Park in Red Wing will host daily takeoffs each morning at 7 a.m. Central time. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 295 Tyler Road S. in Red Wing beginning at 4 p.m.