DocFrigo
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Slowly, ever so slowly, the bite is starting on pool 4.
September brought warm temps, and for us mere mortals this means tough walleye fishing as we patiently wait for cooler water temps to drive the shad and start the famed walleye-sauger migration. Ah, the time is near, with cooler temps and rain predicted for this week, we are heading in the right direction. Just in time for the Saugerama.
I had the opportunity to share the boat Saturday afternoon with IDO field staffer Eric Rehberg. There are not many walleye sticks out there better than Eric, and hardly a sole that is better at working a blade bait. Our goal was to prefish for the upcoming Saugerama and try and establish a milk run of spots since the warm temps (64 degrees) have put the usual timing of the bite back a few weeks. Without getting into specifics, we did find fish lower in the river system, at the head of the lake, well as further upstream in the typical locations thruout the upper part of the river system. Basically, fish are everywhere, just not in the large numbers that will be arriving daily with the dropping water temps.
On the day, both blades and hair jigs tipped with minnows prevailed with approximately 10-15 saugers, 3 walleyes and 8 crappies coming to the boat. The most prevalent tip regardless of the presentation was to slow down and do not overwork the bait. Currently, the most common presentation that is taking the most fish is the basic split shot and livebait rig fished slow. If the flow increases, switch to a 3 way rig to better anchor the presentation. The plastic bite has been minimal, but will strengthen as the weeks progress. My prediction for the winning combination this Saturday? The team that is best at reading and reacting to the changing conditions.
This could mean slow livebait rigging (As Dean has honestly told about one hundred people so far-Dean, that is not good for retail sales), to pulling out the superdoos and ringies with hair jigs tipped with meat being a good middle of the road. For Eric my guess would be a bladebait, but that is his go to confidence presentation-and sometimes having confidence that something is going to work is one of the most important things during a tough bite. Me? I already have four rigs ready to go.
Good luck to all and as Dustin would say, “see you on the river”.
Doc
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granpajim
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I have not fished the fall bite or the migration --have a question: Does this mmean one must get close to the dam or are other parts of the river also good?Merely need to be on upper part of Lake Pepin, I do not think I can control my boat well enough to join in on the below the dam crowd I hear about.
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Redneck
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Good talking with ya yesterday Doc. I think this rain and cooler weather is going to help the bite alot this week. Tell the truth though---did Eric use any live bait and if he did, did he look to see if I was around with a camera  That boy can sure fish a blade bait but I can dork rig with the best of them 
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DocFrigo
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I can vouch no live bait for Eric. He did mention it a time or two, but did not leave his blades.
Head of the lake usually means trolling crankbaits or live bait drifting the channel edge at the area referred as the "can line". Otherwise, all the major staging areas (deep holes-runs) will hold fish. One can fish these areas and stay away from the crowd at the dam. Of course, the dam concentrates fish and fisherman. Sometimes, more fisherrman than fish.
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Peteyb
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Sounds like you guy's did pretty good, Hopfully those fish cooperate even more for this weekend 
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Eric Rehberg
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I did look at the minnows once  But than thought better of it. 
It was a joy sharing the boat with you Doc on saturday. Like you mentioned with this rain and cooler temps this week it should really kick those fish into gear 
See you all this weekend if not before  
--------------------
Eric Rehberg IDO Field Staff
eric.rehberg@in-depthoutdoors.com
B-Fish-N Tackle Co./Gamehide Rain Gear
"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today.
I can choose which it shall be." -Groucho Marx
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Erick
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Thanks for the report guys! I had to sneak by ya on Saturday Eric jk I didn't even see ya till I went flying by ya.....the fish are just on the edge it will nto take a whole lot to make them swing the other way and go crazy!
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woody 1961
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Great report Doc,and some nice pics also...can you put together the plan for saturdays saugerama with all the tips from Eric!!Im glad he showed you how to work those blades..now maybe you can give me some pointers..will trade pointers for deer sticks 
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DocFrigo
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Please do not forget the deer sticks.
Those are good deer sticks, better bring 2-3 packs.
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Stuart
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I got out for a half day trip this morning and found great numbers of sauger,but no size to them.Largest was a tad over 17",got most of mine on spinner rigs and Everts select fatheads.After running out of minnows and watching the smallmouth smashing baitfish on the rocks I had to play with them for about an hour.
See you guys at saugarama!!
P.S. Woody,I really like deer sticks.
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Joe Winter
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Stuart if you don't mind me asking. I know saugerama is coming up but I am heading that way in a couple weeks and was wondering how you pull those spinners. with bottom bouncers? 3-ways (wieght?)? lindy sinker? etc. and maybe a depth range where this is affective. and upstream or downstream make a difference?
thanks and I understand if you hold off or don't post back.
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Pool 4 update Oct. 11
