Over 25 years of Mississippi River fishing experience.

9-9-2024

The summer sure has flown by rather quick. Definitely hard to believe we’re into September already. It’s shaping up to be a great fall on the Mississippi River and Lake Pepin. The Perch and other panfish bite has been really good! The Walleye and Sauger bite continues to stay strong as we head into fall. As the water temps start to drop fishing will remain good. Don't forget to get your fall trip booked. I will keep the boat out as long as the weather holds this fall. Typically that’s mid to late November. Be sure to get in on a fun fall day on the Mississippi River.

3-13-2024  Mississippi River Pool 4 

With the lack of snow this winter and no rain so far the river is really low and so is the flow. No big rains or snow in the forecast means the river is going to stay low which is extremely uncommon for this time of year and I have never seen it. 

The Sauger fishing has been really good. With my boat catching them up to 23 inches. We are extremely lucky to have a strong Sauger population and have the size that no other pool or anywhere in the Midwest has. The Walleye fishing has been slow as I assume they are still out in the basin of Lake Pepin. 

 Vertical jigging and Dubuque rigs are still working rather well.  Berkley bonefish, curlybones, ripple shads and rib worms are my go to baits. Some hair jigs are working also. White ice, purples and chartreuse have been good colors. Water temp is 46-47 with 1-3 foot clarity.

Perch Fishing on pool 5 has been really good. Drop shot rigs and small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler or minnow. Find the current seams and the small flats towards the dam area. 

02-24-2024

Mississippi River Pool 4 fishing report 

The last week sure has been a blast out here on the Mississippi. The weather has been beautiful and the fish are hungry.

The Walleye and Sauger bite is in full swing. We currently are sitting around 38-40 degree water temps. Current presentations have been vertical jigging, dragging jigs and Miller rigs. No live bait gets used by me this time of year for Walleye and Sauger. I strictly use plastics and it has worked well for me for many years. Berkley plastics have become my go to the last few years now. The curly bones, bonefish and the newly redesigned ribworm my favorites. Each day the colors have been a little different depending on sun or cloud cover. White ice, greens and even purples have been doing well. Water conditions are stable as there is no snow for runoff. The water is stained and there is 1-3 foot of clarity. I haven't seen any new fish coming out of Lake Pepin yet towards Red Wing. There is just a good amount of fish in the upper pool area. Also pool 5 up towards the dam area is kicking out good numbers of Perch and a few scattered Walleye. Small jigs and drop shots for the Perch fished vertical. 

2-11-2024
Pool 4 Mississippi River
We are back on the open water with this recent warm spell. Let me tell you it definitely feels good to get back in the boat.
The Walleye and Sauger bite is real good right now. No big fish, but a lot of quality fish up to 21 inches.
Water temp is around 38° and we have anywhere from 2-3 feet of clarity. The pool level is low so the flow is down. Fish seem to be scattered all over. From Lake Pepin ice pack to the dam.
Vertical jigging has been good along with dubuque rigs. Berkley Powerbait curly bone, bonefish, rib worm and ripple shads have been the best producers. Greens, purple and white colors have been good. Each day is different depending on cloud color.

Mississippi River Pool 4

11/1/2023

Wow we got our 1st dose of winter just recently!! Teens over night are a little cold for my liking already, but the fishing continues. 

Jigging, Jigging, Jigging is in full swing. Vertical, pitching, dragging and dubuque rigs are all working for Walleye and Sauger. Water temps are now hitting the mid 40's. Berkley plastics have been dominate. Bonefish, curlybones, rib worm and ripple shads. Water did dirty up some from the rains prior to the cool down so anything bright colored has been best. With still not much current flow the fish are hanging about anywhere in the channel. It's important to me to use my Lowrance side imaging to find schools. Once located the game is on. The fish are very hungry.

I have been focusing my efforts on the Northern part of Pool 4. From the upper part of Lake Pepin and North. Although Wabasha still has a strong Walleye bite. 

Also stickbaits on 3 way rigs have been effective as well. 

10-12-2022

It's been a while since I have posted a fishing report on here and apologize for that. I just have been so busy this summer I have pretty much forgotten to update the page.

The fall bite currently is behind I would say about 2 weeks. Water temperatures are still in the hovering around 63ﾟ. Which is extremely abnormal for this time of year we should be into the mid to lower 50's. Currently there doesn't seem to be any walleyes up on the shorelines as water temps hold too warm to push the fish up. With the water being almost historically low currently it has been tough to locate crappies. They just don't seem to be in the normal areas that they should be. You can catch one here and 1 there but that is about all I can come up with on Lake Pepin. To catch the Walleyes I have mainly been trolling crankbaits either on lead core or long line with monofilament line. Berkley flicker shads, Rapala shad raps and even Berkley flicker minnows have been good. The color hasn't really seemed to make a difference. Every day it seems to be a little different or even every hour. I just keep rotating through several baits till I find one that I get a few fish on and then after that one has shut off I change again. It looks like the weather is finally going to cool down and that only means the fishing is going to get better and better as the fish migrate from Lake Pepin to the Red Wing area.

7-22-2021

The summer is flying by extremely fast!! I hope everyone is doing well.

So Pool 3 is up 1st. The wing dam bite is still proving productive. Casting crankbaits, jigs and slip sinker rigs on the faces. Leeches, crawlers and willow cats are the bait of choice. With the extremely low water conditions fish are being choosy on which dams there using to feed on. Look for deeper dams as that is where you will find the Walleyes. Some bluegills can be caught on the dams as well. A small jig and a piece of crawler is getting them pitched and worked back. Trolling crankbaits up the channel edge is working as well.

Pool 4.

Red Wing Walleye and Sauger bite is still holding up. Drag jigs and bait along small flats and the channel edge. The north wing dams are a good option as well. Trolling crankbaits on the channel edge and small flats along with breaklines. Flicker shad, Walleye Nation Creations shaky shads and Salmo hornets are good producers. Pull the crankbaits on braid or leadline.

Lake Pepin bite has stayed good. The mayfly hatch is starting and fish are becoming fat and lazy. When I say fat I mean some look as to be full of eggs fat. Crankbaits on breaks and out in the basin has seemed to be the best bet for Walleye and Sauger. You can also drag bait along breaks to get fish. You have to get creative some days to get these fish to bite. We are getting day time surface water temps in the mid 80's.

Wabasha wing dam bite has been up and down. Some decent fish are being caught. Lots of moving has been necessary just like in pool 3. Looks for the deeper dams. Bluegills are stacking up on the dams also.

The Pool levels are extremely low!!! Use high levels of caution when traveling up and down the channel. Stay at sensible speeds and be courteous to other boaters.

6-5-2021

The summer heat is here! What a cooker outside!! I’m ok with the summer warm up, but when the temps are pushing the 100° mark I’m not such a fan of that. Hopefully your all staying cool.

Pool 3 and 4 Walleye and Sauger fishing has been pretty dang good. Some days the fish are eager to bite and others you have to work for it. The recent rains hasn't done much to the water level as being so dry most of it soaked into the ground instead of running off. The level has been consistent and the water clarity has been real good. The water temp is anywhere from 72-74 and increasing quickly. The Pool 3 bite has mainly been a wing dam bite. Pitching jigs (mostly hair jigs), casting cranks, and slip sinker rigging bait. Trolling the channel edge with longlining braided line and crankbaits is getting some fish as well.

The Pool 4 and Lake Pepin bite I have continued to see the summer presentations producing fish. ( Dragging jigs with bait, leadcore trolling and 3 ways with bait)Wabasha area the wing dams are still giving up great fish along with trolling the channel and dragging jigs with bait.( Crawlers, Leeches and Willow Cats) Red Wing area trolling cranks and 3 waying bait on channel edges and small flats. Lake Pepin the leadcore trolling has been a pretty solid go to. Look for fish on breaklines and they are starting to suspend off the breaks as well. Fish are still eating small sheephead so similar crankbait colors are a good bet.

Be sure to get your summer and not to far away. Fall trip booked. Let’s enjoy a day on the Mississippi River together.

5-23-2021

The spring is flying by fast. This is one of the lowest water level springs that I can remember growing up fishing the Mississippi River. It defiantly has me searching out places for fish that I wouldn’t normally fish. Sometimes thinking outside the box when conditions change can payoff. It also can help eliminate a lot of dead water. River fishing and conditions with rising and falling water always can be a challenge. I think that is why I enjoy fishing a river so much. Don’t get me wrong I thoroughly enjoy my time fishing lakes and breaking those apart along with learning those patterns as well.

The entire pool 3 and 4 area has been giving up some great Walleye and Sauger fishing. I have been finding fish on wing dams, troughs and small flats in the river areas. Casting crankbaits and also using slip sinker rigs with bait on the wing dams in the Wabasha area has been really good. The same goes for the Pool 3 area. Hitting several wing dams through out the day looking for active fish is key as they slide up and down the face feeding. 3 waying bait and trolling crankbaits on small flats is working. Leeches, crawlers, and willow cats are good options to try. I have been spending time on Lake Pepin as the wind allows. Trolling leadcore with crankbaits is a good way to cover water. Look for pods of baitfish. I am constantly using my Lowrance electronics to find bait and active fish. If your not seeing fish you are not going to catch anything. I have been finding that the fish are feeding on small sheephead. So a crankbait that imitates a small sheephead has been working really good.

4-26-202

Where did the month go… It’s almost May! Crazy to think April slipped by so quickly. I meant to update the fishing report, but being on the Mississippi River everyday I seem to loose track of time.

The weather has been on a weird up and down pattern the last few weeks. The water temperature was 55° and now it is 49°. It was 47.5, but is slowly climbing. The fishing has been sporadic with the cooler temps. Plastics are still producing fish dragged with jigs, stickbait cranks pulled on 3 ways are getting fish. Live bait on 3 way rigs are working as well and even some leadcore trolling. Live bait has been crawlers, creek chubs and willow cats. Everyday is a little different and I’m hoping mother nature will quit with her temper tantrums soon so there is a more stable pattern. Using your electronics to locate pods of fish has been helping me a lot. Find a pod of fish and work on them. If you don't get bit move on to more active fish. The Red Wing area is still holding fish. Look for current seams, and small flats that have less current. Some fish are starting to slide down into Lake Pepin. Typically the 1st or 2nd week of May the Lake Pepin area starts to get good and you can even fish fish down in the Wabasha area.

3-24-2021

The weather has been beautiful the last couple weeks. The open water season started a few weeks back and the fish are biting like crazy!!

The Mississippi River, pool 4 bite definitely is living up to it’s reputation as an amazing fishery sought after by many anglers in the spring and throughout the year. The water temperature has crept up to about 45 degrees now. We have some flow from the snow melt and some recent rain. The water is stained and is giving us an all day bite. Not just a low light period bite like it was a few weeks back when the water was still clear. The Sauger fishing has been incredible with Saugers being caught up to 22 inches. (True trophies) Some Walleyes are being caught, but the Saugers have been stealing the show. Walleyes are being caught, but seem to be more scattered. Catch yields have been on average of 20 fish per day with several days in the upper 50's.

Basic presentations have been dragging Dubuque rigs with plastics. Just dragging a jig rigged with plastics. Vertical jigging plastics and also 3 waying sticks baits. (Original floating rapalas and similar style baits). Plastic colors have been greens, chartreuse, and purples. Ringworms and paddle tails are working equally well. The water levels are lower than normal for this time of year. Typically the fish are concentrated on current seams, but with the low flow they are scattered all over the channel. No certain depths are holding fish. Using your electronics to locate schools of fish is key. Side imaging is a great tool to find fish quickly because it allows you to cover a lot of water fast.

Give me call and let’s get you out for a fun day on the Mississippi River!!

3-11-2021

Finally some beautiful warm weather and now the water is getting dirty and the flow is picking up. The bite is getting better and better as more and more fish are coming out of Lake Pepin up into the river daily. Waves of fish come up to stage before the spawn. This warm weather is bumping up the water temperature and making the fish active. I only have a couple March days left and a few for later April. Be sure to book a trip and let's have some fun on the Mississippi River catching Walleye and Saugers.

2‐3‐2021

I hope everyone is doing well. We are on the downhill slide to spring and it’s coming fast! It sure is nice to see the days getting longer and longer.

I am still chasing around panfish on the backwaters, but the bite has definitely slowed as it’s the point of the mid winter where fishing tends to get slower. Lots of fishing pressure tends to shut down fish quickly in shallow water also. Somedays are yielding good catches though. Bluegills with a few Crappies mixed in. Weedlines and small flats is what I have been targeting. Jigging with small jigs with plastics and at times tipping them with a wax worms has been the main technique.

Lake Pepin has been a challenge this winter with the warm weather making the ice very inconsistent in places. There has been open water in a few areas all winter. The upper end of the lake has offered some ok Walleye and Sauger fishing. Jigging raps and rattle spoons tipped with a minnow head. Jig just off the bottom. Work the fish according to there temper they are showing on the electronics. A set line with a colored hook 8-10 inches off the bottom will get some more negative biting fish.

Open water is quickly approaching and I have been booking lots of trips. If you would like a fun day fishing on the Mississippi River and Lake Pepin be sure to call or email to schedule a day.

1-4-2021

It’s definitely crazy to think it's 2021 already. With all of the things 2020 brought it sure did go by fast. I wanna Thank all of my great customers and followers for making 2020 a great year. With all of the bookings already for open water. 2021 looks to be even better!!

We have plenty of ice in the back water areas and on Lake Pepin to get out and target Panfish and search for Walleye and Saugers. The Panfishing always remains good for quite some time before we get to the mid season slow down. That shouldn't be anytime soon either. I have been from Red Wing to south of Winona chasing panfish in the backwaters. The amount of fish hasn't seemed to be a problem. Some days the larger ones get a little finicky is all. I like using plastics, but sometimes you have to use a waxie to entice the more negative fish. Other times they just simple don't want to play the game. That’s fishing and we have all been there. A lot of people use tungsten jigs and they work great. I have found if you change up to a lighter lead jig with a slower fall rate it makes a big difference at times. Especially in water less than 10 feet. Colors change day to day. One day it’s a bright color and one day it’s a more natural or neutral color. With not much snow cover the shallow water bite seems to fizzle out quickly on sunny days. It doesn't end, but you just have to be more patient. Small weedlines, little flats and even rock areas are great places to looks for roaming winter panfish.

Lake Pepin in most areas I've checked has at least 6 inches of good solid ice. More in other areas. Saugers and a few Walleyes I've found are off sharper breaks and also the basin side of the break. They seem to be crusing them. When the bait comes through the fish are not far behind. A jigging rap, rattling spoon and a dead stick with a fathead are always a great choice. If you venture out on the ice use extreme caution as no ice is ever safe!

I like that the open water season didn't really end till later December with the beautiful temps we had. That put us that much closer to open water season which is most likely a couple short months away. Honestly I can't wait! I don't mind doing a little ice fishing, but being in the boat on a nice warm spring or summer day is hard to beat. Book a trip and let me show you how much fun the Mississippi River is.

12-22-2020

It's ice fishing time!!

With the overwhelming requests about if I ice guide or if I am going to, I decided to start ice guiding this winter. I will start after the 4th of January. I am going to be offering Mississippi River panfish trips and possibly some Walleye fishing on Lake Pepin once the ice is safe. Also I am going to offer Lake Mille Lacs Walleye trips as well. Pricing for full day trips is $200 per person and a 2 person minimum. All equipment will be provided.

If interested call or email me for more info and to book.

12-17-2020

Still been on open water as of late, but I think I’ll be done now till probably March with cold weather being forecasted.

The Pool 4 bite has stayed real good through December which is pretty typical. Lots of really good number days for Walleye and Saugers. Not many fish over 22 inches, but great quality eaters. Definitely fun to catch that’s for sure. Catch yields have been up in the 70's a few days, but 40 was pretty common.

Main presentation has been a jig and a plastic jigged vertical. A paddle tail and also a ringworm. Some days they wanted one or the other. You just have to try and see what one is producing best. Never be afraid to change colors and plastic styles. The entire Red Wing area has fish so don't get hung up on fishing one area. Keep looking for active fish. The water has cleared up a lot without any run off so lower light periods have been the best times for active fish. Even fishing into the night if the temperature allows has been stellar. Night fishing on Pool 2 has been lights out for big Walleyes. Mainly dragging a jig with a plastic is all you need to boat fish.

I’ve been booking spring trips lately so if you want to get a certain date. Be sure to get booked sooner or later. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and New Years!

12-1-2020

The 2020 year is coming to a close fast. It was a year of ups and downs for all of us. The thing that kept me feeling great was to be on the water for so many days with so many wonderful people.

The Walleyes and Sauger fishing has remained and still remains good. If you can stand a little cooler weather this time of year you can be rewarded with some great fishing.

The top end of Lake Pepin and all the way to the lock and dam 3 have been yielding good catches. The water has remained low and so is the flow. The fish are scattered all over the river. Good electronics help me find pods of fish. Just because you found the fish it doesn't mean there hungry. Moving to several spots throughout the day to find active fish definitely is key. Current seams and even in the main channel are holding fish with the low flow.

Dubuque rigs, dragging jigs, vertical jigging and stick baits have been putting fish in my boat. Colors switch on a daily basis depending on clound cover and bright sun. Chartreuse, Orange, Purple and Pinks usually are a good bet.

With the weather forecast i’ll be on the Mississippi River Pool 4 until next week. Then it depends on the temps from there.

Don’t forget to start thinking spring 2021 and get your trips booked. Bookings will go fast so don't miss out on a date you’d like.

Have a Great Holiday Season I wish you all the best.

11-11-2020

I hope everyone is doing well. I got behind on posting a fishing report.

So now were into the later part of fall. The water temps have fallen and the Walleye and Sauger bite on Pool 4 and the Lake Pepin area is really good. The fish are still in the lake and the river sections are completely full of hungry fish as well. Casting jigs with plastics and hair jigs on rocky shore lines are producing well. Dragging jigs and Dubuque rigs are also producing plenty of great eating and large fish. Bright colored ringworm and paddle tails are my choice. Some more natural colors are getting a few fish, but don’t seem to work as well. For dragging jigs I use a good quality Medium action rod. My preference is a St. Croix Premier 6’6” rod. I tend to use a 2000 sized reel. I like the Pfluger president reel spooled up with either 8 or 10 pound fireline. The heavier line allows you to get your baits free of snags and the braid with a good rod allows you to feel everything that’s down on the bottom and the most subtle bites. As long as the weather continues to hold out to be on the Mississippi River the fishing will be good. Jigs and plastics will continue to work all winter in the Mississippi River. Pool 2 has had an amazing bite for those looking to get away from everyone and are not worried about keeping fish. Pretty much the same presentations as on Pool 4 can be used on Pool 2.

Remember to get your spring trips booked sooner than later as I'm already booking dates for March, April and May.

Thanks for reading my Mississippi River fishing report.

10-16-2020

The fall Walleye and Sauger bite is in full swing! The temperatures are dropping, but the fishing is heating up.

This fall has been quite a bit different from the last 3-4 previous years. The water was high in the previous falls. This fall the water is extremely low. Fish are more spread out with the low flow. Some are up on shore lines and breaklines. Some are on the river channel edges and some are on current seams. With low flow they can literally be anywhere.

Casting jigs and cranks on rock shorlines have been yielding good catches. Even a few big Crappies are mixed in. Pulling leadcore has still been producing fish in Lake Pepin. With the water temps dropping you have to troll slow. Flicker shads and shad raps are working best. Color seems to change daily so keep switching. Vertical jigging in the river areas are working along with dragging plastics. The fishing is good with some really good days and some slower. That's why they call it fishing! Depending on the weather depends on how long I will be taking trips. If your interested give me a call.

Good luck on the Mississippi River. I’m sure I'll see you around.

9-28-2020

Despite some warmer weather yet. I think fall is officially here. The leaves changing along the Mississippi River valley is truly spectacular to say the least! A day on the Mississippi River fishing is definitely much more than catching fish.

The Walleye and Sauger fishing has been up and down daily. The system right now is full of bait. Large shad schools are everywhere on pool 4. It doesn't seem to matter where you go. Your graph will light up with clouds of bait. The fish that have been caught have resembled footballs as they are really girthy from putting on there fall weight. The Walleye and Saugers I have been catching have been mainly on crankbaits. Either on leadcore or longline trolling. On Lake Pepin and the river sections. It seems like if you can find areas with less bait the fish are more aggressive. I have been getting a few Walleyes casting wing dams also. Casting hair jigs and cranks have been better than livebait. The water level is the lowest I have seen it in a very long time so the fish in the river sections seem to be spread out as with the little current flow they can be anywhere.

Panfishing remains good. Bluegills, Crappies and Perch have been filling in the gaps when the Walleyes quit biting. Small jigs with plastics and also tipped with a chunk of crawler. Under a bobber or pitched depending on the conditions. I like using small jigs over regular hooks as the fish, especially Bluegills don't swallow it down to deep and the smaller ones then can be released unharmed. Rock shorelines, wing dams, wood and weeds continue to produce good numbers.

The fishing will continue to get better and better as the water temp falls. I have a few October dates left and November days as well. I’ll be on the River till it gets to cold to fish. Come enjoy a great day fishing the Mighty Mississippi River!

9‐10‐2020

It’s been a few weeks since I've done a report. I’ve been pretty busy on the Mississippi River.

What a weather change we’ve had in the last few days. From having the AC on to almost having to turn the heat on last night. The fall season is settling in and I couldn't be more excited to be on the Mississippi River Pool 4 and Lake Pepin. The Panfishing has been a real good choice for quite a while as the water temperature was way up and the Walleye and Saugers were lazy. The Bluegills, Crappies and Perch were a fun change of pace. My customers have grown to like that over the years. When the Walleyes gets tough I have a fun option for them to do. Not only is the Panfish bite fun, they are great to eat as well.

With the water temps slowly falling the last week and a half the Walleyes and Saugers have started to bite decent. It’s a great mixed bag day. Fish Walleyes for a while and then go get some Panfish when the Walleyes slow up. The Panfish continue to come in a variety of areas along the whole pool 4 area. The main lake and backwater areas will remain good till freeze up for Panfish. Rocks, weedlines, wingdams and wood are places to search out. A bobber and crawler or a small jig pitched have been working well. Pretty simple and real basic. That’s what makes it easy and fun. The Walleyes have come on mainly crankbaits. Either a 3 way rigged crankbait or pulled on leadcore. River flats and main lake flats have held fish. There is a ton of bait in the system so constantly changing colors and styles of crankbaits is key. Your trying to trigger them into feeding. As the water temp drops more as the fall goes on the bite will be pretty exciting as these fish will be feeding heavily for the winter to come. I only have a couple September days left and October is starting to fill. So if you want to get in on some great fall Mississippi River fishing be sure to book a trip.

8‐19‐2020

A lot of fun has been had on the Mississippi River lately by my customers. Panfishing has been really successful. Obviously some days are better than others. All in all it has been great. Growing up on Pool 4 has helped me be very versatile and has allowed me to keep up with the season and bites.

The water has been stable and back to normal for a while now. It has been a nice change versus the up and down river level caused by big rains. That has also allowed above normal water temps. Finally with the cooler nights the temperature is beginning to fall some. The river right now is absolutely loaded with baitfish. It doesn't matter if you are in Wabasha, Lake Pepin or Red Wing. Despite having lots of bait the fish are biting.

The Panfish can be found in many places right now. The backwater areas offer a wide variety of places to catch Bluegills and Crappies. Weedlines and wood have offered concentrated schools of them. Not all areas have them. You just have to search till you find them. The main river also offers good places to look. Wood, weedlines, wingdams and rock shores are good places to look. Small jigs with plastics or tip it with some crawler works well.

The Walleye fishing is still a little slow, but with falling water temps it is starting to slowly pick up. Crankbaits and dragging jigs with bait is working for the few that are willing to bite. It shouldn't be long and the Walleye fishing should start to pick up.

It has been a great fishing season and will continue to be great for this coming fall. September and October are going to be a fun time on the river. The changing leaves and cooler temperatures sure make it a beautiful time to be out.

8‐6‐2020

Bugs, Bugs, and more Mayflys. Just when I thought they were done they hatched again for a few more days. I’m definitely hoping this is the last of them.

Despite all of the bugs I'm still putting fish in the boat for my customers. As fishing is some days are better than others. Still picking up Walleyes and Saugers in Lake Pepin and the rest of pool 4. I have mainly been trolling crankbaits to get them. Some have come on dragging jigs in the river area tipped with live bait. Leeches and Crawlers. Leeches with all of the really warm temps are becoming hard to find and keep alive. The bait shops say there about done with Leeches for the year.

The Panfishing has been decent. They are being a little finicky as they have become fat and happy with there main diet being Mayflys. A little persistence and you can get a good mess of them for a great meal. They can be found on wood in the water and rocky shorelines. Use a bobber and a small jig tipped with a small piece of crawler or a small pan fish plastic. Once you find the school lots of fun will be had. The summer is starting to wind down, but lots of great fishing is ahead of us. Fall is coming and it's going to be a fun one so be sure to get your date booked. I only have a few August days left and am starting to book September.

7‐18‐2020

July certainly has been a warm one so far temperature wise. I’m not a real big fan of these extremely warm days, but the fishing has been as hot as the air temp.

Pool 3‐4 and Lake Pepin are still producing great catches for Walleye, Sauger and now the Panfish bite is starting to turn on with nice Bluegills and Crappies. The pool level has dropped and now it once again is nearing normal levels for this time of year. The wing dams in the river sections of pool 3 and 4 are starting to get some nice Walleye, Bass and Bluegills on them. Small river flats and back water channel areas still will yield good catches using live bait. Slip sinker rigs along with 3 ways slowly trolled tipped with a Crawler, Leech or Willow Cat. Trolling crank baits on Lake Pepin has been producing nice catches of Walleye and Saugers. Break lines and big flats have been holding good numbers and trophy fish. When fishing Lake Pepin using your electronics is key to finding schools of bait and fish. Once located you can dial in the bite. We are I think finally done with the mayfly hatches. The fish now are fat and a little lazy. So triggering these fish to bite sometimes is challenging. With fishing some days are ok and some are really good. One thing is for sure it a whole lot of fun being on the Mississippi River enjoying what it has to offer.

I’m looking forward to the rest of July and August. A lot of fun fishing is in the future. I still have a few dates in August available and now am starting to book a few September days. Book a trip and come have some fun of your own.

7‐6‐2020

Summer sure is humming along quickly as we are into the month of July and the 4th of July was just celebrated. I hope all of you had a fun and safe holiday weekend.

June ended with a lot of great fishing and beautiful weather. The river level had dropped to normal Pool level which was kind of different as the water on the river has been above normal for so many seasons. Going back to notes i’ve taken over the years definitely helped keep me on the fish for my customers.

There has been great fishing from Red Wing all the way to Wabasha. Lake Pepin still has been producing great Walleye and Sauger fishing also.

Dragging jigs tipped with bait. 3 way rigs and slip sinker rigs have been the main presentations in the river areas. Small flats, channel edges and wing dams are things to look for. Crawlers, Leeches and Willow Cats are a good choice for live bait.

Lake Pepin has had a really good crankbait trolling bite. Look for Walleyes shallow and Saugers deep. Some are on the breaklines while others are suspended in the basin. Use your electronics to locate schools of fish.

We had some rains recently that just brought the river up a little, but the level is dropping fast and should be back to normal in a week the way the forecast looks.

Lot as of great summer fishing is ahead and the Panfish bite is getting underway. Be sure to get your August trip booked as there will be a lot of fun to be had. I’m almost fully booked for July right now and only have 3 days available.

6‐20‐2020

Over halfway through June and the Walleye fishing has been exceptional to say the least! As with anything outdoors not everyday is perfect. Overall I have been putting lots of limits of great fish in the boat. Lots of eaters and many big personal best Walleyes. It sure is fun to see people's excitement when they land a big Mississippi River Walleye. I get just as excited as they do and I didn't even catch the fish. So much fun to say the least.

Many things are catching fish right now in many areas. The crankbait bite has been really fun. You cover a lot of water and it’s a relatively easy way to fish. Some are on break lines while others are coming suspended on planer boards in the lake. Pulling cranks on small river flats are working also. Live bait in the river areas on small flats and wing dams are catching a lot of quality fish. I always play the wind. Windy days I'm in the river grinding on spots and hoping wingdams otherwise I stay on Lake Pepin. Leeches, Crawlers and Willow Cats all are working on slip sinker and 3 way rigs.

July and August is always a great time to fish the Mississippi River. Hot days can produce great Pike fishing. We have Giant Pike on Lake Pepin. Our amazing Panfish bite will be starting very soon in July. I’m the only Pool 4 guide that offers Panfish trips so be sure to get in on some really fun Bluegill, Perch and Crappie bite.

Make sure to get your trip booked for a very fun time on the water.

6‐7‐2020

Well May has ended and as I suspected the fishing stayed good. The start of June has been incredibly good as well. We have falling water conditions here on the Mississippi River and the fish are on the move. There setting up nicely in there summer patterns and areas. It won’t be long and we will be back to normal pool level for this time of year.

The crankbait bite is extremely good right now. I’m finding fish all up and down the Pool 4 area. Lake Pepin has been a lot of fun to fish and the catching has been great as well. Days that are winding I find myself doing my trips in the river areas hiding from the wind and waves. I have been using a whole variety of crankbaits and colors. Each day is a little different and you have to change to suite the needs of what the fish want. Speed has been really critical. 3‐5 tenths in speed has been making a big difference from catching and not. Live bait in the river areas have been working real well on 3 way rigs. Leeches and crawlers are producing along with willow cats. Speed has mattered alot when dragging bait as well. Dragging jigs is working well also. A lot of different ways to catch them and being versatile makes all the difference.

The Walleye fishing is going to stay good for quite a while. I’m also looking forward to the Panfish bite that will be kicking off very soon. A whole lot of fun is had catching those.

For more photos Visit my Facebook page.

5‐26-2020

May fishing… The only thing I can say is were having fun and putting fish in the boat. A lot of really nice Walleyes and now the Saugers are coming in strong to join the party.

With recent rains the bite has changed a bit. Areas that were previously holding fish still are. You just have to fish them a little different and slow down as with the rain the water has dirtied up. Bright colored crankbaits are drawing the fishes attention. Make sure to have a crankbait that has some type of rattles in it. The louder the better.

3 way bait rigs and slip sinker river bait rigs are still working well for presenting live bait to a hungry Walleye or Sauger. Tip it with a leech, crawler or willow cat. Some days the fish want crawlers more than the leeches. Somedays it’s the leeches. It also changes by the hour. Don't be afraid to change this up if the bite slows down. The fish are there, but there wanting something else. Weather changes can also change the bite so be aware of that as well. Trust your electronics on your boat. Many days it’s made a difference from catching a few to catching many. If your marking fish find out how to get them to bite and just simply grind on them. It’s just a matter of time before they will bite. The leadcore trolling bite has been really good. I’ve pulled a few planer boards, but that bite hasn't taken off yet. It’s not far off though.

The entire Pool 4 is still giving up fish. From Red Wing dam to Alma dam along with Lake Pepin.

Mille Lacs Lake: The water temp is heating up nicely. The Walleyes can be caught from 3‐30 feet. Fish are still holding out in the sand and rocks, but are slowly making there way to the mud flats. You can use about any presentation to catch them right now other than spinners are a little early. Rigging, crankbaits and jigging has been best.

The Smallmouth Bass fishing has been really fun. Some giant ones are coming into the boat. Shallow rock areas from 1‐10 feet deep seem to be the range. Jerkbaits, bucktail jigs and swim baits are working well. This time of year and through June is a great time for a combo day of Walleye and Smallmouth.

For a fun day on the water make sure you book a trip. It would be my pleasure to share my boat with you.

5-18-2020

What a great month May has turned out to be so far with decent weather and really good Walleye and Sauger fishing on the Mississippi River.

So I have been fishing Pool 3 and 4. Mostly 4 though. Pool 3 has been good for a while. Falling river levels have pulled a good amount of the fish out of the backwater areas to the main river channel now. Small trolling runs that are small flats and wing dams have been producing some great eaters and also some really nice trophy fish.

Pool 4 still remains to have a very good bite. Walleyes can be caught from the Red Wing dam, Lake Pepin and the Wabasha end of Pool 4.

Many eater fish and a ton of trophy fish have been put in my boat lately. You can catch them many different ways. From trolling crankbaits, rigging bait and even casting shore lines with jigs and cranks. I have mainly been pulling leadcore with crankbaits and also rigging bait on 3 way rigs. Crawlers, Willow Cats and Leeches have been a good choice. The chub bite has died off and I have them now for my Mille Lacs Lake trips. Break lines in the lake have been producing well. The River portions of the pool that are holding fish are current seams and wing dams. If your looking to learn river fishing my trips can be very educational and helpful.

The Mississippi River will continue to produce great Walleye action through mid July then the Panfish bite picks up hot and heavy. Being the Only Pool 4 Guide that takes Panfish trips it’s something that I take pride in. Be sure to ask me how to get in on some great Crappie, Bluegill and Perch fishing. It’s fun for the whole family.

Be sure to contact me for a trip this Summer so we can enjoy a great time on the water together and make some memories.

***Were Back At It!!*** **Discount**
Well Minnesota fishing guides are back in business as of May 18th. Very exciting for all of us.

In honor of getting to be able to take people back out to enjoy what they love. (Fishing)
I'm going to take $75 off a full day guide trip for 1-2 people. A 3rd person is $50 extra. This deal will start on Monday May 18th and continue through Monday June 15th.
Let's get out there and have fun together on the Mississippi River or Mille Lacs!!

5-7-2020

It’s been a really good start to May. The Walleye and Sauger fishing has been outstanding. So many more personal best Walleyes are being caught in my boat this spring than past years. It has been really fun to be a part of that and to see all of the happy faces with huge smiles. We all are going through tough times dealing with this virus, but I do believe spending some time fishing has helped a lot of people forget about what is going on back on the shore. What a great way to relax for the day with some friends and family.

Along with all of the big fish being caught there are great opportunities to put plenty of eating sized fish into the livewell for a great meal of fresh fish.

I have mainly been fishing the pool 4 area, but have made it up to pool 3 a few times. The water temperature has finally reached 60 degrees and many presentations are putting fish in the boat. Really great numbers of fish have come on Leadcore and long line trolling crankbaits. Many cranks and styles have been working. Nothing specific day in and out. You just have to keep trying till you figure out what they are wanting on that particular day. Live bait has been working extremely well. 3 way and river rigs tipped with a crawler, creek chub, or a willow cat have been best. Leeches are starting to work now that we have reached the 60 water temp mark. Jigging and casting crankbaits to rocky shorelines are a fun way to put fish in the boat and have been working well. Wing Dams and backwater cuts in Wabasha are producing some good catches.

Pool 4 from the Red Wing, Lake Pepin and Wabasha area have been really well. Pick a section of the river and give it a try. If your new to river fishing and want to learn few things on what to do and look for a guided trip with me is very educational. I have fished the Mississippi River all my life growing up on the shores of Lake Pepin and living in Lake City. If you just want to sit back, do some fishing along with enjoying the beauty the river valley offer is also another really good option.

With inland fishing season about to open this weekend I will be offering guided Tremendous Walleye and World class Smallmouth Bass trips on beautiful Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota. So be sure to ask me about that as well.

Email or Call me to book a great day on the water. That information is in the Contact drop down

4-24-2020

Well unfortunately once again I have been neglecting to update on here.

Mississippi river pool 4 fishing is underway and it has been a great spring so far. Pre-spawn Walleye fishing was exceptional along with having really good Sauger bite. 20-60+ fish days were not uncommon in my boat during this time. Several trophies were boated by many anglers in my boat along with a fair amount of personal bests caught as well.

Main presentations were jigs with plastics and also blade baits. Dubuque rigs were really effective along current seems. A lot of really nice fish came from pitching jig's up into the shallow water mud and sand areas.

With the Rainy River being closed and many people out of work the river was a little busier than normal. It was nice to see all of the anglers out there and everybody seemed to respect each other's a space.

We now are on to the post spawn period Which has started out slow, but is getting better everyday. The water temperature now has reached 50ﾟand it's almost time to start pulling some crank baits around. Live bait and plastics are still working well, but with the water warming up the fish are going to start to transition to live bait and crank baits more than they are plastics.

May is always a really time fun to fish on the river as the weather is getting nice and the fish are really hungry after exerting all of their energy during the spawn.

Fishing opener is almost upon us and all of the inland lakes in Minnesota will be open soon. That being said I will be bouncing back-and-forth between the Mississippi River (Lake Pepin) and Mille Lacs Lake guiding fisherman.

If anyone is looking to get in on some really good river fishing along with a really fun Lake bite be sure to give me a call and schedule your trip.

12-11-2019

Looking for a holiday gift for that special fisher person? I offer gift certificates that can be purchased. I’m working on getting a Paypal link up and they could be purchased that way. Till then payment will be VIA check. Please call me at 651-380-7278 for the amount you would like and what your address is so I can get it sent out.

9-21-2019

Well it can quite raining anytime now. I don't mind rain, but when you get 3+ inches at a time it gets to be to much. The river has come up a few feet and now has crested. The fishing when the water was coming up slowed some. Now that it has crested the bite has started to pick up some.

The Walleyes moved around to get out of the current and now are on current seems and scattered throughout Lake Pepin. The Crappies have pulled out of the main river areas that they were holding and now are in slack water and areas in Lake Pepin. As the water temperature continues to fall the better the fishing becomes.

Don't miss out on some great fall fishing. October and November on the Mississippi River is a great time to get in on some really good fishing. So give me a call to book your fall fishing adventure!

9-2-2019

Happy Labor Day every. I hope all of have had a good long weekend. It's kind of sad to see summer end, but on the other hand it's getting to be my favorite time of year! My love for the outdoors grows as hunting season is about to begin. Fishing and Hunting is a big part of my life and passion.

I apologize for not being able to post any pictures on here for the last few reports, but my computer is being difficult… I've got a few up here now but that's all it allowed me to post. I will continue to try to figure out what his problem is so bear with me. ( You can always view pictures and posts on my Facebook page ).

Now for the fishing: Fishing has been excellent the last few weeks. The panfish have been the star of the show recently. They have been plentiful and very fun to catch. Not to mention they are extremely good eating. Various techniques and areas have produced great catches of bluegills and crappies. Small jigs under a bobber with a nightcrawler or pitching a small jig with a nightcrawler has worked well for bluegills. Small Jigs and plastics have produced for the crappies either vertically jig or pitched. The action is great for families and young children to enjoy. I have been picking up a few Walleyes and the bite is starting to get better every day as the water temp slowly drops. I haven't spent a lot of time targeting in them as most of my recent clients have requested to do the pan fishing. This week I'm going to get back after the Walleyes a little bit more. The recent catches on them have either been dragging a jig and nightcrawler or a leech. Also trolling crankbaits have yielded fish as well.

One fun thing that I recently have been involved in is filming a TV show for John Gillespie's Waters and Woods. If you would like to view the TV show you can find it on YouTube now. Just search John Gillespie's Waters and Woods and click on the Mississippi River one as it is the most recent. I think it says it's number 35. I had a great time doing that and we will be doing more shows in the future.

If you're looking to get in on some great fall fishing be sure to give me a call and see what I have for availability as I've been booking quite a few trips lately. I hope everyone has a great week and good luck to the kids returning back to school.

8-19-2019

Well it's Monday morning and it's a beautiful start to the week. The sun is shining and it is a calm morning.

Lake Pepin and Pool 4: The River has been full of changes throughout the season. We are finally back to normal pool levels for once this season. some of the typical areas where you usually find walleyes this time of year they seem to be either vacant or very finicky… I'm thinking with the high water levels all season the fish have started to adapt to other areas before we got down to our normal water level. So that means we are finding fish in areas that we normally don't find them and areas that they should be they are scattered. We're in the dog days of summer and that just means you have to work a little bit harder to put some Walleyes in the boat but it is still being done. Haven't seen any real big fish lately, but enough eaters to keep your attention. Main presentations have been dragging jigs and also three-way with bait. Nightcrawlers seem to be the preferred bait right now. Still picking up some fish trolling in the basin pulling crankbaits and still getting a few fish pulling crankbaits in the river. The Wabasha area has started to pick up a little bit with the walleye bite as the water has dropped.

The bluegill and perch bite has picked up fairly good along with some bonus crappies are being caught in my boat. They seem to be a little more scattered this year than normal. Some of the areas that they normally are there doesn't seem to be any weeds so I'm thinking that the water was too high for the weed growth and that is the reason those areas are not holding fish currently. Some days are definitely better than others, but that is fishing in general.

As we have been getting these cooler evenings I have noticed a slight down tick in the water temperature and as we move into the first part of September that will continue. With the drop of the water temperature it's going to greatly improve the fishing as we head into the fall season. I myself am looking forward to an absolutely incredible fall fishing season and enjoying the beautiful River valley with all of the leaves changing colors.

8-8-2019

Well the river is finally falling back to close to normal waters levels for this time of year. I don't ever recall the water level staying up for so long!

The River Walleyes have settled into there normal river spots now. Techniques haven't changed to much at all. Trolling crankbaits on leadcore, 3 way rigging bait ( leeches, crawlers and willow cats ) and dragging jigs with bait are still producing well. Fishing the North end of Lake Pepin up in the Red Wing area has been good. Lake Pepin is still producing great numbers of fish. Now that the water has dropped the Wabasha area fishing wing dams is getting good as well. Also starting to pick up a good number of bluegills and jumbo perch throughout Pool 4. The panfish bite is a great time. Lots of fun action and they are my favorite fish to eat.

Mille Lacs Lake: The Walleye and Bass fishing has slowed some as we now get into the latter part of summer. There still are large bug hatches going on and the fish are fat and healthy as can be. The mud flats are still holding Walleyes, but the basin bite is starting to pick up. Spinners and rigging leeches or crawlers on the mud flats is still a go to. Fishing the basin is a suspended crankbait bite. The Smallmouth Bass have pulled off the large rock reefs and now are deeper around small clumps of rock or even single boulders. Side imaging is a huge tool to help you locate these areas.

7-28-2019

Wow the summer is flying by!! It seems just like last week it was still May… I hope everyone has been enjoying there summer thus far. I have been slacking on updating this website, but I hope to try and get back to monthly and maybe even biweekly reports.

The Mississippi River has been up and down ever since the snow melted this spring. Lots of big rain storms have dumped several inches of rain numerous times in Minnesota. That has made the Mississippi River stay high and not reach normal pool levels yet. It hasn't been high enough that you can't enjoy being out there by any means. The higher water levels have made for incredible Walleye and Sauger fishing all spring and summer so far.

I have spent a lot of time fishing Lake Pepin and the upper end of Pool 4 in the Red Wing area. Lake Pepin has always had a tremendous summer bite trolling crankbaits. The shear size of the area sometimes takes a little time to dial in a bite, but once you do it's game on. Dragging 3 way bait rigs on the upper end of the lake in current seams has produced some great fish as well. Crawlers, Leeches and Willow Cats all work well. The summer bite will continue to produce well and the panfish bite will kick off here and that will be a blast. I really enjoy catching Lake Pepin's giant bluegills and jumbo perch.

Mille Lacs Lake! What can I say other than I've been up there several times this season and it never disappoints. The Walleye and Smallmouth Bass are very plentiful and willing to bite.

Walleyes can be found almost anywhere on the Lake using pretty much and technique you choose. Rigging, slip bobber, pitching Jigs, spinners and trolling cranks all work. There are Walleyes on the South end in the gravel and north throughout the mud flats. Still a good amount coming off rock reefs. The Smallmouth Bass have been coming from the rock reefs as well. To get the bigger ones you have to get away from the crowds and use your electronics to find Rocky areas and then cast swim baits or tubes.

5-20-2019

Happy Monday morning everyone. I hope you all had a great weekend even though the weather wasn’t the nicest.

Fishing has been nothing short of incredible the last couple weeks on Pool 4 in the Red Wing area and Lake Pepin. I always enjoy getting down to Lake Pepin this time of year as it opens up so many opportunities and different ways to put fish in the boat. I grew up in Lake City and have fished Lake Pepin all of my life. Fishing Lake Pepin is really scenic and adds so much to a great day on the water.

River levels remain up as we have been getting a fair amount of continued rain so far this spring. That has not slowed the bite down though. It does move fish around and you have to keep moving areas to stay on top of the bite as they keep moving daily. With the high water it presents fun ways to fish that we normally don’t get to do most years.

The main presentations that I have been using recently are trolling crankbaits. Either long lining them or using leadcore line. I also have been using 3 way rigs with bait and that has been very effective as well. Nightcrawlers, Leeches and Chubs have worked to put fish in the boat. Fish have been coming from 5-20 feet in depth. Limits of great eating 15-20 inch Walleyes and Saugers have been common a long with a real good amount of large Walleyes that have been released. If you want to have a fun day on the river fishing the Lake Pepin area or even learn how to fish Lake Pepin and Pool 4 better be sure to book a trip.

The Walleye and Sauger fishing will remain good for quite some time. As the dog days of summer approach I will start to do panfish trips and that can be a really fun day. I am the Only Guide on Lake Pepin and Pool 4 to offer Panfish trips. Don’t miss out on a unique bite that offers plenty of action. Also if you like to catch Giant Northern Pike I offer mid summer trips for those also.

Mille Lacs Lake: What can I say other than that Lake once again this year has an incredible bite going for Walleyes Big and Small along with tremendous Smallmouth Bass fishing. I’ve been up there a few times already and it has been a blast. I guide up there also. Along with tournament fish it. 30-70 Walleye catch days have been a normal thing. My rates for this Lake are the same as the Mississippi River.

5-9-2019

The Spawn is past us by a few weeks now and the fish are extremely hungry. The bite in Lake Pepin has really become amazing!

I’ve been 3 waying bait (nightcrawlers and creek chubs) and trolling the New Berkley Fishing Jointed Flicker Shad crankbaits. I am more than impressed on how well these new baits work. I had a good feeling when I stocked up on them that they would be a great lure for catching Walleyes and I was pleasantly surprised to say the least! 
The last week or so it hasn’t taken long to boat a couple limits of nice eating size fish and also get some larger fish that we released. 
May thru July are always great months to fish Lake Pepin for Walleyes and Saugers. I grew up in Lake City and have fished Lake Pepin all of my life and really enjoy it's diversity and all of the options along with many opportunities to boat fish. 

If you are interested in fishing Lake Pepin this spring and summer you won’t be disaponted!! Mid summer the Panfish bite really starts to get good for Bluegills, Perch and Crappies. I am the only guide on Pool 4 that offers fully guided Panfish trips. So if you want to do something different and really fun be sure to ask me when to book one of those trips.

4-27-2019

Does your Mom like to fish??
With Mother's Day only a few weeks away why not get a her something different this year and get her a gift card to have a fun day on the water doing some fishing!

Do you have a child or do you know someone graduating from College or High School? 
A fishing gift card would be a perfect gift!

Luhmann's River Guiding gift cards are great for any occasion. A great Wedding gift, Father's day, any holiday for that matter or even for a Birthday. 
Contact me at 651-380-7278 to get your gift card.

***Have you booked your Lake Pepin fishing trip yet?***

Now is the time to start thinking about booking your Lake Pepin fishing trip. Lake Pepin is located on Pool 4 of the Mississippi River.

Lake City, Mn is located right in the middle of beautiful Lake Pepin. I grew up in Lake City and have fished Lake Pepin and Pool 4 my entire life. I take it for granted growing up in such a wonderful place and town. The Mississippi River valley is some of the most beautiful country there is and the waters are rich with amazing Walleye, Sauger, Northern Pike, Bass and an abundance of Panfish. 
While fishing you get to enjoy the scenery of the widest part of the Mississippi River Lake City is rich with River history and lays claim to being The Birthplace of Water Skiing .
Lake City is a great town with great places to stay such as the AmericInn and John Hall’s Alaskan Lodge. Both offer amazing views of Lake Pepin. They also have great places to eat such as Port 104. After your great day of fishing on the river let the Port 104 make you an amazing meal. You can make it a fun get away of fishing and an evening stay or do several days of fishing and lodging.
If you ever wanted to fish Lake Pepin or learn how to fish it better be sure to give me a call and book your trip.

4-17-2019

I am finally back on the river fishing after a heck of a lot of high water this spring has kept us all off the River. This past weekend was the 1st after 2 weeks of not being able to access the River. Now to the good part!

The Good part: The fishing as I expected was immediately outstanding as when I stopped at the 1st spot we had a 18 inch Sauger hooked up within 30 seconds of having lines in the water. The Sauger fishing has been extremely good with great numbers of Walleyes being mixed in. Catching limits of great eating fish has been a normal thing daily with fish catches between 30-60 fish daily. A lot of big Walleyes have been coming in my boat as well. Some large Walleyes are mixed in with in the Sauger areas, but most of the bigger fish have come from shallow areas pitching jigs and blades baits.

The go to presentations for catching most fish have been Dubuque rigging and pitching jigs with plastics. Anything bright has seemed to work well as there is only about 12-18 inches of clarity. One color that has really stood out and out performed more than anything else has been Prescott Bait Company paddle tail in Gold color. That bait is one of my favorite plastics to use in the spring when the water is stained.

The Walleyes have already started to spawn and about 40% are spawned out. With the full moon now a majority will dump there eggs within the nest few days. The Saugers have yet to spawn and should be starting within the next few days to a week. The water temperature as of yesterday was as high as 46 degrees.

The River forecast is for it to continue to drop in level as long as we don’t get any big rains coming anytime soon. We will continue to have really good fishing throughout the spring and into the summer months. The presentations will change and so will the areas I fish.

I still have some April availability and I have may dates open as well. So if you want to get out and do some fishing along with enjoy a beautiful sunny warm day on the river be sure to contact me to book a trip.

I tend to update my Facebook site more often than on here so to stay up on more current info and pictures be sure to follow my page.

3-19-2019

Wow the weather finally broke recently and the weather is beautiful out on the Mississippi River. Not to Mention THE FISH ARE BITING!!

The water temps are starting to rise and the river level is as well. With the combination of the two happening that only means one thing… The fishing is getting outstanding!! When I say outstanding I mean that the combination of great eating Walleyes and Saugers of 14-19 inchers are being caught. Several large females Walleyes are coming over the side of the boat as well. This spring has started off to be a really good one and I don’t see any reason that it won’t continue to stay that way.

With the conditions changing on the river due to the water rising because of the snow melting it means that the bite continues to change and can due so hourly as fish continue to position themselves out of the fast current. So staying proactive and adjusting your presentation is a must to keep the bite going. Using your electronics is another huge tool in your arsenal keeping you on the fish. I use my down imaging exclusively on one unit. Learning how to properly use your boats electronics will definetly increase the numbers of fish you put in the boat.

My presentations currently have consisted of Dubuque Rigs and dragging Jigs tipped with plastics. I also have been getting fish vertical jigging. Colors of plastics have been pretty inconsistent as they seem to change daily. As long as you have something bright on you should be good. I tend not to stay and grind out one place all day. I tend to bounce around and look for the active fish. Once a spot slows I’m off to the next one.

I still have dates available so if you want to get out on the river and shake that cabin fever while wetting a line. Contact me and set up a day on the water. DON’T be alarmed by the rising water. River flooding is perfectly normal for this time of year. As always safety is #1 and if I don’t feel it’s safe I don’t go!!

2-26-2019

Well we have been getting our butts kicked here in Minnesota with snow this month. We just received another 12 inches here in the Red Wing area. 
I have been getting lots of messages regarding booking trips with the probability of real high water on the Mississippi River this spring. I just want to let everyone know that high water is perfectly normal on the river in the spring. Granted we haven't had to much of it the last 5 springs.

-Yes you are able to fish. 
-Yes as long as there is a place to launch the boat I will be guiding trips.
-Yes the fish do bite well when the water is high and we will have a great day fishing.
-Yes you can still navigate the river safely. (Just do it at low speeds and be cautious of floating debris.) If I feel it is unsafe in anyway the trip will be cancelled and rescheduled. Our safety is #1! 
These are just a few of the questions I've been getting from people messaging me on here and via Email. If you don't feel comfortable taking your own boat and want to fish I'd be happy to book you for a fun day of fishing. 
If anyone has questions feel free to message me or give me a call. 651-380-7278
I look forward to a warm up soon and spendy some great days fishing with you. 
I hope you all have a great week.

2-20-2019

I definitely don’t have to tell everyone about what a long winter this has been so far and how most of us are ready for warmer weather. The snow can melt anytime! The good thing is that going into the later part of February now we don’t have to much longer to go.

It has been a good month now that I have been in the boat on the river fishing. That’s right you read that right, the Boat. Fortunately for me living in the Red Wing, Mn area. Pool 4 of the Mississippi river doesn’t freeze up during the winter months due to the fact that there is a warm water discharge just up from lock and dam number 3. This keeps the river open from the dam down river to where it meets Lake Pepin. So what that means is if the weather cooperates you can fish in your boat all winter long. Let me tell you it’s pretty nice being able to break out the long rods mid-winter. We also are lucky that the Walleye and Sauger season does Not close here on the border waters like it does on inland waters.

The spring time on the Mississippi River is a very exciting time. The chances of catching some of the largest weight Walleyes and Saugers of the season can be caught through mid to late April before they spawn. If it’s a huge trophy fish your looking for this is the time to be on the water. I am very successful every spring in putting multiple Walleyes over 10 pounds into the boat for my clients. The true excitement and joy of someone seeing a huge fish like that laying on the boat floor that they just caught is remarkable. The fishing in general is really good as many eating sized fish come into the boat and hit the livewell to go home to make for great table fare. If you haven’t experienced fishing on the Mississippi River in the spring or in general I suggest you give it a try.

Booking a trip with me can be very educational as I go through what we do throughout the day and I also break down how to do it. I have many people that book trips to learn river fishing as they are new to it. River fishing can be intimidating, but after a day in the boat with me people become comfortable. They now know that they are capable of now taking what they have learned and can apply that in there own boat.

If you are interested in booking a trip for early spring fishing I wouldn’t wait to long as what happens every year. As soon as it starts warming up dates fill fast.

You can follow me on Facebook as I post pictures and other content on there. You can find me under Luhmann’s River Guiding.

1-20-2019

Happy New Year everyone!! I hope you all have had a great start to 2019.

What a weird bunch of weather we have been having this winter. It has been warm and the ice conditions have reflected this. There was a decent bite for Crappies and some Saugers on Lake Pepin around the Maiden Rock area until the ice conditions got bad which did not allow good access to the area. The Sheriffs Department even shut vehicle traffic of all kinds down on Lake Pepin down along with several other area lakes during this warm up. We recently got some real cold weather and now we have been making some good ice.

The open water bite on Pool 4 has been tough this winter. You can get a few fish here and there, but nothing that has been consistent or that could be called stellar. It won’t be to long before we get a warm up and that will start to trigger the fish to put the feed bag on.

I recently made a trip up to Mille Lacs Lake to fish for some Walleyes. Let me tell you it did not disappoint at all.

A quick stop at Malmo Market on the Northeast side of the lake for a dozen sucker minnows and some fathead minnows and we hit the lake. The plan was to fish some of the mud flats. The areas that were key in catching fish were just on the bottom side of the break lines off the flat. The fish seemed to be cruising in 29-30 feet of water. It was just warm enough for us to be able to drill a bunch of holes and hop around to keep on active fish. The suckers were put on tip ups about a foot from the bottom. The tip ups were a great tool as it yielded a fair amount of fish. Jigging tumblr spoons in glow orange color tipped with minnow heads seemed to be the best for the jigging set up. Using our electronics we were able the fish off the bottom and make them chase the baits which makes them a little more aggressive to bite. We caught around 20 fish for the day with a couple really nice ones in the mid 20 inch range. We did have a fair amount of 20 inchers and some smaller ones. We did loose some fish throughout the day. All in all I would consider it a very successful day.

12-20-2018

Well the last week or so has been really good for putting some quality panfish on the ice. Great early ice panfishing is not always easy to find. Sometimes you have to put a lot of miles on your vehicle, walk great distances and drill lots of holes.

I have fished panfish on the Missississippi River ever since I have been a young kid. As I reflect on past years threw notes it definetly has made locating good panfish bites a lot easier. As some of the presentations haven’t changed a whole lot locations have however. The river is continually changing and places you used to fish may have filled in or on the other side of that new locations are created every time the water is high. Getting outside of your comfort zone and trying new areas is a good way to test yourself. It is also very rewarding when you stumble upon something new.

You fish river panfish much the as you would in lakes. Usually small jigs tipped with plastics or some type of larva. As there have been great advances in modern day rods, tackle and electronics one thing remains the same. Either the fish want to bite or they don’t! I fish panfish fairly aggressive like I do Walleyes. If I find a school of fish and I don’t have any bites or catch a fish in a short period of time I move in search of more active fish. Once an active school is located. Quickly land the fish and quickly get your bait back down. Keep the feeding frenzy going as sometimes the school is just passing through. By all means do not forget about those inactive fish you found earlier as at some point throughout the day chances are they will become active. So check back to those areas after a few hours and see if anything is willing to bite. Staying mobile can be the factor to having a great day or a poor day.

I have had my boat out in the open water around the Red Wing area and the bite currently has become real difficult and the water clarity has reached 5-6 feet. The water temp is still cool as the hot water discharge has been off. Give it some time and the fishing will pick up soon. As for now you will find me on the ice. That being said we have had a large warm spell and some areas that did have good ice now have reopened. So use Extreme Caution and check the ice as you go.

If anyone is looking to get some spring weekend trips booked now is a good time to do so. When the weather starts to warm up and people get the itch to be on the water they fill up quickly. To book your trip call 651-380-7278.

12-9-2018

The Holiday season is almost upon us. If you are still looking for the perfect gift for that one person that is always hard to shop for. Why not get them a gift card for a guided fishing trip! I have gift cards available for purchase. Just contact me by calling 651-380-7278 and I would be happy to help you get a gift card set up and in the mail. Just think there is a good possibility that they will invite you to go with. I call that a win win situation.

As the year comes to a close I would like to Thank all of my customers and all of the people that help me make my business a success. Without all of you this would not be possible. I look forward to a new season on the water next year. I can’t wait to see some of my repeat customers and as always I enjoy meeting new ones to show them a great day on the water. I hope everyone has a Happy Holidays!!

11-13-2018

It sure feels good to be back at home! I was once again out in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota working as a waterfowl hunting guide. It was an incredible fall out on the prairie.

Woodland Resort was where I was based out of and stayed. Northern Flight Guide Service is who I worked for and is the hunting portion of the resort. What an great place to stay and being absolutely beautiful doesn’t hurt either. Great staff with great accommodations along with Proz Lakeside restaurant having incredible food.

The start of the season was abnormal as we had weather that was similar to the end of October not the beginning of it. Temps were cold and we had 6 inches of snow by the fifth of October. That was just the first snowfall as we had 2 more within the next 7 days. We were covered up in thousand and thousand of ducks and geese. They were on the move south from Canada and with all the local ducks made for some incredible bird decoying action. I was on a roll for my hunters getting limits of ducks for 18 days straight. Some getting there birds as quickly as 45 minutes. The full moon came in on the 24th of October and we also had a warm up which caused a bunch of our birds to head south. Hunting slowed up some for about week, but we keep at it and continued to grind out some great hunts.

The weather soon cooled down once again and we soon gained new birds coming from the north. Hunting then picked back up quickly. Mother Nature decided to get real cold towards the beginning of November and quickly began freezing up potholes and we once again got some snow. This time it stayed as the temps didn’t get above the 20’s for highs then turned to teens as high temps. Then froze up most of the water. A majority of the birds headed south and ended our season.

I just want to Thank all of the great customers and came to hunt with me! It was my pleasure as I got to do what I truly enjoy.

Being back home the fishing has started for me once again. There have been some cool temps, but the fishing has been good. Lots of Saugers and some great Walleyes have been caught. Techniques have been pretty basic. Dragging plastics, Dubuque rigging and vertical jigging with plastics have been a great way to put fish in the boat. The river flow is around 30,000 cfs now and continues to fall means the fishing just keeps getting better

I am available to take fishing trips once again as long as the weather holds.

DON’T FORGET I HAVE GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. They make great CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!! Call me at 651-380-7278 to book your fishing trip or to purchase the gift cards.

6-22-2018

Well I have not posted anything for a while on here as I have been busy and just haven't taken the time to post. That being said I have definatly been out enjoying the water. I have fished some Walleye toutnaments on Mille Lacs Lake and have been doing some trips and fun fishing on the river.

Mille Lacs once again this year has been absolutely incredible. The amount of Walleyes you can catch on that lake is crazy to say the least. Walleyes of all sizes can be had. If you are looking for big Walleyes they can be found. Smaller ones are easily found as well. I look at it this way. Since I can't keep any Walleyes I tend to go for the larger ones. An average of 25 inch and up is very common and extremely fun. Lake fishing is quite a bit different than fishing the river. A lake has no current to deal with just sometimes there are large waves. Structure fishing is also different than current seems and there isn't the up and down of water levels. Techniques for putting Walleyes in the boat have been simple. Lindy rigging jumbo leeches and chubs on gravel flats were good and many of the fish have began there journey to the mud. Pitching jigs with live bait and plastics will still produce fish along with slip bobber fishing on reefs. 

The Bass you can catch on Mille Lacs matches the Walleye fishing. Pitching plastics to rocky areas are always a good option. Jerk baits fished in the same areas along with tube jigs can be very effective. You can expect to land many smallmouth from 14-21 inches. They are such a hard fighting fish that when landed put a huge smile on your face.

The Mississippi river has been absolutely on fire the entire spring. Despite the high water early on the bite stayed very good. Many limits made it in my boat with several other large fish each day that were released. Pulling crankbaits and 3 way rigging live bait has been very productive techniques. Also dragging jigs with live bait has been another great option. Lake Pepin has had an amazing bite for a month and a half now. 

5-6-2018

With the river cresting and the spawn finishing up a couple weeks ago the fishing has been extremely good!! Many limits of Walleyes and Saugers have been put in my livewell. There have been plenty of large female Walleyes caught and released as well.

Lots of people avoid the river when the water becomes high as they are afraid of hitting debris. I totally understand that. If you take your time, slow down and use a little common sense you will be just fine. You will more than likely be rewarded with an excellent day on the water. 

The weather went from cold to almost hot as it was in the low 80's for air temp yesterday. That has shot the water temp up really fast and the presentations have changed as well. The plastics have been put to the side now and the live bait and crankbaits have taken over Thay will be the dominate presentations till fall. 3 waying live bait and pulling lead core have been putting a majority of the fish in my boat now. Pitching bucktail jigs have been a good way of getting fish as well.

The water clarity is now at least 2 feet and even better in Lake Pepin. The river level is currently 11.4 feet and the flow is 84,500 now. The flow and level is dropping fast. The fish are putting the feed bag on now as we are into our spring patterns. If you want to get in on a great day on the river be sure to book a trip. 

1-22-2018

Well the 1st trip on Pool 4 for the winter was definetly a success. With temps late in the week near or above 40, getting the boat wet was a must for sure. The presentation to our success was to drag jigs and plastics in 10-18 feet of water. A lot of nice Walleyes were boated and released. A few were taken home for supper the next day. The average size for the outing was 18-22 inches. With the weather patterns getting warmer don't forget to book your trip and get in on some great fishing. 

1-29-2018

When ever the temps warm up and allow it to be comfortable to fish, the boat comes out of the shed and to the river I go. The bite continues to be amazing which is actually no surprise to me. There was a great bite this fall prior to winter and the power plant is up and running to keep the water temps up in the river. The presentations in the river remain pretty simple. The good ole jig and plastic dragged will put some good fish in the boat day after day. The darker colors have seemed to be best, but the other day Prescott Bait Company ringer worms in the Gold color worked really well. That color actually boated some of the nicest fish. 

***Just a reminder. If you book a trip with me and book a stay at Everts Resort you will recive 25% off your stay with them.

***March Discount***
The warm up is just around the corner! Get your date booked before it fills up! 
I am offering a Weekday March discount for full day Walleye/Sauger open water trips. If you book a trip from now till February 28th I will offer $50 off a full day trip booked for the month of March. 
Remember Minnesota's Walleye season closes February 24th, but Pool 4 of the Mississippi River doesn't close. Keep your Walleye season going by booking a trip. Call 651-380-7278 to schedule your fishing adventure.
 

2-17-2018

Well mother nature has been all over the charts lately with the temperature. One days it's -5 and the next it's 30 out. The nicer days I have been out in the boat and the bite has been really good. Lots of really nice Walleyes and Saugers have been caught in my boat. Walleyes ranging 15-26 inches. The average has been around 17-21 inches. Saugers have been on the larger size. They have been ranging from 15-21 inches which is great to see. Lots of males mixed in with the large females for both Walleyes and Saugers.

The presentation has remained pretty simple. I've continued to drag plastics with jigs. The jig size has been ranging from 1/8 to 5/16th ounce depending on the current and water depth. Fishing depth has been all over the board. From 6-18 feet. Walleyes being shallower and the Saugers being deeper.

If your looking to get in on some great fishing give me a call and book your trip. The great fishing will continue to be good and will stay that way throughout the year. The Mississippi River is an incredible fishery with many areas to search out and stay on a good bite.

3-3-2018

Well the groundhog was right in the money with his 6 more weeks of winter forecasted. Fortunately there has been some days that have been nice out and I've been taking full advantage of them by being on the river.

The bite has remained good with plenty of Saugers and Walleyes being caught out of my boat. Some great eaters along with some bigger ones that were released. The presentations have pretty much remained the same still with the use of jigs and plastic being dragged up and down stream. A 1/8th to a 5/16th jig. Plastic colors have been all over the board. One day the want more natural colors and the next day they are wanting a dark or bright colored plastics. You just have to keep changing it up till you get it dialed in. Depths have ranged from 6-18 foot of water. I also have been picking up some fish up shallower pitching jigs and blades. 

With the longer days and daylight hours the fish are becoming more and more active everyday. Also with the melting that we are having the runoff will start to dirty the water some and make the bite even better as the runoff will warm the water temps. The weather looks to be becoming warmer and more stable. Don't forget to book your trip to get in on some great fishing action. 

3-26-2018

Wow March has just flown by and the normal March warm up is slowly coming. I stress slowly!! It by far has been plenty warm to be on the river fishing. We just haven't seen any 50's with consistency by any means.

The fishing has been good throughout the month for Walleyes. They have cooperated well and a lot of nice fish have been netted in my boat. Nothing over 10 pounds yet, but there has been several 5-9 pounders landed. Also more than enough eater fish to go around. 

The Saugers have been scarce. I have been picking a few up. The big push from Lake Pepin hasn't quite happened yet. I do expect it to happen any day.

The warm days have begun to melt the snow and there has been additional snowfall out in the Minnesota River valley which will flow into the Mississippi River as it melts. The water has started rise and that has made increase in the current flow. The water temp has started to rise also. The water has dirtied up a lot as well. As of now we are down to about a foot of clarity. All of this will intern start to pull fish out of Lake Pepin into the river. Lake Pepin is currently still iced over, but has began to open up on the points and the upper end of it as well has opened a lot.

Presentations currently have been the same. Dragging, pitching and vertical jigging ringworms, flukes, along with paddletails will be your main go to until the water temp rises. I use a wide variety of plastics. If your looking for a great plastic check out Prescott Bait Company. They have a great selection of river colors that put fish in the boat for me. One color that I really like is the gold. They are the only company that makes this color. The Walleyes absolutely love them!!!

I have only a few weekend days available for April. I do have some weekdays available. Be sure to send me an email or call me at 651-380-7278 to book a fun day on the water.

3-30-2018

Well this roller coaster ride that mother nature has us on is definitely getting old. I'm probably not the only one that is ready for our normal spring weather to start anytime!! Heck at this point I would even settle for the upper 40's. The extended forecast doesn't show much of a warm up. The good thing is that the fish are biting and will continue to bite. 

The one thing we have going for us is the weather is stable and the water temp is currently pushing 40 by the end of each day. Weather fronts come and go, but that usually doesn't effect river fish as much as lake fish. The flow is coming up and the daylight hours are getting longer daily. All of these factors increase the fish activity and with the spawn only a few weeks away mother nature is telling the fish to exit the lake  and start heading into the river to begin to stage for the spawn. 

The cold mornings and the moon phase where it is has pushed the early morning bite to more of a mid-day bite currently. That definitely doesn't hurt my feelings at all because the mornings have been chilly.

The river stage is at 5.6 feet currently and the forecast calls for it to be at 7.4 feet by the end of next week. Water clarity currently is about a foot or less. With the water on the rise there will be a lot of debris floating so please take it slow and be safe.

With the conditions changing daily I have had to deploy a few different tactics to put fish in the boat. I have been running Dubuque rigs, vertical jigging and pitching blades along with plastics and hair jigs. 3 ways with stick baits have been working as well. It pays to be versatile and to try different things. Trust what you electronics are showing you. If you are marking fish stay with it. Try a few different things before you move to another spot. Also don't spend all day in one spot. Stay mobile and be on the hunt for the active fish. Don't get hung up on fishing memories. After all it is a River and sometimes it changes by the hour.

To get in on some great spring river fishing be sure to give me a call or send me an email to book your trip.

4-6-2018

Well what a whirlwind of weather we have been having. It's one of the craziest springs far as weather goes that I can remember in a very long time. It looks like another blast of snow is coming for Sunday into Monday morning. After that it appears that there will be some steady weather with a warm up come midweek. A nice mid 40 degree day is going to feel like 70!!

As far as the fishing, the bite on the days mother nature has allow me to be on the water has been rather decent. Plenty of quality eater fish and a few mid 20 inch fish have been boated. 

Presentations have been mainly Dubuque Rigs for me. I have done some pitching of jigs and blades as well and that has boated plenty of fish as also. Brighter colors have seemed to be the best. Being that the mornings have been so cold I have been opting to start a few hours after the sun has come up to let the air temp and the water warm up some. 

The river level with all of the colder temps has basically leveled out at 672.5 and the flow is at 31.9. The forecast currently shows that to hold stable for a few days. I do anticipate that with more snow coming Sunday and the warm up next week that those numbers will change quickly. Right now the clarity of the water is around a foot. 

Things are about to happen fast as we are within a few days of the start of the spawn. The peak spawn is around the 15th of April. Some fish will spawn after the 15th as well.  The Walleye spawn is triggered by the daylight hours. Water temperature helps the incubation of the eggs. Ideally we want the water temp in the mid to upper 40's during this time. 

Busy week on the water next week. The only day I have available next week is Thursday. I'll try and do an update to keep you informed on the bite and how the conditions have been changing.

4-13-2018

I just want to start out by saying it has been an amazing week on the river for fishing!! A lot of really big smiles were a regular thing in my boat as of late.

The weather wasn't perfect. Early in the week the temps were somewhat cool and on Tuesday there was even snow flurries throughout the day. That did not seem to effect the bite at all. I actually think it helped the bite. My reason for saying that is that is the water is somewhat dirty, but has about 2 foot of visibility. The overcast helps keep the light penetration to a minimum. There has been a huge influx of Walleyes and Saugers into the river as they are beginning to spawn. Later in the week I already have been seeing spawned out females Walleyes.

Presentations varied some day to day, but they all produced extremely well. The presentations that produced for me were Dubuque rigs, Pitching Prescott Bait Company plastics and Larson's Quality Jigs blade baits along with trolling stickbaits. The key was to stay mobile and keep hitting areas looking for active fish. Trust what your depth finder is telling you. If your marking fish it's probably just a matter of time before you get bit. 

The water has dropped some throughout the week and the flow has as well. That has keep the fish on the move as the flow went from 30,000 cfms down to 23,900 cfms currently. The level has went from 672.32 early in the week to 671.2 as of right now. The outlook for all of this rain and melting of the snow that is still around is for the river to rise threw the weekend and all of next week. Fishing conditions will be changing daily and probably by the hour as the flow and level rises. 

Just remember if your going to venture out on the river when the water is on the rise there is going to be a lot of floating debris so use caution and be safe. I am going to post a few pictures of my week. If you would like to see more you can visit my Facebook page as I have more listed on there.

P.S. If you haven't saw the picture of my wife's Giant Walleye check it out. It went 29 inches and weighed 11.77 pounds.

4-30-2018

Well we haven't had high water in a very long time and we sure have it now. On Sunday the 22nd of April the roller gates were opened on the dam and it looked like someone blew up  a beaver dam with all of the debris coming down the river. A significant change to the river like that has an effect on the fishing for a day or two as the fish have to adjust to the high current flow. In the midst of all of the water coming up the Walleyes were finishing up there spawn.

A couple days after the water came up and the fish became more active again and the bite has been strong since then. Lots of really nice Walleyes and Saugers. A true 30 inch Walleye was boated by one of my customers. I can honestly say that is the first true 30 inch fish I have ever seen in this river!! I have seen tons of 29 inch and change fish over the years. It was post spawn and weighed 9 pounds and 11 ounces. This fish at pre-spawn would have pushed the 13 pound mark. A true trophy anywhere. The Saugers have been plentiful and are yet to spawn. Lots of really good quality Saugers have been put boatside from that 14-20 inch range. 

Presentations that have been putting fish in the boat for me have been Dubuque rigs along with pitching jigs and blades. The river is almost 50 degrees and presentations are about to change. Water clarity varies for per river location. The clarity is anywhere from 2 feet to 6 inches. The flow is currently 94,000 cfs and the water is at 12.66 feet. We are about 4 inches from the crest.

The river is forecasted to crest here in a few days. The fishing is going to stay really good threw the spring and now that the Walleyes are done spawning they are going to be hungry. Since they cancelled the National Walleye Tour event here I have several open days in the next few weeks. Be sure to book a trip and enjoy the beautiful weather and also the great fishing. 

Just a  reminder, if you plan on hitting the river be cautious as there is still lots of floating debris out there.