06/30/2026
This is my buddy Butch. Much like me, Butch loves to learn about fish much as catching fish - which ultimately leads to more successful days on the water. For many, this year on pool 4 has been tough. Even some guides are wondering if the walleye numbers are down. All one has to do is read the internet posts and you can come to the conclusion many are having a bad year. The number of questions like "what is going on, where should I fish, is the population hurting, etc." are rampant. Many an angler has burned up the phone lines with their buddies trying to piece together some type of bite. With all the head scratching pool 4 is giving this year you'd think every walleye angler had a bad case of dandruff! Then there's guys like Butch, quietly going along and coping with the tough year. Has Butch's year been different, absolutely "yes". Has it been bad- nope. Actually, Butch's year has been consistent- not stellar- but very consistent. So, what is Butch's secret? Is he just better than everybody else? Nope. What Butch does different than everybody else is understand this year is different- not worse- just different. By applying all the knowledge I teach in my books Butch is able to understand the river system, read the river system and adapt accordingly. The reality is pool 4 is not worse this year, it's just not the same as years past. There are some guides and a handful of guys doing just fine as they understand these principles I teach. So, if you are scratching your head this year I urge you to buy the books - study them like crazy and wear them out, write notes in the margins and build on the information presented. Become the angler you always wanted to be, rather than always wondering in frustration when the hot bite is going to return. So, rather than buying the latest gadget for your boat or looking for the hot new bait invest some time into the most important fishfinding tool you own- your brain. Great job to guys like Butch that consitently adapt. The only constant about the river is this- it's always going to change.
Book 1: The Walleye Forage System - understand the food
https://www.amazon.com/Walleye-Forage-System-Pathways-Seasonal/dp/B0GQ1JZVDW
Book 2: Reading the River - understand the river
https://www.amazon.com/Reading-River-Walleye-Geometry-Seasonal/dp/B0GV7BQP7F
Both
Well, if the perch don’t bite…..chase their cousins. The key to finding fish this time of year is finding flow. Small deflection points (beaver dams, trees, rock points) from the bank to wingdams will hold fish. Don’t forget to fish sand dunes as well as these are considered horizontal current breaks and fish will use them. Present a crawler to them and fish-on. Be safe on the water this coming 4th and enjoy!!! Don’t forget to wear your life vest and lanyard and see ya on the water!!
