Hahn's Mississippi River
Fishing Guide Service

walleye · sauger · crappies

Water level and flow are still a little above norm with clarity and temp about what we expect in the winter on the river.

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Cold, clear and still dropping slowly sums up the conditions on pool 4. I had a week gap in reports as I have been out of state for a few days.

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Cold, clean and stable sum up the conditions on pool 4. As we fished last week the level and flow were just creeping down and getting close to normal.

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High, clean and cold best describes the water on pool 4 right now. The bite is still going strong on the river.

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Mississippi River Pools 2-4

Pool 4 encompasses Lake Pepin, which is roughly 23 miles long, twelve miles of river above the lake to Lock and Dam 3, and twelve miles of river and backwaters below the lake to Lock and Dam 4.

Pool 3 is a relatively short pool (about 18 miles long) but has many wingdams, cuts, and sloughs.

Pool 2 is famous as a trophy fishery. This is largely due to its catch and release restrictions.

In my opinion Pool 4 and the Lake Pepin Area is the most unique and quality fishery I have ever fished. The size and quantity of Walleyes and Sauger are phenomenal.

Spring finds many fish between the lake and the dam. As the urge to spawn drives these fish upstream, many areas in this stretch of the river become literally stacked with fish. 

Summer finds many fish back in the lake or on their way there. This time of year is fun in that many patterns develop in many different areas.

Fall is a great time for trophies and numbers as the fish feed hard before winter and are found in abundance in many areas.

Winter is also unique on this stretch. A power plant above dam 3 creates enough warm water to keep enough open water below the dam to float a boat all year.

Full Day (7 hours)
1-2 people $525
3 people $575

Half Day (4 hours)
1-2 people $325
3 people $375

All necessary fishing equipment, including quality fishing rods and reels, latest producing tackle, and live bait will be provided. Marty will also have all rods pre-rigged and ready to fish along with helpful tips to help you catch more fish. All you will need to bring is sunscreen, raingear, cooler to take home fish, fishing license, food and drinks. Marty will also clean your fish for you at the end of the day.
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Red Wing Visitor Bureau Lodging Information
Phone: 800-498-3444
Website: www.redwing.org

Everts Resort
Phone: 715-792-2333
Website: www.evertsfishingresort.com

Country Inn & Suites
Phone: 800-596-2375
Website: www.countryinns.com

Days Inn
Phone: 651-388-3568
Website: www.daysinn.com
Growing up just outside of Marengo, Iowa, Marty was introduced to fishing at a very young age by his father. The Iowa River was his classroom where he learned about moving water and how fish relate to it. Creating memories while fishing with his father and grandfather on the river laid the groundwork for his love of sport fishing.

In his late teens, Marty caught the “walleye bug” that he still has today. Bellevue and Muscatine, Iowa were his home waters, but trips to nearly every pool from Burlington to St. Paul were made too. Annual fishing events on the Illinois and Tennessee Rivers hold special memories for Marty.

Moving his family to Minnesota in 2002, Marty has made Pool 4 of the Mississippi River his home water. Most of his guiding is done on Pools 3 and 4 but he will guide on Pool 2 upon request. He holds a current OUPV license and is fully insured.

Marty’s versatility, various techniques and presentations, and knowing when and where to apply those, is what makes Marty a highly experienced guide. He has over 40 years of experience fishing the Mississippi River and a typical year includes 175-200 days on the water which will make sure your expectations are met or exceeded.

Join Marty for an exciting day of catching your choice of walleye, sauger, or crappies while learning fishing techniques, understanding fishing locations, and learning useful river information. Whether you are a die-hard fisherman looking for a trophy walleye, or a family needing a guide, Marty will do his best to see that your day on the water is exceptional.

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All necessary fishing equipment including quality fishing rods and reels, latest producing tackle, and live bait will be provided. Marty will also have all rods pre-rigged and ready to fish along with helpful tips to help you catch more fish. All you will need to bring is sunscreen, raingear, cooler to take home fish, fishing license, food and drinks. Marty will also clean your fish for you at the end of the day.

We will be fishing out of the 2020 2075 Lund Pro V shown here. It's powered by a 300hp Mercury Pro XS Motor. Other equipment includes a Mercury 15hp Pro Kicker, 36 Volt Minn Kota Ulterra trolling motor and 3 Garmin Echomap 93sv depth finders. We will be using Limit Creek rods and Pflueger reels. You will not be disappointed in equipment as I use only quality gear from hooks to outboards!

You will need to purchase a Minnesota fishing license if you're 16 or older. Annual licenses allow you to fish from March 1 to the last day of February the following year, however lower-cost licenses are available for shorter time frames. There is an additional cost to fish for trout, salmon, or sturgeon.

Please visit the Minnesota DNR website for more information.

Website: Minnesota DNR

You will need to purchase a Wisonsin fishing license if you're 16 or older. If you are born before 1927 or are on active duty on furlough or leave and a Wisconsin resident you fish for free. A variety of license options are available.

Please visit the Wisconsin DNR website for more information.

Website: Wisconsin DNR
Mississippi River Pool 4 Walleye & Sauger Telemetry Study - Here is a very informative study conducted by the Minnesota DNR on pool 4 that reports seasonal walleye and sauger movement using radio telemetry.

Basic Live Bait River Rig - This rig can be used any time but times of transition are when I turn to it to put fish in the boat when other methods won't. When we are making the turn from winter to spring or summer to fall, there seems to be a small window when this really shines. I usually won't use this for long periods of time but for a few days at a time when we have had a change in season or a water level fluctuation it is very affective.

Three-way Rigging Stick Baits - The method itself is effective in many situations but it really shines as the current flows increase and water temps are in the 38-55 degree range. It will work outside of these temps but typically would be out performed by other presentations. A general calendar time frame for this would be mid October through mid May on the upper part of the Mississippi River.

Check back often for more tips from Marty.
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  • 25664 Willow Lane, New Prague, MN 56071, United States