mississippi river pool 5a,6,and7 depth map

[apegs]

Will be fishing the state tourney this year on the river pool 5a,6,and 7. I have very little experience personally navigating the river. I would like to start looking and familiarize myself with the area. I could not find any depth related maps online that I found sufficient. Anyone know of a good place to look or if they sell detailed Map?

[Savage Brewer]

The Navionics web app seems to have some decent detail, Also Fishing Hot Spots has paper maps:

M245 MN/WI Mississippi River - Pool 4 Red Wing, MN to Alma, WI (incl. Lake Pepin) 071365002459 DV 11.45

L730 MN/WI Mississippi River - Pool 5 and 5a 071365307301 DV 11.45

L732 MN/WI Mississippi River - Pool 7 071365307325 DV 11.45

L733 MN/WI Mississippi River - Pool 8 071365307332 DV 11.45

Doesnt look like they have a map for Pool 6 though.

[PurpleCatMan]

+1 on the navionics web app.

Also, check out these boating guides if you don't have much river experience: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/boatwater/guides.html

RED RIGHT RETURN!

[Craigums]

According to the Lakemaster HSOforum the Humminbird chip has all those pools listed. How much detail is provided on them?

[TruthWalleyes]

According to the Lakemaster HSOforum the Humminbird chip has all those pools listed. How much detail is provided on them?

Alot of detail. I used the latest HBird lakemaster chip last week on the river.

[chak]

Apegs, Hotspot just came out with a new paper map of 5 and 5a. Lakemaster Hbird chip is good for the main channel but gives no depth detail of the backwaters. I believe Fountain city or Alma has a rod and gun club bass tourney this Sat. Might be a good day for some casual observation. It would at least give you an idea where you can go in the backwater and where not. Lots of real skinny water with good fishing. There are plenty of cuts that you can run on plane and unfortunately there are more than a few wing and closing dams in the backwaters that aren't marked.

[HellaBass]

FYI - I'd say 5A is the most dangerous pool around when it comes to leaving the main channel, shallow wing dams and closing dams a plenty, don't assume anything

[apegs]

What is a closing dam? And how do you know what's where in the back waters?

[Markula]

FYI - I'd say 5A is the most dangerous pool around when it comes to leaving the main channel, shallow wing dams and closing dams a plenty, don't assume anything

I agree! Learned the hard way!

IMO, I think it also offers the best fishing.

[Savage Brewer]

What is a closing dam? And how do you know what's where in the back waters?

I may be wrong bu I think a closing dam is one that runs parallel with the channel, that during low water it closes the channel from the sides, so it requires less water to keep the river at a safe navagating depth for the barges.

[chak]

Savage Brewer, you are correct a closing dam runs parallel with the channel. The new Hotspot Map of 5 and 5a seems to have the dams marked pretty good. Watched a Rapala wrapped boat hit a log or something today saw him stuck in the mud last year. The best way is to have some one show you around. I've been playing on 5 and 5a for 3 years and still get confused without following my gps trails at times. If you can get down here on a weekend there are enough locals running around to figure out the main cuts, there are miles of slop in 5a backwaters. Just watch for logs keep it on plane but slow till you know where you are going and be prepared to see your graph reading allot of 2ft.

[Craigums]

Is there a Lock schedule or is it all first come first serve? RE: Lock and Dams

[RumRiverRat]

Is there a Lock schedule or is it all first come first serve? RE: Lock and Dams

Commercial traffic is priority over PRC(Pleasure Recreational Craft).

Otherwise hail them on Marine Band Radio or pull the cord to signal you require lockage.