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Fishing Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings): what the data says
Ford Dam down to the Hastings dam. The metro pool MN DNR calls the area's best quality walleye and sauger water; catch-and-release only for walleye, sauger and bass. The river tops out around 30 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
On the chart, Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings) draws 3,684 acres inside 62.6 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 7.4) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. 47% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water.
Walleye fishing at Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings)
Come spring, look for walleye tight to the bank in 4 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 9 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 9 to 30 ft. Start at Channel bar / point (mile 6.8). It's a point holding about 12 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & night | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1) (23 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Sauger fishing at Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings)
Spring sauger on Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings) hold shallow, usually 4 to 18 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 30 ft. The chart's best answer is Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1) — creek channel, 23 ft, prime for summer. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1) (23 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1) (23 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1) (23 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings)
Start shallow in spring: smallmouth bass sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 9 to 30 ft. Top water on the chart: Channel bar / point (mile 6.8), a point in the 12-ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings)
The spring pattern is a shallow one: largemouth bass in 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 9 to 30 ft for winter. The spot to know is Channel bar / point (mile 6.8), a point in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1) (23 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
White Bass fishing at Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings)
Spring white bass on Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings) hold shallow, usually 2 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 30 ft. The chart's best answer is Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) — point, 12 ft, prime for fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Northern Pike fishing at Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings)
Start shallow in spring: northern pike sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 15 ft. Top water on the chart: Channel bar / point (mile 6.8), a point in the 12-ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Channel bar / point (mile 6.8) (12 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings) also holds channel catfish (8 to 25 ft in summer), flathead catfish (8 to 30 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.0): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.6): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 12.4): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.2): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 24.0): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 25.8): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.7): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 29.6): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Current seam (mile 0.6): current seam, around 17 ft
- Slackwater eddy (mile 19.9): eddy pocket, around 17 ft
- Current seam (mile 21.8): current seam, around 17 ft
- Channel current seam (mile 18.0): current seam, around 15 ft
Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings) fishing regulations
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Common questions
How deep is Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings)?
Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings) is about 30 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings)?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, sauger, northern pike, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, flathead catfish on Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings).
Where is the best fishing spot on Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings)?
Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for sauger in summer. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings)?
For walleye, the summer bite is best in the evening and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
What are the fishing regulations for Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings)?
Fishing on Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings) is regulated by the Minnesota DNR. Check the official Minnesota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Nearby waters
Unnamed (Bohrer Pond) 0 mi · Marcott 3 mi · Sunfish 3 mi · Mississippi River - Pigs Eye 4 mi · Bur Oaks Pond 4 mi · Thompson 4 mi · Carver 4 mi · Rogers 5 mi · Pickerel 6 mi · Augusta 6 mi · Lemay 6 mi · Crosby 7 mi
See how Mississippi River Pool 2 (Hastings) stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best smallmouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best white bass lakes in Minnesota
Browse all Minnesota fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.