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Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
Hastings dam down to Lock & Dam 3. About 18 miles of channel, wing dams and backwaters feeding the head of Pool 4. The river tops out around 30 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
The outline encloses 3,529 acres, worked by 36.3 miles of shoreline. An index of 4.4 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 47% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 16.4 mi, about 2.4 mi across. Dakota County claims this one. If the bite dies, Vermillion River - Clear is 3 mi to the southeast.
Spring puts walleye in skinny water — 4 to 15 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 9 to 30 ft, wintering in 9 to 30 ft. Fall walleye concentrate at Channel bar / point (mile 13.8), a prime-rated point around 12 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around the evening and early morning. A crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 13.8) (12 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 13.8) (12 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Channel bar / point (mile 13.8) (12 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (23 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, sauger run shallow here, mostly 4 to 18 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 30 ft before dropping to 9 to 30 ft for winter. Summer sauger concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5), a prime-rated creek channel around 23 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| 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 2.5) (23 ft) | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (23 ft) | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 45 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (23 ft) | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
In spring, white bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 25 ft before dropping to 9 to 30 ft for winter. Fall white bass concentrate at Channel bar / point (mile 13.8), a prime-rated point around 12 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 13.8) (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 13.8) (12 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 40 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Come spring, look for smallmouth bass tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 10 to 30 ft, then a winter hold in 9 to 30 ft. Start at Channel bar / point (mile 13.8). It's a point holding about 12 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig is the honest summer answer here.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 13.8) (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 13.8) (12 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 45 ft | midday | Current seam (mile 0.6) (17 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Come spring, look for northern pike tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Start at Channel bar / point (mile 13.8). It's a point holding about 12 ft of water and rates prime come fall. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage is the honest summer answer here.
| 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 13.8) (12 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 13.8) (12 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Channel bar / point (mile 13.8) (12 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
When the water first warms, channel catfish slide up into 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): a creek channel around 23 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (23 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (23 ft) | |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 40 ft | midday | Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) (23 ft) |
Mississippi River Pool 3 (Hastings to Red Wing) also holds flathead catfish (8 to 30 ft in summer), freshwater drum (8 to 30 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 9 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Main-channel hole (mile 8.1), sits near 24 ft.
Access data: Wisconsin DNR - Boat Access Sites, Shore Fishing Sites, and DNR Parking Lots; Wisconsin DNR - Public Access Lands Shoreline Geometry; Wisconsin DNR - Public Access Lands Shoreline Geometry; Wisconsin DNR - Public Access Lands Shoreline Geometry; Wisconsin DNR - Public Access Lands Shoreline Geometry. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
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 3 (Hastings to Red Wing) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Mississippi River Pool 3 (Hastings to Red Wing) 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.
Anglers target walleye, sauger, white bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, channel catfish, flathead catfish, freshwater drum, crappie, bluegill, common carp on Mississippi River Pool 3 (Hastings to Red Wing).
Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for sauger in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
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.
Fishing on Mississippi River Pool 3 (Hastings to Red Wing) 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.
Vermillion River - Clear 3 mi, MN · U.S. Lock & Dam #3 3 mi, MN · Vermillion River 5 mi · Mississippi River - Goose 6 mi, MN · Rebecca 8 mi, MN · Gantenbein Lake 9 mi, WI · Unnamed Lake (Washington County) 12 mi, MN · Mississippi River - Spring 13 mi, MN · Mississippi River Pool 4 (Red Wing) 13 mi · Kinnickinnic Pond, Upper 13 mi, WI · St. Croix River 15 mi, MN · Lake Byllesby 16 mi, MN
See how Mississippi River Pool 3 (Hastings to Red Wing) stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best white bass lakes in Minnesota · best sauger lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Dakota County fishing maps (32 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.