2023 Fishing Boat Season
Saturday, May 21 – Sunday, October 8 (subject to Mother Nature)
Fishing Boat Rates
| Duration | Alumacraft Trophy 195 |
Starweld Fusion 18 DC |
1448 Jon Boat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | $495 | $295 | N/A |
| 8 hours | $695 | $395 | $150 |
Terms and Conditions
- Renter must be at least 25 years of age. Operators must be at least 21 years of age with valid driver’s license and no DWI/DUI convictions in the past 3 years. Operator must have previous boating experience operating a similar watercraft.
- All power boat rentals require a $500 security and damage deposit credit card authorization prior to departure. Within 24 hours of the reservation we will add the hold to the same credit card used for the reservation, unless you ask us to use a different card. Funds will only be captured from the hold if there is damage or loss of rental equipment.
- Boats will be provided with a full tank of gas and must be refilled by renter prior to return. All fueling must be done at Parkside Marina where our boats are typically stored. If gas dock is closed on your return we will refill later and charge against the hold on your credit card.
- Fishing boats will typically be trailered to launch location and launched after Renter arrives on site. Our usual launch site is the Wabasha Municipal landing, although with full-day rentals we can deliver to different locations, with $1.50/mile charge.
- Renter must sign the Pool 4 Rental Agreement before boarding. Please view the rental agreement summary on our website before completing your reservation. E-signature instructions will be emailed after reservation is complete.
- All passengers must have signed the Pool 4 Waiver and Release of Liability prior to boarding. Instructions will be emailed to Renter after the Renter e-signs the Rental Agreement. Please forward on to all participants ahead of rental. It saves a lot of time if waivers are completed before arriving at the dock.
- Participants cannot exceed the USCG ratings in terms of persons or weight. These are documented with the boat descriptions.
- No children under 6 months of age or under 16 pounds are allowed on board. Life preservers do not work with such small children so best to wait until they are older.
- All adults fishing the Mississippi River must be in possession of a Minnesota or a Wisconsin Fishing license and abide by regulations of the state in which they are licensed.
- No glass is allowed on the river. If bringing beverages be sure to bring in cans, boxes, or plastic.
- Our boats are for pleasure use only and not to be used to transport people or equipment, to tow boats, or as work boats (e.g. dock install/removal). Only passengers that have checked-in with Pool 4 Adventures are allowed on the boat during the boat rental policy period.
FAQs
Is there a fish cleaning station I can use?Vision Design
- No. None of our usual launches have public fish cleaning stations. You will have to take your catch home and clean them there.
Can I rent tackle?Vision Design
- We offer tackle packs for Walleye, Pike, Bass, and Live Bait. You can rent or purchase them individually or all together as a package.
- Landing nets will be included with all fishing boat rentals, or you can bring your own if you prefer.
- See our Information page for descriptions of tackle and live bait options.
- Renter will be charged for any tackle lost or broken.
Can I rent fishing rods and reels?Vision Design
- Yes. Our goal is to give you a great fishing adventure on the River – even if you left your gear at home, or don’t own any gear. Pool 4 Adventures has a variety of rod/reel combos available. We offer spinning, spincast, bait casting and trolling setups.
- We offer a premium option if you want to treat yourself or someone else to a high end combo, otherwise we have good quality standard combos. We also have youth and child combos. We will provide child and youth rods and reels free of charge with an adult rod and reel rental.
- A damage/loss deposit will be required for most gear. Email us and we can send you a list of options.
Will you teach us how to use the trolling motor?Vision Design
- In the pre-departure boating overview, we will show you the basics of how to deploy and operate and stow the trolling motor. Trolling motors must be out of the water and stowed when operating under engine power.
- See our TBD page for links to user manuals and help videos on our trolling motors. The specific motor on each boat is listed in the boat description.
Do the fishing boats have electronics on-board?Vision Design
- Fish finders are provided on all of our fishing boats. Please review fishing boat details to see which fish finders are on board. You may want to review operating instructions for the fish finders before arriving at the dock.
- See our Information page for links to user manuals and help videos on our electronics. In the pre-departure boating overview, we will cover depth finder usage – to support safe boating – but will not do training on the fish finder usage. These devices are quite complicated and require some hands-on practice.
Can I fish from the boat?Vision Design
- Please see individual boat descriptions for details. Fishing is not allowed on our cruising pontoons.
- Anyone fishing in Mississippi Pool 4 will need a Minnesota or Wisconsin fishing license and must abide by the rules of the issuing state.
- As the Mississippi is a border water the fishing season is continuous. There are size limits and bag limits that must be adhered to. Violating limits could result in fines – DNR officers are very common at our landing!
Will towables be secure when we are cruising?Vision Design
- We provide towables uninflated and stowed. You will have to inflate them prior to use and deflate and stow them when complete. A 12V pump that makes this a quick process – 5 mins or less – will be provided with the towable.
- In the pre-departure boating overview, we will cover this process.
Can I bring my own water skis, or tube or other toys?Vision Design
- We do not allow you to bring your own towables (tubes, boards, skis) or float pads. The towables and float pads we offer for rent will fit on the boat without obstructing the driver’s view or impacting seating for passengers. We can’t ensure that level of safety with other gear.
- If a boat does not support towables, then no towables are allowed, whether yours or from Pool 4. Refer to the boat description to see if towables are allowed.
- Aside from towables and float pads, bringing your own smaller water toys is okay (e.g. noodles, beach balls, inflatable toys) as long as they do not obstruct the operator during transport or impact seating for passengers.
I’m not familiar with the area – how do I know where I can safely tow my kids on a tube?Vision Design
- In the pre-departure boating overview we will cover areas that are better choices for tubing and swimming – we recommend the Minnesota side of Lake Pepin.
- Never tow in the main channel – this is a high-traffic area and a shipping lane.
- Please ask our deckhands if you have any other questions related to towing.
Can we raft our boat? (tie to other boats while adrift)Vision Design
- No. The River is generally quite wavy and it is nearly impossible to hold boats together without putting rub and scratch marks on the boats. The fenders we provide are not designed for rafting so we cannot allow it.
Can we beach our boat?Vision Design
- Yes. Beaching boats along the Mississippi is common, but it takes a good deal of knowledge of the area to do it safely. There are many wing dams in the area that can be hit when beaching and hitting a wing dam (a rock pile) can do serious damage to the hull and lower unit.
- Please let us know if you plan to beach the boat and we will give you some additional pointers to make sure you can do it safely.
What other things are needed for our adventure?Vision Design
- There must be at least one cell phone on the boat and the number provided to Pool 4 adventures staff prior to departure. Please charge your phone before coming to the boat. Most boats have a 12V outlet and some also have a USB charger port. If you will need to charge your phone please bring your own cable.
- Be prepared for the weather – hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc. Pontoons have Bimini tops but fishing boats offer no protection from the sun or weather.
- We recommend that you bring some non-DEET dry formula bug spray – especially on fishing trips when operating close to shorelines. When on the main river bugs are often not a problem. DEET can be very damaging to boat upholstery – it is not allowed on Pool 4 Adventures boats.
Can I purchase add-ons even though I am not the Renter?Vision Design
- Yes. Most add on gear and services can be reserved by email and paid for on-line or on your arrival.
- Please try to complete payment for add-ons before arrival – we don’t want to delay your party’s departure to run credit cards.
Who needs to wear a life jacket?Vision Design
- Minnesota state law requires that children under 10 must always wear a life jacket unless the boat is anchored and being used as a swim platform.
- Participants that are elderly, or cannot swim, or that are at-risk for going overboard for any reason should always wear a life jacket while on the boat.
- The basic life preservers provided with the rental are not designed for long-term wear. For those wearing a life preserver the entire trip, you might consider bringing a more comfortable vest with you or renting a neoprene or inflatable vest from us.
Do I need to bring my own life jacket?Vision Design
- Pool 4 Adventures will ensure that there are USCG approved life preservers on-board for all passengers. These are the basic orange vests you are probably familiar with. These emergency vests are not adequate for tubing and are generally not very comfortable for long-term wear.
- If you will be tubing or just want a more comfortable life jacket you can bring your own (must be USCG approved) or consider renting a neoprene or inflatable vest from us. You can view options on our web site and call or email us with upgrade requests. We have limited availability, so the sooner you reserve it the better.
Are boats equipped for night operation?