WINGDAM WALLEYE BITE STARTING!!!

Greetings All;
 Well, even though the river is still somewhat stained in water clarity, there is a decent bite starting for some walleye on the wingdams. 

Fished Pool-12 and did fairly well dragging lively nightcrawlers on a crawler harness. I make my own style crawler harnesses but you should be able to use store bought harnesses and have success also. The walleye I caught were nice healthy fish and hit very hard. There were no "short strikers" at all. I also used another rig I fish a lot and had equal success. I use a small, gold salmon egg style hook and back troll a juicy crawler on a three-way rig. Hook the crawler once through the nose, use about a 3 to 4 foot leader and your ready to go. Make sure you have a heavy enough dropper weight to keep constant bottom contact. Vary your trolling speed till you find what the fish are looking for. I found 1-1/2 mph., worked well for a starting point. 

The wing dam bite is there and getting better. Hopefully you can get a chance to get out and enjoy.

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com  

TIME TO GET OUT AND FISH!!!!!

Greetings All:
Finally, the Mississippi River is getting back to some normalcy. All along this great river water levels are returning to seasonal levels and the fishing is picking up. Many of the lock and dams now have the gates back in the water so within a few days, look for some good fishing to once again to start up in the tailwater areas. Backwater areas have slowed due to the drop in water levels but main river fishing picking up. Good catfish action on wingdams and also some really nice smallmouth bass along rocky areas. All in all, the coming weekend looks to be a fine time to get out and try some angling on the Mississippi. 

Be safe, wear those PFD's and enjoy all the river has to offer.

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com

FINALLY, FISHING STARTING TO PICK UP AGAIN!!!!!

Greetings All:
Well, I'm so very glad to be back here reporting that the fishing here in the Midwest along our rivers is once again starting to pick up. With receding water levels on the Mississippi and many more boat ramps now open to launch, anglers are starting to once again enjoy going fishing. 

Myself, I have been recently hitting the many backwater areas and enjoying some really great cat fishing action. Using dip bait, I have managed to get enough tasty catfish fillets to fill my freezer for the upcoming cold weather season. Something that I have also been enjoying is fishing for catfish with a fly rod. With the large hatch of Mayflies happening, the catfish have been gorging themselves on them. When I'm in the backwaters in the early morning hours I can see the catfish sucking them off the waters surface. I tied some mayfly looking large flies at home and they have been doing the trick. I made them to float so when I cast them with the fly rod they sit on the waters surface. I just twitch them slightly and that drives the feeding catfish crazy. I'll tell you folks, catching a nice catfish on a fly rod is a real blast. 

For you panfish and bass anglers, fish the backwaters and you will do well. Many nice bass available on spinnerbaits and plastics. Bluegill on larvae baits under a small float. Crappie have moved deep and are scattered out. 

As I mentioned, glad to be reporting once again. Hopefully with the great weather forecast for the upcoming weekend you can make some time to head out and do some fishing.  Be safe and enjoy.

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com