Greetings all;
Just a quick update to let you all know that the great ice fishing in the backwater areas of the Mississippi River continues to be hot. Anglers all up and down the river from Lake Pepin to the North down to New Boston Illinois are enjoying safe ice conditions and lots of hungry fish. Excellent populations of panfish are available along with some banner northern fishing. The real sleeper fish this season has been the explosion of perch that are being caught all up and down the different river pools. Lots of quality eater sized perch are being caught on minnows and also larvae type baits. Also some good crappie action available in backwater areas near deadfalls in the water. Bluegill action continues to be good fishing the weedlines. When starting your search in these backwater areas, look for the deepest water available and start your search there.
With the excellent ice that has been available, this ice fishing season has been an excellent time to get out and explore those many backwater areas the Mississippi River has to offer.
Be safe on the ice, wear that PFD and save a few for me........
Regards: Lastcast Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
MISSISSIPPI RIVER BACKWATER FISHING GREAT!!!
Greetings All:
With the amount of good ice we now have here along the Mississippi River the ice fishing is in full swing. Many backwater areas are producing excellent catches of both panfish and Northern. In Pool-13, the Browns Lake area located near Green Island, Iowa has had some steady crappie action in the afternoon hours into dark. Small minnows and wax worms have been the preferred baits. Further downriver in the Sabula, Iowa lakes area you will find a good mixed bag of fish coming in. Some nice slab crappie have been taken along with numerous big bluegill. As a bonus, don't be surprised if you hook into one of the many nice Northern that are cruising under the ice.
With this extreme cold we are experiencing as of today, the coming weekend forecast has temperatures moderating into the upper 20's, near 30 which will make for some great conditions to be out on the ice. Hopefully if you like to ice fish you can get out and enjoy some of the great ice fishing that I mentioned.
Note: Other Mississippi River Pools further North are also experiencing some good action. Best is to call ahead to a local bait shop in the area you intend to fish. With that said, Good Luck and great Fishing!!!!!!
Regards: Lastcast Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
With the amount of good ice we now have here along the Mississippi River the ice fishing is in full swing. Many backwater areas are producing excellent catches of both panfish and Northern. In Pool-13, the Browns Lake area located near Green Island, Iowa has had some steady crappie action in the afternoon hours into dark. Small minnows and wax worms have been the preferred baits. Further downriver in the Sabula, Iowa lakes area you will find a good mixed bag of fish coming in. Some nice slab crappie have been taken along with numerous big bluegill. As a bonus, don't be surprised if you hook into one of the many nice Northern that are cruising under the ice.
With this extreme cold we are experiencing as of today, the coming weekend forecast has temperatures moderating into the upper 20's, near 30 which will make for some great conditions to be out on the ice. Hopefully if you like to ice fish you can get out and enjoy some of the great ice fishing that I mentioned.
Note: Other Mississippi River Pools further North are also experiencing some good action. Best is to call ahead to a local bait shop in the area you intend to fish. With that said, Good Luck and great Fishing!!!!!!
Regards: Lastcast Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Saturday, February 7, 2015
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS FISHING GOING ON!!!
Greetings All:
Both fishing the open water below the dam in Bellevue on the Mississippi River or exploring the backwater areas and ice fishing, you can enjoy some great action going on now.
Backwater areas still have safe ice although the melt off that happened today will make for slushy conditions, good panfish action is available. Use small baits for the bluegill near the edges of old weed beds and small minnows for those crappie near deadfalls laying in the water. Best time for the crappie has been late afternoon into dusk.
For you folks looking for open water, good sauger action happening in tailwater area on jig/minnow rigs fished vertical. I have been having excellent luck fishing a 1/4th. ounce bucktail jig and tipping it with a short piece of plastic worm. You can fish this with or without a minnow. Keep it on or near the bottom for best results and fish it slow.
Right now the best of both fishing worlds is happening on the Mississippi River. Hopefully you can make some time to get out and enjoy.
Regards: Lastcast Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Both fishing the open water below the dam in Bellevue on the Mississippi River or exploring the backwater areas and ice fishing, you can enjoy some great action going on now.
Backwater areas still have safe ice although the melt off that happened today will make for slushy conditions, good panfish action is available. Use small baits for the bluegill near the edges of old weed beds and small minnows for those crappie near deadfalls laying in the water. Best time for the crappie has been late afternoon into dusk.
For you folks looking for open water, good sauger action happening in tailwater area on jig/minnow rigs fished vertical. I have been having excellent luck fishing a 1/4th. ounce bucktail jig and tipping it with a short piece of plastic worm. You can fish this with or without a minnow. Keep it on or near the bottom for best results and fish it slow.
Right now the best of both fishing worlds is happening on the Mississippi River. Hopefully you can make some time to get out and enjoy.
Regards: Lastcast Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Monday, February 2, 2015
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS HAVE PUT ANGLING ON HOLD!!!
Greetings All:
The big blizzard that rolled through the Iowa, Illinois Midwest has put a halt to folks going out fishing.
With up to 15 inches of new snow from this storm of yesterday, most traveling to areas to fish is not advised.
For you folks chomping at the bit for some safe ice fishing, I'm afraid that with the heavy snowcover acting as a blanket, those lakes and farm pond that were iffy to start with as far as safe ice have become even more dangerous. If you do decide to venture out in the next few days as the roads clear, use extreme caution when walking out onto the ice. You cannot see what is below the snow and that is not good.
For you folks that have been fishing the tailwater areas of the Mississippi river like I have, this storm is just a bump in the road. The open water in the tailwaters continues to have excellent fishing available for bis sauger and Walleye. The big problem is finding a place to launch your boat. Some cities with launch ramps try to keep them open, but with other snow duties going on this is not a priority. Best bet is to call ahead to the area you intend to fish and find out if the ramps are available to launch.
Which ever form of fishing you choose, just be very careful out there. Even though it's Winter, wear that PFD when venturing out on both the ice and also in the open tailwater areas. Safety is always number one.
Regards: Lastcast Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
The big blizzard that rolled through the Iowa, Illinois Midwest has put a halt to folks going out fishing.
With up to 15 inches of new snow from this storm of yesterday, most traveling to areas to fish is not advised.
For you folks chomping at the bit for some safe ice fishing, I'm afraid that with the heavy snowcover acting as a blanket, those lakes and farm pond that were iffy to start with as far as safe ice have become even more dangerous. If you do decide to venture out in the next few days as the roads clear, use extreme caution when walking out onto the ice. You cannot see what is below the snow and that is not good.
For you folks that have been fishing the tailwater areas of the Mississippi river like I have, this storm is just a bump in the road. The open water in the tailwaters continues to have excellent fishing available for bis sauger and Walleye. The big problem is finding a place to launch your boat. Some cities with launch ramps try to keep them open, but with other snow duties going on this is not a priority. Best bet is to call ahead to the area you intend to fish and find out if the ramps are available to launch.
Which ever form of fishing you choose, just be very careful out there. Even though it's Winter, wear that PFD when venturing out on both the ice and also in the open tailwater areas. Safety is always number one.
Regards: Lastcast Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
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