Greetings All:
Well, hit the river early this morning and found high water in pool-13. Ran down river a bit and found some nice sauger and a few walleye holding tight in flooded willows along the down stream side of island points. Small 1/8th ounce jigs tipped with a minnow were pitched into flooded brush and retrieved just like for bass. Fish are holding tight to cover. Down stream side is best due to little current for fish to fight.
As far as color of jigs?, well, black was a hot color this morning but try others until you find what the fish are looking for. Good luck and enjoy your time on the river.
lastcast / Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
COLD & WINDY IS THE TICKET FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS,,,AT LEAST!!
Greetings All:
Well, look for the weather to be unseasonably cold and windy for about the next week. Add that to a rising river and fishing is tough right now. Some early season crappie in the backwaters but no heavy action yet. Look for clean water close to deep structure and you will find some crappie there. Small minnows are the best bait right now. Fish them VERY SLOW for best results.
Thanks to all the folks that attended my crappie seminar in Lancaster, WI earlier today. Great folks with great questions. Now that season of open water has started, come back often for current updates and locations.
Till NextTime,,,Take Care And I'll See You On The Water!!!!
Mike Cyze,,,,,,lastcast E-mail me at: lastcast13@yahoo.com.
Well, look for the weather to be unseasonably cold and windy for about the next week. Add that to a rising river and fishing is tough right now. Some early season crappie in the backwaters but no heavy action yet. Look for clean water close to deep structure and you will find some crappie there. Small minnows are the best bait right now. Fish them VERY SLOW for best results.
Thanks to all the folks that attended my crappie seminar in Lancaster, WI earlier today. Great folks with great questions. Now that season of open water has started, come back often for current updates and locations.
Till NextTime,,,Take Care And I'll See You On The Water!!!!
Mike Cyze,,,,,,lastcast E-mail me at: lastcast13@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
HIGH WATER STARTING!!!
Well, it's happening now. The run-off from up North is arriving and the Mississippi River is going up fast. Most dam's like Bellevue, Iowa are wide open to let water through. Fish are scattering out and with muddy conditions look for main river angling to be almost non-existent. Now is the time to start scouting those backwaters where the fish are moving to escape the strong currents and dirty waters.
Record flooding is projected from heavy snows North and Minnesota received another 14 inches as of this report. Not good for our local areas. Keep checking here for the latest on the fishing conditions on the Mississippi River.
Till Next Time,,,,Take Care & I'll See You On The Water!!!!!
Mike Cyze,,,,,,lastcast
Record flooding is projected from heavy snows North and Minnesota received another 14 inches as of this report. Not good for our local areas. Keep checking here for the latest on the fishing conditions on the Mississippi River.
Till Next Time,,,,Take Care & I'll See You On The Water!!!!!
Mike Cyze,,,,,,lastcast
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Welcome To Another Spring On The River!!!
Greetings All:
It's that wonderful time of the year again and the Mississippi River is open to fishing!!!
I have been out scouting areas and the fish are hungry. Lot's of boats up at dams but don't get caught in that old belief that all the fish are up at the dams. I have been finding excellent concentrations of both sauger and walleye miles down from the dams and best part is no other boats in area. River bends near sloughs, long wingdams and sandy flats all holding very nice fish. Jig and minnow rigs are doing best. I have been using a 1/4th ounce bright orange Fireball jig tipped with a nice big, lively minnow. 3" minnow great. No stinger hook has been needed so far as fish are hitting bait hard. You can also troll stick-baits on a 3 way rig but expect snags in the areas where fish are holding. Start with jigs. I caught some nice sauger on jig and shad bodies, (silver sides, black back stripe). Excellent for locating where fish are holding and really snag resistant.
Make sure boat running well if venturing down river because you will be alone there if help needed. Also bring that cell phone just in case.
Get out and enjoy the great action available on the Old Miss right now. Also check out lastcastoutdoors on Facebook. HAVE A GREAT, SAFE SPRING!!!
LASTCAST,,,,,,,,,Mike Cyze
It's that wonderful time of the year again and the Mississippi River is open to fishing!!!
I have been out scouting areas and the fish are hungry. Lot's of boats up at dams but don't get caught in that old belief that all the fish are up at the dams. I have been finding excellent concentrations of both sauger and walleye miles down from the dams and best part is no other boats in area. River bends near sloughs, long wingdams and sandy flats all holding very nice fish. Jig and minnow rigs are doing best. I have been using a 1/4th ounce bright orange Fireball jig tipped with a nice big, lively minnow. 3" minnow great. No stinger hook has been needed so far as fish are hitting bait hard. You can also troll stick-baits on a 3 way rig but expect snags in the areas where fish are holding. Start with jigs. I caught some nice sauger on jig and shad bodies, (silver sides, black back stripe). Excellent for locating where fish are holding and really snag resistant.
Make sure boat running well if venturing down river because you will be alone there if help needed. Also bring that cell phone just in case.
Get out and enjoy the great action available on the Old Miss right now. Also check out lastcastoutdoors on Facebook. HAVE A GREAT, SAFE SPRING!!!
LASTCAST,,,,,,,,,Mike Cyze
Sunday, December 5, 2010
WELL, BIG SNOW ARRIVED!!!
Greetings All:
Well, the forcast snow did arrive. Here in Pools 12 & 13 we had just under 8" on the ground. Now it is the very cold weather moving in to make your river fishing trip quite cold. You can still launch in Dubuque and Bellevue and fish the tailwaters. Floating ice in the river but you can slowly get around it if you take your time. Great time to have waters mostly to yourself. Lots of fish are available though.
After plowing snow this morning I went out in Pool-13 and scored a really nice limit of walleye and sauger for dinner. Nothing like some fresh fish from the very cold water. Orange 1/4th oz. Fireball jigs tipped with a 3" minnow was the ticket. Get tight to bottom though for best results.
Dress VERY warm and you can still get in some great fishing before total ice up.
Regards: Last cast / Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Well, the forcast snow did arrive. Here in Pools 12 & 13 we had just under 8" on the ground. Now it is the very cold weather moving in to make your river fishing trip quite cold. You can still launch in Dubuque and Bellevue and fish the tailwaters. Floating ice in the river but you can slowly get around it if you take your time. Great time to have waters mostly to yourself. Lots of fish are available though.
After plowing snow this morning I went out in Pool-13 and scored a really nice limit of walleye and sauger for dinner. Nothing like some fresh fish from the very cold water. Orange 1/4th oz. Fireball jigs tipped with a 3" minnow was the ticket. Get tight to bottom though for best results.
Dress VERY warm and you can still get in some great fishing before total ice up.
Regards: Last cast / Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Thursday, December 2, 2010
CURRENT CONDITIONS OF RIVER HAVE CHANGED!!
Greetings All:
River lock and dams in Pools 12-13 have put gates of dam into Winter set. This means water is blowing through and this has scattered fish out. Look for them to slowly return in a few days or so. Also, be aware of chunk ice starting to form in river and it can damage your boat and lower unit of motor.
Still some nice fish down river but getting to them a bit harder with ice. Go slow and you will enjoy a great day on the river. Snow expected on Saturday with 6" possible.
lastcast / Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
River lock and dams in Pools 12-13 have put gates of dam into Winter set. This means water is blowing through and this has scattered fish out. Look for them to slowly return in a few days or so. Also, be aware of chunk ice starting to form in river and it can damage your boat and lower unit of motor.
Still some nice fish down river but getting to them a bit harder with ice. Go slow and you will enjoy a great day on the river. Snow expected on Saturday with 6" possible.
lastcast / Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
COLD WEATHER EQUALS HOT FISHING!!!
Hi All:
Just a quick update on the walleye & sauger action on the old Mississippi. In Pool-13, some very nice walleye away from the dam downriver this morning. Fish those current breaks and back eddy areas with light jig/minnow rigs for best results. Use lightest jig you can cast, tip with a nice lively minnow and work the area completely. Keep rod tip high to help avoid bottom snags. If your not feeling bottom and getting hung-up occasionally your not in the correct fish zone.
Dress warm because the air is cold and you can get very uncomfortable quickly if not properly dressed. Dress in layers for best results.
All those folks up at dam playing bumper boats are missing the boat, (no pun intended) on all the huge fish available down river away from the crowds. Just you and Mother Nature, it don't get any better than that!!!
Good Luck & Best Regards: Lastcast / Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Just a quick update on the walleye & sauger action on the old Mississippi. In Pool-13, some very nice walleye away from the dam downriver this morning. Fish those current breaks and back eddy areas with light jig/minnow rigs for best results. Use lightest jig you can cast, tip with a nice lively minnow and work the area completely. Keep rod tip high to help avoid bottom snags. If your not feeling bottom and getting hung-up occasionally your not in the correct fish zone.
Dress warm because the air is cold and you can get very uncomfortable quickly if not properly dressed. Dress in layers for best results.
All those folks up at dam playing bumper boats are missing the boat, (no pun intended) on all the huge fish available down river away from the crowds. Just you and Mother Nature, it don't get any better than that!!!
Good Luck & Best Regards: Lastcast / Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Big Walleye & Sauger Available!!!
Greetings All:
Well, as the weather turns more crummy, the river fishing is really picking up. Was out yesterday and this morning and both days caught limits of nice big walleye. Fish were down river from dams a good 8 miles in a side bay with rocky humps nearby. Bright jigs, 1/4th oz. tipped with a big shiner minnow was the ticket.
No stinger hooks needed for these babies as they were super aggressive in taking the bait. Bright colored hair jigs also excellent. In fact, many fish caught on a minnow-less white head jig with white and orange hair. Great fish catcher. Dress warm and don't forget that rain suit to break the wind and stay dry.
Good luck and great fishing. Regards: Mike Cyze / Lastcast lastcast13@yahoo.com
Well, as the weather turns more crummy, the river fishing is really picking up. Was out yesterday and this morning and both days caught limits of nice big walleye. Fish were down river from dams a good 8 miles in a side bay with rocky humps nearby. Bright jigs, 1/4th oz. tipped with a big shiner minnow was the ticket.
No stinger hooks needed for these babies as they were super aggressive in taking the bait. Bright colored hair jigs also excellent. In fact, many fish caught on a minnow-less white head jig with white and orange hair. Great fish catcher. Dress warm and don't forget that rain suit to break the wind and stay dry.
Good luck and great fishing. Regards: Mike Cyze / Lastcast lastcast13@yahoo.com
Thursday, November 25, 2010
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!
Greetings:
Just want to wish all you "River Rats" a Happy Thanksgiving that's filled with family and good friends.
Let us not forget those in the Armed Services of our country that keep us safe and include them in our prayers.
Thanks also for making this blog as successful as is has been.
Best regards to you and your families.
Mike Cyze / lastcast13@yahoo.com
Just want to wish all you "River Rats" a Happy Thanksgiving that's filled with family and good friends.
Let us not forget those in the Armed Services of our country that keep us safe and include them in our prayers.
Thanks also for making this blog as successful as is has been.
Best regards to you and your families.
Mike Cyze / lastcast13@yahoo.com
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Bumper Boat Fishing Has Started!!!
Greetings All:
Well, as expected, "Bumper Boat Fishing" has started in full swing below the dams in Dubuque, Bellevue and Clinton. Like sheep, anglers follow the pack of boats to an area if they are catching fish or not. Don't get caught in this trap. Head down river and find one of the many spots that hold a lot of fish but never see an angler. Look for current breaks and also steep tapering shorelines to hole some nice walleye and sauger.
Remember,,,NOT ALL THE FISH ARE UP IN THE TAILWATERS IN THE FALL!!!!
Many are down river just waiting for your bait. So don't get caught up in the "Bumper Boat Fishing" up at the dams. It's usually not worth the aggravation you will find as other anglers fish just inches away from your boat.
So head down river and find your own honey hole. You'll be glad you did.
Till Next Time,,,,Take Care & I'll See You On The River..........................
Mike Cyze / lastcast13@yahoo.com
Well, as expected, "Bumper Boat Fishing" has started in full swing below the dams in Dubuque, Bellevue and Clinton. Like sheep, anglers follow the pack of boats to an area if they are catching fish or not. Don't get caught in this trap. Head down river and find one of the many spots that hold a lot of fish but never see an angler. Look for current breaks and also steep tapering shorelines to hole some nice walleye and sauger.
Remember,,,NOT ALL THE FISH ARE UP IN THE TAILWATERS IN THE FALL!!!!
Many are down river just waiting for your bait. So don't get caught up in the "Bumper Boat Fishing" up at the dams. It's usually not worth the aggravation you will find as other anglers fish just inches away from your boat.
So head down river and find your own honey hole. You'll be glad you did.
Till Next Time,,,,Take Care & I'll See You On The River..........................
Mike Cyze / lastcast13@yahoo.com
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