LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2012 OUTLOOK!!!

Greetings All:

Well, Labor Day weekend 2012 has finally arrived. This is the un-official end of the Summer season for most folks with the kids now back in school. For some of us though it is a time when we can fish our favorite waters without the pesky jet skis and heavy boat traffic. 

For this weekend though, look for some great angling action happening all along the Mississippi River. From Pool 5 up North through Pool 14, fishing is really turning on. Lots of nice big White Bass are starting to show up on the fast tapering flats and rocky areas. Also fish the long wing dams and you will find some good action there also. 
For you folks that like catfish, well, get yourself some dip bait and head out on the river. Catfish are biting well with many nice eater size fish available. Fish near deadfalls in the water that have some depth near by.  You bass anglers??, well, get out those plastic baits and head into the side sloughs and backwaters. Note: Many backwaters are hard to enter due to low water conditions, but when you can get back there you will find bass fishing good.

For you folks just heading out to do some boating, use caution on the river. Low waters have many obstructions just below the surface where you cannot see them. 

Enjoy the Labor Day weekend, be safe in the outdoors and save a few fish for me.....


Regards: Lastcast    Mike Cyze     lastcast13@yahoo.com

CANADIAN FISHING GREAT IN LATE AUGUST!!!

Greetings All;

Just returned from a great Canadian fishing trip. The cooler temps way up in the Canadian Bush Country has really turned on the great fishing bite. In the 5 days I was there I lost count oif all the big walleye, northern and huge smallmouth bass I caught and released.  Now I must admit that I did eat my fair share of those nice walleye everyday at shore lunch which is one of my favorite things to do on a Canadian trip. Fresh caught walleye fillets fried in a big cast iron skillet over a nice fire, a side of beans with some fried potatoes and onions,,,well, it just don't get any better than that!!

Nice cool nights way up north with a few nights in the upper 30's. Nice fire in camp kept me warm thought and sleeping was great under a light blanket. 

I was fishing up on the Cree Reservation territory where I am luck enough to have a permit to do so. I was issued a permit by the Tribal Elders years ago and truly enjoy fishing their beautiful and sacred land deep in the bush Country of Canada. My float plane flights were also very enjoyable and the scenery from the air is breathtaking.  

I am making plans to put together a few Canadian fishing trips next year for my ESPN Radio Listeners and also my print media readers. If you may have interest, just drop me an e-mail at: lastcast13@yahoo.com. There will be a limited amount of spots available so let me know if interested.  This will be trips to the unspoiled bush country of Canada.

Well, time to unpack and dream of my next Canadian adventure. I will be doing one more Canadian fishing trip this Fall to do so filming for a fishing video. 


Regards:  Lastcast     Mike Cyze     lastcast13@yahoo.com

WELCOME RAINS HAVE TURNED ON THE FISH!!!

Greetings All;

Finally,,,some much needed rains have covered the area. Although not nearly enough, we will welcome all we can get. With very low water levels all across the Midwest, a good shot of moisture is surely needed. 
One good thing, the rains have really turned on the fish and put them on a good bite. On the Mississippi River, smallmouth bass are taking top-water lures and those catfish are really hungry for your dip baits. Early and late in the day you will find some nice white bass hitting jig/minnow rigs and all white hair jigs in the 1/4th ounce size cast near fast tapering, sandy shorelines.  Some panfish in backwaters but they are really low on the water levels making entry tough.

With nice cool weather on tap for the rest of the week, hopefully you can get out for a while and do some fishing. The fish are there and they are hungry!!!

Regards: Lastcast    Mike Cyze    lastcast13@yahoo.com

GREAT WEEKEND TO BE IN THE OUTDOORS!!!

Greetings All:

Well, the weather man has promised a great weekend here in the Midwest with low humidity and much cooler temperatures starting on Friday. Look for the much needed rain showers to move out and sunny skies should be the rule. What a great time to get out and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. From fishing to boating or some great camping, this weekend looks great. 
For you anglers out there, the Mississippi river is still very low but the catfish don't seem to mind. Good catches on "Stink" baits fished off the wingdams on the main channel. Some good smallmouth bass action also on nightcrawlers under a slip float or by casting inline spinners near rocky areas. 

You boaters can also enjoy, just be careful to stay in the main channel due to obstructions just under the waters surface if you stray into the shallows. Nice warm waters for swimming.

What a great weekend to get out and do some camping before the kids head back to school. Nice cool nights make sitting around the campfire truly enjoyable while roasting a marshmallow or two.

What ever you choose, try and get out in the "Great Outdoors". Heck, it's right outside your backdoor!!!

Regards:  Lastcast     Mike Cyze     lastcast13@yahoo.com 

FINALLY!!! SOME NICE COMFORTABLE WEATHER

Greetings All:

Well, after yesterdays storms left some much needed rain, the temperatures and humidity are very nice. Great time to be out on the river to enjoy some boating or fishing. Keep in mind the river is very low so use caution in your navigating the waters. Stay inside the main channel markers to be safe. If you stray outside the markers you risk hitting one of the many obstructions that are just under the surface, just out of your sight. This can cause some costly damage to your boat and motor. 

For you anglers, the rain has put the catfish back on a good bite. Dip baits fished in deeper waters near the wingdams producing well. Smallmouth bass also taking top water lures near rocky shores and wingdams. 
Getting into backwaters at this time not impossible, but very hard. Not worth the effort right now. 
So what ever your plans, hope you get a chance to get out on the Mississippi River and enjoy it's beauty. Wear those PFD's, be safe and make some great memories.

Regards:   Lastcast     Mike Cyze     lastcast13@yahoo.com  

WEEKEND FISHING UPDATE!!

 Greetings All:

Well, finally some more tolerable weekend temperatures to get out and enjoy some fishing. Look for some decent bass action in the Mississippi river backwaters on plastics. Problem is that with the low water conditions, getting into those backwaters might prove difficult. 

Catfish action on main river good, fish the long wingdams from the middle out to the channel area. Dip baits working well. 
For you panfish anglers, look for bluegills on the deep edges of the weeds. Small baits are working the best fished under a slip float rig. Be sure to use light line for the panfish.

Good luck this weekend, be safe on the river and save a few for me........

Regards:  lastcast    Mike Cyze    lastcast13@yahoo.com

BEATING THE HEAT IN CANADA WITH SOME "HOT FISHING"!!!

Greetings All:
Just returned from a nice, relaxing trip to the Canadian Bush. Fishing was excellent and the weather was also. Nice cool days had the fish on the bite. Many walleye over 5lbs. with a few near 10. Northerns in the 20 lb. range were common with some much bigger. 

As always, one of the highlights of my Canadian trips is the great shore lunches. Fresh caught fish freshly fried on an open fire with some beans and fries potatoes and onions made for some great eating. There is something special about a Canadian fishing trip that I will always love. If you have never been there, make plans to go and enjoy. You will love it. 

I will be doing some Canadian fishing trips through my radio show on ESPN. For more information, E-mail me at: lastcast13@yahoo.com.

Regards:  Lastcast      Mike Cyze    lastcast13@yahoo.com. 

GREAT WHITE BASS ACTION EARLY ON POOLS 12 & 13!!!

Greetings All:
Well, if you can get up early and get out on the river, you can enjoy some great white bass action before the Sun cooks you. I have been hitting the sandy flat areas of pools 12 & 13 and have been catching some really big white bass. Fish over 3 pounds are the norm. Fan cast those sand flat areas with white hair jigs in the 1/4th ounce size for starters, casting towards shore and bringing the jig back to deeper water with an erratic style retrieve. Try and let the jig fall to the contour of the bottom, meaning let it slowly fall into deeper water as you retrieve it. 

You can also use 4" plastic twister tails or plastic shad bodies with good results but hair jigs are working the best. 
Once the Sun is up, the fish drop back into deeper water locations until the evening hours when they once again go on a feed. 

So beat the heat and get out very early. When you get into a school of these savage fighters you will fill your livewell fast. 

Regards:  Lastcast       Mike Cyze    lastcast13@yahoo.com 

BEWARE OF MINERAL LOSS!!!

When hot weather arrives in the intensity we have been experiencing, most folks just talk about drinking a lot of water and staying hydrated. Well folks, there is another thing you should be concerned with. I'm talking about the loss of minerals from your body, mainly salt. Salt is a vital part of our makeup and you lose it with sweat. Have you ever had on a dark T-Shirt and after taking it off when you have been sweating you see those white ring deposits on the shirt? Well, that's salt your body has lost. It's very important that if your going to be outdoors and sweating that you replenish that vital salt to the body.
You can go to your local pharmacy and purchase salt pills. They are very inexpensive and will work well by following the instructions. If not sure, ask the pharmacist.


I'll tell you folks, besides drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated, make sure you add that important salt back into your body. You'll be glad you did and you will feel much better.


Regards: Lastcast       Mike Cyze     lastcast13@yahoo.com

NIGHT FISHING PAYING OFF WITH BIG CATCHES!!!

Greetings All:
As I posted earlier, all my fishing during this spell of very hot weather has been at night. I have been heading out after dark and the fish have been cooperating. My trips have mainly taken me into the backwater areas of the Mississippi River and the catfishing has been truly excellent with many big fish along with many eaters coming to the boat. Using G&S Cheesebait on my dip worm that is suspended under a slip float has been deadly. The catfish are hitting the bait on the run which makes for a really heavy duty strike. If you try this method, make sure your rods are securely in a rod holder. If not, the fish might just yank it overboard. Also leave your reels bail open so that the fish can take line out. During this hot weather you can still enjoy some truly great fishing away from the hot Sun. Just head out after sunset and you will discover a whole different world in the backwaters. Now is a great time to try it with the help of the full Moon, seeing is much easier. 
The catfish are hungry so go get a few for the frying pan, you'll be glad you did.


Regards:  Lastcast    Mike Cyze      lastcast13@yahoo.com