IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK!!!!

Greetings All;
Well it is sure good to be back!!! After spending the last two weeks plus on the road with time spent in Oshkosh, WI., at the big EAA Airventure Airshow, it was off to the bush country of the Canadian wilderness for some great fishing. One thing for sure, the last 3 weeks have flown by. As always the Canadian fishing was exceptional with many big fish being caught and released. Walleye up to 9 pounds, Northern in the 20's and numerous big lake trout made for another wonderful experience fishing the wilds of Canada. Thanks goes to the Cree Nation that allowed me to fish their sacred waters and for their hospitality in making my stay wonderful. To the Tribe Elders, I thank you for making me feel so very welcome. 

Back here on the home front, fishing on the Mississippi River has been exceptional for species like largemouth and smallmouth bass. Topwater baits, plastics and small cranks have been producing excellent catches of bass. With an excellent year class of fish available, bass anglers should enjoy good fishing for the foreseeable future. 

If you like catfish, the cats are going crazy on the Mississippi river. Stink baits fished near snags taking most fish right now. Early in the day and again in the evening best time for cats. 

Walleye scattered and slow right now with a few fish on the wingdams trolling a crawler on a harness. Otherwise walleye slow. Look for great fishing when water start to cool as we approach the Fall season of the year. 

Panfish are scattered also with crappie in their summer deep water pattern. Deep water timber holding crappie on the Mississippi right not with minnows being the best bait. 

Lastly look for some great striper fishing all up and down the river with many nice fish available. I look for September and October to be the prime time for these big stripers to go on a bite. Look for many fish in excess of 4 lbs. 

Don't let the "Dog Days" scare you. Head out to the Mississippi River and enjoy some great fishing. Best part is that it's only going to get better as the Fall season approaches. 

Glad to be back. Now get out and make some memories!!!

Till Next Time, Take Care and I'll See You On The Water........

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com. 

ANGLING ON THE UPSWING!!!

Greetings All:
It's no secret that with all the heavy rain we have been experiencing here in the Midwest that our lakes, rivers and streams are quite muddy. When this happens it can make for some mighty tough fishing. 
Well folks, the good news is that the waters are starting to clear and the fish are putting on the feed bag once again.

Right now on the Mississippi River the bass fishing is breaking loose with many quality fish available. Area river backwater areas are producing big fish on Frog baits fished near and over submerged weedbeds. Plastic worms and lizards are also catching their fair share of fish. 

For you catfish anglers, stink baits are taking many nice catfish near snags in the water. Next best bait for the catfish is a fat, juicy nightcrawler fished under a float near some type of shoreline structure. The catfish are very hungry right now and hitting baits hard.

Panfish like bluegill and crappie are scattered but picking up as waters clear. All in all, it's once again time to plan that special trip to get out and catch yourself a nice mess of fish. Be safe, have fun and make some memories.

Till Next Time, Take Care and I'll See You On The Water............

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com  

FIRECRACKER SMALLMOUTH BASS TIME!!!

Greetings All;
As we get ready to celebrate another 4th. of July Holiday weekend, many folks will be heading to their favorite river, lake or stream that holds these scrappy fighters to enjoy some fishing. Well folks, right now those smallies are active and hungry. Best baits to use for the upcoming weekend are some good old topwater stickbaits. Smallmouth just love these and right now they are hitting them like crazy. As a second, try using some type of spinnerbait or inline spinner. These also will yield good catches.

Try and fish current break areas where the bass can hide from the main current and ambush passing prey. These areas will hold the majority of the active fish. If your fishing current, cast upstream from your target and let the current float your lure down past the fish. Use an occasional twitch and hang on. If smallmouth are there, you will know in a hurry.

With great year classes of smallmouth bass available all up and down the Mississippi River, look for the great fishing to last right up into the Fall of the year. Hopefully you can get out and enjoy this weekend by going after some of these very aggressive
smallmouth.

Note: The tactics I talk about here will work in lakes and streams also. 

Enjoy the Holiday weekend, be safe and save a few "Firecracker Smallmouth" for me.

Till Next Time, Take Care and I'll See You On The Water.....................

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com   

ITS TIME FOR GREAT CATFISH ACTION!!!

Greetings All;
Well it is no secret that Mother Nature continues to pummel the Midwest with copious amounts of rain and bad weather. What this has done is to put many of our lakes, rivers and streams into flood stage making most fishing nearly impossible. With that thought in mind though, there is one fish that is biting like crazy and I'm talking about the good old Catfish. 

Right now this species is feeding heavily and due to the fact it is predominantly a scent feeder, anglers using dip bait, or "Stink Bait" as it is know are doing very good on these tasty fish. Fish the upstream sides of snags and deadfalls in the water and the catfish will find your offering. Try and fish some type of backwater area or slough with minimal current for best results. I look for this bite to continue as the water stays on the high side. Also, don't forget to bring along some healthy nightcrawlers as the cats are eating them up also.

So while other species of fish are hard to find, the catfish will save the day if your looking to get out and have some angling fun on a waterway near you. 

Till Next Time, Take Care and I'll See You On The Water.......

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com

HEAVY RAINS CAUSING HAVOC FOR ANGLERS!!!

Greetings All:
Well, Mother Nature is unleashing her fury in the form of very heavy rain here in the Midwest. With copious amounts already on the ground and up to 4 more inches possible this afternoon and through tonight, look for the area rivers and lakes to become very muddy and possibly causing flooding conditions in some areas. Conditions for the upcoming weekend are not currently looking good if you are planning on getting out for some fishing. 
The Mississippi River is currently high and very muddy and this will continue until we get some stable weather in the Midwest. Best bet for some fish is the backwater areas where you can go and catch some catfish on dip baits fished near snags. Main river fishing is not recommended with the fast currents and dirty water. I look for the gates on the navigation dams to once again be opened which will lead to faster water in the main channel areas.

Keep in mind that this heavy rain is also effecting fishing in area lakes also.

With the above in mind and more rains in the forecast, this might be a great weekend to get caught up on that "Honey Do" list so that when conditions do improve you can get out and enjoy. 

Till Next Time,,,,Take Care and I'll See You On The Water..........

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com 

MAKE SOME TIME TO GET OUT AND ENJOY!!!!!

Greetings All:
Glad to be back from a few great weeks of fishing and shooting some outdoor videos in the far North Bush Country of beautiful Canada. Without a doubt, the beauty of the Canadian wilderness is truly something every outdoor oriented person should experience. As one that travels to Canada quite regularly, its natural beauty never ceases to amaze me. 

This trip was outstanding with many trophy fish caught. Walleye up to 10lbs. plus, Northern in the 20's and lots of great tasting lake trout. It truly was a keeper of a trip. Except for a few, most fish were released unharmed to fight another day. 

OK, as I said, glad to be back. Locally here on the Mississippi River the fishing has been steady with anglers taking some nice fish. Walleye on the wingdams backtrolling a nightcrawler has been good along with small crank baits. Good action for stripers continues on large sand flat areas casting jigs. start light on the jig and increase weight as necessary. Was out this morning and a white, 1/4th. ounce hair jig was the ticket. The stripers where hitting it hard and some nice 3+ pound fish were caught. 

Catfish action good in side sloughs and backwater areas near structure in water. Crawlers and dip baits both working. 

All in all my friends, its a great time to get out on the River here in the Midwest. The fish are active and you will have a great time. 

So with that thought in mind, get out and make some memories. The grass cutting can wait a few more days.

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com.

CATFISH ON THE PROWL!!!

Greetings All;
Why is Spring one of my favorite seasons to be out on the Mississippi? Well, maybe it's because of the great fishing that is available to those willing to learn its secrets. Right now, another one of my favorite species of fish are really putting on the feedbag. I'm speaking of the hard fighting, great tasting Catfish.

With ideal river conditions occurring, the catfish are really putting on the feedbag and many nice fish are available to anglers fishing for them. For some excellent Channel Catfish action, try fishing either worms or cutbait along the main channel edges. The catfish are currently using these areas and good catches have been the rule. Another method I have been using this past week is to float a single nightcrawler under a slip float rig with the current through likely fish holding areas. Set your initial depth about 3 to 4 feet deep and adjust as necessary. Add a few splitshot to your line about a foot or so up from the hook on your line and your ready to go. Let the current drift that crawler down river and hang on. The catfish have been hitting this rig hard and I look for this great bite to continue. 

Hopefully mother Nature will not provide any whammies in the weather department and you can get out and enjoy. 

Till Next Time,,,,Take Care and I'll See you On The Water.......................

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com    

THE "SILVER BULLETS" ARE ON THE BITE!!!!!

Greetings all;
Just wanted to let everyone know that the White Bass bite on the Mississippi River in Pools 11-12 & 13 has been great. Without a doubt this has been one of the best Spring runs in many years with lots of nice big fish available. 
This last week I have had the best success using a 1/4th. ounce, all white hair jig and casting to the fish. I tie my own hair jigs and the all white color has been driving the fish crazy. Best action has come fan casting areas like steep tapering, rocky shorelines, and wingdams. I have also had great success fishing big sand flat areas down river from river bends. Thoroughly work the area by casting at a 45 degree upstream angle and let the jig drift down river as you retrieve it. I have not been using any type of trailer on my jig but if you wish you can attach a 2" twister tail of the same color to your jig to give it a bulkier appearance. 

With fish close to the three pound mark available, this is shaping up to be one of the best early run of these "Silver Bullets" that I have seen in quite a while. Hopefully you can get out and enjoy before the fish move into their Summer holding patterns. I do look for the current pattern to hold up for at least another 3 weeks or more, pending any drastic weather changes in river conditions.

Till next Time, Take Care and I'll see You On The Water...........

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com  

DRIFT FISHING BITE IS HOT RIGHT NOW!!!

Greetings All:
For those of you folks that are making your plans for the upcoming weekend and those of you that can fish during the week, the Mississippi River bite has been hot despite of all the rain we have had here in the Midwest. The water clarity in Pools 10 through 14 has been really good and the fish have been responding well.
Best presentation the last few days has been drifting a single nightcrawler under a small float with the current near structure. Simply hook the crawler through its nose using a Salmon Egg hook and that's it. I also put about 3 to 4 split shot about 2 foot up on the line from the hook to keep the crawler down in the fish zone. Set your float at 3 to 4 feet deep as your initial setting and adjust the depth as necessary from there. For best results, use a line no heavier than 8 pound test. Also use a rod 6'6" or longer for best results in the medium to medium light range. Simply cast the crawler rig upstream from the structure you are targeting and let the current drift the crawler downriver. Keep a fairly tight line for best control and if there are fish there you will know very quickly. Simply repeat your drifts on the structure you choose. 
Right now this drifting presentation of a single nightcrawler in this natural looking presentation is really working well for all species of fish. 

That's it my friends, give this rig a try and I know you will be pleased with the results.

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com   

MISSISSIPPI RIVER UPDATE!!!

Greetings All;
Just an update for you folks that may be planning a trip to the Mississippi River this coming weekend for some fishing. 

Due to the last few days of sustained high winds and gusts of over 40 MPH., the river has really muddied up. In Pools 11-12-13-14, the main river is very muddied up with just about zero visibility in the water. This will make fishing next to impossible until the river clears. Actually, the fishing is still possible, it's the catching that will be the problem. Once the winds lay down, it will take at least 3 days or so for the river to start clearing up and be fishable once again. If your set on coming out, best bet is to head into some of the many backwater areas and search out the cleanest water you can find. There are some panfish that are available back in these areas. 

Just wanted to post this information for those of you thinking of heading to the river this weekend.

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com