Greetings All:
Well, here we are, the start of the official, un-official Summer season. Weather sure has been on the cool side and rains have put a kink in most river fishing. Mississippi River still on the high side but you can go out and get a few fish if you pick your spots wisely.
Look for some really nice Stripers on flooded flat areas just off the heavy current of main channel. Some current ok but not real heavy. Cast jig/twister rigs or white hair jigs for best results. If you wish, tip the white jig with a 2" black twister tail. This rig has been hot for me as of this morning.
Walleye action slow due to muddy water making seeing lure by fish tough. Backwaters producing some nice crappie near deadfalls in deeper water. Jig/minnow or minnow under a slip float best.
Bluegill starting near fresh growing weeds. Fish outer edges with small lures and small larva type baits under a small float. Catfish available on cut-baits. Shad guts working well as are livers and also gob of nightcrawler.
Weather forecast to have shower chances every day so bring that rain gear. Also, if your not familiar with the backwaters, make sure you know your way out. It is easy to get lost and confused as how to get back out. Use your GPS if you have one.
Have a wonderful weekend and let's not forget what this Memorial Day is truly about. If you see a young service man or woman, take a moment to thank them for their service.
I find it truly ironic how all these two-bit countries around the world keep knocking America, but they all want to come here for our freedoms and way of life.
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Lastcast / Mike Cyze
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
MUDDY WATER MAKING FISHING TOUGH!!!
Greetings All:
Well, weekend rains and winds have made the Mississippi quite muddy. Chocolate colored water making it very difficult for fish to see any lure. Best bet now is to head to side sloughs and backwaters to search out the cleanest water you can find. Fish are there, just unable to see your presentation.
Was out this morning for a few short hours and only managed 5 fish. Two sauger and four nice stripers. Hot spot of a few days ago was very tough fishing. Dirty, muddy and fast current. Checked out a few of my favorite sloughs and found some panfish but had to head in due to doing a seminar later today. As Arnold said in his movie though: I"LL BE BACK!!!!
Looking forward to a great Spring of fishing with multiple species coming in. Weather next few days forecast to be sunny and cool. If you can, get out and enjoy.
Till Next Time,,,Take Care And I'll See You On The Water,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Last cast,,,,Mike Cyze
Well, weekend rains and winds have made the Mississippi quite muddy. Chocolate colored water making it very difficult for fish to see any lure. Best bet now is to head to side sloughs and backwaters to search out the cleanest water you can find. Fish are there, just unable to see your presentation.
Was out this morning for a few short hours and only managed 5 fish. Two sauger and four nice stripers. Hot spot of a few days ago was very tough fishing. Dirty, muddy and fast current. Checked out a few of my favorite sloughs and found some panfish but had to head in due to doing a seminar later today. As Arnold said in his movie though: I"LL BE BACK!!!!
Looking forward to a great Spring of fishing with multiple species coming in. Weather next few days forecast to be sunny and cool. If you can, get out and enjoy.
Till Next Time,,,Take Care And I'll See You On The Water,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Last cast,,,,Mike Cyze
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
STRIPER EXPLOSION!!!!
Greetings All:
Well, its finally happening. The stripers are going crazy on the Mississippi River in Pool 13. With river still high, look downriver from dam and search out flooded sand flats and back sides of points that break the current. Was out this morning, nice chop on water and fish were going crazy. Beautiful stripers up to 4lbs. plus hit my livewell.
Best presentation was either a white hair jig tipped with a black twister tail in the 2" range or a small sinking stickbait or small flashy crank bait. Cast tight to shore and use a steady retrieve for best results. If you want you can verticle jig deeper areas with bright colored jigs tipped with a minnow. Either way, some really great fishing going on and it's only going to get better through May.
Good luck and save a few for me. Gotta go, time to clean my dinner!!!
Regards: lastcast / Mike Cyze
Well, its finally happening. The stripers are going crazy on the Mississippi River in Pool 13. With river still high, look downriver from dam and search out flooded sand flats and back sides of points that break the current. Was out this morning, nice chop on water and fish were going crazy. Beautiful stripers up to 4lbs. plus hit my livewell.
Best presentation was either a white hair jig tipped with a black twister tail in the 2" range or a small sinking stickbait or small flashy crank bait. Cast tight to shore and use a steady retrieve for best results. If you want you can verticle jig deeper areas with bright colored jigs tipped with a minnow. Either way, some really great fishing going on and it's only going to get better through May.
Good luck and save a few for me. Gotta go, time to clean my dinner!!!
Regards: lastcast / Mike Cyze
Monday, May 9, 2011
FINALLY A FISHABLE RIVER!!!!!
Greetings All:
Well, finally the Ole' Miss is on the retreat in pools 11-12 & 13 and you can once again get out fishing. Backwaters have cleanest waters available with main river still containing lots of floating junk. Some crappie in backwaters and improving. Lots of really nice stripers off sand flat areas where they are schooling minnows and shad. White 1/4th ounce hair jigs are excellent either tipped with a trailer or plane. Cast tight to shore and use a steady retrieve back. Walleye and sauger scattered and heading back to main channel areas.
Be careful running the river and look for semi-submerged trees just under the waters surface. These can ruin your day quickly.
Look for more up to date reports as water warms and fishing really turns on. You can contact me at: lastcast13@yahoo.com for specific questions on the river.
Regards: Mike Cyze,,,, lastcastoutdoors.com
Well, finally the Ole' Miss is on the retreat in pools 11-12 & 13 and you can once again get out fishing. Backwaters have cleanest waters available with main river still containing lots of floating junk. Some crappie in backwaters and improving. Lots of really nice stripers off sand flat areas where they are schooling minnows and shad. White 1/4th ounce hair jigs are excellent either tipped with a trailer or plane. Cast tight to shore and use a steady retrieve back. Walleye and sauger scattered and heading back to main channel areas.
Be careful running the river and look for semi-submerged trees just under the waters surface. These can ruin your day quickly.
Look for more up to date reports as water warms and fishing really turns on. You can contact me at: lastcast13@yahoo.com for specific questions on the river.
Regards: Mike Cyze,,,, lastcastoutdoors.com
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
BANGIN' THE BIG ONES!!!
Greetings All:
Well, with the last few days being mild, I decided to try something different. Headed out for some night fishing on the Ole' Miss. Fished some known spawning spots and believe me, the fishing was hot!!!
Was casting neutral boyancy stick baits into shallow gravel bed areas with about 3' of water. These were along fast tapering shorelines. Made casts very tight to shoreline and used a nice steady retrieve. I did add 3 small split-shot a foot up on line from lure to keep it nose down. This did the trick as the big fish were smacking it hard. Use flashy colors for best results. Gold and silver flash both worked well. Biggest fish came on a perch colored lure.
Be careful on the river at night. Everything looks different. Wear that PFD for safety!!! Also barges are running so use caution with them.
Caught over 9 big walleye in about 1&1/2 hours with biggest a beautiful 11.7 lb. Female. All fish were released unharmed to fight another day. Handle these big spawners carefully.
Night fishing on the Mississippi River. A treat to be enjoyed on a warm Spring night!!!!
Good Luck and be safe on the river!!!!
Lastcast / Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Well, with the last few days being mild, I decided to try something different. Headed out for some night fishing on the Ole' Miss. Fished some known spawning spots and believe me, the fishing was hot!!!
Was casting neutral boyancy stick baits into shallow gravel bed areas with about 3' of water. These were along fast tapering shorelines. Made casts very tight to shoreline and used a nice steady retrieve. I did add 3 small split-shot a foot up on line from lure to keep it nose down. This did the trick as the big fish were smacking it hard. Use flashy colors for best results. Gold and silver flash both worked well. Biggest fish came on a perch colored lure.
Be careful on the river at night. Everything looks different. Wear that PFD for safety!!! Also barges are running so use caution with them.
Caught over 9 big walleye in about 1&1/2 hours with biggest a beautiful 11.7 lb. Female. All fish were released unharmed to fight another day. Handle these big spawners carefully.
Night fishing on the Mississippi River. A treat to be enjoyed on a warm Spring night!!!!
Good Luck and be safe on the river!!!!
Lastcast / Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Mississippi river Update!!!
Greetings All:
Well, heavy weekend storms still have the river muddied up. You can find some clean water in back sloughs where fish are holding. Main river fishing slow, backwaters picking up. As waters warm, look for some great striper action to start. Biggest problem now is getting the fish to see your bait in the dirty water.
Was out this morning, a few nice sauger in flooded timber. Also some nice stripers, (15 to 17") on flooded sand flats protected from main river current. Fish are available but you will have to work a bit for them right now.
Good Luck: Lastcast / Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com.
Well, heavy weekend storms still have the river muddied up. You can find some clean water in back sloughs where fish are holding. Main river fishing slow, backwaters picking up. As waters warm, look for some great striper action to start. Biggest problem now is getting the fish to see your bait in the dirty water.
Was out this morning, a few nice sauger in flooded timber. Also some nice stripers, (15 to 17") on flooded sand flats protected from main river current. Fish are available but you will have to work a bit for them right now.
Good Luck: Lastcast / Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
HIGH RIVER PRODUCING NICE FISH!!!
Greetings All:
Well, river is high but it continues to give up some great fish. Key is picking your spots. Nice sauger and some walleye in flooded timber and brush on down sides of points and islands. Also some really nice 15 and 16 inch stripers located off flooded sand flats near river and incoming stream mouths. Fan cast area with small 1/4th oz. jigs tipped with a 3" plastic shad body. Cast right up to shore and use a nice steady retrieve. When you get into these fish they are really aggressive. Surprised since water still on cold side but they are hungry.
Rain and possible light snow predicted over weekend but so far Sunday said to be a nice day. Get out and enjoy!!!
Last cast,,,,,,Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com.
Well, river is high but it continues to give up some great fish. Key is picking your spots. Nice sauger and some walleye in flooded timber and brush on down sides of points and islands. Also some really nice 15 and 16 inch stripers located off flooded sand flats near river and incoming stream mouths. Fan cast area with small 1/4th oz. jigs tipped with a 3" plastic shad body. Cast right up to shore and use a nice steady retrieve. When you get into these fish they are really aggressive. Surprised since water still on cold side but they are hungry.
Rain and possible light snow predicted over weekend but so far Sunday said to be a nice day. Get out and enjoy!!!
Last cast,,,,,,Mike Cyze lastcast13@yahoo.com.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
FIND FISH IN FLOODED WILLOWS
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
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
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
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