Monday, September 21, 2015

FALL STRIPER BITE TAKING SHAPE!!!

Greetings All:
The long anticipated Fall Striper bite is starting to take shape. With cooler nights and shorter days, look for the bite for these big bruisers to take off. Water temps need to start dropping, which they will, to trigger the fish to start feeding heavily.
Currently I have been having good fishing on the Mississippi river working fast tapering shoreline areas and also wingdams. Simply cast a nice fluffy hair jig tipped with a twister tail and you will know if the Stripers are in the area. This action is fast and furious and so much fun. Look for it to be a great Fall as these fish will only get more aggressive as the water continues to cool. Check back often for updates.

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

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

RIVER ANGLING PICKING UP!!!

Greetings All:
Well, as we move along through the month of September, the subtle touches of the coming Fall have been teasing us. Some nice cool nights have been evident and it won't be long before the cooler weather starts hitting the area on a more regular basis. Even with the few cool weather days and nights recently, signs are showing that a good river bite is in the offering for the coming season.

On the Mississippi, Wisconsin and Rock Rivers, fishing has been on the upswing. A great catfish bite continues along with many nice bass being taken by anglers. Panfish are starting to improve with some nice crappie showing up near structure areas on minnows. Bluegill action fair to good along weed edges and also on main river areas with light current and structure close to shore. For you walleye and sauger anglers, some nice fish showing up this last week trolling crawlers near wingdams on a 3-way rig. Some good action early and again late casting rocky shorelines with both jigs and also crank baits. Look for the bite to greatly improve as water temps start to go down.

One last fish I want to mention is the Stripers. Fall Striper action is starting and will continue through the month of October if the weather holds. What a time to get out and do battle with these huge Stripers that have been getting fat all summer long.

Before long, Fall will officially be here and I am predicting a banner season of fishing on our bigger Midwest Rivers. So with that said, hopefully you can make some plans to get out and enjoy the great fishing ahead.

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

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com  

Thursday, September 3, 2015

QUICK COMING WEEKEND UPDATE!!!

Greetings All:
With the Labor Day weekend just a few days away, many folks will be heading out to do some fishing. If your heading to the Mississippi or Wisconsin Rivers, look for decent angling to be occurring. Keep in mind that it is forecast to be very hot mid day so if possible, get out early and again in the late afternoon. The fish have been much more active during these two periods. 

Lots of good catfish action on dip baits, stripers starting on steep tapering shorelines and sand flat areas. Panfish hit and miss. Main channel structure holding some bluegill on worms and larva baits. Crappie on deep timber on minnows.

Walleye have been slow. Remember, water temps are still in the high 60's to mid 70's. Look for clean water as some areas have lots of floating weeds. 

All in all, hope you can get out to wet a line this weekend. Enjoy the holiday and be safe on the water and in your travels.

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

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com

Saturday, August 29, 2015

BASS FISHING ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS HOT!!!

Greetings All:
If you like fishing for bass, now is the time to get out on the beautiful Mississippi River and enjoy some fast action. 
With a great year class of bass available, anglers are having a ball catching these great fighting fish. Both largemouth and smallmouth are biting well.

From Pool-6 all the way down to Pool-15, bass are hitting with reckless abandon. Early in the day and again before sunset, there is a great topwater bite available. Stick baits are working well in colors that match the forage base in the pool you are fishing. Some action on crankbaits for smallmouth bass are also doing well. Choose smaller cranks with a nice tight action for best results. 

For you folks that like to fish the many backwater areas the river has to offer, try fishing plastic frogs over the weed beds and also very tight to timber laying in the water. Lots of nice bass still available in the backwaters as of this report. Use a slow, twitch and pause retrieve for the frogs and you will catch fish. Once the Sun is up in the morning, go to a spinnerbait for best results fished near weed edges and also tight to timber in the water. Use a nice steady retrieve for best results. 

Right now my friends the bass action on the Mississippi River is absolutely wonderful with many big fish available. Hopefully if you like to catch bass you can get out and enjoy this fast action that's going on in a pool near you.

Note: When fishing spinnerbaits in the backwaters, don't be surprised if a big old Northern smacks your lure. They are available in good numbers also in these areas. 

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

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com     

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

HEAVY RAINS HINDERING ANGLERS SUCCESS

Greetings All:
Just a quick update on current fishing conditions here in the Midwest. Many areas received large amounts of rain in a short period causing flooding and heavy runoff. Area rivers and lakes are currently muddy and it will be a few days before they start to once again clear. On the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers, try and search out the cleanest waters you can find for best results. All waters are muddy but the cleanest water will be those that do not contain a lot of floating debris. 

Best bet right now is the catfish. Use dip baits near snag areas and you will catch some nice fish. 
All other species are slow due to the stained water. Hopefully by the weekend, fishing will improve if Mother Nature keeps the rains away. 

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

Regards: Lastcast   Mike Cyze   lastcast13@yahoo.com

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

EVEN WITH HOT WEATHER, RIVER BITE GOOD!!!

Greetings All:
Even with the hot temperatures we have been experiencing lately, the Mississippi River is producing excellent catches of fish. 
Right now the water levels are slightly below normal in Pools-11-12-13 & 14. The water temperature is holding in the high 70's to low 80's in spots. Even with those warm waters the river current is keeping the fish well oxygenated so they are surviving well. Main river fishing is the norm right now with most fish concentrated in deeper holes of the river. 

I have been doing my fishing both early and again late in the day to beat the heat and this has been paying off. Lots of nice Bass on topwater lures for you bass anglers with spinnerbaits also working well. Don't be surprised if a nice Northern hits that spinnerbait as there is a great class of nice big Northern available to catch. 

For you catfish anglers, use those dip baits near deadfalls in the water and you will do well. Also drifting a nightcrawler under a slip float along fast tapering, rocky shorelines will take some nice catfish as will fishing the upstream side of the wingdams. 

Walleye are slow now with best action coming early and again late into dark on small crankbaits fished near structure such as wingdams and sunken timber. Some success trolling nightcrawlers on a harness close to rocky bottom areas in deeper water. Vary your trolling speed until you find what the fish want. 

Lastly, I have been getting some really nice big Stripers fishing fast tapering sand flat areas and casting a 1/4th. ounce all white hair jig. Fan cast the area well and when you hit a school you will load up fast. Use line no heavier that 8lb. test for best results. 

All in all my friends, by staggering your time on the water from early to late, you will beat the Summer heat and be on the water when the bite has been happening. Hopefully 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

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

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. 

Thursday, July 9, 2015

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  

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

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   

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

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