Sunday, April 20, 2008
Cameron's First Fish of the Year
Monday, April 14, 2008
1st Crappie of the year
Ok i didn't have much time and i got a pass to do a little fishing on Sunday. I went to New Town and didn't catch anything. I cooked it over to Cart and caught 3 fish. Two were little bass and one was a nice crappie it was a KEEPER!! The
High Waters
Just a quick note. Didn't get to go walleye fishing on Sunday. Due to high waters all boat ramps were closed. Going to try to get out this coming Sunday.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Walleye Fishing on the Mississippi
Sunday I plan to go walleye fishing on the Mississippi. I was told to go north of Windfield dam, but between talking to people at work, and reading things on the internet I may want to be south of the dam. Here are a couple things I've found.
Missouri Game & Fish
Fishing near St. Louis for walleyes and saugers is best below the Clarksville and Winfield dams starting in the fall, when water temperatures fall below 60 degrees, said MDC fisheries management biologist Danny Brown, of St. Charles.
Some fish are caught below the Mel Price Dam in Alton, but not as many as under the more upstream dams. The river needs to be in a normal to low flow pattern for good fishing. Once it gets high and muddy, the fishing can get tough. I typically tell anglers that fishing is best when the stage at Winfield Dam is around 17 (feet) or less.
According to Brown, most anglers bounce 3/4- to one-ounce jigs tipped with minnows off the bottom near current breaks in the turbulent water below the dams. A trolling motor comes in handy to keep the line vertical in the water column for those wanting to jig. Some anglers use crankbaits along the shallower water between wing dikes and land some nice fish.
According to Schulte, the best rig on the river is a jig-and-minnow combination with a little twist. Put a minnow on a first hook and attach a stinger hook to round out this very effective bait. When a fish chases the minnow, it’ll get hooked on the stinger.
Schulte said that most of the walleyes run from 9 to 14 inches, with a few reaching 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds.
Leadlining is another favorite trick used by locals to tempt a few pre-spawn fish into biting their jig or crankbait. Troll upstream with color-coded leadcore line on a trolling rod for the best lure action. Be certain to let out enough line for the bait to contact the bottom. Bumping along on the bottom is the goal, so use relatively inexpensive baits to avoid becoming gun-shy, as the chances are good that you’ll lose a few lures.
Gander Mountain
As spawning time approaches and the water warms into the 40s, the fish move shallower and begin feeding much more heavily. The two-week period before spawning offers the fastest action and the best opportunity for big fish.
Big walleyes congregate in eddies near the rock or gravel shorelines where they will spawn, usually at depths of 2 to 8 feet. Many walleye anglers make the mistake of fishing too deep in this pre-spawn period. Saugers stay 5 to 10 feet deeper than the walleyes.
If the water is high, as it often is this time of year, walleyes leave the main channel and move to the backwaters, where finding them is next to impossible. Saugers are less likely to leave the main channel.
You can catch walleyes by anchoring and casting into shallow brushy or riprapped shorelines with white or chartreuse jigs, from 1/2 to 1/4 ounce. Saugers are best taken by vertically jigging in deeper water with 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jigs. Some anglers prefer to tip their jigs with small minnows, but tipping is seldom necessary when the water temperature tops 400 F For best results, work the jig very slowly, with small hops.
Spawning begins when the water reaches the upper 40s, usually in mid- to late April. Saugers start to spawn a few days later than walleyes. Once spawning is under way, fishing turns sour. You may catch a few small males, but the big females don't start to bite until at least two weeks after they've finished spawning.
Starting about the first week in May, big walleyes go on a feeding spree that produces plenty of trophy fish for fishermen who know where to find them. Most of the fish have moved away from the dam, although a few remain all summer. The best spots are backwaters with moving water and current-brushed points in the main channel several miles downstream from the dam. You'll find most of the fish at depths of 8 to 12 feet. Productive techniques include anchoring above the points and casting with 1/4-ounce chartreuse bucktail jigs, or trolling diving plugs through channels in the backwaters.
Saugers are not far away, although they normally hang at least 5 feet deeper than the walleyes.
Missouri Game & Fish
Fishing near St. Louis for walleyes and saugers is best below the Clarksville and Winfield dams starting in the fall, when water temperatures fall below 60 degrees, said MDC fisheries management biologist Danny Brown, of St. Charles.
Some fish are caught below the Mel Price Dam in Alton, but not as many as under the more upstream dams. The river needs to be in a normal to low flow pattern for good fishing. Once it gets high and muddy, the fishing can get tough. I typically tell anglers that fishing is best when the stage at Winfield Dam is around 17 (feet) or less.
According to Brown, most anglers bounce 3/4- to one-ounce jigs tipped with minnows off the bottom near current breaks in the turbulent water below the dams. A trolling motor comes in handy to keep the line vertical in the water column for those wanting to jig. Some anglers use crankbaits along the shallower water between wing dikes and land some nice fish.
According to Schulte, the best rig on the river is a jig-and-minnow combination with a little twist. Put a minnow on a first hook and attach a stinger hook to round out this very effective bait. When a fish chases the minnow, it’ll get hooked on the stinger.
Schulte said that most of the walleyes run from 9 to 14 inches, with a few reaching 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds.
Leadlining is another favorite trick used by locals to tempt a few pre-spawn fish into biting their jig or crankbait. Troll upstream with color-coded leadcore line on a trolling rod for the best lure action. Be certain to let out enough line for the bait to contact the bottom. Bumping along on the bottom is the goal, so use relatively inexpensive baits to avoid becoming gun-shy, as the chances are good that you’ll lose a few lures.
Gander Mountain
As spawning time approaches and the water warms into the 40s, the fish move shallower and begin feeding much more heavily. The two-week period before spawning offers the fastest action and the best opportunity for big fish.
Big walleyes congregate in eddies near the rock or gravel shorelines where they will spawn, usually at depths of 2 to 8 feet. Many walleye anglers make the mistake of fishing too deep in this pre-spawn period. Saugers stay 5 to 10 feet deeper than the walleyes.
If the water is high, as it often is this time of year, walleyes leave the main channel and move to the backwaters, where finding them is next to impossible. Saugers are less likely to leave the main channel.
You can catch walleyes by anchoring and casting into shallow brushy or riprapped shorelines with white or chartreuse jigs, from 1/2 to 1/4 ounce. Saugers are best taken by vertically jigging in deeper water with 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jigs. Some anglers prefer to tip their jigs with small minnows, but tipping is seldom necessary when the water temperature tops 400 F For best results, work the jig very slowly, with small hops.
Spawning begins when the water reaches the upper 40s, usually in mid- to late April. Saugers start to spawn a few days later than walleyes. Once spawning is under way, fishing turns sour. You may catch a few small males, but the big females don't start to bite until at least two weeks after they've finished spawning.
Starting about the first week in May, big walleyes go on a feeding spree that produces plenty of trophy fish for fishermen who know where to find them. Most of the fish have moved away from the dam, although a few remain all summer. The best spots are backwaters with moving water and current-brushed points in the main channel several miles downstream from the dam. You'll find most of the fish at depths of 8 to 12 feet. Productive techniques include anchoring above the points and casting with 1/4-ounce chartreuse bucktail jigs, or trolling diving plugs through channels in the backwaters.
Saugers are not far away, although they normally hang at least 5 feet deeper than the walleyes.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Fishing Report
Mississippi (above St. Louis): 42 degrees, high, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/9/2008)
Mark Twain: 46 degrees, high, clear; crappie fair on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/9/2008)
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33: 55 degrees, high, muddy; black bass good on spinner baits; bluegill slow on worms; crappie fair on bright-colored jigs and scented baits; all other species slow.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 24: 55 degrees, high, muddy; catfish slow with some success using mealworms; catfish limit: 4; please remove litter.
Lake of the Ozarks (Bagnell Tailwater): 47 degrees, high, muddy; white bass fair on light-colored soft plastics; crappie slow with some success using minnows and crappie jigs, catfish fair on worms. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize): 49 degrees, high, muddy; black bass slow on spinner baits and crank baits; white bass slow on light-colored soft plastic jigs; crappie slow on minnows and crappie jigs; catfish slow on worms. (Report made on 4/9/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois): 49 degrees, high, dingy; black bass fair; white bass slow; catfish fair on cut shad; crappie slow on jigs. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua): 49 degrees, high, muddy; black bass good using crank baits on shallow points; crappie slow, try lures that create vibration or have blades on it; white bass slow, fish near river mouths and try Road Runners; catfish slow with some success on stink baits. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Osage): 49 degrees, high, muddy; black bass good using crank baits on shallow points; crappie slow, try lures that create vibration or have blades on it; white bass slow, fish near river mouths and try Road Runners; catfish slow with some success on stink baits. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Table Rock (James River arm): 55 degrees, high, dingy; water is very high; minimal visibility; all species slow. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Table Rock (main lake): 55 degrees, high, dingy; water levels very high; all species slow. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Mark Twain: 46 degrees, high, clear; crappie fair on minnows; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/9/2008)
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lake 33: 55 degrees, high, muddy; black bass good on spinner baits; bluegill slow on worms; crappie fair on bright-colored jigs and scented baits; all other species slow.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area Lakes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 24: 55 degrees, high, muddy; catfish slow with some success using mealworms; catfish limit: 4; please remove litter.
Lake of the Ozarks (Bagnell Tailwater): 47 degrees, high, muddy; white bass fair on light-colored soft plastics; crappie slow with some success using minnows and crappie jigs, catfish fair on worms. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Glaize): 49 degrees, high, muddy; black bass slow on spinner baits and crank baits; white bass slow on light-colored soft plastic jigs; crappie slow on minnows and crappie jigs; catfish slow on worms. (Report made on 4/9/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Gravois): 49 degrees, high, dingy; black bass fair; white bass slow; catfish fair on cut shad; crappie slow on jigs. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Niangua): 49 degrees, high, muddy; black bass good using crank baits on shallow points; crappie slow, try lures that create vibration or have blades on it; white bass slow, fish near river mouths and try Road Runners; catfish slow with some success on stink baits. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Lake of the Ozarks (Osage): 49 degrees, high, muddy; black bass good using crank baits on shallow points; crappie slow, try lures that create vibration or have blades on it; white bass slow, fish near river mouths and try Road Runners; catfish slow with some success on stink baits. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Table Rock (James River arm): 55 degrees, high, dingy; water is very high; minimal visibility; all species slow. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Table Rock (main lake): 55 degrees, high, dingy; water levels very high; all species slow. (Report made on 4/10/2008)
Monday, April 7, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
First Fish of the Year
Bryan, Adam and I went fishing on Saturday. We just went down to "Cart". Fishing was Slow. I caught 5 bass all around 10". Fish were only biting on live minnows. Water temp was 49.
TEMP: ° °
TIME: Midday
CONDITIONS: OverCast
TEMP: ° °
TIME: Midday
CONDITIONS: OverCast
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