The hours dragged on while waiting for the time we could leave work anticipating a good wing dam bite. Mike C and I were chomping at the bits for the clock to strike that magic hour turning us into a blur as we ran for the trucks and headed to the landing, by 4:15pm we were fishing and by 4:15:30 Mike had the first keeper gill in the boat, I’m not sure I was even baited up yet There is nothing (in our opinion) that beats mid week therapy on the water And when the fish are cooperative it puts the icing on the cake.
8 inch gill
With the river stage and flow dropping the first thing that was noticeable while pulling up to a wing dam, the bigger gills were not going to be on the inside anymore. The flow looked more inviting towards the middle of the wing dam making it the place to position the boat. Blue Gills are no different than any other fish, they like some flow which provides oxygen in the water while also washing food towards there ambush. With the boat anchored 30-40yards off the face of the wing dam we were able to cast the baits parallel to the rocks while letting the offering drift towards the waiting fish. Just shy of the rocks our lines would either stop or there would be a thump indicating fish on
Jig N Crawler Gill
Matching the jig size to flow is necessary for presenting baits that are irresistible while drifting into the waiting gills. To heavy and the baits will just lie on bottom and or, be hung up more often. 1/8oz has been just right the last couple trips washing down river into the face of the wing dams at a perfect speed. 1/16oz has been working too but, the bigger jig has been keeping the hooks from being inhaled throat deep Colors haven’t seemed to matter with green, chartreuse and orange being good. The choice of meat is a piece of crawler just long enough to provide an enticing tail off the back of the jig.
The evenings average gill
There were no 9 inch Bulls caught this outing but plenty of gills just shy and some bumping the 8 inch mark, perfect for the fryer. The flat sided gills with shoulders also provide a lot of fun for the ultra light tackle while swimming for all they are worth. Whimpy sticks bent over and drag come from the Pflueger Micro President spinning reel never gets old Fishing wing dams you never know what might want your crawler, Mike C was provided some great entertainment on his light tackle from a small Flathead, it might as well been a 30 ponder being caught on 80lb line and heavy equipment Pool 8 is in great shape and there are plenty wing dams holding a variety of fish. Get out there and get yourselves some therapy……..Good luck fishing people
Location
:
Wisconsin
Water Body
:
Mississippi River
Species
:
panfish
Water Temp
:
80
Stage
:
4.83
Flow
:
18600
Technique
:
pitching / flipping
-------------------- Bret Clark - IDO Ice Pro Staff "Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway."
Boy do I need some therapy like that. Between staining and chinking the house I barely have enough time to read these reports. Might have to sneak out one of these evenings for a few hours.
Question for ya, with a south wind, do you still anchor or do you use the wind and troller to keep you in position?
-------------------- DOGS ARE THE BEST FISHING PARTNERS THEY ALWAYS WANT TO GO AND ARE HAPPY WHERE EVER YOU ARE FISHING, PLUS THEY DON'T STEAL FROM YOUR TACKLE BOX.
I know where you are coming from, when the wind is blowing the boat up stream it makes it harder to keep the boat in the sweet spot. At times like this I still anchor up but use 2 anchors bow and stern, just to keep the boat from swinging around so much. It is a trick to get the proper length of rope out with 2 anchors but it can be done. Most times if the wind isn’t to strong you will just need to let out minimal rope at the stern to keep in place. The trolling motor would work but when on a good bite, as we have been the last couple times out, boat control becomes a pain for me while I’m trying to grab bait or retie after loosing a jig. I find it more relaxing fishing a wing dam whenever I can get boat control out of the way. This is even more important when you have kids along and no time to be jockeying the boat around.
Hope that answers your question.
-------------------- Bret Clark - IDO Ice Pro Staff "Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway."
I should have also added, when fishing out of Mike C's boat alot of times the Water Spike anchor tied of to the middle of the boat is all that is needed. That is as long as the winds are not swirling and gusting.
-------------------- Bret Clark - IDO Ice Pro Staff "Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway."
-------------------- DOGS ARE THE BEST FISHING PARTNERS THEY ALWAYS WANT TO GO AND ARE HAPPY WHERE EVER YOU ARE FISHING, PLUS THEY DON'T STEAL FROM YOUR TACKLE BOX.
Mississippi River Pool 8 Wing Dam Gills
There is nothing (in our opinion) that beats mid week therapy on the water 
And when the fish are cooperative it puts the icing on the cake. 
Colors haven’t seemed to matter with green, chartreuse and orange being good. The choice of meat is a piece of crawler just long enough to provide an enticing tail off the back of the jig. 
Fishing wing dams you never know what might want your crawler, Mike C was provided some great entertainment on his light tackle from a small Flathead, it might as well been a 30 ponder being caught on 80lb line and heavy equipment 
Re: Mississippi River Pool 8 Wing Dam Gills
When is the next "bring a boat to work day"? 
