I want to know how everybody approaches fishing a wingdam? I know their is a very good article but I would like to hear from other IDA members. This will focus on late spring, summer tactics. Today I anchored about twenty yards on the upstream side of a wingdam and fancasted the wingdam with a #5 shadrap. I had zero results. Is this the wrong way of going about it?
A #5 shad rap isn’t going to dive deep enough to allow you to fish much of a deeper dam. I would suggest picking up some deeper diving cranks like Bomber 6A’s, Shad Rap RS’s in #7 or similar.
When fishing livebait try a slip sinker rig. I prefer a egg sinker in place of the walking style. Fish crawlers, leeches or willowcats with this rig. Throw the rig to the base of the dam and “work” it in and out of the rocks on the front face of the dam or, if the flow is lower, right on top of the dam. Be prepared to lose a LOT of terminal tackle. 
Targaman,
When working cranks ONLY I usually set up a little different on the wingdams. I usually set up on just the tip of the wingdam, about 10 yards out, in the channel. This will allow you to cover more of the wingdam, front, back and especially the tip. Like James said, a little bigger crank will make a big difference. The smallest I throw is a #7.
I like to anchor on the ends or above blow throughs. Last year the RAP,Tail dancer deep worked really well. Doesn’t cast the greatest but not too bad either. With its large bill hang-ups were minimal-great color patterns too. One trick that I have used for a long time is, when retrieving, and you lose contact with the rocks I will stick my rod down in the water ,you lose some feel but adding that extra2-4ft of crankin depth can make the world of difference!
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I want to know how everybody approaches fishing a wingdam? I know their is a very good article but I would like to hear from other IDA members. This will focus on late spring, summer tactics. Today I anchored about twenty yards on the upstream side of a wingdam and fancasted the wingdam with a #5 shadrap. I had zero results. Is this the wrong way of going about it?
There are no fish ion the wingdams! 
Try working your boat above the wingdam with your trolling motor instead of throwing out the anchor. You’ll be able to work the entire dam as fish can be found in multiple locations along many wingdams. It takes some practice with the trolling motor but it is most definately worth it. Walleye will seldom chase after a crank unless it goes within striking distance of their ambush area. By anchoring you could be only a few feet from the feeding walleyes and not get a hit simply because you aren’t able to cast to the spot. By working the whole dam with a trolling motor your going to put that crank where it needs to be. Every wingdam is different with differnt features and by working above the dams you will get to know each individual dam better over time and be able to target specific areas on each dam that hold feeding fish.
I fished a closing dam in a slough last night as it was out of the heavy wind. It isn’t a long dam as the slough is probably only 100 yards wide. I did cast cranks on the dam but the fish just didn’t want cranks last night. I worked the dam with a DBQ 3-way and did quite well with most of the fish coming on a 3/4 oz drop jig but I also popped a couple on the long line (crawler). I caught fish on both ends as well as in the middle of this dam with my biggest fish (25-1/2″) coming off on one end of the dam in less tham 3′ of water. Had I anchored in the middle of this closing dam I would never been able to cast to the area where I caught this nice walleye.
I know that in the upper pools there are lots of short wingdams and anchoring is an OK option but down in the pools that I frequent most of the wingdams are long with lots of features that would get missed if I anchored on them. Besides working a crank above a dam with a trolling motor is a great way to find the action. It doesn’t take long to know whether or not the dam is worth spending time on. You won’t have to mess with the anchor either.
Eyehunter
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