Below the lock & dam techniques

Here in about a month Iowa will be able to fish open water below the lock and dams. Many a eye will be caught. I’m wanting to get a good game plan for finding and catching some of these guys. My trolling motor is too small to control my boat in this type of current and my 90 hp is a bit large. How do you guys fish these waters and what are your techniques?

Well first of all get a new trolling moter if budget allows if not well do the best you can use oneeyes blade baits jigs & plastic minnows if needed cast to shallows or vertical jig all of above & good luck

Find some nice current seams, drop anchor, and pitch plastics and blades to the seams

Drop downstream to the jigging and three-way trolling flats and have a blast —-

I start at a depth they are holding and use my trolling motor to control my drift down stream. I use the jig and minnow. Once I find success in one drift I try and make the same drift. If not I move to another area to drift. I guess that in vertical jigging the most important part is to keep contact with the bottom and a tight line to detect those light bites. The current brake is good method also. Good luck. One thing I do know you can’t catch them sitting in the living room.

What i do up the river in Minnesota is start up close to the dam and drift down river. We usually use a jig and minnow. While drifting with the current your line will be vertical. This is an excellent way to find the fish.. After a few different drifts you will start to figure out where you are getting the most fish and bites. Once you find these spots you can keep drifting over these spots. GOOD LUCK!

Don’t be afraid to get away from the crowds, down stream a ways and JJ above nailed it.

The guys here use the same method Goosebuster is speaking of. They run up to the white water and drift down jigging. When castings blades, do you just reel them back or?? I see a lot of guys jig blades but never see them casting them. Sounds like something good to add to my techniques if I know the correct way to retrieve.

Pitching (casting) blades can be done close to the dam if you know how to read the current breaks…casting a 1/4 oz blade such as a Heddon Sonar, BFT B3, or Silver Buddy hooked in the middle hole. Quarter upstream and slowly/gently pump the blade about 6″ off the bottom as it drifts downstream…maintaining a tight line by constantly reeling as you work the blade.
I use the same technique for pitching jigs/plastics below the Dam, but work it even slower.
I echo the time tested success of the jig/minnow…but have so much confidence in the blades/plastics that I no longer carry minnows…even when guiding…but that is up to you and until you have the confidence…bring some minnows!
Mr. Ecklor is right! Move to downstream sand, gravel, clam beds or other current breaks and get away from the boat pressure. You may stick some big Piggies!