Night Bite Struggles

Since mid-October I’ve been on Pools 2 or 3 for a total of five evenings. The first couple of trips the water was above 50 F and the past couple it’s been in the upper 40s F. I’ve started fishing after dark and have fish a few times to as late as 2:00 a.m. It’s been slow to very slow for me. I’ve generally been pitching various plastics to wing dams but have also tried some dragging of plastics and casting stick baits. I’ve also tried rip rap shore lines.

Anybody else been stuggling too or is it just me? The past couple of years I was doing much better than this year. It seems like the current is much stronger now than at this time last year but it’s certain not a strong current by any means. Maybe it been more of a day bite but I haven’t had time to get out during the day lately. On a few of the trips the wheather was great with light winds. In mid October it was super nice with a full moon, clear skies, light winds… so I can’t blame the weather man.

Boone

How is your clarity compared to years past? I’d look into that first!

Its not just you Boone. We got 5 or 6 tonight. Basically one per spot. Not the stupid simple fishing of the last few years. Maybe try a lot of moving around hitting different spots. Tonight we got our one fish per spot fairly fast and might just as well pulled up and moved. Still a fun evening to relax and enjoy the river.

To me, the water clarity appears typical for this time of year. It’s not muddy.

Mike… what few fish I’ve caught, I’ve noticed the same thing. If I catch a fish on a spot, it’s typically on the first or second cast. Sticking around and trying to get more fish has not produced for me. I always hear that 50 F is the magic water temperature but I’ve actually done worse the past couple of trips when the water temperature has dropped down into the upper 40s. Maybe there’s just a ton of bait fish to compete with this year,

Boone

Pools 2,3,4 have all been slower for me this year than years passed also. Ive had better luck from shore than borrowing my dads boat oddly enough. I catch walleyes but its alot more work this year. Pretty much cant get em to hit anything but moxis, even live bait. Smallmouth have been hot though so its made up for it somewhat.

It sounds like you’re trying a bunch of stuff that should work. Talking to people it sounds like fishing has been a little tougher this fall compared to the last two. I’m not sure the reason for that, but I’ve got a call into Wally walleye, so I’ll let you know when he gets back to me. I noticed this summer that the Hastings ramp closes at 10, which stinks if the weather is nice and a guy wants to fish until the witching hour. Lions Levee closes at 11 the sign says. I know 494 is always open, but sometimes it’d be nice to use those other launches.

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Lions Levee closes at 11 the sign says.

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I don’t think that’s ever enforced, at least for the boaters. I was loading up last weekend when the police drove by at 2:00 a.m. and they just waved. I know the police patrol it regularly and I’ve never gotten a ticket and I’ve been there several nights after midnight. Hopefully we’ll be able to use that ramp for another month before it gets iced-in.

I looked at my notes from last November and most nights I was averaging over one walleye per hour. Hopefully things will pick up. Maybe the water cooled too fast this year.

Boone

Mike you should send me the locations of your favorite Wingdams
I’ll keep an Eye on them while your up hunting

Anyone I can get on is my favorite.

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Anyone I can get on is my favorite.

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Or anyone with fish on it. One fish per spot and 2 of those fish were on new spots! Always interesting to keep searching out new locations.

Heads up on the 494 ramp. The docks have been pulled.

-J.

we’ve been having a dynamite bite around 1-4:30. as soon as it gets dark it goes nearly dead. here on p16.

We have had mixed results between the late afternoon hours and night bite. The one to two fish per dam seems typical for us. With boats running all over from WD to WD, it makes for tough fishing to pick up the one or two. We have been switching to the afternoon bite as it just seems better overall with nights quieting down for some reason. With the jacked up season this year, south of the 494 bridge and calmer, shallower areas near some sort of breakline seem to be working the best..