Cooler waters ahead

Cooler waters are on the way for our beloved pools and hopefully that’ll change my luck. While not unusual for this time of year, the weather is finally taking the turn that will allow for dropping water temps. The combo of longer nights, drier air, and even chillier stuff in MN will begin taking its toll. My question is as the H20 temps fall, when does the wingdam bite turn back on?

I went out and fished the wings from the nuke plant to Prineton IA on 14 last thursday and had no luck with walleyes. We drifted live baits over and between wings, with only a sheepie and white bass to show for a morning’s work. Casting and slow trolling wallydivers brought nothing in either.

Best of luck everybody!
Andy
(that weather guy)

Skyguy,

Don’t feel bad. I think a lot of guys have been struggling recently. For me, it seems that September is a tough month. You often here about the dog days of August but it’s been my experience on the river that early-mid September is slower, especially if the water temperature is climbing.

I think things start to turn on when the water temperature hits 50 F.

Boone

Andy:

Up near Lansing on 9, we had 62 degrees for surface water temps on Friday in the shallows < 3′ deep, and 65 degrees near the channel in the deeper stuff. I just heard the weather radio and the friendly computer voice was talking about frost later this week and temps not getting out of the 50s this Saturday here in the Cedar Rapids area. It wasn’t til late October or early November that we were hitting weather like that back east in Maryland (the part I lived in-Maryland has a very varied climate, driven somewhat by elevation).

I haven’t been to 14 since late August, sounds like I’m not missin’ a whole lot.

Regards,

Joe Jiacinto

Oh yeah, that forecast…. (not issued on my shift) While I’m on the bandwagon of forecasters saying cooler weather (compared to the basking warmth of late) is on the way, I’m less enthused about widespread frosts and highs in the 50s late this week. You’ll hear a different tune on your weather radio this morning! I’d place my best bets on fine fall weather, with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s and lows in the upper 30s to mid 40s for much of the week ahead(though it will be warmer today). Still, despite my disagreement on the “big” freeze this week, I’ll stick to my guns about this stuff being cold enough to drop river temps.

No mention of frosts or upper 50s this morning on the blower.

Regards,

Joe Jiacinto

I should be more specific sometimes. I meant the little forecast tidbits saying there wouldn’t be a big freeze for folks south of Pool 10. Farther north, I suppose you could get one. Oh well, what’s that mean for fishing anyway? (I don’t know) Looks now that Friday evening and early saturday morning will be rather nasty for being on the water, with wind, rain and cold temps. I think the walleye tourney’s coming up this weekend if I’m right, and those guys are going to need some luck. Looks like near 40F mornings and low 60s highs under sunshine for the weekend near the Quad Cities.