Just wondering if anybody can help me out. I’m just learning throwing wingdams & I’m only getting fish 16in to 21in. Can’t seem to break that mark & get into bigger fish. Throwing ring worms, K-tail, etc. I change colors,jig sizes, etc. Still stuck in that smaller fish range, Any ideas for me? Thanks Doug
I find my bigger fish this time of year on sand just off from the current. There’s a good chance the bigger fish just aren’t where you’re catching the smaller fish right now.
Depths… 3′ – 8′ yesterday. Go back and read the info Jarrad shared about finding sandflats… some good stuff there that will point you in the right direction. 
Happy Easter!
Here’s that post – Locating Sandflats
Thanks James 
That’s just what I was looking for. Can’t say enough about this site. YOU guy’s are the best. Thanks Doug. 
Alright – I have figured out where many sandflats are – and have caught some fish drifting their edge now by verticle jigging / 3 ways.
What approached is used when casting them – does one anchor in the channel edge and pitch to the sand OR anchor over the sand and pitch out to the deeper edge OR what approach does one take to tackle this new found places and catch some fish on them. Just would like an idea on the approach used to digest an area and grow to understand the fish it holds. I fish pool 9 some and 10 alot and am looking to apply these tactics down this way… any help in understanding more of this process would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for any info you might share with us… Chuckles
I hold off the deep edge in the current with my electric and cast up onto the flat and allow the jigs to sweep with the current. Once I’ve found a bunch of fish or if the area is small I might anchor but that would be the exception and not the rule.
Is the usual start with a certain sized jig – 1/16, 1/8, 3/32? Just cuious on the starting point – then assume it is changed based on whether the jig hits the bottom or not… and would assume you allow it to sweep down and bump the bottom occasionally as it sweeps downstream. Is it worthwhile then to work it back to the boat or is it usually just reeled in once it stops sweeping downstream? Appreciate your continued help on the mysteries of these flats. Chuckles
I’ll usually start with a 1/8 or 3/16ths ounce head. I want just enough weight to allow me to bounce bottom. The bait is allowed to sweep with the current. I do not usually try and work the jig back to the boat as there is usually to much current right at the boat to allow this to be possible with a head size that will work up on the flat.
Hope this helps. Keep asking questions and we’ll al do our best to provide the answers.
James,so does that mean you want to keep the jig sweeping on top of the flat and not washing down into the deeper channel edges? and what depths do you like these flats to be? Sorry Chuckles didn’t mean to cut in on your post,but it was a very good question you had,and it gave me some questions of my own. Thanks Rick, 
Also James and others – I have located some flats where there is just a slight variation in the peeks and valleys of the dunes – and others where there are extreme differences – is one type better than the other in certain conditions or are they all just waiting to be tried – and then returned to if they are good ones. Guess I am really asking is one type productive under certain conditions and the other productive under other river flow, clarity….(fill in the blank) conditions – or perhaps there are no real rules to follow that you have developed. I am just hoping to eliminate unproductive water if possible. Also James – would you consider a trip to another pool where you were unfamiliar with the water to guide? Or is this not a possibility… not sure I could scrape together enough funds anyway but am wondering if it is even a possibility? Thanks again for all the help – it is greatly appreciated – more than you will ever know. Chuckles
You do want the jig to sweep across the top of the flat and off the edge if possible. If the flat had a “top” in 8 – 10 foot of water and a break down to 22′ it would be very difficult to fish a jig on top in the shallow water and use that same jig on the same cast to work down to the base of the break. This is a great time to employ the buddy system and have one guy fish a lighter head for the shallow stuff + the top of the break while the other fishes the bottom of the break + the deeper water with a heavier head. When Dustin and I share a boat we almost NEVER fish the same baits on the same weights in an attempt to fish different depth ranges in a minimal amount of time.
Hope that answers your question.
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James,so does that mean you want to keep the jig sweeping on top of the flat and not washing down into the deeper channel edges? and what depths do you like these flats to be? Sorry Chuckles didn’t mean to cut in on your post,but it was a very good question you had,and it gave me some questions of my own. Thanks Rick,
I really don’t have a preference for one over the other…. give me a sand flat with deep water nearby and there will be some walleyes to be had. Throw in a clam bed and you’ve got yourself a “go to” spot. If you’re lucky enough to have all of the above plus some deep “whoopties” and maybe a couple depressions up on the flat and some rock or other structure mixed in and you’ve found a gem.
I used to pull the boat and guide on other pools but with gas prices the way they are and a super strong client base I guess I would be more likely to be talked into a weekend o’ fun over a trip for hire situation on another pool.
Where do you do most of your fishing?
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Also James and others – I have located some flats where there is just a slight variation in the peeks and valleys of the dunes – and others where there are extreme differences – is one type better than the other in certain conditions or are they all just waiting to be tried – and then returned to if they are good ones. Guess I am really asking is one type productive under certain conditions and the other productive under other river flow, clarity….(fill in the blank) conditions – or perhaps there are no real rules to follow that you have developed. I am just hoping to eliminate unproductive water if possible. Also James – would you consider a trip to another pool where you were unfamiliar with the water to guide? Or is this not a possibility… not sure I could scrape together enough funds anyway but am wondering if it is even a possibility? Thanks again for all the help – it is greatly appreciated – more than you will ever know. Chuckles
How do you go about locating clam beds, can you see them on your electronics? I have fished clam bed areas, but am curious on locating new ones!
I’m thinkin it won’t be long and James will be inventing THE CLAM BED DETECTOR, Maybe he already has 
This is another great question Reefhawg.Thanks James your answer on casting the sand flats is really going to be helpfull next time out, Rick,
Clam beds can be found by watching the shorelines. Typically they are on “Push-ups” or areas where water forces clam shells to shore. In all cases where I have found clam beds, there was moving water being pushed into an impingement of some sort. Sand flats and clam beds are usually found not too far apart from each other. Silt smothers them, and sand keeps them oxygenated. This can eliminate a lot of area if you look for moving water, and sand. Look for small bends, and eddies. If it is slack brackish water, you probably won’t find clams there. If it is rip rap, same thing. If you have sand, you have a good chance there may be a bed close by. Watch the shore too! Shells wash up there giving away the locations. You will see this in a number of spots on Lake Pepin, and upper Pool 4, and some in Pool 3 as well.
James – usually fishing on pool 10 (some) and 11 (mostly). I have had some help from another fellow who is very good at three way rigging the wingdams in summer so I am growing a clue on that technique. I have mastered the verticle jigging side of things and am interested in continuing my education on fishing the lovely Miss with the jig pitching /sand flat mystery picking my mind now. Seems that choosing the proper habitat is key – serious exploration a must – a little luck in finding a fish or two there while exploring would all speed up this process as well. I would love to have you down for a weekend – not sure you would be thrilled to fish from a leaky old jon boat… but could certainly entertain and would promise to quit picking your mind with questions for at least a few minutes… LOL – let me know if you are seriously interested in this. Shoot me a PM if you wish and we can go from there… Could certainly help to offset costs to some degree. Chuckles
Thanks for the information, looks like one will need to cruise the river shorelines at low water to find them clams…. 
I used to clam a lot on Pool 5 and 6. You can find clam beds all over but they were predominately just off of the main current in a firm mud. I also found a lot in sandy areas but the quality of the bed was not near that of one located on firm silt. An other good location was sloughs that had decent current going through them. Depth was not a concideration, I found beds in two feet of water and in 35 feet of water….. Find a place with steady current and a semi firm bottom and you will likely have a clam bed some where in the area.
Just wanted to thank everyone for all the great info. I’m going to try & put it all together soon. Thanks again Doug
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