What time are we leaving.
just joking.
Happy Birthday John! I did not make it out at DBQ this weekend but have talked to a couple people that did make it out. From what I understand the bite has been improving in the tailwater area. Fish have been taken pulling double raps and vertical jigging. The majority of boats have been fishing the Iowa side near the locks but I’m sure there are plenty of fish to be had on the Wisconsin side as well. Mornings have been best as the bite seems to fall off in the afternoon. I did make it out for a couple hours a week ago Sunday afternoon. There were still some weeds floating down. Many of the boats had their limits of saugers about the time I got out. I managed to catch 2 nice saugers and a legal walleye in the couple hours I fished. I was vertical jigging a 5/16 oz jig with a 3″ purple twister tail just following my jig downstream. I missed a bunch of hits too but the fish were hitting short. A stinger hook was a necessity.
Eyehunter
I was out Friday morning and Saturday morning both. On Friday a buddy and I caught 5 keeper sauger in 4 hours. Saturday morning was extremely slow and we caught 2 fish in 4 hours. There were about 12 boats out on Saturday morning and we did the best of anyone out there. I have been pulling double rapalas in flo. red, firetiger, blue and hot steel. I keep switching around colors but it really doesn’t seem to make much difference.
There have been days over the past couple weeks where it has been awesome fishing. I don’t know about Sunday, but this weekend wasn’t too great. The fish we did keep were nice big fat sauger. The biggest being 19 1/2 inches.
Hope that helps,
Mr Twister
What were the weeds like on Saturday? The guys I talked to fished yesterday (Sunday) up by the dam and downstream off of the Schmitt Harbor boat ramp. They did pretty good from what they tell me but I didn’t actually see any of their fish. I guess it has been good one day and poor the next sort of thing. I can’t understand why nobody has been fishing the Wisconsin side below the dam. I fished that last year this time and did awesome.
Eyehunter
Very, very few weeds on Friday.
Very few weeds on Saturday.
A couple boats ran over the Wisc. side (not us) while we were there and when they came back, they said they hadn’t caught anything over there. I also noticed only 2-3 people fishing on the barge both days. It might have to do more with the flowage of the river right now. [That would be my guess.] Iowa side has more current and flowage this year. But – I am just guessing.
Mr Twister
I had noticed several boats pulling double raps the Sunday before. The had done well catching fish but they seemed to always be reeling up to get rid of the weed build up. I almost hooked up the boat yesterday (Sunday) but I probably would have fished downstream. I have always done well this time of the year out from the Schmitt Harbor ramp on the edge of the deep hole there. Plus I don’t need to play bumper boats with all the other boats below the dam. It was really bad up there the Sunday before last with guys trying to vertical jig and guys pulling double raps.
Eyehunter
What’s a double rap?
Quote:
What’s a double rap?
Two rapalas tied in-line on a 3way.
More specifically, two stick baits in tandem, with the trailer tied to the rear ring of the leader, approx. 3 feet back.
Thanks guys for all the info! It looks like I have to go south though instead of north. I hear the bite is smokin’ at lock and dam 16! Shhhh, don’t tell anyone! 
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