Wahoo61

Hog Wally, great job on the Walleye. We caught one and lost one last Sunday. What kind of boat do you fish out of? I fish in an 18 ft white with blue trim Nitro Center Console Bay Boat. On the Walley's what were you using? Crank banging bottom? if so, if you don't mind me asking, what kind? The ones we caught were on a bass pro Black back and chart that will dive to 19ft. Digging the bottom pretty good in 8-10 ft of water. I have seen a lot of fish caught on that bait and will be buying a bunch, a lot cheaper than the other baits and they work. Vonreed, when you come across the bridge on 7 just before you get to the dam access road O3 is the point to the north at the west end of the big bluff. Out your left window going across towards Warsaw.

Caught fish again (Hybrids) on O3 on live shad until we ran out. Bait was hard to come by in the right size and at all. Caught one walleye and lost one at the boat. Fishing in 40 to 70 feet of water just after the dropoff on the south side of O3. Caught the Walleyes trolling cranks in the shallow water 8-10 at O3.

Hammered the hybrids om O3 on saturday on live shad. It was crazy with 4 rods going down about 5 or 6 straight drifts

Fished the weir lots of crappie caught but could not buy a bite. We caught 120 whites on in line spinners and 1/2 once jigging spoons. Fish the front drop 25 to 31 feet of water east of the east gate on the dam to try to get out of the current pull. Boats all around us were catching crappie we just could not catch me, caught one total.

Fished the weir lots of crappie caught but could not buy a bite. We caught 120 whites on in line spinners and 1/2 once jigging spoons. Fish the front drop 25 to 31 feet of water east of the east gate on the dam to try to get out of the current pull. Boats all around us were catching crappie we just could not catch me, caught one total.

I have not been down since last Wed. It looks like the temperature has gone down, presumably from runoff. Still wondering if the top water bite has started or if anyone can advise as to their trip. Tight Lines. Lee.

Fished wed got down there about 130. Almost no one there. Running generators. Fished gate side at the fence - nothing. Fished live shad at various depths, fished jerk bait - nothing. Went to gate side at the fence. It was slow but caught about 18 hybrids and whites. Lots of gar stealing bait. About 4 they ran water through each gate for about 5 minutes. That turned the fish on for a short period of time. Left about 6 as the Amish started to show uo. They said they had caught a few fish on top in the last couple of days. I did not see the one guy fishing on top catch anything while I was there . I guess until it turns on it would be a first light last half hour deal unless it is overcast. That is all I know . Tight Lines.

Just wondering if top water has started

What is a "stroller"?

My buddy went down today. I was going down, but, well, it is a long story and I am still pissed off about it (Transmission rebuild, they forgot to tighten the axle nuts, new rotors and pads damage, along with wheel bearings, along with the fact that the transmission is still screwed up). They caught 60 or so between 1:30 and 5 (Hybrids). They are still fishing. Not hitting on top yet.. Caught them on jerk baits a foot or two down. Topwater is not far off. Of course, I cannot go tomorrow or Sunday - Mother's Day for those of you who forgot. Going to try to go Tuesday come hell or high water. It is time to get to the Dam boys. TIght Lines. I plan on catching a bunch of shad and wearing them out again when I get down there. Lee.

Regarding the boat deal, below the dam, I haven't really fished below the dam from the boat, one day this year I was just jacking around and I pulled some crank baits and caught one hybrid - three pounder - just below the cable. I plan on trying the live shad thing there probably after we have run out of shad fishing up by the fence and I have to put back in to catch more shad. I take the boat primarily to catch shad this time of year to then go up and fish on the rocks. Later we will start fishing the main lake, o3, g4, the cemetery, airport, KK island. Tight Lines!

I just wanted to thank everyone for posting about how they do below the dam. It is a big help to know what is going on. It seems like we have alot more people posting more detailed information this year compared to years past. My name is Lee Hardee and when I am at the dam usually I will be pulling a white and blue Nitro Bay Boat Center console with a 75 Merc on the back. Drive a Black Ford Escape (when it is not in the shop getting the transmission rebuilt like this weekend). Not too many of those boats around here. Anyway, it really helps when you guys post because it might save someone from making a several hour trip (Me, from KC so it is about 1.5 hours pulling a boat generally). I generally start thinking about going down in March, planning to jig fish the drift. When the water hits about 55 on the Corp site for water surface temperature, I generally start looking for them to maybe start hitting on top. (I have found that the Corp temperature for water surface is about 4 degrees lower than what it is in the tailrace based on me being there below the dam in the boat with temp on my sonar). Anyway, around now we always try to catch shad and fish them either just on a hook with no weight or with a weighted bobber for distance. Tried big weighted slip bobbers this year and they worked well today. When they really get in there, you can absolutely wear them out on live shad. We have had many days where we will catch fish almost every cast until we run out of shad. The only problem with the live shad thing is, well - the bait tank (which you have to have to keep them alive - the sometimes several hours of throwing a cast net to catch the bait - the boat and the fuel - and the many days when you do all that and get below the dam, and they just aren't home. But when it works, it is AWESOME. I hope to run into some of you guys down at the dam. Again, thanks for all the good info. TIght Lines!!!!!!!!

I fished from about 10:00 to 6. Fished the East Side right by the fence. (Gate side). We were standing on the four or five exposed rocks right by the fence. We caught about 30 hybrids and 5-10 whites. Biggest Hybrid was 7-9 lbs (didn/t have a scale). We were fishing with live shad. One of the guys we were fishing with went on the West side right by the fence and wore the hybrids out on a 1/4 jig with a smallish 3 inch deal like a slider drifting it on the bottom with the current.. Said he caught about 30, but I think that was an exageration at least a little, but probably at least 20. When I got over there when I was leaving he had on white and pink, but not sure what he fished with the rest of the time. So all in all we caught about 50- 60 hybrids between the shad and jig fishing. The fishing was not steady. They would move in, you would catch 3 or 4 fish, then they would move out. Longest stretch without a fish was probably an hour. Topwater bite is really close. I would say by Wed with warm weather it should be on. They were hitting some shad that were basically on top because they would hang up on the weighted slip bobbers we were using in the wind, so they were basically in the first foot or so of the water colum and they were getting bit. 4-8 feet down on a slip bobber.lr 8 feed

I am going down in the morning. Anybody go today? I will post when I get back tomorrow. TIght Lines.

Fished yesterday from 1 to 4. Caught 6 hybrids and a few crappie on the gate side (west) right by the fence. Used live shad. Saw only a few big whites and some crappie caught until about 2:30, then I started catching hybrids. I missed 8 to 10 fish because of the slack in the line from wind. If they hit within 10 seconds or so of casting there was not enough time to get the slack out and get a hook set. Caught fish on three straight casts between 3:45 and 4. It was going to probably go solid til dark with the front moving in. I really did not want to leave. For sure the topwater bite would have been on in a few days, but with this crazy weather it will probably set it back until we get three or four days of solid warm weather. I would say next weekend should make for a good one. Tight Lines!!!

With respect to crappie below the dam they were catching them on slip bobbers around the handicap dock late last week and probably this weekend. It is hard to say which side will be good tomorrow. The water will be running current down the west side (turbine side). Less current on the Gate side. sometimes you have to watch on both sides and try to find an area where people of are catching. If you see someone pull up with a white and blue Nitro Center Console Bay boat with a 75 merc on back, that will be me, and I will be glad to try to help you out. We will not get down until about 10:30 or so. If I get there late, I try to see if I see fish being caught on either side. Obviously, if they are catching them, go there. Otherwise, I always start the closest place I can get to the fence on either side (the farthest up towards the dam you can fish) and work my way back from there, or switch sides. The turbine side (West) gives you more shoreline to fish for hybrids and whites because of the current generally running down that side. Good luck. Tight Lines!!!

Thanks for the replies! Wayne or Evolution, where were you fishing, what were you using and what did you catch or see caught? The Wipers and Whites are in there. The water temp is right for it to kick off any time. I am trying to figure out how to get down there tomorrow. Like I said, the first 20 yards of the gate side by the fence were go, anything beyond that was no dice. All fish were caught on Chartreuse body on jig heads. This was Thursday. I will report if I can. We probably will not wet a line until about 1:00. Tight Lines!

Just checking to see if anyone has been down on Sunday or Today. Corp shows the water temp at 56. It is about 4 degrees lower than what the tailrace temperature is based on my being on the water several times and checking what they say the temp is on their website. The wipers should be starting on top now. I am probably going down Wed and will report. Tight Lines!

I am no expert, but according to the last check with TIghtwad C Store Bait and Tackle, they were still tearing them up in the dead arm just below the dam. There is a boat ramp on the east side of the dam right in the dead arm. I am going there tomorrow. Read the bucksaw marina and Sterret Creek reports and they always talk about crappie.I talked to some guys on sunday that fished the dead arm and they said they were fishing 15 feet down in about 20 feet of water. Sterret Creek on 4-21 wrote regarding crappie: "Another big rainfall has the lake stained to muddy in all areas, but the warmer temps have brought up the surface water temps to 54 and 55 degreeson the main lake, and near 60 in the backs of the creeks. The backs of the major creeks, and way up the rivers are very muddy, but should clear rapidly when the corps turns the dam back on hopefully that will happen this week. We have one more cold front to deal with on Tuesday of this coming week, and after that it looks as though Spring will finally be here. Lake is still rising but there is a bite for crappie, bass, and the blue cats are also doing well. The crappie on the lower lake near the dam are being caught in 14 to 19 feet of water on 1/4 ounce Bob Bates jigs fished slow, slow, slow, just a few inches off the bottom in the deep bare gravel coves. Fish are scattered so you have to cover alot of water from the mouths of the coves to about 2/3 of the way back in the coves. Bright colors, such as chartruse, orange, and red are best jig bodies Bucksaw's report on 4-22 said: April 22, 2013 Water Temp 54 Lake Level Lake Level 713.81 Discharge 0 Water Clarity Very stained Crappie- With all the lovely rain the lake is coming up quick. Water got a little dirty and has cooled off just a touch. The fishing slowed down early in the week but this weekend did produce some fish. We were still trolling in the creeks in 15 feet of water fishing 10 feet down with minnows. The bite was slow but the fish were BIG! With lots of sunshine it’s going to get good fast. Tight Lines!

Fished from 10-2 below the dam on the turbine side (West). Caught one white bass about 3 plus lbs and 4 buffaloes that weighed about 70 lbs total, all hooked in the mouth. Fun to catch since they were hooked in the mouth as opposed to tail hooked or snagged. I saw some small hybrids and whites caught. (Not many)/ I knew they were catching big crappie and some whites in the dead arm, but I wanted to try live shad (which was no good, that is about two weeks out) and fish for hybrids. I had my boat and had plannd to put in at longshoal and go up the Grand where Tightwad C Store Bait and Tackle said they were catching crappie in 20 -25 feet of water about 15 feet down. Despite being overcast, there was no topwater bite. I think we are about 3-6 degrees too cold for that yet. I think it will happen about 57-60 degrees.or so. I think it was 53 below the dam today. I think it is close, but we need three days to a week of warm weathr and sunny skies. That is all I know. I hope it helps. Also, if you are looking for shad, they were in clear creek, which is the first creek to the right if you go out of Warsaw harbor left, just as the river makes a hard turn left. Tight Lines.

I was at the fence but they were catching good stringers below me too. Not sure how far down it was good, but a lot of fish were being caught.

Oh they were only running one generator while I was there

I fished late Saturday and Sunday morning. Didn't really catch anything sat afternoon. Got up Sunday at 530. Raining. Decided not to go down in the dark and kill myself on the rocks. Went back to bed and got down there about 8 on the turbine side. Caught about 17 whites and hybrids. Mostly whites. White and chart slab hunter 3 inch on a 1/8 jig head pink and white. I caught fish on the first 6 casts. This was in about two hours. Bite had slowed by 1030. They'd said they were catching them good before I got there. I saw some crappies caught on the gate side. Dead arm was full of boats and I heard it was good there. Heard of a few big walleyes being caught early. Saw a few big hybrids caught. Good luck.

light jigs tipped with a minnow, Huskey Jerks or other stickbaits in firetiger, pink, jig with small white chartruese orange soft plastic like a curley tail grub or sassy shad. I, like you, catch them by accident if at all. Slow bite.Dark to Midnight is supposed to be best. I wish you luck. If I did not have court today and then again tomorrow afternoon I would be down there with you. Got this from walleye central Understanding Pre-Spawn / Spawning Walleyes by Mike McClelland Much debate has occurred over the years about fishing and walleye activity during the pre-spawn and spawning period. Unfortunately much of the information that has been passed along has been based upon misinformation or just plain ignorance. Understanding walleyes and the proper techniques to use during this period will help you greatly improve your fishing success. Many well intended anglers nationwide have questioned the ethics of catching walleyes during the pre-spawn. Remember this: It doesn't matter whether a female walleye is caught during this time period or in the summer, the net effect is much the same. Simply put, provided that anglers don't overharvest the key spawners, (the three to six pound females) during any time period throughout the year, fishing pre-spawn walleyes won't have a negative impact on your favorite fishery. Always practice good conservation skills not only during this time period, but through out the whole fishing year. Now let's get into understanding this calendar period. Walleyes spawn in rocky areas, instinctively seeking places that receive large amounts of wave action which does two things: oxygenates the eggs and keeps silt from covering them. These areas should be sought out in the early spring on lakes, reservoirs and rivers. The spawn begins when water temperatures reach 40 degrees and lasts until the water warms beyond 45 degrees. In the period leading up to the spawn, look around. You can use rip-rap, skull-sized rocks or other known spawning areas as your points of reference when searching for pre-spawners. The quickest and easiest way to find spawning areas is to simply ask. Since walleyes spawn in the same locations year after year, someone will know where the spawn occurs. If you can't learn this information at local bait shops, contact the local conservation officer to put you on the right track. Pre-Spawn Once the spawning area has been located the fish staging for the spawn is easy to find with the help of a few simple rules. Begin at the spawning area as walleyes spawn in the same area year after year. Proceed from the spawning area and locate the closest 30-foot level of water on the flattest bottom possible. Whether this depth is found in the backs of bays or the bottom of the lake, 30 feet is the key. If the lake doesn't have 30 feet of water, move to the closest, deepest part of the lake and begin looking there. The fish can be easily found and are unmistakable. On your electronics, they'll mark as big hooks a foot or two off the bottom. It may not be on a red-hot bite, so fish them with confidence and big baits. Eventually a few will bite and two or three fish on any pre-spawn day is considered a great day. Once you have located the fish, move your boat to the up-wind side and drift through them as slowly as possible. The best method for taking pre-spawn fish is either Lindy rigging a large minnow four to six inches long or vertical jigging with a 1/4 ounce to 3/8 ounce jig using a large rubber body and a big minnow. My preference is both presentations at the same time. Let the Lindy rig trail 75 to 100 feet behind the boat and set the rod in a rod holder. Always keep an eye on the Lindy rig rod. When a hit is made, open the bail and give the fish a good deal of line and time before setting the hook. Remember these fish are somewhat lethargic and you're using a large minnow, give them some time. With the Lindy rig rod is in its holder, vertically jig with the other rod. Jigging is easy - simply bounce the jig off the bottom, keeping it as close to vertical as possible. Unlike the Lindy rig, set the hook as soon as you feel a hit. For that matter, set the hook as soon as you think you feel a hit. One key to catching walleyes during the pre-spawn is to use big baits. The young of the year haven't hatched yet, so the main food for walleyes are the adult bait fish that have made it through the first year and are now fully grown. Add the biggest body you have to your jigs and cast or troll bigger crankbaits. Slow Is The Key Once you've located fish with electronics, remember fishing slow is the key. For jigging or rigging, you can't go too slow. Use your bow mount electric motor on the slowest speed. The slightest breeze will push you fast enough. Use a sea anchor to slow you even more if there is any wind. Spawning Walleyes spawn in water from one foot to over 20 feet deep. Rocky and gravel covered shorelines are the most typical spawning sites; however, if habitat is lacking walleyes will also spawn on sand and in other less desirable areas. An abundance of broken rocks and gravel in water three to 10 feet deep will normally attract the largest concentrations of fish. Reservoir walleyes typically migrate to the upstream end of an impoundment to spawn. In large reservoirs, such as those along the Missouri River, walleyes have been known to travel 100 plus miles to reach prime spawning sites. Fisheries' biologists have tracked walleyes tagged with radio telemetry transmitters from one end of Lake Oahe in South Dakota to the other. Although this long distance may be an isolated incident, walleyes are nomadic creatures that won't hesitate to migrate many miles to find suitable spawning habitat. Rip-rap shorelines near the dams are often prime spawning areas. Trolling crankbaits along this rip-rap edge can prove absolutely deadly on big fish. The best action usually takes place after dark and continues until about midnight. Although many walleyes prefer to spawn just downstream from dams, the rocky shorelines and tributary streams also attract spawn-laden fish. Not all the fish spawn at the same time or in the same places. This is Mother Nature's way of ensuring that an entire "year class," those particular fish that are born each year, isn't destroyed by floods or other natural disasters. Walleyes that spawn in rivers are the most predictable of all. Clearly, 99 percent of the fish that enter the river to spawn will physically swim as far as they possibly can before stopping to deposit their eggs. Low head dams, waterfalls, or natural and man-made diversions, usually stop the upstream movement of fish and often cause the concentration of tremendous numbers of big fish in amazingly small areas. At times, the walleyes will be so thick you can feel your lure bouncing off the backs of the fish. Fishing under these conditions can be easy and rewarding. Walleyes that spawn in natural lakes are often the last fish of the season to deposit their eggs. It usually takes a week or two longer for the sun to warm these large inland lakes to the magical 40 to 45 degree spawning temperature that walleyes prefer. Trolling rip-rap areas Troll the spawning areas with shallow diving crankbaits such as a Rebel Minnow or Rattlin' Rogues. Trolling is by far the most effective method I have found for taking spawning walleyes along rip-rap or rocky shore lines. Long-lining crankbaits with eight to ten-pound test monofilament line will produce the best results. Troll at a fairly brisk pace and use a combination of long and short rods to stair-step lure depths to match the angle of the structure. This will keep all your baits in the fish zone. Set the rods on the side of the boat closest to the rip-rap. Use a long rod (eight to nine-foot) to reach out from the boat and present the crankbait along the edge of the rocks. A shallow diving Rebel Minnow is the ideal lure for the outside rod. The Rebel Minnow only dives two to three feet, but that is enough to keep the lure ticking the stones near shore. Next, set up a shorter rod with a slightly deeper diving lure like the Rattlin' Rogue. Set an even shorter third rod with an even deeper diving bait such as a Wally Diver or one of the new Shad-R baits. By following this procedure, you'll effectively cover the sloping rip-rap edges. Water Temperature In the spring, ignoring water temperature can be a costly mistake. Since walleyes spawn in the same places every year at predictable temperature levels, it is a simple matter to determine where the fish are in their spawning cycle. You can tell by temperature if the fish are close to spawning (pre-spawn) in the middle of it, or finished (post-spawn). This information, in turn, gives you a general idea of where the fish will be. Peak Walleye Activity Your best chances to catch a spawning walleye are definitely between dark and midnight. The telemetry studies we've reviewed show a definite trend with the majority of the fish arriving just at dark and spawning until about midnight. We've also found that fish spawn primarily for about four hours. One fish might pull in and spawn for four hours and be done all in one night. Another may come four different nights and spawn an hour each night. In between these nightly visits, she'll make large movements, sometimes up to five miles as the staging areas can be a long way away from the actual spawning bed. Again, a key to big walleye success during pre-spawn: "Be there at dark and don't stay any later than midnight."

Thanks for the response Wayne. Another guy posted that he caught a 10lb walleye yesterday and saw a few others caught on the east side below the handicap dock. I have a buddy that might go down today so I will post if he does. Looks like yesterday they generated for 24 hours straight and plan to do so at least for another 24 today at 60%. Tight Lines.