Walleye, Sauger Rockford Beach?

[Toseythecat]

This seems a good natural dam. Has anyone had any success with either walleye or sauger here in winter? Seems like their upstream progress would be blocked here and they may gather below the dam. 

[Al Agnew]

In the past, when the mill dams on Big River were still intact, the Byrnes Mill mill dam was the farthest downstream, and formed a barrier to upstream travel, so it was the best spot for walleye on the river in late winter/early spring.  I believe it deteriorated before the Rockford Beach mill dam, and then Rockford Beach became the best spot.  I haven't heard of it being a good spot in recent years; I suspect that fish can get past it in early spring water flows.  The only intact dam left is at Byrnesville, and there is a fish passage through it.  I grew up on upper Big River, and never saw a walleye in the upper half of the river until about 15 years ago, when all the mill dams were in disrepair.

[Toseythecat]

Ok, thanks. Having moved to Missouri from TX last year a walleye or sauger is on my fish bucket list. Was considering a trip to Carlyle Dam but this spot is closer, since I live west of St. Louis.