Winter's Open Water Walleye's
by Gary Engberg

Are the winters getting warmer? Is global warming changing our weather? I'm not sure because I've even read accounts where the ice pack is thickening at the South Pole. But, it is for sure that we are experiencing extremes at both ends of the weather spectrum. The last few winters have been record-breaking years with temperatures well above normal. In the past, I usually get to fish the open water below the dams on the Wisconsin River a few mild days every winter. Now, the tailrace area below the dam at Prairie Du Sac and miles of water west toward the Mississippi River are opening year-round. It is possible to fish most of the year for walleyes and saugers in waters that used to be frozen or in weather that froze your guides on your rod.

Most Midwest walleye anglers wait all winter for the first few warm days of spring and the "spring walleye run". The truth is many walleyes and their cousin, the sauger have migrated up river late last fall and are wintering in the shad-rich waters of the Wisconsin. Though, more fish will move up toward the dam when spring really arrives. There are always walleyes below dams in all of the Midwest in the winter. And now, with the warmer winters you can fish and catch fish regularly. My two favorite early season spots are the dams at Prairie Du Sac and Wisconsin Dells. Recently, I have seen up to a dozen boats fishing below the dams. 

The boat you need doesn't have to be big because you have less than a mile to go from the boat landings to the fishing areas. Small V hulls and johnboats work fine and larger boats can be launched if you're careful. The landing in Sauk Prairie is on Water Street, the main street in town. The VFW owns the best landing and charges $3.00 to park. The landing is open all winter and usually salted. Camping and hookups are also available at the park.

Most anglers fish within a ½ mile of the dam and some fish close to the dam itself. Jigs and minnows are the ticket for the walleyes and saugers most of the time. Colors can vary from day to day, so have plenty of jigs to change the color and replace the ones you lose in the rocks. I recommend Stren Magnathin Walleye line in 6 or 8 LB. test, Slo-Poke jigs in 1/8 and ¼ ounce, a quality rod like a G. Loomis SJR 720 or 721(6 foot and light or medium), and a ball bearing reel like a Daiwa SS700. Keep your hooks sharp. Try a plain VMC #6 hook and a split shot up the line a foot or two as your "dead" rod and you'll be surprised. Plastic twister tails (Kalins) dressed on a jig can work some days too. Try moving around using your bow mount Minn Kota trolling motor to keep your jig vertical. Anchoring is another tactic where casting and dragging your jig on the bottom slowly works well. Always, leave a rod baited sitting in a rod holder for "slow" fish. Some days, the dead rod catches all the fish. Start shallow and work deeper till you contact fish. Saugers will be deeper than walleyes.

Remember that walleyes below the Sauk dam must be 18 inches and saugers have to be 15 inches long. Be sure to check the regulations before fishing.
Contacts; Guides Wally Banfi (608) 644-9823 . Gary Engberg (608) 795-4208. Zick's Bait Shop (608) 643-6240. Wilderness Fish and Game (608) 643-2433... .