How do you fish wingdams?

[Terry]

How do you fish the wingdams on the Mississippi river,pools 11-13? Have 16ft. boat and there is an awful strong current.

[Colin]

Fishing wingdams can be very productive. Ideal times are when you have the wind blowing up river this helps you define where the top of the wingdam is at. In stronger curent or high water you should use your kicker to keep you just in front of the wingdam, in slow water or low conditions you can get away with your trolling motor. There are many ways to fish these, I use three-ways with an ounce to 21/2 ounce river jig on my dropper, and a phelps floater or just a hook and a bead on my leader. I also run crankbaits on my leader, but than I switch to using pencil weights on my dropper. Remember not all wingdams hold fish, if you can find one that looks like the water is running a little faster in a spot that would indicate a hole in the dam and this is what they talk about when they refer to spot on the spot. Any other questions mail me and if I can help I will
Colin

[Glenn]

Terry,
We fish wingdams alot in the Bellvue & Clinton,Ia
area. As Colin mentioned use a gas kicker when
current is strong and your electric when the water
is slower. When the current is slow a deadly pre-
sentation is throwing crankbaits. Shadraps,Wally
Diver are a couple of the good baits to use. Just
hold upstream of the dam and throw over the top.
You want to be hitting the top of the wingdam on
your retrieve so the bait dives and ticks the rocks all the way down the slope of the dam. In
strong current also try using a 3 way with a
double rapala set-up. Tie on a 3 way swivel on
one eye put about 3 ft of line then a #7 floating
rapala then off the back eye of the rap tie another 3 ft of line to another #7 rapala. Work
this on the upstream side of the wing dam. Hope
I helped you a little good luck!
Glenn

[REW]

If the current is so strong that boat control is difficult -- anchoring works very well.

Insure that you have an anchoring system that will hold.

Then anchor up current from the wing dam. Then by typing off to the center or each side of the bow, you can work the entire wing dam.

The nice thing about this -- is that if you do hit the honey hole -- you are locked in position so that you can enjoy yourself until the hole is exhausted.

Take care

REW