fishing the St. Croix

[Rick]

I have an oportunity to fish by Prescott, Wi., and am wondering about wing dams. How do you fish them, and how do you keep from hitting them? Sounds dumb, I know, but Ive only fished lakes.

[Suzuki]

That river is so high and fast right now(Miss) I don't know if you can fish the wing dams efficiently. My only experience in Prescott is the area around the mouth of the St. Croix and into the Miss on the Wisconsin side. You may want to try the St. Croix as well. That's where I have been getting my limits lately.

[Mike McCafferty]

I haven't fished the St.Crouix River, so I don't know what the current conditions are. However, I have fished my share of wing dams on a variety of rivers. Wing Dams are designed to redirect current, usually for erosion control. They are designed to stand well above the water line, but in flooding conditions many will disappear from sight. If they are overrun with water they will create a "rapids" like effect in the river. That is your only clue they are there. As to avoiding them in such conditions you have to be totally focussed and have complete command of your boat. If the current is strong you are are better off avoiding such areas because it only takes a second and you could be in big trouble.
As far as fishing them in normal conditions look for walleyes holding along the current break behind the dam; where the current meets the slack water. Walleyes and other fish tend to hold in the slack water just off the current (they don't have to spend much energy) and dart out into the fast water and snarf anything appetizing swimming by. Good luck and good fishing!