Prairie Du Chen Area

Most species were biting pretty well last week, with bluegills,
sheepshead, and bass the most often caught species. Walleye and
catfish action has been good on some days. Anglers are finding good
bluegill action above wing dams and along shorelines in deeper
water on the Mississippi River. Some anglers are drifting or
dead-lining in 4 to 10 feet of water. Most anglers are using a
chunk of nightcrawler fished off the bottom. Many bluegill anglers
report the size of the fish caught as average. There has been some
crappie action. Try small minnows fished under bobbers in downed
trees. White bass and perch action was spotty. White bass have been
seen feeding on the top of wing dams, along rocky shorelines, below
the lock and dams, and at the mouth of the Wisconsin River. Fishing
at Cold Spring continues to be slow, both inside and outside the
railroad tracks. Most anglers are launching at Cold Spring, but
heading out to the Mississippi River, but bluegill action was
spotty. A few crappies are being taken at Cold Spring on minnows.
The Ambro Slough complex was pretty good – bluegills were active
all over, but size has been on the small side. Anglers fishing Big
Lake, Fish Lake, the Upper and Lower Doubles, Big and Little
Missouri, Fennimore Cut, and Spring Lake have found fish there at
times. The best tip is to keep moving until you find bigger, active
fish. Horseshoe (McGregor or Sturgeon) Lake remained slow last
week. Sauger and walleyes slowed down for most anglers. Try
trolling crankbaits in deeper sloughs. Black Slough, Roseau Slough,
and Big Lake have produced some fish. Another tactic is drifting
with leeches or nightcrawlers. Once a walleye or sauger is caught,
target that area. The S-curve at Harper’s Ferry was pretty good.
Anglers have been drifting off the wing dam near Harper’s Ferry
Slough and on the Wisconsin side. Action on wing dams throughout
the Mississippi River has been spotty. Trolling crankbaits or
dead-lining with leeches and nightcrawlers have been the best
tactics. Northern pike action slowed a little, too. Look for
northerns in areas where cooler water might be entering the river,
or in deeper sloughs. Some decent fish have been caught by anglers
trolling on Big Lake, the bottom end of the Ambro Slough, and the
Lower Bottoms. Bass fishing remained good last week. Anglers were
finding active bass in backwater areas, on wing dams, in the weeds,
and in the timber. Most anglers will have success with varying
colors of plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Trout fishing is
good for those who can tolerate the dense vegetation and bugs.
Mosquitoes, and deer and horse flies are out. Mosquitoes have been
bad in the river bottoms.

Stark’s Sport Shop, (608) 326-2478.