They are fun to fish with!

It’s great feeling chugging along and then THUMP!

Awesome! Sounds like a fun day. I’m. Looking forward to some good October fishing.

Nice! Good luck!

Thank you too!

They dive fast which is key

The low light seems to be key. I try to get the crank hitting the rocks but sometimes it gets too close.

Visually you can see a line of ripples that runs the full length of the wingdam. With the low flow this becomes more difficult. This line of ripples shows up best during a south wind. Without a depth finder I would look for the channel buoys. Typically channel buoys are place at the deep end of the wingdam. Imagine a line of rocks starting at the buoy and running perpedicular to the flow all the way to the shoreline. Anchor upstream of where you think a wingdam may be and cast out something heavy that you can drag back to the boat. Maybe its a jig, a steel nut, or a small bell sinker. You should be able to feel the rock as the object your casting hits them. I will use my deep diving crankbait to find the rocks. I cast out over where I think the wingdam is and start retrieving. If I feel the crankbait hit rocks I slow down the retrieve and raise my rod tip to allow the crankbait to float out of the rocks to avoid getting snagged. I now know where the rocks are and my next cast will be shorter. I'll continue this allowing the feel of the crankbait hitting the rocks tell me where the dam is . A lot of times you get bit while doing this.

Thank you for the comment!

Agreed!

No. I believe they one I was using is $6-$7.

I generally estimate where the end of the wing dam ends by visually reading the water. Right now it’s tough with the flow being down but look for a long line of ripples adjacent to a slick. This line of ripples will end where the wing dam ends. I will also motor over them carefully and slowly with the trolling motor. I have a transducer on the trolling motor so I can see the depth right below. If it gets too shallow I’ll lift up the motor. Generally I’m looking into the water ahead of the boat as I approach the dam. If it gets shallow you can see the rocks. Takes some practice.

I did better. It's been replaced.

I think it’s good to be aware of the boat and barge traffic on the river. You have to use good judgment and don’t put yourself in a bad situation. I’d say if there is a barge coming through give yourself a good amount distance until you have better understanding of how a barge effects the water around it. Generally barges don’t throw big wakes but create a lot of turbulence behind the engine. The giant pleasure craft boats are the ones that can capsize a small boat. Good luck and be safe.

@@AnglerX Thank you for your quick response to my safety question. I have experience on big lakes, including a lot on Lake Michigan, but limited on rivers and have yet to venture beyond the Mississippi backwaters. Am hoping to start fishing the main channel sooner than later. Thanks again!

The strike king XD come in different sizes with great shad patterns. They dive fast, that’s what I like.

Terrova, 80lb, 24volt, 45” shaft, I pilot no link.

@@AnglerX thank you!