[Luckydawg13]

Anyone fish around Alton on the Mississippi River. Can you tell me what it's like down there

 

[Hunter62]

like right now or in general?

right now lots of muddy water coming down from up north and the water temps are around 40
water flow went from 140,000 cfs to over 210,000 cfs in the last few days
to cold for back bouncing or dead sticking as the cats are not real active. Find a hole to do any good

 

[Luckydawg13]

No not looking to go down there now. Maybe June or July I have never caught a blue catfish and would like to. are there good launch's and hotels

 

[Hunter62]

the only boat ramp below the lock is on the Missouri side, it is called Maple Island, it is south of River Lands off of Riverlands way. other then that is at the Arch.
Alton has the standard hotels, comfort inn hampton best western etc there is also a casino there if you like to lose money

you cannot fish using a boat up against the lock/outlets, there is a sign about 100 yards from it saying no boats beyond this point, unlike the u-tubers on the tennesse and ohio rivers who get right up to the outlets
but you can bank fish up to the lock. When I was there last year a guy caught a 40pounder from the bank on skip jack...

 

[Jbuck]

Might be able to get an idea from watching Show Me Catfishing videos, I think they fish from Alton to below St. Louis. I would invite you on down to my camp on the Ohio for a day or two but unlike a few years ago I cannot promise you would catch yourself a Blue.

 

[Hunter62]

as to boat ramps, there are boat ramps above the lock on the Illinois side, then you could get in the lock to get down below. and what Jbuck mentioned about videos

 

[Luckydawg13]

Is it at all sketchy down there as far as leaving my truck unattended
Or at hotels. I have never been there so just asking and what is st Louis like

Would I have a good shot at catching some blues there or would you have a better suggestion

 

[bigdog21]

Lots of good places from bank at Alton, just stay on Missouri's side it seems to be better. You can get up close to lock to fish, are take the road on Missouri side and fish under Clark bridge. Was good spot south of 270 a 1/2 mile on IL side but there starting a new bridge down there. All this in 20 min each other. For motels take 67/ 367 south in Missouri be best. Are upper Alton.

 

[SecondChance460]

No big blues down that way. We caught this up towards the chain of rocks area 4yrs ago. 76.4lbs on big fresh chunk of Asian carp. 3lbs of weight on a 1/0 Circle hook.We shot down to the Arch for pics n put big girl back in the water for someone else to catch.
Have caught many 30-50lbrs all up and down that area. Above and below the chain of rocks area upto the locks at Alton. Skip jack and Asian carp. Blue gills n shad from those waters also with a net or light line n bobber.

 

[Luckydawg13]

View attachment 333440 No big blues down that way. We caught this up towards the chain of rocks area 4yrs ago. 76.4lbs on big fresh chunk of Asian carp. 3lbs of weight on a 1/0 Circle hook.We shot down to the Arch for pics n put big girl back in the water for someone else to catch.
Have caught many 30-50lbrs all up and down that area. Above and below the chain of rocks area upto the locks at Alton. Skip jack and Asian carp. Blue gills n shad from those waters also with a net or light line n bobber.

That would be a once in a lifetime catfish for me. Congrats

 

[SecondChance460]

We have caught bigger, just not from there. YET!!!!

 

[bigdog21]

Springfield IL.lake offers good chance at blues and flats 50+ getting common. Few at 85 and up.

 

[muskyman]

We saw a cop car on blocks that had been burned there at a ramp. Local bait shop said it happened two weeks prior to us getting there.

 

[bigdog21]

Just had the twisted cat outdoor fishing series tournament Alton IL. Some pretty good fish turned in. This past weekend you can Google it.

 

[Luckydawg13]

We saw a cop car on blocks that had been burned there at a ramp. Local bait shop said it happened two weeks prior to us getting there.

What ramp

 

[Luckydawg13]

Springfield IL.lake offers good chance at blues and flats 50+ getting common. Few at 85 and up.

Wow those are Awesome

 

[Hunter62]

Just had the twisted cat outdoor fishing series tournament Alton IL. Some pretty good fish turned in. This past weekend you can Google it.

Like several of the guys said, it was tough fishing with the water coming up a couple feet and the barometer dropping at the same time. I stayed home

 

[barnold]

If it's your first time do yourself a favor and book a trip with Show Me Cats. They will put you on them and you will learn a lot about the river. They mostly fish St.Louis and down but they can fish pretty much where you want if you just ask them.

 

[wrench puller]

Went out with Show me catfish 2 years ago by the arch and we {4} caught 14 channels all around 20lb. in a 4 hr. trip.

 

[wrench puller]

The burned out police car sounds like bull sh** to me. It would have made the news and the police would have had it towed as evidence. That's just an ex cops opinion. Alton dam area is not a bad area at all. Never seen any bad element there.