[little_fiddler]

I live near and fish Bellvue Iowa, on the Mississippi River. I usually fish just below a dam, in the tailrace. The water in the tailrace can run up to 50 foot deep or as little as 12 feet. I'm wondering where would be the best places in the tail race to find big blues? I have a depth finder to help me determine bottom structure. There are also several wingdams below and out of the tailrace.

 

[Bigunz]

I fish below a dam as well and we usually fish right in the current and in the holes. Seems that the cats will stack up in the holes where the current is lighter and wait for dead Shad and Skipjack that goes through the hydro-electric turbines to drift down to em'. In the winter time I *heard* the cats will stack up so much that your LCR will go black on the screen from the high number of cats?!?!

 

[crazy]

I would try locating the shad behind the dam then fishing around them. The blues should hold pretty close to the bait fish. I have been catching most my fish above the dikes here. Although we don't have a lock and dam system like on the miss.

 

[dudlbugr]

Li'l Fiddler,

I fish the Mississippi down around Greenville, MS. We don't have locks and dams down here, and I've only fished around them 5 or 6 times. The way I fish when I'm fishing for a big fish around here is to ride and watch the screen of the depth charger (fish finder). The theory I fish by, when looking for a biggun, is: if there's one big fish on the screen, I try to put bait right in front of him, on the theory of 1 fish on the screen is one big fish. If there are 2 or more "big" fish, or big icons, I figure them to be 2 or more 10 to 20 pounders, and not what I'm looking for.
Not that I know what I'm doing, at all!
My biggest is 20 lbs... unfortunately, I've gotten to where I'd just about rather catch 3 10 to 20 pounders than 1 60 pounder... no, that's not right...
It's that I rarely hook up with fish that I feel are over 30 lbs. I'd say that in 5 years of nothing but rod and reel fishing, I've probably hooked up with less than 10 that I felt were bigger than 30 lbs. Of course, they always get away!
It's like they say, "Not all fishermen are liars, but a lot of liars fish!"

If you figure them out, please let the rest of us know!

 

[LilRyjoe04]

You're right Bigunz, the cats will gather in large masses right where the turbine releases the cut up fish that come out the other side. That is an excellent spot to fish. I would try maybe some cut skip jack or any kind of cut bait. You should have a field day!! Good Luck and let us know how you do!

 

[skippie2use]

I here theres a biggun in an aquarium somewhere in TEXAS with a world record in it. Maybe u can sneek in there after they close. LOL

 

[little_fiddler]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I'll give all your suggestions a try, maybe even the sneeking into that Texas aquarium LOL.

 

[h3ohawaii]

I fish the Potomac river and it doesnt have the dams or wing dikes like your rivers. But one thing I have in common is checking the depth sounder. I follow the channel along the steeper edges until I mark bait. Then I check around the bait to see if there are fish suspended under the bait or close to the bottom--but still under or near the baitfish. One thing we have to deal with that you guys dont is the tides. High going to low is like ringing the dinner-bell for blues...at least for me. Slack tide means eating lunch or taking a nap till the tide moves again!!!

 

[Billy Tucker]

I fish the Potomac river and it doesnt have the dams or wing dikes like your rivers. But one thing I have in common is checking the depth sounder. I follow the channel along the steeper edges until I mark bait. Then I check around the bait to see if there are fish suspended under the bait or close to the bottom--but still under or near the baitfish. One thing we have to deal with that you guys dont is the tides. High going to low is like ringing the dinner-bell for blues...at least for me. Slack tide means eating lunch or taking a nap till the tide moves again!!!

Hey h3ohawaii, I fish the potomac also. Mostly from aquia to ft wahsington. With the middle of that being my prime area. I will be fishing 10/1 all night. What kind of boat you run and maybe I will run into you sometime. We got a 35 lber 2 weeks ago and about 20 between 10 and 18 lbs.

 

[TIM HAGAN]

I Fish Around 3 To 4 Times A Week On The Potomac. Incoming And Outgoing Tides I Like To Fish Drop Offs Along Channels. Full Tides I Do Very Well On Flats In Low Waters 2 To 8 Feet Seems To Work Great. Seems Like The Blues Come Out To The Flats To Eat At Full High Or Low Tides
I Do Alot With Cut Bait, Large Shinners, Shad Bluegills Etc In Deep Drop Offs. Lower Waters An Flat I Have Had Great Luck With Chicken Hearts With A Bobber About 3 To 4 Feet Up From The Hook. Danny Kings Catfish Bait Is A Killer On The Flats. I Have Had Four Blues Over 50 Lbs This Season. With My Biggest On 52.6 On Hearts I Just Hope That Everybody Does C.p.r On There Fish Over 10 Lbs So We Can Have This Great Blue Cat River For Years To Come.
When We Have The Tournaments Here This Year People Will See Just How Many Big Cats The Potomac River Really Has. I Hope Too See You Guys At The Tournaments In Maryland In 2006 So We Can Give The Bass Guys A Run For There Money.

Tim Hagan Outdoors

 

[bluehunter]

Good info given. One thing for sure is that were there is baitfisf, you will also normally find the blues. Also in an area where there is moderate current is good.