Rock River Condition Update 4-1-11, Primetime for Fishing for Walleyes

It is on.

Start looking for fish in current breaks, over small rocky areas, or in the inside turns along the main channel where eddies form. Current breaks that are formed by downed timber can be unbelievable.

Jig and plastic or jig and minnows will produce. The Water remains high, but the current is steady, and just about right for good drifting.

This weekend, with this batch of rain coming through today, will make for perfect fishing conditions. Look for  feeding activity to happen in spurts throughout the day this weekend.

Blackhawk Island has been the most productive, but the anglers up river have been doing very well, especially those willing to work for fish.

Next on the menu: White Bass on the rivers, and crappies on local lakes.

Good Luck,
CT

Now its time...Hit the Rock River for Walleye Fishing

Things will happen quickly now. Expect the bite to pick up as the weather stays stable.

Water temp is getting close to the magic number, and while the water remains relatively high, the current speed is dropping making for good drifting/vertical jigging conditions.

 

Conditions Stabilizing on the Rock River

Things are looking better.

Temperature creeping back up.

 

The water is still high, but the fast current is starting to drop off to a good speed for drifting.

Rock River Fishing Today 3-28-11

Got out for a few hours today to give it a go. Nice sunny day....amazing how much sun your skin can get after a winter here.

Launched at Kmart, fished the downriver hole. Went with anchors and three ways, then did a drift jigging. It was a tough day. The water is cold, high and fast as advertised. Marked plenty of fish on the sidefinder, and had bunch of short bites, but other than some sheephead action, it was a slow day.

Not much happening in the handful of other boats we saw either.

Water was 34.2 degrees at launch around 10:30, just pushing 34.9 when we pulled out at 4:00.

Need some warmer days, and we need the nightime temps to quit dropping so low.

Stay Tuned.

Leaving in 5...For the Rock River

Conditions could be better, but I'm leaving in five minutes for the River.
Full report when I return.

Conditions are steady, water is cold.... almost time to fish the Rock River again.

But here's the key. There certainly are fish in the river, but with the water temp hovering so low after this cold snap, getting those fish to bite will be a challenge.

Drifting with jig/minnows? You'll need to slow down and hover over the break lines in the deeper holes, structure, current eddies or the shallower outside turns. Drifting at the current speed will probably be to fast for these fish.

Anchoring is always a better option when the water is high, fast and cold/ Try to position yourself at the upriver end of a deeper hole. You want to be right over the top of the grade into the deep part of the hole. Fish vertical with your three way rigs, use enough weight to keep your presentation just next to the boat, then reel up the slack so that your rod tip is just barely loaded. From there, its just a matter of line watching. You have a bite when you see your line stop moving in the current.

When  I anchor on the Rock in these conditions, I use a very short leader to my weight. no more than 15 inches, but usually closer to six or eight. The leader to the hook is also short. I usually use a small red treble baited with a fathead or tuffy minnow. If the water is really dirty, like right now for example, I'll add a bead or two for color on the leader line just above the hook.

I'll run as many as three rods per person, and I'll check each one every five minutes by taking it out of the rod holder and lifting the weight off the bottom. When you pull the weight up, if there's a fish there, you will feel the resistance while the weight is loose. Immediately set the hook.

Until the water gets back up to 40 degree mark, the bite will likely be slow and light.. This method is fantastic for catching light biting walleyes in current.

Good Luck,
CT