The Wisconsin River at the Dells below the Kilbourn dam has been open for a month now with reports of lots of walleyes and saugers being caught, and there is open water below the Prairie Du Sac dam as well. The Wisconsin River above Lake Wisconsin opened up at the end of March, and the fishing has been consistently good, at least for a period of time each day, as the walleyes and saugers move through the narrows at the Northeast end of the lake on their way upstream to spawn in the Wisconsin River.

The bulk of these fish will travel to within a few miles of the Kilbourne Dam to spawn. Others will do it somewhere along the way. There are some “resident” fish that spawn in Lake Wisconsin but the numbers are low. With daily high temperatures forecasted in the 60’s for most of the second week of April, the actual walleye spawn will happen soon, and quickly it will be over.

Right now is the time to get out below either the Prairie du Sac Dam or the Kilbourne Dam at the Dells to capitalize on the remainder of the pre-spawn bite. It will be another year before you find this many fish concentrated in such a relatively small area. Most fishing techniques will work now; vertical jigging, live bait rigging, pitching plastics, pitching blades, pulling cranks on three-way rigs, and draggin’ jigs – so pick your poison and get in on the fun.

Hot Tip – Night-time is the right time! To target the largest walleyes, key on depths of 2’ to 10’ depending on conditions during the day, and the bite, as well as the average size of the fish caught, will increase dramatically over the next 10 days if you fish after sundown. After dark, key on the 2’ -6’ depths. Stick baits such as the #11 Rapala, Bomber Long A, Storm Thundersticks, Rapala Scatter Rap Minnows, Rapala Husky Jerks, etc… are all proven big fish baits. Casting jig and plastic combos with a steady retrieve just above the bottom can work as well.

Tight Lines,

Gary Sanders
Lake Wisconsin Walleyes, LLC
www.lakewisconsinwalleyes.com