Wisconsin River - Prairie Du Sac

FYI- Going to be an extended period of high water here.  Multiple spots up north are in minor flood stage. Potential for more heavy rain all week.  Shore fishing sucks at Sauk when the water gets over 20,000 CFS. Rat.

FYI- Lot's of water coming downstream this week.  River is in flood stage at Portage.  More heavy rain possible this weekend and early next week. Good luck if you go. Rat.

Fished the dam yesterday.  20 boats up by the dam and didn't see too many people catching fish.  Pretty slow.  Water temps still too cold at 36 degrees.  Managed 4 saugers ranging from 15 to 17and one 16 inch walleye.  All fish released cause they were full of eggs.  Lost a couple because we had to bring them up slowly from 31ft of water or their sacs would balloon.  Also caught 5 sturgeon and one huge paddle fish.  Good to see it had no lamprey on it.  Should get better as water temps warm. 

Up at the dam t. Water temperature was 36 degrees. A few short walleye. Pretty slow 

Spring is here, does anyone have a water temp for the river? Getting the boat out and ready for the season this upcoming week. 

Crazy weather we're having. Is the launch ice free or getting there? Looks like boat weather next week. Thanks 

Camped and fished in Prairie this weekend.  Nice weather but hotter than I like.  

Goal was to catch enough gills for a meal on Saturday night with the option of heading back to Madison if I needed to make it happen.
Started at sunrise Saturday on that first back eddy below the dam.  Was about an hour in and contemplating heading to Madison.  Then I got the cat in the picture. Decided to keep and clean it if the gills were not happening.  Got that under a bobber but was getting no other action so I switched to bottom fishing this snag infested spot. Was using a #6 baitholder hook with crawlers.  Started to get some bites but was getting cleaned.  Downsized to my usual gill baits and started catching some gills (duh).  Definite learning curve to catching these river rascals. Had to let them bite a little longer than their lake cousins.  They fight a lot harder than lake gills as well.  Took a while but I kept four eaters.

Made tacos with my catch.  Had never fileted a catfish and may not do it again.  I wasted a lot of meat but did get some.  Seasoned the filets with a cajun seasoning and fried them in butter.  Made two batches that produces for tacos.  Put cheese down, then filets, sour cream, and topped it off with pico.  They were delicious.
Went back to the same spot on Sunday and caught a bunch of gills. Not much for size but a few decent ones.  Kicking myself for not having any minnows as the smallmouth were actively feeding on shiners all morning. Saw several breaking the surface including a few bruisers. They weren't interested in my tube jig. Only other fish caught were a couple of drum, a small walleye, and one mini largemouth. I'll take it.  Just nice to relax sitting down and fishing.

Did head back to Madison and hit one of my favorite gill spots.  Threw back about a limit of eight to nine inch gills in three hours. I couldn't believe the sizes but then remembered it was the first week of October.  Have had several epic outings in years past during this first week. Rat

I know this is a tad late but flow rate info is a click away.  "Alliant Energy Flow Rate" will get you there. Also this number that gives the updated flow rates early every morning.  800-242-1077  It was around 5k this weekend.  Great flow rate for sturgeonaires. Rat

I'm hoping to get out sturgeon fishing this weekend. I'm not from the area so I don't know what the river level is right now.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Went fishing from shore by Prairie Du Sac and caught a variety of fish, a few micros, some bluegill, some sheepshead and catfish. It was a nice day of fishing. Brought a few home to eat, too.