[bronsonman]

3 or 4 years ago we caught lots of walleyes in front of the silos and in back of Mcdonald's down town.Last year no one was fishing these places and we fished Wickes park.Rust st and off of Melbourne rd.Do the hotspots change every year or would it be worth trying these places again?Thanks for your idea's Steve

 

[Skeeter]

Heck yes the silos are a number one spot. Also on the other side of the Z bridge and up under the power lines. Hooters is another good spot. The only reason you might think they have changed is the movement of schools of fish. Maybe the day you were there they had moved but all these spots are real good areas to fish IF the ice is GOOD and THICK. Remember ice does NOT freeze even on the river You might have 6 inches here and 3 or 2 over there. So be careful. NO place is a good place to fall through but man that river sure would be one of the worst. Gives me the creeps even writing that last sentence..... Bad Omen???? Hope not.

 

[bronsonman]

I'll try them again even though Mcdonald's will probably be a lot longer walk as you used to be able to park under the overpass and walk out not too far from there.I caught more walleye's in that spot and nice ones then any other spot in the last 6 or 8 years but we did get a 11 pounder in front of the silo's and I have seen many big ones caught there.I plan on a lot more trips this year and shoulkd have the time to try these old hotspots.Thanks for your insight Steve

 

[riverboy]

The bean tower is one of my all time favorite spots. Mainly because easy access and I can be fishing there in 5 minutes from my house. I fished the bean tower alot early last year but all I was catching were those 14 3/4" walleyes, I must have caught 20 sub legal fish there and gave up. Hooters everyone used to fish alot untill the people on the west side of the river started calling the cops every time you parked in there lot. Access on the east side is a little more difficult, but not much you can park at the firemans training center. Along wicks drive is another productive spot I will hit several times during the year. Actually last year was my first year fishing down stream from the Z-bridge. I caught most of my keepers there but still alot of small ones.

Its all about where you feel lucky the most!!! Every year on the opening day of the tournement I am always debating on where I will fish opening morning. I usally write all the access names down and pull the lucky winner from my hat.

Skeeter is right though you could have 8 inches at the bean tower, 4 inches along wicks, and sometimes no ice down from the z-bridge. (good ole ice breakers)

 

[bronsonman]

Last year you guys said to watch the ice thickness and I thank you for it and always am careful now.I am not one to go where there isn't at least a few fisherman and know its safe.It seemed like last year we fished north of the power lines at Wickes Park that this are was more consistent with the current so the ice was uniform and we caught 1 to 3 legal walleyes every morning or night we went out and also caught lots of sublegals but we also got none over 5 pounds either but it was good action and you never know when you might get the big one.At the end of the year we fished near the railroad bridge and caught 3 with one a six pounder and saw many caught there is this usually a good area?Thsnks for your insight Steve