Praire Island

[TexasRig64]

Just hopeing to start a discussion about the fishing down by PI, wondering where the hot spots are and if anyone has been haveing any luck down there

[Chuck-B]

I was below the dam on tuesday and the current was to strong I couldnt see my jig on my flasher

[Crm7290]

Is the spill way frozen over right now? I dont think that I would trust that with all of the current going through

[JIvers]

Is the spill way frozen over right now? I dont think that I would trust that with all of the current going through

I was fishing out there last Tuesday, and the ice was fine then. Pretty slow fishing, though: http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubb...ing#Post2448652

[Albers]

fished blackbird today, never even marked a fish and drilled 50+ holes

[Crm7290]

Albers what is blackbird?

And eye hunter, I didnt see that post before. Good to know. I thought that the water right under the spill way was relatively shallow. How deep were you fishing there? It might be worth a try at some point as the area around latsch is a little too crowded lately... and didnt get a single fish today

[Crm7290]

and albers forgot to say that I marked a fish or two but didnt move around quite as much. Kid i was with who can pull fish out of the air caught two perch and a crappie.

[JIvers]

You can find forty feet of water right below the gates at the PI spillway, although most of it is not that deep.

Blackbird Slough is a backwater pocket on the island between the spillway and the lock and dam. You'll see tracks going across the ice from the spillway on to the island. Until the water freezes up below the locks, those tracks lead to Blackbird Slough. I have not been back there in ten years or more; when I did fish Blackbird you had to watch for soft spots in the ice back there.

[Crm7290]

Interesting. The gates being where the water flows when shallow correct? I would imagine that would be great for walleye.

In the summer when the water is shallow I usually across the spillway all the way to the center island. Is that where the black bird is?

Id attach a picture but I do not have a hosting site set up.

[Albers]

blackbird had a few spots of slushy water but tried to avoid them. there is open water below the spillways as alwyas but this light dusting of snow makes it hard to tell how the ice looks. to much current under that ice for me to risk it personally

[JIvers]

There is always open water right at the gates (I don't know what else to call them), and I suspect the ice right below them where the bottom drops off quickly would not be safe due to the current. That is where the 40' depths are--I found that with my boat during open water.

As for Blackbird Slough, I don't live in Winona anymore, and between the hit or miss fishing and the sketchy ice I don't see the need to go back there when I am back ice fishing in the area.

[Albers]

ya its produced before but like u said a few sunfish and crappies arent worth diein.

[Crm7290]

I'm not even going to bother trying it. Lake Winona and some of the sloughs are producing pretty well for me so I don't really want to risk going somewhere that I shouldnt.

[embearmeoffs]

yeah i went back in black bird on atv last sun fish were on the flasher but not bitting. the water must have been up and went down the ice was all buckled with huge air pockets. It was very unpredictable ice 6in in one spot and pud goes through a couple inches aways lots of current. oh i was in the slough of blackbird. the ice below the spillway was about a foot thick otherwise wouldnt have drove on it.

[JIvers]

I fished below the gates at Prairie Island spillway Friday night and here is my report on the bite in one word: non-existent.

I marked some fish, but never had a nibble. The other guy out there found the same thing. Judging by how few new holes there were, I'm guessing it has been slow there for everyone, as there is plenty of safe ice everywhere I drilled--not too close to the gates and the patches of open water there, obviously.