RIVER RIG
While artificial lures are effective, some fishermen still prefer live bait served up on a river rig made from a three-way swivel.

Shurson uses FireLine for his main line from the reel to the swivel, but said that regular 8-pound monofilament works as well.

From the second swivel, attach a dropper line with a sinker that will bounce off the bottom. The length of the dropper line depends on where you want the bait to be. If fish are suspended a foot from the bottom, set the dropper line at one foot. Try a 1-ounce sinker first, and then adjust the weight according to the strength of the current.

On the third swivel, attach an 18-inch leader with a 30- inch No. 6 snelled hook tipped with a minnow. Later in the season, when the water warms, leeches are also effective.

The Fishing Float owners should be able to tell you exactly what bait walleyes are keying on and often have it for sale. Some fishermen also put blades, similar to the sonar’s blades, near the hook. Again, the pulsing action helps get your offering noticed.

The idea is to coax a strike by placing food right in front of its nose. Using a river rig allows precise and constant presentation, one a walleye eventually can’t resist.

SAFETY
As in most fishing situations, it helps to bring plenty of common sense with you. Spring can mean frozen launches, ice floes and hidden debris, not to mention strong currents.

Unfortunately, it seems someone makes the mistake of getting too close to a dam every year. I’ve seen pictures of capsized boats, trapped fishermen and heard horror stories of heroes who tried to save them. Pay attention to the warning signs posted around dams and make sure you don’t become a statistic.

In early spring, instinct steps in, forcing walleyes to succumb to the overpowering urge to reproduce. They travel upstream in the big rivers searching for suitable spawning structure. The dams, however, slow the migration, forcing large schools to stack up in the tailwaters.

If you want to forget your boat all together, consider one of the permanent barges positioned directly below a lock and dam. These are found primarily on the Mississippi River and for a nominal fee they will shuttle you to the float where you can rent rods, eat at the restaurant or fish.

There is usually a float positioned just below the dam where all that water is churning. While boat-fishermen must battle currents and menacing warning signs, float-fishermen sit comfortably on some of the best water.

Getting there is easy with good parking and a shuttle boat to ferry you to the float. Docks may hold as many as 150 people at a time, but it’s rarely that busy. It is a great place to fish if you have a family, have special needs or just hate being confined to your boat.

Of course, the ultimate reason to fish a float is its prime location. Suzanne Neisius, who works at Hubbard’s Float below the Lynxville dam, said, “You have a better chance on a float than a boat because we have 40-foot holes, different rock structures, a back eddy that swoops under the dock and access to shallows.”

CONCLUSION
If you want the walleye of a lifetime, spring river fishing is your best bet. There are other times of the year that you might catch more fish, but you will likely catch the biggest fish in the spring. Some of these fish are heavy because they are females full of eggs. Consider releasing these fish because for every big female you catch there are several big males right behind her. By releasing the females, you can help assure high-quality walleye fishing in Wisconsin’s rivers.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The Great Alma Float near Lock and Dam No. 4 is owned and operated by Jim and Tim Lodemier and offers food, limited lodging, handicapped accessibility and fish-cleaning services. Seven-day passes are available at $14 a day with reduced rates for children. For more information, call (608) 685-3474 or visit the Web site at www.almafishingfloat.com

The Fountain City Bar and Float is located under Lock and Dam No. 5A, 25 miles north of La Crosse. The day fee is $6 and the float is handicapped accessible. For more information, call (608) 687-8286.

The Tremplo Fishing Float is located under Lock and Dam No. 6 near Trempealeau and offers leisure fishing.

Clement’s Fishing Barge is located by Lock and Dam No. 8 near Genoa. Fishing fees are $14 a day for adults and $5 for children. Genoa is 17 miles south of La Crosse. For more information, call 1(800) 903-4903 or visit www.clementsfishing.com

Hubbard’s Fishing Dock and Café, owned and operated by Bill Hubbard Jr., is located below Lock and Dam No 9, also called the Lynxville dam, 10 miles north of Prairie du Chien. Fees are $13 for day fishing and $18 at night. This float is also handicapped accessible. For more information, call (608) 732-1084 or visit the Web site, www.hubbardsfishingfloat.com