Thanks everybody for all your help. We ended up staying in PDC and launched at a city dock after talking with lots of locals. They failed to mention getting a launch pass, and no I did not see the signs, I was busy watching behind me with the boat to read signs..$30 fine, geeeeez. One of our boys caught a small northern right away, then nothing the rest of the day. Launch further up river Sunday, caught a few bluegills but that was it. We still had fun exploring the river, ran up to Lansing on the river, went thru the locks of course, stopped at a sandy beach and enjoyed the river despite not many fish. Locals said the water was going down, but it still looked high to me and plenty dirty.
I’ll be going back the next chance I get and learn the river more….

You can catch yellows all year long in Clear Lake. Fun to catch, good to eat. Check at the bait shop to see where they are biting. Good Luck.

got it, thanks Mike. I might have to give braided a try.

Tom

Thanks wiskerkev. Sounds like a great idea. I’ll definetly take it easy. Stump fields, barges, etc. I have a hand held gps that might come in handy too. I’ll see if I can locate Blackhawk on the pool maps. Apreciate the advise very much..

Tom

Thanks Brett, I’ll look up pool 8 map. That would be fun.

Tom

Thanks Mike. Why the braided line? I’ve never use it. Brands? I think a slow troll with the electric would fit the bill for us to try. Thanks again

Tom

Thanks beached. Fishing around the poles there for panfish?

Thanks Stu,Briank, bk and Brett. Glad to be here. Walleye tournament at Clear Lake, Ia this weekend so the lake may be alittle congested for me. I catch a lot of 13″ walleye there this year, but someone that fishes more than me or a better fisherman could do better. Yellows are hit and miss the last week for us. FYI, I just got back the first week of May from the western basin of Lake Erie. Caught some fish, weather was great, can’t wait to go back.

Tom

Thanks for the replies. Is there much traffic in the channel? Or is it big enough that most boats (except barges) would not pose a navigation nitemare. I see there is a boat launch area in Lansing,Ia, we could get too also. I think the boys with enjoy the views and remember the trip for along time to come, regardless of catching fish or not, would just be agreat bonus. I’ll keep watching for more advise,

Thanks guys
Tom