Cooler weather means fishing is picking up on the upper river. Reports are starting to come in from the Genoa fishing barge. See our fishing reports at www.greatriver.com/fishing/fishreport.htm
This 35 pound catfish was caught on an ultra lite rod!
35 pound catfish!
Riverbuffs watching Ken Burn’s THE NATIONAL PARKS Sunday evening might be interested to know that the Upper River has a tie to Lafayette Bunnell, who named Yosemite Nat’l Park. From DISCOVER! AMERICA’s GREAT RIVER ROAD, Volume 1, p. 78 . . .
“Five miles south of Winona, in the tiny village of HOMER, MINNESOTA, is the historic “Bunnell House.” This gothic gem was the home of Willard Bunnell, the first permanent settler and last Indian trader in the area. Bunnell’s brother, Lafayette, was among the men who discovered and gave the name Yosemite to the National Park in California.”
What a difference a week makes! Just returned from a week near Holcomb, Wisconsin, where all the maples are in full red bloom. When I left La Crosse, it was mid-summer… 80 degrees, bluffs were green and the corn was high.
Upon arriving in Holcomb, just south of Ladysmith, I had the curious experience of viewing fall color, but being taken aback. It took a moment as I absorbed the colorful reflection in the still Chippewa Flowage… “Ah yes! Fall color!”
Upon return to La Crosse, I see the corn leaves have yellowed and there is just a hint of color. Go to our home page, www.greatriver.com to access our FALL COLOR HOTLINE.
With Fall Color about to burst on the Upper Mississippi, I often get inquiries about how to find an overnight cruise on the river now that the steamboats are not operating. I just received an email about a two-day cruise from The TWILIGHT, a boat built by Dennis Trone and operating out of Le Claire, Iowa. Check out their website at www.riverboattwilight.com
“Please join us for our very affordable, 2 -Day Overnight Mississippi River Cruise! Our 2-Day Cruise is only $329 and includes:
All Meals, Snacks, plus complimentary Coffee, Tea & Lemonade
On-Board Entertainment
Overnight Accommodations at the Riverfront Grand Harbor Resort
Admission to the Iowa’s #1 Tourist attraction:
The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
For more information, got to our website at www.riverboattwilight.com. We look forward to seeing you in 2009 and sharing our Mississippi River experience!”
Carrie & Captain Kevin Stier
The smaller boats, like the Twilight, the JBS, or the Spirit of Peoria on the Illinois River, incorporate hotel stays with shore trips and overnight hotel stays. The passenger still enjoys long lazy days on the river. The JBS, unfortunately is not operating this summer.
Mark Clements just sent us a fishing report from the barge near the Genoa Lock & Dam. For Pix, www.greatriver.com/fishing/fishreport.htm
Fishing has been pretty good the last few days, especially in the morning hours. Afternoons have been slow, but in the morning we are catching walleye, sauger and catfish. A few bluegills but not too many right now. Up on the wall getting some whitebass on jigs or spinners. The walleye and sauger have been small, but several people have been able to get some eaters to take home. Mainly on minnows, or jigs tipped with minnows. Live bait has been the best bet though. Catfish have come in on worms, catfish bait or some live bait for mudcat.