Gapen Catalog | Fly Fishing | Jigs | Most Sensitive Rods | Wilderness Reels | Ugly Bug | Muddler |

To better understand this the angler is is advised to to purchase Dan Gapen, Sr.'s ‘River
Fishing’ hardback book, better known as as the 'River Bible' along the Mississippi, Ohio and
Missouri Rivers systems . . See page 154 for ordering information.
F) F) At 'F' 'F' if if panfish (bluegill, crappie or or
rock bass) exist on the wing dam they'll be be
found here holding in in the quiet circulating
eddy created by by the stranded
tree trunk or or the backside of of this rock
structure.
G) At 'G' we have placed the three or or
more smallmouth bass that hang out on
the wing dam. They'll be be tucked into the
structure with their mouths nearly
touching rock.
H) Here, behind a a loose stone left over by by dam construction
there'll be be a a single renegade lazy walleye or or maybe aa
catfish. She’s tough to to get at at but generally worth trying for.
I) I) Just at at the dam's lower downstream edge the angler may
find any of of a a number of of species. Bass, walleye, catfish and
even panfish often hold at at the spot we've marked 'J'. 'J'. Here the
angler may find the use of of a a jig jig cast upstream from downstream
below the structure, allowed to to sink, then worked,
does best.
Note: Try a a Gapen Ugly Bug jig jig in in black or or crawfish
color for good results on the manmade rock wing dam.
This structure is is home to to hundreds of of river crawdads, aa
food best imitated by by the Ugly Bug.
body fishing often
produces some very large
bass during the heat of
summer
J) J) At 'J' 'J' the main school of of
channel catfish will hold. Anchor at at the
spot marked 'E' 'E' and work down to to
them with a a 11 /2 1 /2or or 22 oz. Bait Walker
Plus sinker loaded with frozen chicken
liver or or store-bought shrimp.
Start
reading on page 60 60 where you can
learn the exact presentation methods
of of the Bait Walker.
w w w. g a p e n . c o m
GAPEN’S
Working River Wingdams
(continued)
Wingdams produced more Channel
Catfish than any other structure.
119
Wingdam Walleye
REMEMBER TO WORK YOUR BAIT SLOW
FOR THE BEST RESULTS!!!
angler
Body Fishing, or as it was known on the upper
Mississippi River, Body Slooshing, originated back in 1956 when
I discovered that schools of fish would hone in on the eddy created by my body as I waded
through the shallow rocky areas of our local river, the Mighty Mississippi.
During the following years my friends and I used these tactics to catch hundreds of
smallmouth bass, walleye and panfish the local rivers had to offer.
Not to be outdone ‘bobber’
anne gets wet and wades in
for this dandy caught on
a green crawfish jig.
GAPEN’S
Fishing Tips:
FROM
HIMSELF!
BODY FISHING
HOW IT WORKS:
The angler wades into the targeted area, a spot which contains
numerous rocky structures, plants his feet and faces
downstream. Water which reaches up to the pockets on his
pants or hits the beltline seems to work best.
FFi is sh h Ga ap pe en n ’ s’ s w w w. g a p e n . c o m F i s h G a p e n ’ s
A
A
120
A
B
ugly bug jigs and large
smallies are always part of
the wingdam structure.
C
A
D
A