Shoot, I didn't really explore it until last summer. I went down there one evening and piddled around, and then mainly just watched what people were doing. The next day I went back, a little more prepared, and had a ball catching fish! I ended up fishing every evening of that week! I'd say it's good anytime of year. That dam is a natural obstruction in which fish cannot pass, so they just hang out there in the white water. Probably the most difficult decision is how to rig......you can rig light for curly tail jigs for the sauger and white bass, or you can go heavy with 20lb test and sling swim baits for stripers and catfish......only problem with going light is that you always end up hooking a monster that you just can't beat with light line! It's a reallly great place to fish, and with it being so close to town it just seems weird too!