You can park on either end of the dam. You cannot park on the bridge itself. Anything you would use in lakes or streams will work for bait. Cast as far as you can, count to 10 and set the bail. I've fished there dozens of times, the largest was around 14", so don't expect any monsters. Keep an eye on your vehicle, the highway provides a quick getaway for thieves. That's the main reason we always drove across the dam to park.