Memorial Day Weekend

Outing #30
PRY12 - 6.65
Catch - 1, 2, 1

YTDC - 34                                                               DAY ONE (1)

Took Brandy out for a ride on the Kish south branch.

We got in at 10:30am and paddled upstream for a ways. I have to say

that I was a bit surprised at the level and clarity of the south branch.

Level was up higher than I expected and clarity was a heavy stain.

There is not much to report as the smallmouth bite was very tough.

I tossed a tube, a buzz bait, and a popper.

The buzz bait drew a couple half assed hits but couldn't get anything on the hook.

The tube was doing nothing, same as the popper.

I did finally manage to pick up one smallmouth on a tube that probably would

have taped at about 10 or 11 inches if I had gone to the trouble.

It was a nice day to be out. I got that I guess.

DAY TWO (2)

Did an upstream wade of Kilbuck and didn't much better luck than day one.
I picked up 2 smallies on a tube and one of them silly little pike that like to hit
everything and anything that hits the water. Got out of the water as storms moved into
the area. Not sure if I'll be able to make it out on day three, as the levels are now up and these storms are suppose to stick around for awhile. 

DAY Three (3)

In remembrance of our fallen soldiers today I chose to wade the 
Camp Grant rifle range section of the Kish.
Water was up and stained heavily from last nights rain. I pulled in a skunk on this section
and then made my way back to Kilbuck where there fishing was just as tough, but I
did manage to pull in one dink of about 12" on a topwater.
I believe we have rain in the forecast every day this week so this could have been my
last May outing.

Camp Grant rifle range in the Kishwaukee River 1917

All I found was a popper

Pretty much sums it up.

May 20, 2015

Outing #27
PRY12 - 6.56
Catch - 1

YTDC - 30

I met up with with Jim on Monday the 18th for a short wade on Kilbuck.

The water level was up and pretty stained. It was a bit of a surprise to find the creek

in this shape, but it is Spring so what are ya gonna do. I did manage to pull one (1)

dink smallmouth from that water so I was happy not to get a skunk. The main purpose 

for this meet up was so Jim could give me back my bullets......?!!! Fly rod. Sorry. Kind of got caught up in a song there. Anyhoot, my fly rod was kind of coming unraveled and I asked Jim

if he wouldn't mind trying to repair it, as he, Jim, builds his own fiberglass fly rods. Jim agreed 

to take a shot at fixing it and fix it he did. What a fine job. Thanks!

On Wednesday the 20th a big cold front moved into the area and plummeted air temps

into the low 40s. 

Being a kind of dumb man, I soon found myself pulling my waders on and before I knew it,

I was standing waist deep in the Kish, casting a topwater popper at a big hunk of cement, while the rain and sleet hit my cap and sounded as if they were applauding me with each and every cast of my popper. My hands got numb, turned black. and then fell off. I did manage one (1) smallmouth (12") on the topwater (first of the year) before losing my hands. 
I limped my way back to the car and went to work. 

Funky Outings

Outing #25
PRY12 - 6.90
Catch - 2

YTDC - 28  

FUNKY OUTINGS                                           

Went out on Friday the 15th before work and pulled in a big fat skunk.

Hit it again on this day of Saturday the 16th, had 2 hits that got on two hooks and brought to two hands. Fished hard tossing everything I had from Tubes to poppers, spinner baits and buzz baits along current seams, nothing was working. The tube was the only thing that brought what little action I could find. I'm thinking the smallies are in their post spawn funk, or a funk from maybe not being able to spawn due to the high waters we received shortly after they made the little love nests. Both fish were in the 12 inch range. Took a few scenic pics the last couple of days.

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(click on pics to view larger)

I'd probably breakout if I were to pick them.

Should have been a hot-spot. Nope.

Sunset over Kilbuck

Itch Scratchin'

Outing #23
PRY12 - 7.53
Catch - 3
YTDC - 26

SCRATCH

Got out a couple of times before work this week.

Water levels are much higher than I would like but when the itch starts to itch, ya gotta scratch.

On Wednesday the 13th I did an upstream wade at Kilbuck and landed one (1) smallmouth that

was about 12 inches. The first fish of the day for me was a pike, and since I don't like them slimy.

stinking things,  I won't mention that I caught one.

On Thursday the 14th. I did a downstream wade of the same creek and landed two (2) smallies

that were the same size of the smallie from the day before in the area of 12 inches.

Not the most interesting post on this blog is it?

It's a post.

If this rain doesn't stop soon I'm gonna have to start planing for some

catfish outings for the upcoming holiday weekend.

Testing the Bite

END OF APRIL NUMBERS:
Outing #20
PRY12 - 6.34ft.
Catch - 5
YTDC - 22

             Made a quick stop down to the Kish for a solo wade to checkout the bite for the upcoming 

ISA float trip. I was only able to fish a short time of a few minutes over an hour, but did

manage to bring to hand 5 smallies, all of which fell in the range of 10" to 12".

Fish seemed active.

Welcome May

First Kish Wade of 2015

Outing #19
PRY12 - 6.50ft
Catch - 5
YTDC - 17

KILBUCK

Stepped foot into Kilbuck at 1pm and waded up-stream tossing

a tube most of the way. I was getting no action so I switched over to a

topwater popper and couldn't find anything interested in that either. Switched back

to a tube and waded my way back to the takeout and managed to pick up one 10" smallmouth

right at the takeout. I guess I never should have left that area.

I NEED SOME ACTION!

I thought I would checkout the Kish south branch, but upon arrival I

discovered that there was a couple bank fishermen at the spot where I planed to

get in at. Crap! Turned the car around and headed for the confluence.

I knew the spot that I wanted to hit, but when I pulled into the parking lot

I saw the car of another buddy, and fellow ISA member, already parked in the lot. 

CRAP!

I got my gear all on, looked around, and saw nobody around. I walked up to the 

drivers door of my buddies car, stuck out my tongue, and licked the hell out of the door handle.

KISHWAUKEE RIVER NB

Stepped foot for the first time this year in the Kish. The level was a bit higher

than I would have liked it, but sometimes a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do.

I decided to stick with the tube and began drifting it thru runs that I thought would be

holding smallies. I thought wrong. Waded back down stream to an area that my buddy Jim and I started fishing last year and I picked up two (2) smallies right away. The first came in at 15", the second taped a tad over 18" and had some beautiful color and markings on it. 

I hit a couple more spots and managed to pull out another 14", and finished the day with a 13".

It felt great to step foot in the Kishwaukee River once again.

!8" Beaut

click to view larger

4/18/15 Good Day, 6 Fish

Outing #15
PRY12 - 6.74ft.
Clarity - 15 inches
Catch - 6
YTDC - 12

Made my way down to the creek for a few hours and managed to pick up 6 smallies all on a Tube.

I did try a few other types and colors of tubes with the Gander Mountain tubes producing the most fish. I started off landing a 14 1/2" and followed that with my big fish of the day at 17 1/2 inches.

I also landed a 15", two (2) 16'ers and finished the outing with a solid 17".

All fish had strong, beautiful, markings on them.

Felt GREAT to log in the first good day of the year.

17 1/2" Click to view larger

17" Click to view larger