Julie's Tree

10/30

Took the long rod out again today and hooked into a big fat skunk.

Before leaving I snapped this pic.
There is kind of a little story that goes along with this picture.

JULIE'S TREE
(a fading landmark)

Near 30 years ago this tree stood tall

It's branches and leaves 
reached out over the Kishwaukee River
like a warm summer's rain frozen in time just above the rivers flow.
A time when Julie and I had first met, we spent an afternoon under this tree enjoying the coolness of its shade,
a line in the water, and the sounds and sights of the
great outdoors.
Peace.

I don't believe this tree will make it through another Winters thaw, or
high waters from the Spring rains.
The tree stands at the point of the Kishwaukee confluence where the north branch
meets the south branch.
Over the years high waters have washed away most of the land surrounding this tree.
On the lefthand side of the picture you cans see a hunk on land, then a long space, and
then the land on which sits Julie's Tree. That "long space" use to be all land connecting
to where Julie's tree stands, but high waters blew that section of land out. 
Now every year more and more land gets washed away.

A river is ever changing.
When I return in 2015 I expect the tree will be gone.

JULIE'S TREE (1985 -     )

10/29, ONE MISSION

10/29

 ONE MISSION

My plan was to to hike to this one particular spot and pull out one (1) smallmouth with the long rod.

That would make me happy.

I made the easy hike to a pedestrian bridge that runs over a dry creek and followed the dry creek to the river, which would put me just downstream from the spot I planned to hit. Before stepping foot in water, I examined the area to plan my best approach. I decided to cross the river to a sandbar that laid directly across from my spot. This section of the Kish is fairly wide, very rocky, and has a swift current. Once on the sandbar I examined the area once again before making my approach. I started carefully making my way cross stream to the spot I planned to hit, making sure that I had a good, strong, foothold with my set foot before taking my next step. The spot I wanted to hit was an eddy that in the past has help fish this late into the year. I got within casting distance, stripped out some line, let my fly drift downstream pulling the line with it to a distance I thought I would need to reach the eddy. In one motion I hauled back and made my first cast, landing the fly on the upstream topside of the eddy. BAM! First cast, 15 1/4 inch smallie. Mission complete.

I stayed out a couple more hours and never got another bite.

10/27 Fly Rod

10/27

Fly rod

Decided to breakout the fly rod after being inspired by Jim last weekend, plus he hooked me up with some little-bitty-incey-wincey rings to tie onto the end of my leader so that I could tie on a short
piece of braided tippet that is easier for my eye to see compared to the normal mono that is usually used. The fly I selected to use first was a creation of mine that resembles a tube bait that I use when fishing with the spin gear. I like the way the fly looks but my one concern is the circle hook I used for tying the fly. I have never really used circle hooks so I was not sure how the hook set would be when the smallmouths hit. I tossed the fly out and it did not take long to get a hit. Of course I also got a miss but I kind of expected to miss not having used the fly rod in quite some time. After a couple more hits and misses I went ahead and tied a Clouser which also had the circle hook. Got a hit, set the hook, fish on! I ended up catch 4 smallmouth on this day and enjoyed swinging the long stick once again. The little ring Jim gave me worked good with the braid tied on and I look foreword to getting out a couple more time with the fly rod before the snow starts to fly.
I enjoyed the day so much that I have begun to organize my fly tying equipment to maybe do some fly tying over the winter months. A big THANKS goes out to Jim for getting me going again on fly fishing. 

10/25

10/25

Jim's Last Dance of 2014?

Got out with Jim for what probably was the last FULL day of smallmouth fishing for the 2014 year. We met up at Cherry Valley Cafe at 8am. for some good breakfast and coffee, and then stepped foot in water just before 9:30am. after a short drive to the Kish. The day started off slow, which was kind of expected with lower temps in the morning hours, but we had high hopes for the day as the temp was to grow to high near 70 for this day. Jim started off tossing a new fly he had tied up for this outing called Toms' Foxy Craw Robber.

I started off throwing a tube with no luck, then switch to a topwater bait which showed me the same kind of luck, so I switch back to a tube and stuck with that for the remainder of the day. If the topwater bite ain't happening, then it ain't gonna happen. We'll it might later in the day, but with a wide open blue sky and crystal clear water (not gin clear) I just felt the top wouldn't happen. As the days temp heated up so did the bite. We were not able tho bring to hand any smallmouth over 13 inches, but we both did bring to hand a smallmouth or 13. Not that either of us kept count. 

It was a fun, warm, October day and Jim brought to hand probably what was by far the 

nicest looking smallmouth of the day......

10/22

10/22 - Time Spent With Brandy

Decided to strap Brandy to the top of the car and drive her down to the river for a float. We put in on the south branch at Oak Ridge F.P. and did our short paddle up stream, followed by our float past the takeout to hit some areas downstream. It seemed like it was going to be a magnificent day as the first cast brought to hand the first smallie of the day. Yes, it was going to be an awesome day. NOT! We made our way upstream to hit the good areas which turned out not to be so good on this day. Started floating our way back downstream and picked up another smallie which was probably the same smallie I caught on the first cast when I first put in. Why would I think this, you ask?

Because I caught the damn thing in the very same exact spot that I caught the first one, that's why.

Those two fished ended up being the only fish of the day, but it was a nice

Fall afternoon to spend on the river with my Brandy. Soon Brandy will be going away for the Winter

and I will miss her, so it's nice to have this time together.

10/20 - 10/21 Fall Fishing

Been getting out a lot this Fall per doctor orders. Fishing has been tough on most days but once fish have been located the bite is usually pretty hot. I have not seen a topwater bite in quite awhile. I did see action on top from smallies on 10/21, but when I would cast a topwater in that direction I would end up with nothing. Toss a tube in that same direction and pick 'em up. Go figure. I picked up 8 smallies with the tube, the largest being measured @ 16.5 inches. The other 7 were 12 inches and less. Fish are hitting hard when they do hit and fighting like a cat tossed in a pool.


-----------------------------------------

On Monday, 10/20, I accessed a creek from a point further upstream than I have ever done. No fish were caught on this day, but the creeks characteristics are sure favorable for smallmouth. Need to try this again come late Spring 2015 before the weeds and bush get too thick.

A Video Original....

No fish were harmed during the making of this video.

Mainly because no fish were caught on this day.

10/9

                        Reel Bad Start ending @

                                                                                   

Hot Pool

So I pulled the bad Pflueger reel off it's rod and replaced with an old Eagle Claw reel that I have had for years, but have never used. I'm not even sure where this reel came from but I've kept it around for so long because it has very smooth action. Time to give this reel it's time in the spot light. Loaded up with 8lb. Berkely Crystal Fire Line, I step foot in water, wade out about 8 feet and make my first cast with the new set up. Of course I would love to land a nice size smallie on the first cast with this rig, but it didn't happen. What did happen, after two more casts, was a floppiness with the reel handle (52). As I would reel in, the handle would flop a bit and knock up against the bail arm (12). Normally if this happens it's because the lock nut (42) that the handle snug and in place has come loose and needs to be finger tightened. That sound simple enough WHEN THE NUT IS THERE! Damn it!

 Short time in the spot light for that setup. Back to the car to switch with my main GSX.

Back in the water and I start off throwing a tube. I had no hits after about 10 minutes with the tube so I switched up to a topwater popper. I worked an area by tossing the popper tight to the shore and again after about 10 minutes, no hits. Normally if there's a topwater bite, I'll see some sort of action pretty quick. 10 minutes and no chases, splashes or anything, the topwater ain't gonna go.

I tied a tube back on and started wading upstream work the banks and any structures I ran across.

Okay, I've been wading upstream for quite sometime now and I haven't even gotten a bite.

Kind of been getting my ass kicked, but it's such a nice day it's hard to get too upset about it.

I came to a large island in the middle of the river and decided to hit the channelized side where

a few downed trees had been sitting. I started to get hits but no hookups. Must've been small ones.

I couldn't get anything on the hook from the downed trees so I made my way upstream to a hole that I just believed had to show me the money. This area is very rocky with a swift current standing in water just below my waist. The rocks beneath my feet were slippery so one wrong step and I could go down. There is a nice little eddy along the bank that I thought would hold fish, I'm hoping it does as this spot is what all my efforts thus far have been for.

I ended up pulling 8 smallmouth from this pool all of which were over 13" with the 3 largest being

a 15 inch and two 14 inchers. 

I fished the pool out and decided to call it a day and took a dry creek bed through the forest to access the walking path so I could return to my car faster.

10/7

10/7

Solo Wade

Breaking In The New Waders

16" October Smallie

Had to get out and try the new waders.

No leaks!

The sky was overcast so I started out tossing

a topwater popper and picked up 3 smallies

right off the bat with the largest going 15".

After about 45 minutes and a couple more fish on the top, the sky cleared up and the sun came out, and the topwater bit came to a halt.

I tied on a tube and continued making my way upstream, picking up a couple dinks here and there.

I came to a large pool and got a heavy tug on the line. it seems the fish picked up the tube and is just holding it. I reeled in a bit and could tell that something heavy was on the end of the line.

I hauled back to set the hook and the line went limp. Damn it! I pulled out a 1/16 oz bullet weight and slipped on the line and then tied on a new hook and rigged it with a new tube. Tossed it all back in the same sport and again a heavy THUMP. I drew in the slack on my line and again could feel something big and heavy on the end of the line. Pulled back hard with the rod and the line went limp. WTF!

Again I tied on all new stuff and tossed the rig back into the same area and again I got bit off.

Not exactly sure what was sitting in that pool but I decided that it was not a smallmouth and I

would leave the pool to whatever the heck it was in there. What ever it was it's got a mouth

full of tubes and I didn't think there would be much chance of it hitting again. I had just loaded up my spin reel with brand new 8lb Berkely Crystal Fire Line, so whatever is in that pool has teeth.

I made my way upstream and picked up a few more smallies with the largest going 16 inch".

Ended the day with 10 smallmouth brought to hand. 

New Waders

10/4/14

New Pro-Line Neoprene Waders

Well now that the cold weather is starting to set in, it is time for me to get a new pair of neoprene waders. I have bought 2 pair in the past from Gander Mountain and I must say that I have not been very pleased with Guide Series waders which GM sells. The waders start to leak from the seems after moderate use and this is something I'm trying to get away from without spending much money. The Guide Series usually go for an amount just shy of $150.00, which is at the cheap end as far as waders are concerned. I decided to give Dicks Sporting Goods a try this year.

Their cheap neoprene waders are made by Pro Line and I was able to pick a pair of the Marsh Creek series up for $110.00. Many people probably think I'm silly for not throwing down some good money for a good pair of waders, but the thing is, I don't like to wear waders and never do until Fall weather and temps set in and also in the early Spring before the water temp begins to warm. I hope these waders hold up a bit better than the Guide Series, but if they don't it's no big lose. Definitely worth the gamble.

Click here (X) to view Pro Line, Marsh Creek Waders

I also picked up some new Berkely Crystal Fire Line to put on a couple reels that are running low.
That should let me finish out this 2014 year and get a good start on the 2015 season.

I HATE COLD WEATHER!