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

4/15/15 Bank Fishing

Outing #13
PRY12 - 7.23ft
Clarity - 18"
Catch - 1
YTDC - 6

Made a run to the creek for a short hour and a half wade.

It didn't really go as planned, as I forgot my waders at the house.

Luckily we are still in the early part of Spring, so the weed coverage which

usually lines the river and creek banks has not grown as of yet.

Picked up one (1) smallmouth that taped 14".

All fish caught using a tube.

Ran across these three (3) eggs lying on a sandbar island.

Must be victims of the tornado .

No nest, and no mom & pop gooses to be seen anywhere at all.

Makes one wonder where the coons are?

4/14/15, More Gooder than Goodman

Outing #12
PRY12 - 7.50ft
Clarity - 18 inches
Catch - 1
YTDC - 5

                                                      BACK ON TOP

A buddy of mine claims that he has already landed a 17 1/2" smallmouth this year.

I don't doubt that he has, but it sure is funny how he has never made any

mention of it until he came upon an opportunity to rub it in my face.

That's fine with me, I can take it.

Not to be out done, I stopped down at the creek today and tossed around 

a 3 1/2" YUM Tube. (green/purple) with a 1/16oz bullet weight.

I wasn't getting any action as I waded my way up-stream.

Not a single bite.

I should mention that I was quite surprised at the water clarity after

last weeks storm. The creek looked to be in great shape.

I started wading my way back down-stream and paused at any area

that just had to have fish in it. It's a classic spot.

Riffle, Run, Pool.

I started floating my tube from the riffle, down into and drifting

thru the run, and then into the pool.

Bump.

(was that a hit?)

(or a rock?)

Hard Tug.

I did a half-assed upward motion to set the hook, but faild.

I tossed the tube back into the run and let it drift into the pool once again and

BAM!

FISH ON!!!

I could tell the first time the fish hit that it was a nice size fish.

Now that I'm fighting the fish, I'm thinking, Brutus?

Not quite, but a hell of a nice fish that taped 

18 1/4"

More Gooder than Mr. Goodman

18.25 inches

4/9 Disappointment

Outing #11
PRY12 - 6.53ft
Clarity - 18 inches
Catch - 0
YTDC - 4

Got out for a couple of hours before work and about 7 hours before

the big rain fell.

Skunk.

4/5

Outing #10
PRY12 - 6.34ft
Clarity - 2 1/2ft
Catch - 1
YTD Catch - 4

Hit the creek with Jim. I picked up one smallmouth the taped just shy of 12".

Caught on a tube.

Nice day to be out.

Brad Pitt?

11 3/4"

4/4/15 - It's about damn time!

Outing #9
PRY12 - 6.45
Clarity - Slight stain 2 1/2ft.
Catch - 3

So the plan was to fish the Kish south branch at Deer Run F. P. but a quick

stop at Oak Ridge to see the water level with my own eye kind of made me 

change my mind and head back to the 'buck. The wind was blowing hard on

this day, and at one point where the creek opens up and there are no trees to block the sun or wind,

there were whitecaps. This area is where I landed my third and largest fish (15 1/2") of the day, but the wind was just too great to fish the area very long.

I never have bought in, or believed, in the smallmouth migration theory, but after the last two

weeks of outings, fishing the same area, I am now a true believer. I have seen it with my own eye.

With that being said, I'm kind of excited to see what the 2015 smallmouth migration class brings in.

 

All fish were caught using a tube.

4/3/15

Outing #8
PRY12- 6.53
Clarity - Slight stain 2 - 2 1/2ft.
Catch - 0

DAMN IT, DAMN IT, DAMN IT!!!

Not even a bite.

I am starting to lose my patience.

4/2/15

Outing #7
PRY12- 6.38
Clarity - Slight stain 2 1/2
Catch - 0

It's been 4 months since I caught my last smallie.
You can't say I didn't try. Still looking for that first smallmouth

of the season. Today I burned my last 2014 vacation day and spent

5 hours wading Kilbuck. The creek is still flowing clear and beautiful, so

I still managed a very enjoyable day away from work.

I waded up stream casting a tube into eddies, deep holes, around submerged logs, and

along current seams. No luck. Tied on a swim jig and cast that around for a while with no luck.

Tied on a spinner bait and tossed that around for a bit with no luck. I was digging thru my vest and ran across a weighted float and some flies. What the hell.

The float-n-fly produced the same as everything else this outing, nothing.

Better than a day spent at work.

On March 31, 2015, I stopped by the confluence I could see in the distance that

Julie's Tree still stands.

Julie's Tree

http://smallmouthadventurestd.blogspot.com/2014/10/julies-tree.html