8/16/09 Kankakee River

[Ken G]

Last weekend with my daughter before she heads back to U. of I. Wanted to show her something different and let her do some wet wading. That's not allowed on the Fox.

Her boyfriend, Dan Poncé, admits that his idea of being in the outdoors is opening the window. If he's going to hang around with my daughter, he'll have to get used to a more hands on approach. He actually does pretty well wandering around in the river. Almost like he knows what he's doing. Casts pretty good and accurately too. Too bad the fish didn't cooperate for him.

More later maybe, just pictures now.

[Dan]

Damn Ken!! Thats a REEL nice Smallie!! 18"?? Beast!!

[Ken G]

Damn Ken!! Thats a REEL nice Smallie!! 18"?? Beast!!

That would be an 18.5, on a 5 weight fly rod using an Orvis helgie. One of the coolest helgie imitations I've seen.
The limits for keeping smallies on the Kank are 2 under 12 and 1 over 18. This one almost became a baking fish when I spent well over 5 minutes trying to revive it. Just when I was getting out the stringer it got it's strength back and took off like a bat out of hell.

Don't like fly rods just for that reason. Ran into this on the creeks too when I caught the 16 and 14. Too hard to get them in, unhook them and release them. I'm used to the PowerPro and a bit stiffer rod.

Don't like torturing fish I'm not going to keep for the table.

[MattC]

Nice job, did you fish the same area as last time? How was the water clarity?

[Ken G]

Nice job, did you fish the same area as last time? How was the water clarity?

It's the only section I know like the back of my hand, so I tend to keep going back. I keep thinking of trying the area up stream of Warner, but the Kank freaks me out at times. Too many odd drops.

Clarity was a little murkier than I expected, but still better than the Fox. At least two feet and a little stained. They got a lot or rain south of here. I imagine that will make things a little worse.