Yorkville Area Wading Suggestions?

[Ed79]

This is for Ken, or anyone else familiar with the area. Do you happen to have any suggestions on areas to wade in the Yorkville area? I'm trying to test out a theory I have in regards to walleye on the rivers. The stretch between the Dayton Dam and Yorkville Dam is the longest stretch of river on the Fox between dams. So, given the migratory pattern of walleye, it would make sense that the area near the Yorkville dam would hold great numbers of walleye between fall and spring. Probably the highest number of walleye anywhere on the river for this time of year. If my theory holds true, that is. I'd love to get out and do some fishing with you as well, so let me know if you're up for a walleye hunt.

P.S. I tried to search, but it seems that the search function isn't working?

[Ken G]

P.S. I tried to search, but it seems that the search function isn't working?

Probably not on that topic. I never go out to target walleye. Not anymore anyway.

It helps that they stock between 10 and 15,000 walleye in this stretch every now and then. One of the stocking years I was catching the small ones, with some big ones in between, endlessly. Old posts are somewhere. The bulk of them came out of Blackberry Creek and under the 47 bridge. They do grow to good sizes in this stretch.

Mouth of Big Rock Creek all the way around and to the other side of the river used to be where I would get the biggest ones. Right in Yorkville isn't bad either. Caught them as far down as the broken down dam in Millhurst, a little over a mile down from Big Rock. That is a death march, we used to call it the Hemingwade. Brutal. You have to hike back after you hike down there.

For not targeting them, I guess I've tied into enough.

The water has shot up to 2200 cfs over night. That eliminates a lot of water to wade around in, but the bonus might be that it pushes the fish toward shore. Quite a few walleye seem to migrate up to Yorkville this time of year. Usually followed by muskie.

If you come this way, best bet is to get in at the boat launch just west of Route 47. With the water up, stay along the south shore and wade all the way down to this little ditch/creek about a quarter mile down. You can get out there, up the hill to the tracks and walk back to your car. I live just up the hill in this stretch.

No clue what my schedule is this weekend. Hoping late Sunday morning to get out. Mentally planning a hit and run trip down the river starting in Geneva. Used to do this all the time. Geneva, a spot in Batavia, North Aurora, Indian Trail Road, Aurora or Montgomery, a half hour at each spot just to see what's hitting. I'd like to say that's a plan, but I'd hate to stand anyone up if I don't get out.

One of these days things will settle down enough for me to make and stick to plans. I used to do that.

[Ed79]

This weekend sucks for me, so I'll probably end up getting out early next week. Monday or Tuesday, more than likely. So the water levels should be pretty good by then. At lease, I hope. Thanks for the suggestions Ken.

[Fishin Musician]

You would think with the water shooting up that the walleyes would be pushing towards shore but from what I have been seeing and hearing they are bunched up under the dams and spillways. I thought it was a bit early for them to be up at the dams but it has been a weird and wet fall. I still am popping some smallmouth out of faster water but the runs needs to have depressions in order to hold fish.

[Ed79]

Well, if you think about it, the water is quite a bit colder than usual. We had a really mild summer, so the water temps never got very high, and then we basically went right to winter, with temperatures in the 40s at night for weeks on end. Makes sense.

[Ken G]

With the water no flowing at 2660, wading may be out of the question in a lot of areas. Not sure it's peaked yet either.

Maybe they will get pushed toward shore. Or into a creek. No way to get near a dam or spillway now I would think.

[Ed79]

Yeah, and it's definitely not going to come down enough by Monday for me to get out. Probably have to wait until Wednesday, at the earliest.

[Ken G]

Now it's at 2750 and still hasn't peaked, but it has slowed down.
I hate high water fishing.
I would imagine the fish are pushed in, but it's hard to get up the interest to go find out.

[lowerfoxguy]

What is a safe cfs level for wading? I'm new to the fox this year. I bought a canoe and had some great fishing days out there from 47 to the state park. I bought my canoe in July and sold it in august and made 600. yes, i enjoyed my canoe but still very tough to fish from the canoe. I'm really considering buying waders and taking the approach. does the fox offer good fishing later into fall Nov,dec? thanks

[Ed79]

Safe wading level is pretty relative to the wader. Since you are new to the Fox, I would stick to levels less than 1200 CFS. Should keep you relatively safe, as long as you are careful.

As far as walleye, I would imagine you can catch walleye near the dams all winter long. At least, that's how it is on every other river in the Midwest. Just going to be slow, and hit or miss. They don't feed as much, but they still feed. Slow presentations are key, since they are pretty lethargic when the water dips down into the low thirties.