When I shut down my canoe shop in Montgomery in September of 2006, instead of continuing to move all this paper around, I recycled it. Now I rely on Google to find the things that my memory can no longer bring back. When I make my smart ass remark that I've forgotten more about rivers than you'll ever know, there is an element of truth to my smart ass attitude.
One thing I remember is that in the late 90's, 250 breeder sized smallmouth bass were stocked into the East Branch of the DuPage River near Route 56. I vaguely remember it being said they were all in the 14 inch range. For years when I lived in Elmhurst and was fishing the Fox over 100 times a year, I would drive back and forth to the river on Route 56. Every time I drove over that spot I would look down at the East Branch and think to myself that I should go fish it to see if any of those fish were around.
I never did it.
Many years ago I fished the East Branch where it flows through Greene Valley Forest Preserve. The first aerial shows Greene Valley FP. It also shows probably the longest connected group of Forest Preserves and parks that I know of in the area. The map shows the intersection of 75th Street and Route 53 in the north east. Greene Valley actually goes even further north to 63rd Street. Follow the map southwest and you can see all the green, the junction of the East and West Branches of the DuPage River, and the beginning of the main stem of the DuPage. The map ends on the south west at the intersection of Boughton Road and Plainfield/Naperville Road. There is more public land beyond that, but that's a different story.
If you've ever driven around the 3 DuPages in the winter you may have noticed that they never freeze. My shortcut to and from work in Hinsdale takes me through the area in the map above twice a day. I've been doing that for almost 3 years. I've never stopped to fish along here. I don't recall ever seeing ice on the rivers as I drive past them. There's a good reason for that.
If you know how to read aerial maps you'll notice two things, treatment plants. A small one off of Route 53 just down from 75th street and a larger one near the southwest intersection of Boughton Road and Plainfield/Naperville Road. I had to look up how many treatment plants are on the DuPages since that is one of the details my memory no longer retains. There are 17 of them. I recall there being more on the East Branch than the others, but I gave up trying to find the number.
The info also said that at normal levels the rivers are made up of 37% treatment plant effluent. I do remember that at lower flows the rivers flow at around 80% effluent. Anyone that has fished around the Montgomery crap plant can see where I'm going with this. During the winter months the Fox crap plant outflow measures 55 degrees. A mile down from it's source in a January many years ago, I was measuring water temps at 45 degrees. A few times a week I pass over the Fox at Orchard Road, many miles down from the crap plant. There is no ice in the river for 20 feet out from the out flow side of the river no matter how cold it is outside.
So picture 17 of them dumping into the narrower, shallower water ways of the DuPages. It would be interesting to take the water temps to see if their is an effect. Since it never freezes, I would imagine the temps will be higher than the Fox or even the Kankakee. Both of which I have seen almost frozen over.
This means that if you want your best chance at catching winter smallies, it doesn't take a scientist to figure out where you should be spending your time to increase your odds dramatically.
As I mentioned, I fished the East Branch through Greene Valley a few times many years ago. I believe it was in January and February. This next map shows where.
You'll see I marked where I parked and where I fished. Back then I just parked on the side street, hiked along the fence of the storage company and headed for the outflow. This outflow is small. I remember being almost able to jump over it. Now I would probably park on the west side of the river, park in the FP parking lot and hike in.
What I do remember are the fish I caught. If I can find the pictures I'll put them up. Big smallies, not a lot but enough to keep me entertained. Big largemouth that caught me by surprise. Some crappie and bluegills. And the biggest surprise of all, a couple of 18 inch rainbow trout. Out of the East Branch of the DuPage. I think I fished it 3 times that winter and never went back. Now I just drive along it twice a day pondering my prolonged absence.
The next aerial starts to explain things.
Retention ponds. Asking around and doing some research years ago I found out that when the East Branch floods, it over flows retention ponds not just here, but all up and down the river. Like any new sources of water, fish move in and out of them when they get the chance. These start to explain the source of maybe some of the largemouth and the pan fish. But what about the trout.
That would be the next aerial.
Hidden Lakes Historic Trout Farm in Bolingbrook. I've driven past and seen the sign many times, but have never gone in. A friend says it's pretty well stocked with trout. Apparently it too gets breached by the East Branch at high water. Another friend recently left information regarding this area, including some pretty amazing pictures of trout (see follow up posts below.) I think where I caught the rainbows is a mile north of the trout pond, so they obviously move.
Possibly even down stream into this next stretch.
The north side of the river in this stretch is currently undergoing some construction. In the ever increasing desire to put walking paths along rivers, last year they began construction on a trail that starts at the corner of Royce and Naperville Roads in the northwest corner of the above aerial. I can see it winding down into the shallow river valley and making it's way east. At one point it gets too far from the road and disappears, so I don't know where it's going to end. It's still not done, but they look close. Since I drive by here practically every day I've been meaning to stop and fish on my way home from work. Haven't done it yet. This is going to make that decision much easier. There is nothing worse than wading down stream till almost sunset, then having to bush whack your way out to find your car. Nothing like a good path to walk on. Kane County has done a tremendous job with that all up and down the Fox River. Looking forward to putting it to use this year.
You'll notice on the south side that there is a park close to the river in with the homes of the subdivision. Now you know what I go looking for on all bodies of water in the area. A park, even if it is just a playlot next to a creek, is my way in. And you can bet I'm going to take advantage of every one I find.
As we continue down stream . . .
With the East and West Branches of the DuPage coming together in this area, it seems to me someone can spend a month of weekends fishing this area and not get bored. Other than know that the fishing can be pretty good here, I've never gone and checked it out myself. The aerial shows quite a few access points that I can see. The area is a number of different connected parks. I'm going to have to go explore at some point this year. I've only had this on my radar for the past 12 years. It's about time I get to it.
Connected to this is even more as we move down stream.
I have no clue where the outflow is for this plant. That will take some exploring to establish. In the lower left hand corner I've marked it as a parking spot. I turn left at this intersection, in order to head south, every day at 5:45 P.M. give or take a few minutes. One time last year as I was waiting for the light, a fly fisherman was parked here and getting ready to head for the river. Thought that was interesting. Didn't think much of it after that. You have to park somewhere to go exploring. Basically here you're just pulling onto the side of the road.
Well, in the next few months I saw the same car parked in that spot 3 more times. If the fishing sucked in this stretch, I would have never seen it again.
Running through the treatment plant you'll see Springbrook Creek. Many years ago I was aware of the details involved with the restoration of Springbrook Prairie a couple of mile upstream from here. I've forgotten them. If you've ever driven along 75th street in this area, you can't miss it. It's one of the few areas that hasn't been paved over.
From here you'll have to Google Bolingbrook and do your own map exploring. You'll see possibly more parks on the north side of the river, west of Plainfield/Naperville Road. In other words, there is no shortage of access.
This whole thing started out as a justification for fishing the main stem of the DuPage River throughout the winter months. Since it never freezes, it must be running warmer than the Kankakee or the Fox. Today I drove over the Fox at the bridge near the end of Silver Springs State Park. You would have to be insane to even try wading that river right now. One big mass of floating ice of various sizes.
The plan is or was to wait till the air temps got above 35 degrees, I won't fish if it's below that, and then go hit the main branch of the DuPage. All that treatment plant outflow has to make a difference. I know just enough spots in Plainfield, Shorewood and Channahon to give this a try. On a side note, Salt Creek where it flow through DuPage County is like and behaves like the DuPages. Never freezes. 12 years ago I would fish below York Road and always walked away catching something. After thinking about it for all these years, may as well go give the DuPages a try.
Problem is, now that I outlined all the details of this area, I may as well start there. I think. Why not?
