Dupage River 7/17 (pics added)

[Frank Macikas]

I had a terrific weekend of fishing this weekend. Saturday I did a 13hr float trip on my inflatable pontoon through Plainfield and had an amazing day. Clarity is probably 10ft or better and levels are perfect. Eel grass is in thick but the biggest problem is the algea is getting pretty bad in some areas. There were so many fish caught that I lost count and I think I lost as many as I caught. I got on the water an hour later than expected at 6:30 and on my 3rd cast hooked into a really nice fish that I then lost right at my feet and this happend more times this weekend than I would like to admit. Fish caught were holding either very tight to cover in the shallows or in deep holes. I am very excited about the condition of the Dupage River after this trip. I saw literally dozens of fish over 16" on this trip and this is the best condition I have seen the river in year now. As in my last reports there are now some big largemouths coming from the river lately I picked one up around 17" and I did see one at the end of a deep stretch in around 7ft of water that was easily over 20". The bite was a little tough and had alot of fish follow but wouldnt commit. I threw everything I had but the best baits this weekend were my "go to" baits; jig and chigger craw, jig and hellagramite, and wacky rigged dingers. I had an interesting experiance fishing a deeper stretch in about 10ft of water and vertically jigged a smallie on a chigger craw; that was definitly something new on the Dupage wich I'm used to being around thigh deep. The river is in such good shape right now even if we get some moderate amounts of rain I don't see it being a complete blow out like it was for most of June.

Added some pics from the float trip and one of my buddy Alex with a nice Duper largemouth the next morning

[GreatfulDad]

Hey Frank-

Great report on the Duper! Nice going! Do you know of a boat take out anywhere below Plainfield? I have a Clackacraft drift boat that we brought home from Montana and would love to use it around here. I saw a put in on my first trip to the Duper at like 119th st I believe. It would be great to take my friend Doc down this easy way. It would be my pleasure to have you in the boat as well if we can work out the time.

[Frank Macikas]

The put in your thinking of was probably at 135th. The next actual ramp would be the canoe launch off of caton farm rd in Plainfield. If you go below caton farm you will have to portage the dam in shorewood at hammel woods, and then I cant think of any ramps that you can get a trailer down to so unless you can carry the boat 135th to caton farm would be your best bet. Also how shallow can it go? Some areas get pretty shallow. I appreciate the offer and I would be happy to join you sometime. I am free most weekends to fish and I pm'd you my #.

[Special Ed]

There is actually a semi-hidden put-in just north of the bridge on 111th st. I have seen pickup trucks dropping motorboats and canoes in there.

I've never fished the stretch North of the dam to 111th, but I have gone past it many times wondering how many fish hang in those logjams and undercut banks.

[Frank Macikas]

There is actually a semi-hidden put-in just north of the bridge on 111th st. I have seen pickup trucks dropping motorboats and canoes in there.

I've never fished the stretch North of the dam to 111th, but I have gone past it many times wondering how many fish hang in those logjams and undercut banks.

I have fished this section quite a few times from 111th upriver but have never seen a spot where a truck can get down too? When you go north of the bridge there is a backwater pond on the left and a quarry on the right. I will have to look closer next time.