Went to the site of the former Blackberry Creek Dam to get some progress pictures tonight (Tuesday) and got there about 7 PM. Decided to stand on the edge, now the new creek bed and fish the pool below for the duration of a cheap cigar. About 20 to 25 minutes.

Two crappie, two smallies with one measuring 16 inches and a largemouth. Also foul hooked a few carp. Saw carp and smallies jumping through the fast running chute of water coming out of the culvert. Can't believe they're trying to jump the thing. Will be much easier on them next week when water is coming down the creek again.

I'd say the switch on the creeks has finally been thrown.

The collapsing bridge, the useless dam, my reason to see the dam gone is very selfish. I have a good 10 miles of the creek marked on maps going many miles inland. I want these fish up there.

Will be hitting creeks the next few evenings, as long as the rain doesn't screw them up.

Keep us updated. We live vicariously through you.

I could smell the smell of fish spawing while I was out there fishing. On a calmer day I can smell it all the way up to my house coming off the river. I need to teach this to someone else.

Was going to go tonight to another creek, but fuck this weather. Hopefully it's not raising them too high.

Oh I know that smell. Musty, like sweat and warm pond water.

What goes up the creeks to spawn first? Suckers?

I wandered around a bit more of Oswego not too long ago and followed Waubonsie creek for a ways. Couple spots looked fishy.

The smallies come in with the carp and suckers. Then the quillbacks show up and it's a free for all with all the carp and sucker varieties and the smallies leave.

When things settle down, the smallies come back to do their thing.

At least on the creeks.

I like the first mile or so of Waubonsie. Looked at other stretches, but so few trees.