I wasn't really planning on going out, but at 5 AM the old cat and the young cat decided to get into one of their fights ON MY CHEST.

So I was up. High water, crap plant, may as well go now.

25 smallies, the biggest 16 and 18 inches.

Missed an almost equal amount.

It was strictly a timing issue. Can't beat high water crap plant fishing. Fish gotta go somewhere.

16 inch.



18 inch.





This turned out better than I expected.



It's about the background, not the fish. To the left, fast water. To the right, slack water. In the background, the cover.

6 of them came off of this. Repeat results all up and down the river.

Ken,

Nice morning. At 5:00 am I was dreamin' of fishin and didn't do that good. I tried to fish there about a month ago and the wall along the fence was so overgrown that it didn't seem passable. Did you bring your weed wacker? Went to Big Rock Creek last night to burn a cigar. Seemed like a better idea than sitting in the garage. The fish didn't seem to notice.

Bogie

I almost fell in the river trying to walk that wall. Couldn't tell where it was at times.

I hit Little Rock last week. It was crystal clear and cold. Only fish found were in holes deeper than 3 feet. And there weren't that many of them. I did hit Big Rock a couple of weeks ago. Went the down stream stretch from Jericho Road. Apparently nobody else does. Not a sign of life except for a couple of guys struggling to get down the creek in a canoe.

Did pick up a 16 inch, couple of dinks an more rock bass than I could count.

The river should be picking up again soon. It's that time of year.

Got the little fly rod out on a couple of creeks this year. I really should do that more often.

I thought of breaking out the fly rod a few weeks ago on the creek after watching a decent fish come up from below a log to grab my jig. Good for the soul - Tough to beat clear water.

It's been a dissapointing year on the river so far, but your trip today is encouraging. Might go out this afternoon, not sure where. I have only fished the crap plant area once with decent sucess, but not in water like this. I suppose anywhere close to shore without drowning would be good.

Bogie wrote: I suppose anywhere close to shore without drowning would be good.

That's always a good place to start.

See the post about this weekends prospects. Listed a few things. One of them might work for you.

Thanks Ken,

Love the site!

Updated. More later.

New to the area...where do I fish Big or Little Rock...love my fly rods and clear water...been living in Montana. Thanks, John

John,
These links will get you started. Go look for forest preserve maps. Once you get a feel for where to go, I can fill in details of exact spots on a lot of them. I've noticed the smallies in the creeks are getting fewer. Means they're already heading back to the Fox. But, you may as well do some exploring now. You'll know where to go next year.

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=277

http://www.co.kendall.il.us/forest_preserve/index.htm

http://www.kaneforest.com/

And if you're not sure where to go on the Fox, try this site:

http://www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/

Make new posts with any questions. I'll do my best to get you info.

And, if you don't mind me asking, if you lived in Montana why'd you move here? Had to be important to walk away from trout fishing in Montana.

Ken- my brother has Leukemia and is the nicest guy in the world, that was why...and I have a grand daughter here. Worked out ok as my wife Colleen is now the Midwestern sales rep for Simms...first woman in the industry and she is very deserving. Been and guide, ran a shop in Big Sky and fishes like a man and has a helluva jump shot...skiis like a pro...a Michigan girl...Go Bears!!! She's a pain in the ass and knows more ESPN stuff than any guy I know.

She got me a few days last weekend fly fishing for muskie and smallies in Hayward, Wis when a guy cancelled at the last minute...she gets offers to fish all the time. Great guys from Chicago Fly fishing set up the trip...we both caught smaller Muskies on the fly and I had 6 smallies the next day...hard fishing...warm and sunny for the last few weeks, very low water.