I'll fill in more over the next couple of days.

I've decided that as an Honorary Member of the Chicago Area Native American Tribe Sucksatfishing, I'm going to use my Honorary Name of Cantsetahook.

I guess as a monster quest goes, that failed. But if I recall correctly, we all caught something. I want to know why I can hook and land a catfish, but the majority of the smallies I hook get away. It's starting to effect my confidence level.

Dan, Matt, Sam, Nick and his dad Ed, Scott, Bob, Mike and his son Alex all did our best to get something big to hit. At least Sam got to experience one of those nearly clean bite offs I was talking about. Depending on the weather, this area could still be good for another month, so I'm hoping one or more of you will try it again. I'm already thinking about it.

On the way down to the river the sky was beautifully lit up. I forgot to pull over to take a picture. Sky still looked pretty good as we were getting started.



I kept telling these guys to fish that stump tigher. Dan finally did.



Three feet off the ground, this catfish skeleton was stuck in a bush. Must have got stuck there at high water and couldn't get out. I seem to find a lot of odd things when I take shore breaks.



And odd growing trees.



I think Scott was unhooking a fish. I was going to zoom in, but then I liked the way the long shot looked.



I think about 10 feet further back and Bob would have been up to his shoulders.



Not a monster, but maybe in a few years.



Sorry guys. I have this fascination with the dead things I find in and along the river.



I had a great time. Next year we'll have to go on a couple of death marches I've been wanting to do. Not sure if it's worth it anymore this year.

We'll see.

Great pics! Really wish I could have made it.

That area looks to have some great depth...I'll be exploring in the very near future.=)

For sure has some good depth, i would say the majority of the wading we did was waist deep if not deeper.
And my name in the Isuckatfishing tribe is Sprungaleak and Dans name is Leakycrotch

Nice job boys!

I had a "monster quest" version of my own up north with "salmon" Mike over the weekend.

Didn't catch any monsters (20"+ in my book), but we got several plump brown bass variations in the 14-16 inch range by the fishing large deep lakes up north. I never have success like this at this time of season.

Orange/fire hydrant colored X-raps.

I also had a GIANT hit a 6-inch topwater on the Wisconsin River while trying for Muskies and it shook free from the large trebles after Mike botched the net job. It was a huge smallmouth and it hit the damn thing like a Musky. I'd guess it was 5lbs and a remarkable fatso.

A little sad that I missed out on the company but there's always a next time (with me, there always is)

I'm looking to get out somewhere next Saturday or Sunday. . . . . so.....

I understand today why Ken said fish slow.. I am used to stripping my fly and fishing with some speed. It was great to get out today boy and had alot of fun and sharing stories and getting tips. I started up north on the river with Mike and his son Alex. Nice guys. We worked the Pool that ken told us about and I had 5 or 6 nice hits.. Then we worked down stream and found some really nice fast water and I didnt land anything but Mike Did


I had about 8-10 bites nice thumps... But whatever.

When working down stream we came across either an island that was there before or was either blown over or the RAGE of the river took this area down...





Then came across a what I call a funny Island looks like a bum set up camp here and made was the king of his own island.

If you look hard you can see he has a nice set up... bottle hanging from the tree either for bug control or lighting, had a nice cooler, parking cone, looks to be a nice tent on the water edge. I hope it doesn't rain alot for this guy..





and my fish


This guy had lunch before I got him.. He had a Crayfish in his belly that I could see


Great time Great Memories... I am off Tuesday and more then likey will be hitting this area again in the AM

Figured I'd add everything in here instead of creating a new post. That way we'll have all the Monster Quest stuff on one thread. Basically me, my, Dad and Bob started out on the opposite side of the island from where Sam, Mike, and Alex started. Water was pretty much waist deep the entire way through and at some points even deeper. At the very deepest I had about 1-2 inches before the water came over my waders LOL. Had a hard time getting fish to hit anything, and I threw pretty much everything I had with me. I didn't get a lot of pics because most the time I was busy trying to navigate the deeper water to keep from filling up the waders lol. I only managed to get one fish, but lost some type of big one to my own stupidity. I had just popped a snag out and had forgotten to loosen my drag afterward. I had tightened it down so I could pop the snag without drag peeling out lol. I got an arm-jarring hit and then it swam into the current and popped off the lure because my drag was too tight and it couldn't peel any line. Oh well, can't catch em all. I had a great time all the same, and had a blast meeting everyone. I definitely plan on hitting this stretch some more before Winter so if anyone is interested let me know and I'll get out there with you. Love all that deep water.

Came to realize that I sprung a leak in my waders at the crotch, too. We left and as I pulled my waders off at the car it looked like I pissed myself Oh well, gonna have to find the hole and patch em. As far as my honorary name in the tribe it will have to be "Cantcatchafishuntilimleaving" LOL. Here's a couple pics of some fish Bob managed to stick on our way down river. The first one didn't come out so good because I had to zoom from 50 feet away LOL. The second one came right before the three of us (my dad, Bob, and I) met up with everyone at the little circle jerk down there, and was one of the better fish I saw all day. Was a plump little 14 incher. Great time out there guys!!! We'll have to organize something like this again sometime!

Good times Gents:)


Here's my version...



Driving West down I-88 I looked in my rear view mirror and saw one of the nicest sunrises I have ever seen. "I'm never up that early to see them" I had to text sam and Matt and tell them to look to the East to take a look.




A little blurry but u get the idea...


A word to the wise!! If Ken starts fishing right next to you and won't stop just let him. I saw him hit 2 fish while casting at my back:) I was like... What r u doing old man! and he said... Just keep walking... Sure enough, Hit! than another! Pretty cool.

This water was some of the sickest looking water I have fished in some time. The Biggies were just not around this day. O well, theres always a next time.

On the walk back Sam and I saw this heart shapped Mushroom and we thougth of Ken right away!




HA!!


I had a blast! Great to meet everyone!! And let's do this again soon!



Dan

Dan wrote:On the walk back Sam and I saw this heart shapped Mushroom and we thougth of Ken right away!

Awwww, you guys are so sweet. I'll cherish this friggin forever.

I told you I would cast at the back of your legs if I got the chance, and I told you there would be a fish there. I think from now on I'm just going to get a half dozen guys to walk down the river in front of me and I'll just keep casting 6 inches away from the backs of their legs.

This actually works more often than you would think.

I was driving into that sunrise. I don't know why I didn't pull over to take a pic.

I really enjoyed the outing guys! Thanks to everyone for getting out there and good conversation. I'd do that any day of the week.

The fishing could and should have been better. Abnormal weather patterns have our minds all crosswired. Scott and I decided that given the conditions the fish are scattered all over the river because they don't have anything influencing them to pick a pattern. They will tighten up here real soon though. I don't think they'll have a choice. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for posting the pics Nick. Good to get out with you again and meeting your Dad although I think he was reading the centimeter side of his tape measure because that fish was at least 19" by the time I told my wife about it. Now Ken................. about that BBQ....................

Ha! BBQ!!!