10/12:
Hit the crap plant discharge Monday afterwork for a couple hours (5 to 7pm). Did great, had over 30 fish mostly between 10 and 12 inches out of one spot all on the 1/16th oz. plain leadhead tipped with a Gulp! 3" minnow. They were REALLY smackin' it too, fighting hard in that current, and jumping a lot. Took some pictures and moved down river to "the flats" area and picked up a couple more in the deep slow pool below the riffles and all along the shore. These were better fish, 12 to 14 inchers, and even one foul-hooked carp that zinged me up and down the shore for a few minutes before coming unbuttoned. Took some more pictures and packed it in as it was too dark to see what I was walking on.

When I got the car and unloaded my gear I couldn't find my digital camera...... I looked in every pocket, crevice, fold, and seam, but no dice..... I must have dropped it somewhere between my last spot and where I parked. Frustrated with my dim cap-light I resigned to return the next afternoon and search for my lost camera.

10/13:
Arriving closer to 4pm this time, and having a good idea of what route I took, and where the possible areas for it to have fallen, I put the waders back on and grabbed my rod rigged with my jig, and headed down the path (if I found it early, I had a few hours to kill, why not fish? ). I searched all the way back to the water with a slow left-to-right sweep of the area I had traveled the night before. With nothing to show for my efforts I walked into the water and decided to search the water I had fished and traveled, afterall the camera was a waterproof Optio WP10, and if found should still be in fine condition.

My search returned nothing, and I was rather irritated with myself for being so careless. I decided to fish away my worries, and the smallies were not disappointing me. 3 nice fish came from the deep pool adjacent to the deadfall on the West side just below the flats. I lost interest in this area, and headed straight for the outflow discharge. Again, this area did not disappoint. Same presentation as yesterday, and more 10 to 12 inchers. 2 snagged carp at this spot on my last two casts were the signal for me to head out. Those guys are absolute torture on my wrists, and a heck of a lot of fun on 6 lb light spinning gear. I am considering a pure ultralight carp trip soon, the shear amount of big fish congregating on shore here is amazing.

So dejected in my camera hunt efforts, and consoled by the brown skinned, red-eyed creatures that haunt the aromatic waters of the poo-plant discharge, I made the hike back to my parked car. As I de-suited and packed my gear into the trunk, I couldn't help but think what had become of that camera. I imagined Ken finding it jammed into a wad of limbs stuck to a pile of boulders somewhere near Orchard Rd. some 3 miles downstream. Don't look at the pictures on the memory card Ken, they may make you jealous.

Got back to the car on Sunday, pulled the neck strap off my neck and there was no camera attached. Momentary panic, new camera oh shit. But wait, I still feel it. Just down in my waders.

I feel for you. Just sucks.

Almost went crap plant fishing the other day. Should have apparently. At least I could have stood in the outflow to keep my legs warm.

Years ago I purposely targeted carp in December in South Elgin. Besides getting hypothermia even though I had neoprenes on, I blew the ligament out in my wrist fighting those things. The one that connects to my thumb, it doubled the size of that part of my hand.

Three weeks later when it was better I went to the same spot to do the same thing with the same result. Except for the hypothermia. Have a funny write up on that somewhere. My ex had no sympathy for me.

You do what you got to do I guess.

I want some big rains to come through. I think the water is too low for fresh fish to move into the spots I have been fishing.

The close parking we have spoken of has worked for me every time, and with parking that close, the wading in high water isn't even an issue.

I still think I need to get further North for better walleye opportunities. I have made a couple night runs, but came up empty handed each time.

Not sure if I am fishing the wrong areas, or working my stickbait too fast. I'll have to get some minnows and give both a shot next time to rule out my own deficiencies I guess.

Either way, till we get hard water, it's going to be all Fox and Michigan/Wisconsin walleye for me.

I think the water level dropped too much since last week for the typical walleye spots. Going to have to find some deep holes to really tie into them. The water is definitely cold enough for them to be hitting, we just need the river level to come up a bit. Time for them to let the chain down I think.

I'm going to try and find some Kankakee walleye, and maybe take a trip up to the Wisconsin River and search for them too.

Great read! Really sorry to hear about the loss of your camera though=(