KISHWAUKEE RIVER SMALLIES : September

THIS PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

9/6

ISA NW/Chicago Region Picnic

9/7

9/13

9/15

9/20
South Branch
Kishwaukee River
Winnebago Co.

Took Brandy out on the south branch of the Kishwaukee River for a paddle up stream and a float down stream of the put in/take out. I like doing this paddle/float because I don't have to worry about having someone pick me up at another location. I can spend 5 to 6 hours fishing this section of the south branch. The paddle up isn't bad, it only takes me about 20 minutes to reach the area where I can start fishing and working my way down stream. There are a few shallow areas where I have to get out and pull Brandy for a short distance, but all in all it ain't bad.

I started fishing a bank that was lined with limestone chunk rock and only managed to pull one 13 inch smallie from this area. I hit the area with a couple top water baits first with no luck and then changed to a tube to pick up the first fish of the day. I worked my way down stream hitting a couple downed trees for a skunk. I then floated Brandy down around the next bend and beached her to hit a nice pool with the opposite bank lined with cement chunks. The sky drew dark about this time and I was picking up smallies (12/13 inches) on the tube.

I decided to go back to the top water and picked up a real nice fighting 16 inch smallmouth.

A few more cast and it starts to rain, CRAP! I look to the south, I look to north, and I look to the west. Looks like it's going to clear up. No thunder or lightening so I keep on fishing. I picked up a couple more 12/13 inchers, then a BIG CLAP OF THUNDER! Crap! Crap!! CRAP!!

It still looks clear to the north, south, and west, so I take cover under some large drooping tress which acted like an umbrella, sat back and lit up a stogie and enjoyed the rain fall.

The bite died down after the rain, so I jumped back into Brandy and we headed off down stream. While floating down this stretch there is a tree that I always pick up a nice fish at while floating by. Again this tree gave me the stuff.

Another 16"....

To keep this short, I'll just state that I picked up 11 smallmouth on the day, 2 @16", 3 @ 15" and then smaller. It was a fun day out with my Brandy and once again My eye was graced with the sight of a Bald Eagle flying over head.