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THE LIFE OF A SMALLMOUTH ADDICT
Hi! My name is Terry Dodge, I practice catch & release, and I absolutely enjoy nothing more than spending time searching for Kishwaukee River smallies and the environment in which they inhabit. Join me as I explore and fish the beautiful Kishwaukee River for the mighty smallmouth bass. I will be posting fishing reports (by dates) in the menu bar at the top of this blog and will be updating educational info within this blog. In no way do I claim to know what the heck I'm doing, so feel free to join me as I learn the best methods and tactics for chasing down (by way of fly rod, and by way of the spin gear) the mightiest fish that swims.... THE SMALLMOUTH BASS.Let's go fishing!
Proud Member & Officer of the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance
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| WORKING TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE OUR SMALLMOUTH FISHERIES |
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Meet the Kishwaukee River....
The Kishwaukee River
The Kishwaukee River flows from Woodstock, Illinois to Rockford, Illinois where it is a tributary to the Rock River. The river begins as a small wetland stream off Route 47, just south of the Route 14 intersection in Woodstock. It meanders across northern Illinois to the Rock River, south of Rockford. This part of the river is known as the North Branch or the Main Branch. This stretch of stream has an average width of 50 feet (15 m) but where the river flows past the Boone County line it becomes both wider and deeper. The South Branch of the Kishwaukee River originates high upon the Cropsey Moraine, just north of Shabbona. The river flows north to Genoa where it then turns westward and then flows north-northwest and joins the North Branch near Cherry Valley. The South Branch cuts across moraines and part of the river bed is the plain of an ancient lake. The South Branch's average width is 55 feet (17 m). The Kishwaukee River drains land in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. In Illinois its watershed includes McHenry, Boone, Kane, DeKalb, Ogle, and Winnebago Counties. The entire watershed includes 1,257 square miles (3,256 km2) of land, which includes farmlands, prairies, savanna, wetlands, sloughs and forests. However the vast majority of the Kishwaukee watershed is agricultural in use. Crop lands occupy a full two thirds of the watershed's surface area.
I mentioned in a post on your Killbuck page that I really loved paddling that creek. Since you are very knowledgeable in local creeks that involve the Kish(s), I thought I'd ask if you are familiar with Coon Creek? I've paddled upstream from the North Kish onto it for about a mile, but am interested in putting in somewhere on Coon Creek itself and paddling down to Red Horse bend. My research so far has turned up a possible put in spot at Shattuck Farm? I read that the County bought the farm with the intention of making it into forest preserve. Have you been on Coon Creek and have any pointers? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have just recently started looking at Coon Creek. I have never fished it or floated it. The spot that I have been eyeballing is down stream a ways from the farm spot you mentioned. The creek flows under a bridge on Garden Prairie Rd. Here is a Goole Map link > https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=42.233737,-88.726004&spn=0.003726,0.01031&t=h&z=17
ReplyDeleteFor trespassing reasons I don't get out and explore creeks like this as much as I would like to. Please let me know when you make your Coon Creek float, and take some pics. Look foreword to reading a report from your Coon Creek adventure.
Terry, Excellent blog to make one interested in the "Kish". Using the hyperlink in your Blog's Home Page I found out Stream Flow would be safe for wading and dragging my belly boat and hit the water. Good smallmouth bass fishing, beautiful scenery, clear water and uncrowded. Was a perfect day on the water but cut short by the typical summer electrical storms that seem to roll over the area.
ReplyDeleteWill be back.
Hope you continue you Blog in the future.
Would enjoying knowing you fly and lure choices.
I found the largest smallmouth bass tight to the deep edges and landed most with a spinning rod, in-line spinner and a mushroom head jig with a floating worm.
All the Best.
Sorry have since developed a new website/blog > http://duckdodge62.wixsite.com/tdsmh
DeleteYea where can you go on kish that is not park or private property is not like it used to be I like shore fishing
ReplyDelete