ISA Autumn On The Kish Float

Read the report here > Autumn On The Kish

Photo courtesy of Jim....

Stolen Kayak

An ISA buddy of mine had his kayak stolen after a float of the

Kishwaukee River on Friday, August 29, from Beltline Rd. in New Milford.

Here is his story.....

Hey everyone, unfortunately I haven't been too active in reports for the last 2 years. After having my 1st son time has been a little harder to come by and while I still get out and fish, reporting on it has fallen by the wayside. I was excited to get out to the Kishwaukee yesterday, float a long stretch and follow up with a report (which I still will) but that excitement was snuffed out when my kayak was stolen while shuttling.

I would really appreciate anyone who is interested in keeping an eye out for me sending a PM and I'll include my phone # in case they come across it. I've filed a police report so if it's found they will get involved and return it to me. I know its a longshot but its all I've got right now. I'll be keeping my eyes on classifieds as well.

Details

Stolen from Beltline Rd at 7:30 8/29/14

Suspects are a 300+lb white male around 6ft with white male friend also average height and weight. They drove a 1997 Ford F150 in poor condition with a dark blue cab, and light blue bed.

They said they frequent Beltline Rd, and other parts of the river, claimed his birthday was 8/28.

The kayak is a 2011 FeelFree Moken 10 in Forest Camo with some (hidden info) and a registration sticker (IL######)

hul# - #########################

Story

We floated over 7 miles, from 10:30 to 7:00 and upon exiting at Beltline rd we met the people mentioned above. They looked like  dirtbags and I was unsure of them, we chatted for a while and I felt better, after meeting so many nice people without incident on the river I let my guard down and asked them to keep an eye on my kayak while we shuttled the cars. Upon return from picking up my car, 15 minutes or so, they were gone with my yak. I frequently will take pictures of license plates when leaving my kayak for shuttling, and for whatever reason I didn't this time. I'll chalk that up to 9 hours of sun and paddling.

Moral of the story is don't trust people I guess. I'll hopefully be able to save up for a new  yak eventually and will be buying a chain and lock to go along with it. I really appreciate anyone who would make a mental note to keep an eye out for me. I'll post the actual report later today.

Thanks,

Ben

The kayak should stick out like a sore thumb on the Kish as it is unique in design and this type of kayak just can't be bought in the Rockford area.

Ben enjoying his FeelFreee Moken 10....

9/5/14 UPDATE

Click here [X] to see the truck

Topwaters & Tubes

TOPWATER BAITS

BLAZE POPPERS

I'm cheap, and so are the Blaze Poppers. The Blaze Popper can be found in most any store such as

K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Menards and so on and so on. They can be picked up for about $1.50 a piece, or as the stores like to put it, 2 for $3.00.
Normally, when I first step foot in I water, I like to cover as much water as fast as I can by tossing my

Blaze Poppers

Blaze Popper. This helps me to locate the smallies and gage how active they are. If they hit the popper, great. I'll stick with the popper as long as it produces. Most times I wade to an area with a rocky shore line and toss the popper tight to the shore right up against the rocks. And for smallmouth, the cast HAS TO BE right up against the rocks.  Let it drift, twitch the tip of the rod a couple times to make the popper pop, a couple cranks of the reel, twitch, twitch, pause (drift), crank, twitch, pause (drift). It'a pretty simple.
I have found during the summer months that a dead drift (long drift with no twitches) works well. I'm kind of a hyper person so I have a hard time just letting it drift like this, but it does work. The only beef I have with the Blaze Popper are the tail feathers. Once you purchase a Blaze Popper it is best to dabb a couple drops of super glue to the thread wrap at the butt end of the hook. If this is not done the feathers will slip from the wrap much sooner than they should. The feathers do matter to the smallies for whatever reason. Trust me.

Another good topwater bait is the Buzz Bait. This little noise maker seems to really piss the smallies off when they are in a nonchalant mood. Again, I go cheap on these things. The Buzz Bait that I prefer is a 1/8oz Gander Mountain Brand Buzz Bait. You can pick these up at Gander Mountain for $1.99 each. Buy them in two (2) different colors, black and white.

       The Buzz Bait will piss 'em off and make 'em attack when the bite just won't go.

Any kind and all types of topwater baits will work. Your choice should be which ever one you build confidence in. Some topwater baits have to worked differently than others, but one thing is for certain.... Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is more fun than a smallie on top.

Other types of topwater baits to consider. The lower three torpedo shaped plugs are for

a technique called Walking The Dog, which is a technique that seems to be killer for BIG smallmouth in the Fall. A technique that I need to work on.

Enjoy this video from Al Linder....

TUBES

When the topwater bite isn't happening, I tie on a tube bait and fish the bottom.

The tube bait, which resembles a crawdad or what ever else the smallmouth might be hungry for,

just plain ol' works.
Again, I stay on the cheap side, only with the tube rig I kind of go with what is available to me.
I'm not much for or ding stuff online so I buy from the local Gander Mountain store.
With the Texas Rig I buy 1/16oz bullet weights and size 3/0 Gamakatso offset worm hooks.
I only buy Gander Mountain (GM) tubes in a medium to dark green colors and also in black.
The GM Tubes are tough and can handle the tough environment within a river.
I catch many smallies on the same tube and can use the same tube over and over again.

GM Tubes in green

GM Tube in black w/red flake

Also, checkout what my pal, fellow ISA member, and smallmouth guru Jonn Graham has to say about rigging up a tube....

               Click the smallie <*(((>{ to see Jonn's rig.

THE CHEAP SMALLMOUTH FISHERMAN

If you were to follow  what I have just discussed above, a person could have all he or she will need

to get into some nice Kishwaukee River smallmouth for less than 20 bucks.

And this arsenal will last quite some time.

Here's the cost breakdown....

Blaze Poppers - 2 for $3.00

GM Buzz Bait (blk) - $2.00

GM Buzz Bait (wht) - $2.00

1/16oz bullet weights - $2.00

1pk Gamakatso 3/0 Offset Worm Hooks - $5.00

1 pack GM Tubes - $4.00

Total - $18.00 + tax

Caught with Tops & Tubes

On The Blaze Popper

5/13/14 - 18" on top with a Blaze Popper

                                                         

5/9/14 - 18" with a Blaze Popper

On The GM Tube Bait

17" on a GM Tube in green

17" on GM Tube

NOW GO OUT AND GET 'EM!

<*(((>{tjd

Damn All This Rain!

River Sweep

6/14/14 RIVER SWEEP

Met up with Mr. Tom Goodman II and 3 of his oldest boys, along with my good pal Jude at
the Cherry Valley Cafe for some breakfast before setting out to float down the Kishwaukee River
on a river sweep.
We would be floating about a 5 mile stretch from Cherry Valley's Baumnn Park 
to Kishwaukee River F.P. off of Blackhawk Rd.
The river was running about a foot high and stained from the rains earlier in the week.
We had partly sunny skies with a gusting breeze and air temps in the mid to upper 70's.
Perfect!
Jude and myself tried a bit of smallmouth fishing along the way and both ended up with the 
exact same amount of catches........ZERO.
The big skunk-a-too.
Jude claims that the skunk very rarely happens ti him.
Poor guy > Click here to see his pain.
Tim and his boys seemed to be enjoying themselves exploring some of 
the islands while picking up trash.

Below you will find pictures of the day. I will edit in more as I get them.
Enjoy....

The Kishwaukee River Garbage Barge

The Goodman's are good men.

"Chinese Food & More"

Loaded

LOOKOUT FOR THAT TUBE!

Here's a video recorded earlier this year in April

Lookout For That Tube!