The last couple of weeks of fishing on the Fox River have been nothing but a huge disappointment. There have been some nice days…
But even those have gone almost fishless. Most of the days I’ve been getting out have been mornings, which I hate, so I blamed those. Then I went out one evening, the result was the same.
So now I’m blaming the low water and the weeds.
The heat is pretty much over, but the damage has been done. This is what happens on a river during a drought year when the water is low and short sighted, narrow minded people are allowed to have input on whether or not useless dams should be removed. Massive algae blooms and green water.
The sunsets are still beautiful though even if the fish are gone and you have to put up with massive mats of weeds covering the river.
The creeks have even taken a hit with low levels and the fish disappearing from the upper reaches, but by accident I discovered huge amounts of fish at the mouths and up the creeks for a mile or two. I initially hesitated in targeting these fish because of the conditions, but then I realized nobody else was fishing them, and if they were, they were using all the wrong things and not catching anything.
What else would explain catching 18 fish one day, 34 the next, missing twice that many and seeing hundreds more disinterested fish swimming around.
Though I only target smallies, the occasional bycatch of other species isn’t bad. From one fast deep stretch, even at this low water I hesitate walking through it, a lure drifted around got nailed. I considered keeping it for dinner, but decided to wait for cooler weather when they’ll taste even better.
A tiny island in the middle of the river is anchored by one lone tree. Around it grow flowers. In the morning light, they shine nicely.
This morning I was up before the sun rose, stalking down a little creek, catching smallies from 4 inches to… who knows, I don’t measure fish anymore. But when they hit in less than a foot of water and have no where to go, they’re all just plain fun.
A rock bass, green sunfish landed and even a carp that thought it would join the fun till I pulled the lure away from him. No carp for me thank you.
Even the smallies’ lowlife cousin was hitting.
And then there was this poor thing. I like catching flathead cats. They hit hard like this one did. They put up a decent fight and test the limits of your gear. While I was reeling it in, something looked odd. From the back, everything is normal enough.
When I got it out of the water and was looking it over I know I said out loud… What the fuck? What the hell happened to you?
I’ve pulled fish out of the water that have had some pretty serious injuries and scars, but this was a first. I imagine it’s going to starve to death, nothing goes down it’s gullet. In it’s mouth and back out again.
It’s been slowly raining for a good six hours now. According to the radar, it’s probably going to keep raining for another six hours. It’s coming down a bit harder. It’s been raining more even further north. All good for the river. Maybe it won’t flow green anymore and the mats of weeds and algae will disappear.
It’s the time of year for 50 to 100 fish days on the river. It should have started already. I’ll chalk it up to the lack of rain and hope that the disappointing days are over.
I’ll know in the next few days…
cofisher49
26 Aug 2012Well Ken, I guess I’d have to say that despite the lack of water and abundance of weeds, the fish look nice, the scenery does as well.
Ken G
27 Aug 2012Howard, I blame treatment plants, one in particular, for the excessive weed and algae growth. Never did finish looking into it, but the announced change in output standards of one directly coincides with the excessive growth for miles below it. The IDNR doesn’t want to believe me, but a group was looking into it. They noticed the same thing.
Luckily, the creeks don’t have this problem. Yet.
River Mud
27 Aug 2012Don’t take it personally Ken – IDNR doesn’t want to believe you because admitting there’s a problem is the first step to…….having to do work and spend money to fix that problem….
Ken G
27 Aug 2012I lost the link of a group that was looking into the issue. I read so much stuff, things get set aside and never found again.
The email I got from a biologist was very short. Basically, I don’t know what I’m talking about. I guess observations over wading 10 miles of river doesn’t count for anything. I think this time it would cost the plant money, not the IDNR Same issue I guess.
Nick@BrookfieldAngler.com
27 Aug 2012I was back in that area yesterday during the rain. I fished in that little creek on the other side of the discharge around 11:30 and the water was clear. I came back a couple of hours later and the water had a distinct red hue to it.
Ever see this?
Ken G
27 Aug 2012That’s a new one, never saw that. I’ve seen it discharging gray after a heavy rain. I won’t go near it unless it’s crystal clear. Like I need that stuff stuck to my waders.
Nick@BrookfieldAngler.com
28 Aug 2012Same here….I’ve never seen this. It looks like a shark attack happened upstream in that little creek. Since I am pretty confident there are no sharks in there, I wonder what that factory where it starts was dumping.
Ken G
28 Aug 2012This was at the pristine crystal clear creeks far down stream, so no human intervention of that kind. I did see some sticks on the shore, your typical bank anglers. I’m going to blame them.
Quill Gordon
28 Aug 2012Nice pics. Even the green splashy soup is a nice shot. Now, about that catfish; I’m starting to wonder if maybe you need to work on your hook set. I mean, you already broke a bamboo rod on a bass this summer …
Ken G
28 Aug 2012Josh Mann brought that up on Facebook. I am one powerful dude, but there’s no way I could do that. It wasn’t that hard of a hit.
The bamboo was just a victim of circumstances. Me using it being the main one.