Got out Sunday morning for what will probably be my last fishing trip of the year.
Well, maybe, but all indications are that it will be my last.
The first indication was the night before. I’m still down my car and I didn’t bother loading up the wife’s car with my fishing gear. Very unlike me when I know I’m going to go out fishing. I must have still been thinking about it.
Sunday morning I open an eye, reach over to the clock on the night stand and turn it around toward me, 5:42. I turned it’s hideously glowing red numbers away from me.
What seemed like a few minutes later the wife stirs and gets out of bed.
What the hell ya doin’?
“I gotta pee like a race horse, I’m surprised you’re not out fishing.”
I’m thinkin’ about it.
I reach out and turn the clock toward me, 6:45. I’m obviously sleeping like shit. Maybe I should go fishing.
Somewhere between 2000 and 2005 I fished the Fox River every month of the year determined to catch a smallie each month for as long as possible. Eight months out of the year that’s an easy task. Come January, not so much. One January I almost got skunked, but managed to catch one on the very last day of the month. After four and a half years of doing this, I gave up. I had made my point and proven I could do it, no point beating a dead horse.
I got out of bed and got the coffee going. I could tell by how I was moving that I didn’t care about getting out one way or the other. I knew it was around 26 degrees out there, but it had been in the 50’s on Saturday and it was going to be in the 50’s again today. Maybe there was a creature a stirrin’ out there.
But I was still dawdling.
By the time I got the car loaded up, out to the fishing spot, suited up and in the water it was 8 AM. That all took about 45 minutes longer than it usually did. The picture at the top shows what I was up against. The river was already getting it’s winter level and clarity and it wouldn’t be long before that sun was on the water and the fishing would go to hell in a handbasket.
In a short time I did manage to catch five smallies.
I also foul hooked a couple of carp and one shad. The rolling of lure over carp was endless. In with the countless carp I got two hard, powerful hits and brief fights with heavy fish, but landing them never worked out.
On my way down the river channel three deer on the opposite island decided I was a spectator sport and stood and watched for awhile. I never did find out if the deer on the islands can be hunted. A brother-in-law wants to give this a try too. What makes it so intriguing is that these deer must never see humans come out to their little homes. When I was done fishing for the day I cut across the island and walked right up on the three deer. Every time I do this on every island I cross, the deer just stand there and watch me. I couldn’t get a good shot of the deer, the brush was too thick and the camera wouldn’t focus, but they let me walk within 50 feet of them before they decided to turn and walk away. They don’t even bother running.
Back at home I spent some time winterizing the house. By 1:30 I was done. Sitting down for a few minutes didn’t work. I could feel that flushed feeling coming over me. Crap sleep, cold air, a long walk in cold water apparently wore me out.
It was take a nap or go for a walk.
I opted for the walk.
Came across this little guy, barely six inches long, sitting in the middle of the trail.
He had a little cut in one side, probably from one of the other many hikers using the trail that thought he was just a stick. He was very happy to be relocated to the leaves and quickly disappeared beneath them.
Jim McClellan
27 Oct 2013That is pretty country up there and I’m glad you caught some fish. But unless it’s New Year’s Eve, I don’t ever figure I’ve had my “last” fishing trip of the year. (Denial is underrated!) By the way, your deer experience just proves my theory that they know when you’re hunting vs. just walking!!
Ken G
27 Oct 2013You need to come up here on New Year’s Eve Jim, I think the weather will change your mind.
Was out squirrel hunting once with a .20 gauge and walked up on a big buck. We stood eyeballing each other and all I could think of was those YouTube movies of guys getting beat up by deer. I’m thinkin’, great, after I piss him off by shooting at him with a .20 gauge, then what am I going to do?
walt
27 Oct 2013Nice pictures, Ken. The snake looks like a ring-necked. I agree with Jim’s assessment of final fishing trip and New Year’s. though granted, it’s a lot easier to winter fish in FL than in IL or NY.
Ken G
27 Oct 2013Bob’s comment below pretty much sums it up Walt. My tolerance for the cold has diminished greatly. Of course, I no longer have my 5 mm neoprenes to keep me warm, so that may have something to do with it. Layering up under breathables just doesn’t cut it. I went winter fishing in Florida once, I don’t recall seeing any ice…
bob
27 Oct 2013nice piece. was going to go out, but the cold put me down. I can handle many things, temps under 30 ain’t one of them anymore. But, being here the fish will cooperate into and through the winter – steelies, browns, perch, trout. I do wish to put in one more try – or two – on the fox at saw or elgin or Geneva – gotta be some damn kinda’ fish in those thigh-to-waist deep pools. I might even bring along some minnows (although THAT is almost sacrilege to me – don’t know why). then again, a visit to the Wilmington dam would be nice too. lot’sa smallies migrate up to it. Had an 80+ fish day there one bright and sunny November day a few years back.
see, ya’ got me musing. always a sign of someone’s writing touching something inside.
Nice pix. you do with highlights and shadows or its equivalent. i’m still surprised at how subdued are our colors this year. such is life.
Ken G
27 Oct 2013The one thing I don’t do anymore Bob is use minnows. Not sure why. I know things would improve dramatically with them. I think I just get tired dragging the bucket around.
Had to get out a little later in the afternoon to get the look I wanted on the pictures. Otherwise you’re right, the colors are subdued this year. This time I played around with the camera settings a little, trying to get that look before even opening them in Photoshop. Worked out alright I think. It’s such a pain to do with a point and shoot though, takes too long. Then the light is usually gone.
Odd this time of year is how the fish are reacting to the sunlight. Sometimes they run and sometimes it seems they’re playing in the sunshine. Can never figure out which.
bob
27 Oct 2013http://www.flickr.com/photos/bossbob50/5109553648/
The passion never dies. or there is no reason it should.
Ken G
27 Oct 2013I saw this the other day. You know he’s thinking he can ride that thing without a hitch. It’s not only passion, but just second nature… I can do that again.
bob
27 Oct 2013you saw it the other day? I am really flattered, and humbled to find out you really do look at my images, even when you don’t have to….thanks my friend.
Ken G
27 Oct 2013Old fool. My time is limited lately, but yours is always on the top of my list to visit when I have some. I just don’t comment. Flickr is a bitch for that and the comments get lost in all that award giving. Though I have noticed I don’t see that as much as I used to.
Howard Levett
27 Oct 2013Great photos Ken. I love Illinois in the Fall. Not so much in the Winter. By the time I read the first paragraph I was cold and ready to go back to bed. Oh and Ken, there must be something worthwhile to write about in the winter, so don’t get too comfortable.
Ken G
28 Oct 2013If nothing else Howard I’ll continue to wander around all winter. Just not sure it will be in the water.
bob
28 Oct 2013flickr has changed. is under going changes. not for the better from the user pov. not sure why they are changing. but commenting and awarding and using groups has gotten more difficult. so we get views, but not as many comments as before. I have all of the images I post, but I don’t have all of the narratives below the images. it will be a massive copy-paste job. or even screen capture job.
I have slowed down on taking pics and processing them. I am now about getting images into galleries, shows, or meeting art brokers.
Ken G
28 Oct 2013Oh man, you should have been keeping all that on your computer all along. I can show you how to do it, it’s easy. Never entrust others with your content. It can go away in a flash. We’ll have to talk about this.
I think you’ll do well once you meet the right people. How could you not.
I have a folder on FireFox of links to your images. Put it together after the show you had a couple/few years ago. If I were curating a show of your work, these would be my choices. I’ve seen a lot more good ones since that show, so I have to update my selections.
nat lawrencen
28 Oct 2013ken, i also went out on saturday for last time. I fished in Geneva for a couple of hours. I caught one bass about 12 inches. The cold weather came quickly this year. I look forward to the 2014 season. By the way, I did really well on the kankakee river in october.
Ken G
28 Oct 2013I thought about going further north Nat, I think I fished north of Montgomery only once this year. But I was already off to a late start as it was. Was glad I wound up where I did.
I have March, April and May of next year all planned out already. I know exactly where I’ll be going.
Nick@BrookfieldAngler.com
1 Nov 2013I think you need to get a hold of your friend Tom down in Florida. If you and the misses get an RV, you can park next to his. It’s a 30 second walk to the little pond on the property and a 10 minute drive to Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon.
I know it’s not smallie fishing on a river, but trust me, you;d get over that pretty quick.
Ken G
1 Nov 2013That’s been discussed Nick, but in another life the wife already lived down there for a few years and though she likes the warmth, she’s not sure she wants to again. This time it has something to do with melting polar caps, tsunami’s and a fear of waking up one day neck deep in the ocean.
Women are crazy I tell ya…
Pingback: Picture Rejects