It’s been a long time since I’ve done a year in review.
Years ago I ran a fishing guide service out on the Fox River and keeping excruciatingly detailed records, then summarizing them at the end of the year, was pretty much mandatory.
Have to prove your worth.
Now, record keeping is at best sporadic. Probably still better than most, but not like it used to be. If you ever played sports as a kid, keeping stats in your head for whatever game you played was easy. Granted, there was always that game where a brawl ensued because of conflicting stat keeping, but this is just fishing. I still get questioned, criticized is a better word, for the stat keeping in my head, but I have a pretty standard response for that.
Yeah, well, whatever. It’s just fishing.
In the last three years we had near record drought, near record flooding and last winter was one of the coldest on record. Of those three, I’d have to say that the cold had the biggest impact on the fishing. Fish can adjust to high and low water, but freeze everything over and eliminate the oxygen and the fish tend to suffer.
I think that’s what happened and why this was one of the worst years of fishing I’ve had since I started fishing the Fox River in 1996.
I only fish for smallmouth bass, I consider everything else bycatch. Some are entertaining to catch like the gills, crappie, white bass and even creek chubs. The rest are just kind of annoying with carp topping that list.
This year I probably got out fishing 75 times. The wife says more, but I no longer fish the colder months of the year, so I’m not sure. She might be right, but 75 still sounds like a good number to me.
The bulk of the fishing this year was on the Fox River and five of its creeks. I made one trip about 60 miles west to Franklin Creek. Tough access, beautiful surroundings and decent fishing for the second half of July on a creek. I would imagine May could be much better, fishing wise.
I also fish alone. I got out once with a friend in 2014. I tend to go fishing on a whim. If I don’t feel like it, I don’t go. If I decide to turn left at the river rather than the right I had originally planned, then I turn left. If the morning sucks, I go in the afternoon. Hard to make decisions on a whim when plans are made, so I avoid plans. You’ll see the end result of this solitary fishing in the pictures below. No hero shots with fish, no grinning fish holders, no monster bronze bombers, no pictures of me at all. Now and then I’ll do an arms length shot of a fish or a close up, but that’s pretty much it. The rest is just stuff I come across that interested me at the time.
I do a lot of short fishing trips now. An hour or two and at most I’ll go for five hours. Years ago I’d go over a 100 times a year with the average trip being five hours.
Things change.
This year I know I caught at least 400 smallmouth bass, that’s about when I quit paying attention. I know I caught more, but I also know it didn’t get close to the 500 mark. With that ability to keep stats in my head, I also know I had at least another 200 smallies on that I got to see, but they were smart enough to spit the hook before I got to touch them. I quit paying attention to those stats when I hit the 200 mark.
Then there’s that small percentage of bycatch. At least I’m saying it’s a small percentage because I really don’t know. A bunch of other fish might be a good way to say it.
So yes, I know some would argue, but this was a bad year. A bad year in the past was a little over 500 smallies caught in about the same time frame.
I’m blaming the winter we had.
In the past when I did a year in review this is where I would go on and on with theories, strategies, equipment and lures used, but those days are over and so is my interest in elaborating.
So far this winter has been relatively normal. That’s a good thing. If normal continues, by mid March the fish will start moving.
Patience is not a virtue I have, but mid March is only 10 weeks away.
Tick, tock, tick, tock…
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
bob
27 Dec 2014Nice piece. As usual.
Maybe its age (mine). Maybe its the accumulation of years fishing seriously, diligently (40 now). The numbers count, kinda’. The drive is nice, so is standing in a river, and saying to no one in particular, “there’s a fish in that spot,” and casting to it and, yes, a fish. After awhile there just isn’t anything to prove to oneself, much less anyone else.
Excellent imagery that tracked the passing of the seasons, the sun, the light, the colors, the moods.
Ken G
27 Dec 2014Thank you Bob.
The only reason I started counting again was because of the removal of the Blackberry Dam. I wanted proof for myself that the removal was beneficial for the creek. Far exceeded my expectations. Otherwise I’m perfectly content taking whatever comes. I’m happy to get a bunch of fish on and don’t even care about landing them any more.
I set myself a picture limit for this of 9 images per month max. Took a lot of editing. For May alone, initially I had 30 images picked out. That was a bit much. There were far too many choices for each month. I think my favorites are the big stuffed dog and my Little Dicky sitting on the coffee pot. I tried to get the season in there and then put in my usual whacky shit.
bob
27 Dec 2014https://www.flickr.com/photos/bossbob50/293883719/ You – where you belong.
Ken G
28 Dec 2014I pass by that spot every day to and from work. Actually stopped there once this year. The close proximity to others fishing will probably keep me from going back.
I am an Aquarian by birth. Might be partially why I need to be in or near water all the time. Better than taking blood pressure meds.
CHUCK KOENIG-DES PLAINES LUNKERBUSTERS
27 Dec 2014NICE PIC OF THAT MAY SNAKE IN THE TREE. SAW ONE ABOUT 3 OR 4 TIMES THAT SIZE DOWN ON LAKE SHELBYVILLE A FEW YEARS BACK IN THE WATER THEN UP ON LAND–SCARD THE BE-JESUS OUT OF ME– NEVER SAW A SNAKE THAT BIG IN THE WILD BEFORE OR SINCE.
Ken G
28 Dec 2014Thank Chuck. That one was about 3 feet long. It was mating with one that was much bigger, but the big guy got camera shy and dropped out of the tree before I could get a shot.
Howard Levett
27 Dec 2014I guess it’s old age creeping up on me, but I truly feel that you’ve connected with my sweet spot. I still call myself a fisherman, but they are only a part of the equation. I guess that’s why I really enjoy your posts and the photography. I probably spend at least half my time looking around for an unusual photo. Your piece on Blackberry Dam was excellent documentation of a historical event. Thanks Ken.
Ken G
28 Dec 2014Thank you Howard.
I only started fishing when I was 27 and not like I do till I was 40. I think I came to it long after the “mine is bigger than yours” phase in life. I had nothing to prove. Half the fish I miss are more due to the distractions around me. Damn, annoying little fish screw up my daydreaming. Blackberry has turned into a gem of a little creek. 175 years that big old dam was blocking the way. I’m glad I could be there to witness it all.
Rick
28 Dec 2014Ken,
Thanks for sharing your insights and pics with us, I always enjoy seeing them. I hope the new year is good for you and your family.
P.S.: The snake in the tree reminded me of Texas, couldn’t go berry picking, fishing back in the sticks, etc. without running into one of the rascals!
Ken G
28 Dec 2014Thanks for coming by to read Rick. Hope the new year will be good to you too.
Luckily around here there’s nothing poisonous, or so I’m told. But I’m sure a 3 foot snake still has a pretty mean bite. Don’t really care to find out so I give them plenty of room any way.