Saturday temperatures were calling for somewhere around 40 degrees, perfect for getting out to do some creek hopping for smallies. I already knew the two creeks I wanted to hit and where I wanted to hit them. On the way I had to cross over one of them. Stopped to size things up.
I peered down over the bridge railing and saw this.
That’s right, nothing. Not a living thing. No minnows, no suckers, no carp, not a bug or a smallmouth to be seen. The creek was completely devoid of life. This was not a good sign. Usually by this time of year carp and suckers could be seen at this spot slowly migrating up stream. Or they’ll sit and hold in the current and the sun. I’ve noticed they hold more in the daylight and move more at night. The absence of these fish didn’t bode well for today’s fishing outing. But I needed to be out.
Though the Fox River is still high from all the snow melt and runoff from recent rains, the creeks are all relatively clear and flowing normally.
I got to the first creek fishing spot. All suited up in waders and layers of clothes, I stepped into the water. Along the shore were remnants of snow. I stuck my hand in the snow to calibrate it, pulled it out and let it dry and warm back to normal. Then I bent over and stuck my hand in the creek. There was no discernible difference between the cold of the snow and the cold of the creek. Another bad sign.
The creek did look good though.
I wandered down the creek. No signs of life in the water anywhere. Casts were made with no taps in return. Usually this time of year each cast is met with the taps from creek chubs. Bigger chubs would be hooked. Not a thing.
The sunlit slow moving spots normally hold large schools of minnows. They hold behind small rocks or in the indents in the bottom of the creek. Not a thing, nothing was seen.
This was partially expected. Last year the drought took it’s toll on this creek. It had all but dried up to a trickle and one nearly mile long stretch had dried up completely. For now I’m going to chalk up today’s lack of life to ice cold water and nothing felt like moving. I’ll know in a couple of weeks whether it was the cold or the drought that made the creek devoid of life.
Between casts, I looked for objects. What else was there to do.
Did find a big bone, I’m assuming from a cow (cattle?). There are cattle that are raised upstream of here. I would imagine now and then one wanders down the creek and dies. This bone looked like it had been around for awhile.
Gave this stretch of the creek an hour of fishing. Usually a few smallies come to hand. Nothing today, not even a tap. Wandering through the woods back to my car and out in the middle of nowhere I come across this.
Took a lot of effort to get this here.
I headed to the other creek, not far from where I first peered over the bridge. I knew I was going to waste my time, but I had the time to waste. I also knew where I wanted to get in the creek. Anywhere else would have had me entering in waste deep water, here the water would barely reach my knees.
I sized up the slope down the hill, steep. I hesitated. I can do it and went. Half way down my feet slid out sideways, out from under me. First my left hip hit hard, then my elbow, jamming my shoulder and neck. Then my ribs and I slid to the edge of the creek. Not very elegant. Soon as I put my weight on my left leg I knew I screwed something up. A pinch in the hip and a numbing tingle down my leg. A smart man would have gone home. I’m not a smart man.
I headed down the creek, casting as I went. This creek too was devoid of life. I stuck my hand in the water, no different than the other creek. Even the sun drenched stretches showed no life. Usually a small bug hatch occurs in these sun drenched spots, no bugs.
The closer I got to the mouth of the creek the deeper the water was getting. The current of the creek died as it met the river water, there was nowhere for the creek to go quickly. I got in up to my waist, crotch leak. I could feel it where I didn’t want to feel it. Luckily my hip and my leg were already sore and numb, in the great scheme of things, not feeling one more appendage was no great loss.
Cast to all the likely fish holding spots. Fish holding spots that in years past actually held fish. Not a thing. No movement, no hits, no taps, no rolls over the backs of suckers and carp.
My left leg was now twitching from the pain, the other appendage had disappeared to warmer climes and I was getting a massive headache from the jamming of my arm into my shoulder and neck. This was not even remotely interesting anymore. There were no fish here anyway, why continue to prove myself correct.
It was time to go. Try again next week, maybe.
bob
25 Mar 2013each year is it’s own year. some look alike, some feel alike, but like our kids they aren’t as alike as we think they are, or remember them to be. Just alike in principle or in general.
This year none of the old rules accumulated over our short fishing life span, seem to be in force. oh well.
I was going to say, “be patient, life will show up.” But that would be forgetting the lessons of lat year when barely any fish or aquatic life showed up in any water for me: lake michigan, lagoons, ponds, rivers or creeks.
You just ain’t gonna’ break down and get one of those (folstaff) collapsible wading staffs are you? No, you’d rather slip and slide, rumble and tumble down river banks. Why?
It’ll make your fishing a bit more secure. It’ll make your fishing a bit more fun. Drier. Less headachy. I ain’t got no ego concerning this. When it comes time to wade rivers with a walker, I’ll do that.
Ken G
26 Mar 2013You’re correct about making comparisons Bob. This spring is nothing like I’ve seen on the creeks, ever. I hope it’s telling me nothing about how the rest of the year will go, take it as it comes.
The staff would have done me no good on this steep slope. It was the unintentional release of a sapling that started gravity on it’s way. With my luck, I would have been impaled on the staff. I was impressed how the fall and slide put me right on the bank of the creek. A little sore, covered in mud, but all I had to do was put my feet down in the water.
Nick@BrookfieldAngler.com
26 Mar 2013This cold snap here sure seems to be screwing things up. It’s as if the water just can’t get that much above freezing. Hopefully we are just about done with the cold weather so spring can finally arrive and the fish can start leaving their winter holes.
Ken G
26 Mar 2013I was checking out pictures from last years warm March Nick. I was catching fish all over the river and the creeks by now. This really is more normal. April pictures from years past prove that to me.
walt franklin
26 Mar 2013Hey man, you gave it the old college try, I’ll give you credit for that. Getting out there because you felt like you needed to know where all the leaks would be, to kick out the winter jams from the bone joints (be careful there!). If these streams suffered badly from the drought and heat last year, and then got packed with ice and heavy water, it’s no surprise if the fish are late in returning. But the warm weather’s coming and the fish will follow.
Ken G
26 Mar 2013The smaller creek in particular might take some time to recover Walt. Along with my shoulder. I must have jammed it harder than I thought.
With levels back to normal, at least the first couple of miles of each of them should be good. 50’s the next few days. It’s time.
Nature in the Burbs
26 Mar 2013Oh my. Note to self: If you think you can get down the steep slope, you probably can’t. I give you credit though. If it were me, I’d be saying to the wind, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”
Ken G
27 Mar 2013I was never all that sure footed on land, but it is getting worse. I almost never tumble while out wading. Must be that Aquarian sign I’m under. I’m half fish.
Howard Levett
26 Mar 2013Been there and done that and I’m still feeling some pain from a fall late last Fall. Hope you’re doing better buddy…we’re not kids any more.
Ken G
27 Mar 2013I’ll be good to go by the weekend Howard. Us old Polacks still have some bounce left in us.
bronzebackski
30 Mar 2013I was looking for that leg to the queen anns side table of mine.
That was no bone you found.
Ken G
30 Mar 2013That would make an interesting table wouldn’t it. I should collect up a bunch of bones and see what I can do.
Joe
31 Mar 2013Went out two days ago and it was the same story. looked in the creeks and didn’t see a thing and went out to the river mouth and didn’t even get a hit! Looking to catch small mouth but were are they this time of year???
Ken G
31 Mar 2013They’re definitely out in the river Joe, but I don’t seem to have the patience this year to go looking for them. River is up, I’m sure it’s cold. I’m waiting for the creeks too.
Was out yesterday, same as this post. Stopped to look today, more of the same. The smallies won’t move in till the other fish do. Starting Wednesday the evenings will all be above freezing. That’s what is needed. I’ll bet things will be different next weekend.