To play catch up, you can read the past progress reports here.
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I seem to have a problem remaining consistent in finishing what I start. It’s been a week since I put up the last post, leaving it hanging that I went back to the creek for the evening fish.
I got sidetracked putting up another post with some pictures about the real Blackberry Creek. Then, I got busy hanging out doing not much of anything.
In a way it does seem a bit absurd to put up posts about my first adventure up a creek after a dam has been removed and it’s back to a semi-normal flow for the first time in 175 years. The absurdity comes from following the fish up stream, throwing a piece of plastic around that mimics some form of baitfish, impaling the fish on a single piece of sharp steel and reeling it in to my hand.
Then I put the fish back in the water after all this effort.
For those that have questioned my use of these single hook, small lures for years, I use them because they cause less damage than impaling fish on anywhere from three to six hooks. I’ve seen guys throw lures with three treble hooks on them, all to catch a smallmouth bass. I have seen those cause considerable damage to the fish.
Though I avoid talking about the whole catch and release ethos and I do have a Smallie Taste Test and a website called Eat More Smallmouth, I release 99.9% of the smallies I catch. May as well do as little damage to them as possible while out there fishing for them. For all those out there that use multiple hook lures and practice C&R, I’m tired of catching your butchered up fish. Why don’t you take the time to learn how to catch a fish on a single hook. So you lose some, it’s not like you’re taking them home for dinner anyway.
Well enough of that. I’ve delayed finishing this off long enough to have forgotten the things I wanted to say, so the following is a fishing report sent to Dale Bowman of the Chicago Sun Times about my results and I’ve added some pictures. Some fish, some scenery, one good looking creek…
Went back to the creek again on Saturday at 4 PM and fished for two hours. I started at the head of the construction and went upstream for three quarters of a mile.
Last time I fished this stretch was a few years ago and I got two largemouth bass for my troubles. Never went back there or anywhere upstream on this creek again. This time I wound up with 23 smallies,
1 largemouth
and 1 bluegill caught
and another 22 missed fish. The water was so clear that I know they were all smallies.
Got to see two huge ones before they spit the hook.
Over the years I’ve done my own little stocking program on Blackberry Creek. Now and then I would fish below the dam and every smallie caught would be tossed over the dam. A couple of years ago I heard reports of a few being caught upstream.
Also over the years I’ve explored quite a bit of the creek, but never bothered fishing it. I have spots all planned out up to and just beyond Jericho Road. Not sure how many miles that is, but it’s a few. Now I have a reason to fish and explore.
Will be interesting to see how far up the smallies go this year. It’s also interesting to see how quickly fish take advantage of a now dam free creek.
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Got out fishing a few days later and went upstream of the construction again. Caught 16, which includes two largemouth and a crappie. Missed 28. Couldn’t set a hook to save my life today. It’s really beautiful up in there and if anyone tries it I have some advice, don’t take a shortcut through the woods. Did that years ago. It will be one of the most miserable experiences of your life.
The smell of spawning fish, based on memory a combination of carp and suckers, was very strong on the creek. I love that smell.
bob
2 Jun 2013it is a gorgeous creek. just sublime to be in there. probably not as dark approached. I think the “skeeters” would be fierce. But a joy it is. I delight in how different is the coloration on each fish. I’ll be back.
Ken G
3 Jun 2013I figured out a shore hike to get further in Bob. I will be spraying myself down before I attempt it though. I like the different colors too. You wouldn’t think that would happen all out of the same creek.
Jim McClellan
3 Jun 2013Very impressive. Twenty-three smallies seems like an action-packed day! Like you, I’m a proponent of catch-and-release, but I also like to eat fish. It’s a very good day when I catch enough to do both. Thanks for another entertaining and enlightening post.
Ken G
3 Jun 2013June 15th the C&R on smallies ends for the year Jim. I have three creeks I have to get one from to continue my Smallie Taste Test. Yes, I wasn’t kidding about that. Me and my daughter catch them, cook them and rate them. So far up this way the Apple River produces the best.
Next is a catfish taste test, but maybe all just creeks. Not sure if I want to eat any out of the river. We’ll see.
Howard Levett
5 Jun 2013That is just plain beautiful. I promise I won’t tie any flies with three treble hooks attached even to fish for your beloved carp.
Ken G
6 Jun 2013Over the weekend I’m hoping to go much further up Howard. That’s getting tougher on these old bones, but I have to try.
As for treble hooks and carp, skip the hooks all together and bring a bow and some arrows. Just don’t shoot the suckers. That would refer to the fish variety.
Ken C
18 Jul 2013Tell us, will you post some gps coordinates in your next bloggings?
Qhen is the musky taste test?
My opinion of you is that you are a foolish angler and you’ll see the results of these detail-laden blabbings soon enough. While you may release 90% of what you catch, your careless musings will invite others who do not share the same ethics and will keep their limit or worse.
Ken Crowne, Plainfield.
Ken G
18 Jul 2013Ken,
You’ve obviously read things I’ve written over the years and came to a really stupid conclusion.
Go read this, especially the comment Bob Long just left today. I have a feeling he was responding to your asinine comment:
https://waterdogjournal.com/2011/08/14/the-death-of-river-wading/#comments
18 years of writing like this. Guiding, fishing classes, speaking engagements, fishing reports for Dale Bowman in the Sun Times every week, radio shows, TV shows and I run into virtually no one out there.
You are obviously living with your head planted firmly up your ass and have absolutely no clue what you’re talking about. I gave hundreds of people my fishing spots over the years. I just cruised along the river for 7 miles on my way home today, past lots of good spots of mine. Not a single person out there.
Learn how to observe. At least make a fucking effort to come out to the Fox and go anywhere but near a dam. Then get back to me. Clueless, baseless bullshit comments like yours makes my blood boil.