Mike G Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 2.5 inches in my gage 20 miles NW of Rockford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dodge Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 It seems to happen every 3 to 4 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev-mo Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Just think about how strong those fish will be from fighting the current all summer. Even the dinks will fight like heavyweights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dodge Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Just think about how strong those fish will be from fighting the current all summer. Even the dinks will fight like heavyweights I guess it's the price I have to pay for landing BRUTUS on 3/26/17. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake B Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 Way to go Terry thanks for putting the rain gods to work by catching your Brutus. I thought after 2 summers of not having much time to fish, this summer would finally make up for lost time and I can't even get on the water during my days off ?. As the Cubs fans used to say...maybe next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asherman Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 According to the USGS web site, the South Branch of the Kishwaukee river rose 6 feet since yesterday. It is going to be a while before the river is fishable. I have fished the Kish once this year, and it was really too high to fish then. Yuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted July 20, 2017 Report Share Posted July 20, 2017 So it's all Terry's fault , somehow I doubt Jude will be surprised . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted July 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Dabbling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted July 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Dabbling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 dabbling in flooded crap can be very effective in high water events Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dodge Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 Dabbling? dabbling in flooded crap can be very effective in high water events I have tried it many times with no success. Quite frankly, I think it's some kind of a sick joke that some members get a laugh out of that I was actually dumb enough to go out and try it. Same with the Float & Fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 We really need to fish together . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 I have tried it many times with no success. Quite frankly, I think it's some kind of a sick joke that some members get a laugh out of that I was actually dumb enough to go out and try it. Same with the Float & Fly. Let's not forget the "fall feedbag". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Trybul Posted July 22, 2017 Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 There is nothing 20 miles NW of Rockford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake B Posted July 22, 2017 Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 Let's not forget the "fall feedbag". Here's hoping! I'll probably be relying on reading all of your stories while I'm sitting in a tractor on my off days though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dodge Posted July 22, 2017 Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 Let's not forget the "fall feedbag". To include in on the joke? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted July 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 FYI Overnight 7/22-23 Two more inches fell, same location. Look for current breaks near the entrance to parking lots. Submerged picnic tables are good. Drowned fire pits are best though hard to find in murky water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted July 22, 2017 Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 Don't forget submerged parking blocks . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake B Posted July 22, 2017 Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 My wife just sent this video. Perhaps I'll be able to fish in the back yard when I get home from work on Tuesday. trim.25AEC287-D353-4B07-BE9E-DE2BF42EA4DE.MOV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted July 22, 2017 Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 To include in on the joke? Yes....the mysterious "fall feedbag" that people go on and on about, that the Kish fish don't seem to be aware of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted July 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2017 Overnight 7/26-27 the Great Thunderer dropped another 1 inch 20 miles NW of Rockford. While the flood is receding there is still time to talk about the Feed Bag. Though the Fall Feed Bag is a myth, I believe in the Feed Bag. For bass the Feed Bag starts right after spawn and continues till the next spawn. All the fish have to do is eat to get ready to reproduce next time. I will get back to this theory soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Trybul Posted July 28, 2017 Report Share Posted July 28, 2017 I believe in the fall feedbag. It's real and I've experienced it. I have a little confidence in the float & fly under the right conditions (cold & clear water). Dabbling flooded timber on a muddy river I totally believe in just like the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted July 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2017 The Feed, Part 1, Basic Fish Behavior All fish activity can be explained with a simple model: "Eat to survive, survive to reproduce." A fish does not do anything that does not involve eating surviving, and/or reproducing. Some like bass do this over and over on an annual cycle while others like the Pacific salmons get only one spectacular three year cycle. For all fish feeding occupies a large portion of the cycle. For bass it begins after the spawn is over and continues till the next year's spawn. Things like the summer peak, summer doldrums, Fall Feedbag, hibernation, and Prespawn are figures of speech to describe variations in the apparent feeding activity of the bass. Though the terms describe human activity almost as if they were seasons like Christmas and Easter, the bass are not having similar experiences. Their activity is not calendar driven. They react to water temperature, water clarity, presence/absence of bait, available oxygen, barometric pressure, and the solar angle as spring approaches. That is the basic theory. Next I will explain why creative writers use figures of speech like Summer Peak and Fall Feedbag to spice up their articles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted August 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2017 Reporting from the Driftless Area 20 miles NW of Rockford. Another 1/2 inch of rain fell yesterday afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted August 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2017 The Feed, Part 2, Common Myths Here I will use the Summer Peak, Summer Doldrums, and the Fall Feed Bag as examples. All three are terms that entered our vocabulary through Outdoor writers. The Summer Peak came from the Lindners. They talk about it as if it were a specific calendar period. But all it is is a continuation of the Feed continued. There is a pickup in bass feeding after they get over the stress of spawning which is heightened by an increase in water temperature to the Bass's favorite about 75 degrees F. As you can imagine this "Summer" Peak can happen in April down south. The Doldrums are a common excuse for bad luck in late Summer. The Bass continue to feed but conditions make them move to places less accessible to the everyday angler. Bass move deeper to avoid the warm surface water. So I can't catch fish from easily spotted targets near the surface. Another doldrum scenario occurs in shallow lakes where the entire mass of water is heated into the high 80s. Fish become lethargic due to low oxygen levels. (In rivers turbulent water often supplies oxygen so the Doldrums might not even occur at high water temps.) One way or another I experience a period of tough fishing, and the guy at the bait shop blames it on the Doldrums. That is all for now. I guess The Fall Feedbag will be in part three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.