Paul Trybul

Ben, nice timing on some of those capturing the jump photos. Eric, I'm glad you liked the stretch I picked out for you. I drove by your truck at 3:30 on my way home and saw you were still out. Was I accurate about the 1st mile and last mile being the most productive on your stretch?

Ben & I hit a nice section of the South Branch. Condition were perfect for floating as it was up a few inches and there was good water visibility. I could summarize by simply saying we had a quality outdoor experience. Considering the remoteness of the river, comraderie, wildlife sightings, weather, river conditions, and the smallmouth's willingness to hit topwaters with bad intent. Although we go about it with totaly different tools (fly vs spinning), Ben & I share a common passion for catching smallmouth on topwater on remote rivers. I think we worked well together as a team as we took turns leading and didnt tangle line once all day. Numbers were pretty even until I got on hot streak at the end. I would say we caught 25-30 fish total, most were smallmouths, then 2 pike and 2 rock bass. We got about a handful that were in the 16-16.5" range. We also has probably 4 doubles during the day. We probably had double the number of bites on topwater blowups. Walking the dog was drawing some savage strikes but many misses. Ben's topwater fly drew less strikes but his hookup percentage was better. I also caught a few dragging bottom with a hulagrub but topwater was the best thing going for us and we stayed committed to it. The worst part of the trip was taking out our kayaks as the takeout had a steep wet hill to carry. Here are a few pics from my camera. I'm sure Ben will contribute as he had the best photography equipment. Ben's has a nice comfortable rig for fishing out of. That is until you need to carry it up a steep hill. Ben's first fish of the day was a northern. This was one of the better fish of the day. Caught off a mid-stream boulder on a popper fly

I'll go fishing with your guys. Lets float a section of the south branch since the water levels/clairity is better.

I'm in the group that says "death before mono". If you are going to use or set up kids to fish with mono, I would suggest using rigs with thin wire exposed hooks. This will improve hook setting. Trying to bury a hookset with a thick bass hook on a long cast texposed in the plastic is an exercise in futility.

Don't be afraid to exercise your freedom of speech.

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.

It's a good thing I called it. Historical flooding going on right now.

I was waiting to see what the weather was going to do and it doesn't look good. The rain that hit Wednesday night spiked the river up 2 feet. Although it was receeding nicely there is another round of rain coming today and tonight. The national weather service has a flash flood warning in effect for Jo Daviess County Friday night through Saturday morning with 1-3 more inches of rain expected in the area. This Saturday's outing is cancelled. I will personally call everyone who RSVP'ed. We may reschedule sometime in August.

These kind of issues are not even an issue in Wisconsin and most other states. When is Illinois going to get the water navagation laws right as stated by the federal government?

The Apple looks like it survived the big rain. It only went up a few inched and it has time to drop and clear. We should be good to go in 9 days. Terry why did you have to repost that silly river dance? Look what you did to the rest of Northern, Illinois.

Sounds like a good way to lose some gear and/or go for unwanted swims. I can also stand up in my boat and get across the lake a lot faster and with much less effort. I think that fad will stick around longer.

The north branch has better visibility on average in my opinion. It is running higher than the south branch right now compared to normal levels. It would be nice if I could get some river smallmouth fishing in this year. So far February has been my best river smallmouth fishing month.

They are calling for 70's on Friday and then some rain on Saturday. The warm up should help. I'll fish in a light rain as long as there isn't lightning. The fish are already cold and wet so we might as well be too.

I was planning on going for sihn posting & pizza & fishing if weather permits

Usually the best deals can be made the last day. They are motivated to move product so they don't have to load it up and take it back.

It has smallmouth bass although I've never caught them there with any size or numbers. They do stock the park with trout in the spring and that is open to fishing the first Saturday in April.

That would look good in my man cave if I had a man cave.

Postcard material there

Thank you for putting this together. My father and I had a great time. Well worth the drive from Rockford.

It's a pretty long drive for me but I would like to go. I like spicey food and good smallmouth conversation.

I definately have an interest. After reading that Wisconsin DNR report I was shocked by the results after I did the KM to miles conversion. Correct me if I'm wrong but they radio tracked movement up to 11.8 miles in a day with a minimum movement of 45 miles and a maximum of 67 miles between August and November ice up. The smallmouth are putting on the feedbag but I wouldn't say they are hitting anything that moves. In some of the easy access forest preserves you still have to work for the fish and you can observe others that won't hit. You are getting way off the beaten path and accessing fish that get no pressure and I'm sure that contributes to mood of hitting anything that moves.

I would say the clearer or more pressured the location, the more important low light conditions are.

I would agree whith Scott's assessment. On smaller rivers you can cast to pretty much any part of the river during low water. High water just gives them more places to hide and causes them to spread out. I prefer low clear water also where I can use my river reading skills and cast to high percentage locations. For a bigger river, high water pushes them off of mid-river structure. This puts them tighter to shoreline structure which give the shoreline angler easier access to the fish. A run and gun approach fishing a bunch of shoreline eddies will produce. That works for me on the Rock River in the fall. High water on the Kish is skunk but I can always catch a few on the Rock.

The river only came up a few inches I think we are good. There is a stain to the water so brighter flashier lures with vibration may be the ticket to success. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/il/nwis/uv?site_no=05440700

Still talking about eeking out double digits versus Joe just reporting a 50+ smallie day. I do agree with the water temperature thing at mid 40's. Realistically though how may days in a typical December does the Kish offer mid 40's or higher water temps?