Eric

Tom Loo would rock this tourney from any river.

Nice! I like the homage to local waters. We need more...

Kishwaukee Brutus Hunter 

Fox River Dabbler

K3 Rock Creek Special

Illinois River Jumping Carp

Du Page Eel Grass

Way to go! Especially to the little guy in the neoprenes. The river looked ripe for a buzzbait that day. 

That tendril of current is mesmerizing. I've seen whitewater kayakers practice rolls there in extreme high water. 

Did you bank fish while you were there?

See the very last line of this IDNR press release:

https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Documents/IDNR-BoatChangesJune2018.pdf

I normally fish the Fox and love high water fishing.

Easy to find numbers and size most of the time.

Spots can get picked over pretty quick because the easy access / easy fishing is no secret.

Timing is everything.

It’s also neat how a different look can make all the difference in pressured areas. A lot of folks think small, yet a larger (heavier) lure offers much more control ... whether pinpoint dabbling, fluttering, or working angles.

When in urban areas, casts are rarely needed. The workspace is minimal.

I’ve done a few long float trips on the Dupe during high water. Mostly pinpoint spinnerbait fishing. Didn’t get numbers, but every smallie I connected with was of respectable size.

It ain’t for everyone. There’s much planning and some risk on paddling and fishing high water. It’s something best worked up to incrementally to gain confidence and understanding.

That perch pattern will definitely catch fish! So will the “Air Ick” cork in the right circumstances.

The Whopper Plopper has turned on a whole new generation of bass fishermen to that style of lure. I’m sure it has made River 2 Sea a pretty penny in the processs, but it has also helped people catch a lot of fish ... increasing their confidence and enjoyment in the sport.

A lot of budding bass anglers are too young to remember the originals that may have inspired the WP, or simply aren’t / weren’t exposed to musky lures.

It amazes me just how much the bass fishing landscape has changed overall. Growing up, seems like there were only a handful of rod, reel, and line manufacturers. Many of the dozens of new brands look so unfamiliar to me! You hear the younger crowd talking about Dobyn’s rods, P-Line, Sun Line, etc.

And spending $14.99 on a frog lure or $12.99 on a Whopper Plopper is nothing. Kids have a $100+ per month cell phone habit. 

Probably tough for a generation of anglers who grew up pouring their own lead head jigs to save a few bucks to fathom. And I don’t blame ‘em.

Bump. One month from today...

Solid info John! Really nice. The tips and techniques would make for a nice ISA bulletin article. 

Would make a good checklist for the ‘fridge in any budding angler’s household.

Definitely good to help but the parent(s) can benefit from knowing what to buy, where to fish, how to fish, etc. so they can nurture the interest as it grows. 

Perhaps the OP can help be the spark.

Kids want action and don’t care what type of fish. Started my guys on panfish and perch, then carp and cats to learn how to fight and handle bigger fish, then ultimately slinging lures for bass, northern, walleye.

Some tips in this video (my son had just turned 10). You can have just as much fun from shore ... and we have!!!

I can’t help but ask ... where are the kid’s parents and why aren’t they on top of this? At 23, not your role to inspire or educate their child!

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Kayak Bass League (KBL) and Rocktown Adventures in Aurora are hosting a kayak fishing tournament on Sunday, June 10.

It is officially called the “Kayak Bass League Northern Open.”

This event is open to the public. You do not need to be a member of KBL, but all KBL tournament rules apply.

To register, first sign up for TourneyX (free), and then register for the tournament ($75).

https://tourneyx.com/app/tourney/2018-kayak-bass-league-northern-open

If you’re interested in tournament kayak fishing, this is a good way to begin. A single day, in-person event is fun/exciting, and typically has a bigger payout than online regional events.

I have no affiliation with KBL, so any questions should be directed towards the tournament director (go to link above, bottom of that page).

Good luck!

Welcome and happy smallmouth fishing!

Heard some really positive feedback about the event John. Thanks for hosting it! Kudos.

The Ned Rig is great when you’ve got gravel or sand and lots of fish stacked along the bottom.

Like any lure it’s right place, right time!

Chunk rock eats mushroom-head jigs and you’re better off with a Slider Head and a slower fall rate.

You can fish the waters specified within tournament boundaries/rules, regardless of cell service.

As long as you have location services enabled on your phone and have the preferences set correctly (it varies from OS to OS), the photo will be geotagged and you can upload it when you have a good signal ... provided it’s within the tournament timeframe.

I recommend doing a test upload prior to the start of each tournament — which is allowed and encouraged!

Late photos won’t be accepted.

If it’s an in-person tournament and you don’t have cell service, you need to stop early and visit the tournament HQ and submit your photos.

I think the rules section on the KBF website covers these issues.

There are in-person and online events you can fish from a kayak. You need to familiarize yourself with the rules for each organization / tournament, as there are nuances. Read and re-read.

Fish need to be caught from public waters with public access. Some tournaments are all-inclusive (lakes & rivers), some are lakes, and some are moving waters only. Be sure to understand what type and the boundaries.

Bass are scored on an approved measuring device (bump board) and rounded down to the nearest quarter inch. I use a 26” board from Ketch, which is KBF and River Bassin’ approved.

Depending on the organization and tournament, a unique identifier and/or code may need to be clearly visible in the photo.

All tournaments are “catch-photo-release” and use an app or website where you submit your geotagged fish photo. Tournaments have a live leaderboard where anyone can follow along.

Google the following:

Kayak Bass Fishing ... KBF is nationwide and has in-person and online tournaments. Membership required. Uses the TourneyX app and/or website.

Kayak Bass League ... KBL is a local club, membership required. They typically fish IL and WI.

River Bassin’ ... Nationwide in-person and online tournaments. No membership required. Uses a website to submit fish photos. 

There are entry fees for all tournaments.

Good luck.

Kevin, you might find this useful...

First and foremost, you do not need to be outfitted like the photo below to successfully catch bass on our local rivers!

IMHO, anything  more than $500 and 45 lbs is a waste. It should simply replace your waders and make it quick and easy to spot hop on your local rivers. Keep it simple.

Keep an eye on LL Bean in South Barrington. Sign up for their e-newsletter and catalog so you’re aware of upcoming sales. They allow you to stack coupons. So if their kayaks go on sale, plus you’ve got a catalog coupon, plus you open an LL Bean Visa at time of purchase (15% off), you can combine all the offers for big savings. Then just pay off the Visa and cancel the card.

Rocktown has beautiful stuff but all the “fishing kayaks” are pretty heavy. Try picking the boats up by yourself and then ask yourself if you can do that day in and day out and if the weight of the boat will negatively affect how, where and when you use it. 

Sure you can get lifts for car-topping, trailers for hauling, and carts for portaging. All that just adds to the cost and is more “stuff” to manage.

If you want the ability to drop in just about anywhere on our local rivers and zing up or down river fairly easily, it’s tough to beat the value of a small lightweight kayak. Easy in, easy out.

I realize my opinion is not popular but I’m OK with that. I had a bells-and-whistles *fishing kayak* and it was a battle ship. Comfortable to sit on, but heavy and more than I needed (wanted) for day-to-day use. Sold it after about a half-dozen outings. Sit-on-tops are also more taxing to paddle and suck in gusty winds. 

*Be sure to factor in a paddle and quality PFD into your total cost, plus any car-topping equipment you require for transport.

Have fun Kevin! ?

I have fished Big Rock Creek several times and I'm sure Little Rock Creek is about the same. Certain pools with depth / rock / structure can hold some really nice fish! I look forward to exploring this place. It's not far from me. 

That pic of Joz compliments the jerkbait title magnificently! 

I sent Scott some additional pics for the Blowout slideshow, but here are a couple of my favorites that I thought a few others here would like to save. These are from ISA activities at Glenwood Forest Preserve in Batavia. The second one is pretty wide, so click to enlarge. 

Damnit! So sorry to read this news. Everybody gets their name in the bulletin eventually! (I think Ron would chuckle at that.)

Gonna miss his wit and grit.

Jeez!!!

"Where do you want to put the coal ash pond?"

"I dunno. How about right next to the river?"

"Seems easy enough. Any mines or aquifers nearby?"

"Who cares, we'll probably be retired by the time any problems arise."

[ APPROVED ]

We know how finicky bass can be!