Norm M

I can think of a few other hardcore smallie guys in the ISA

That's the first thing I noticed on this map, but also remember the Illinois Central running that ex CC&P. The Death Star logo of the IC can still be found now and again on that line.

hired out with the ic back in 77

N.W. / Chicago Region Breakfast Picnic Open

 

What - ISA Spring Open Breakfast: Kishwaukee River Tour

When - Saturday, April 27, 2013 @ 9:00am.

Where - NW Region, Cherry Valley, IL., Blackhawk Springs F.P., Indian Springs Shelter House.

5360 Mulford Rd. Just 3 miles southeast of Rockford city limits.

Menu - Coffee, eggs, sausage, toast, hash-brown potatoes with biscuits & gravy.

RSVP - Please RSVP by April 15, 2013. Contact terrydodge or Ed B on the ISA Forums

 

Details....

If you have ever wanted to fish the Kishwakee River then you don't want to miss this event.

The NW & Chicago Regions invites you to come to a joint event to celebrate the 2013 season.

We will meet at Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve in Winnebago County and enjoy an open fire breakfast

and learn the ins and outs of the Kishwaukee River.

This is an "OPEN" event, meaning "Fish As You Wish". At this time of year it's hard to plan for much river

activities due to weather and water levels. "Fish As You Wish" depending on the water levels, whether it would be

bank, wade or float. It's all doable depending on the water levels. Keep an eye on the ISA Forums for updates

on this event and for Kishwaukee River water levels. (http://weather.hamwe...auge/PRYI2.html)

 

 

Maps of the Kishwaukee River that show all parks and access areas will be available.

See the shelter house @ http://www.wcfpd.org...khawk-springs/#

 

http://

• 
   
  

that's an old map, the cnw is now the up rr and the ccp is the cn rr

Joz is gonna go over to the dark side and then give away all his Devil's Horses ?

are you part of the insane clown posse ?

terry and jude are cooking ?

hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off fishing i go

I could have happily remained in ignorance on this one. just an updated donny osmond

who is justin bieber

Ron

Obviously it's not for you, fine and dandy. If it had been a one time fluke deal , would I have kept reporting and talking about using topwaters in winter for as long as I have? I put forth the option for those who wish to try something different and possibly expand thier horizons on smallmouth behavioral possibilities in rivers in the cold water period.

It wasn't all that long ago that fishing for coldwater river smallmouth in any way was considered a waste of time. I doubt we will ever have all the answers but I leave open the chance to learn as much as I can about it. I doubt that topwaters will ever be a major piece of the coldwater puzzle. However, it remains a piece , regardless of the size.

I'm not sure if Phil intended that but for anyone inferring support for Norm's topwater in winter water temps in the low 30's-low40's it should be noted that it's not yet winter & more to the point the water temps the last few extremely warm days are typical only in mid spring/autumn when topwater is appropriate.I got a nice smb yesterday that gave away his position working the surface.No way that fish will be chasing minnows on top after even one day with his in the 30s-40s.

Ron twas this post I was referring to, not your first one. I totally understand the first post. It's the last sentence of this post I was speaking of rejection of the idea. One thing I've learned about fish and fishing is to not think or say something will never happen.

I work 2nd. shift. People don't much care for 2nd shifters.

2cd shifters are way cool

Really Ron.

The 19 inch smallmouth i got on a spook in late November was in 38 degree water. I have been catching river smallmouth on topwaters throughout the winter months for several years now. If you don't try, you will never have any success at anything. Predators like to use edges to help them catch prey more efficiently. The surface is an edge, almost as absolute an edge as the river bed.

You have shad distressed by coldwater swimming in a disoriented manner on or near the suface. The bottom is heavily coated with algae making bottom feeding problematic at best. Most of the macro inverts on the bottom have burrowed in for the winter and the crawdad activity has been greatly lessened also contributing to lessened attention to bottom dwelling prey. With the thick algae cover the bass are not resting on the bottom but suspending above it. i doubt it's any harder to suspend a foot or two below the surface than it is an inch or two above the bottom. There is a source of prey that is easier to catch than normal because on environmental conditions. Smallmouth bass have proven to be a very adaptable species. Why would they not be able to adapt to this one, especially when it is an adventagous adaption ?

Like I said, it is not a high percentage gig by any means. It's not something that is going to appeal to most folk for that very reason, I completely understand. What I don't understand is how something someone has not experienced can be rejected out of hand.

with all the achy joints I have it's hard enough sometimes fishing up right. i doubt I could stand on my head any more even with three men and a boy helping out.

John

Any more, i enjoy pushing the envelope on what is considered "common Knowledge" about river smallmouth. I know other stuff works and still use it for the majority of my trips. It's just that catching one on less than conventional methods puts a bigger smile on my face than getting several on more main stream methods.

I accept the fact that I'm likely to catch fewer while experimenting. You never know though when something unconventional becomes main stream because it flat out works.

I think part of it may also be that I get more time on the water than the average bear and don't mind using some of it to play around with different ideas. I think that's one of the reasons Phil and I hit it off so well. We both are always wondering why not instead of no, it will never work That and he's a great guy as well..

I'm sure most of you know I've been fishing topwaters with some success during the winter. It's not what you would even consider a high percentage gig. For example over the last three trips with almost 6 hours of topwater usage, I caught one smallmouth albeit a very nice one. You could say those results are not far removed from what has been the norm for the last several years.

I recently got into a discussion with several other fishermen who think you have to be insane to consider topwaters when it's tough enough to catch fish in coldwater. My position was that pushing the enveolpe on coldwater river smallmouth knowledge made it worthwhile.

Since it's officially winter and things get slow on the boards sometimes, I thought I'd toss this out for discussion.

real men fish in waders in cold water. water craft, we don't need no steenking water craft.

Terry

maybe a switch to a jig/twister/tube/creature type might help. an adjust a bubble with a cigar type or centipede hanging down is another option that works.

adjust a bubble with a centipede or cigar type plastic on a circle hook is another option.

Do what floats your boat, fishing is about enjoying yourself.

I hope if they show a Minas in the documentary it's Zach and not me. I'd hate to be responsible for folks having nightmares after seeing my mug.

It was definitely worth doing both the stream monitoring demo and everyone taking them out to various locations on the river.

still looking for someone

you need to learn from success as well as failure in any endeavour

make that 13 bags