Joe R

If you go to turkey run go to near by Shades state park also. Turkey run has nice hiking trails but I prefer Shades canyon trails more so in some respects. Camping is nice either place and turkey run inn is nice I have stayed there also. Nice area be careful when driving Amish buggies area. Whether hiking canyons or canoeing sugar a favorite area of my family

Wisconsin state parks are very difficult to book unless weekdays (you have a chance). Wisconsin state forests perhaps little easier. Some places I like to camp...Wildcat, Governor Dodge, Southern Kettle, Northern Kettle, MIrror Lake, any of the parks in Door County....if you have a yak its great fishing smallies up there (in fact I will fishing smallies all next week up there).

White Pines out near the Rock River, Lowden, and Apple river canyon a few more suggestions (and there is fishable water in these areas).

Check county parks close...like Winnebago, etc People don't realize counties have camping spots that people don't realize.

Interested. I've been kicking around doing a 2 day camp float on Sugar river and same goes on Kish.. I would have knocked one of those out already if it wasn't for bad conditions on the days I pencilled in. Would be difficult to do for me between now and end of August so September sounds good - depending on days choosen.

Still got to meet you guys, good opportunity, but I will be yaking door county smallies for a week.

Great outing and some quality sized fish for da kish.

Water clarity is unpredictable sometimes. Ive shown up to rivers that had higher water and were clearer then I would have expected and then slow receding water that was once high stays stained a long time. I think for some reason stain suspends and doesn't always settle fast. There seems to be a lot of silt deposited now we may even need another high watern event to clear some silt out. For those sections that may grow so weeds that will help to filter water some also.

Fishing tomorrow just not sure if I will give south branch a go this time or try the fox.

Lets keep this thread going (LOL). Been busy not getting out to rivers much lately usually just some local fishing and yaking lake michigan once a week for browns and coho. Finally able to get back to Kish for a up/downstream float. Fished several hours today Boone county section and was disappointed in my arrival after an hour drive to find muddy waters and 6" visibility. After contemplating on staying or going elsewhere I decided to stay. Brought a lot of odds and ends...jigs/plastics, jerkbaits, squarebills, 8wt rod, pike flies, smallie flies.

Spent about 50% time with fly rod and 50% of the time with spinning rod. Aside from one swing and miss smallie on a fly popper that was it for me on smallie action. I did manage a couple mid-20s pike on a 4" pearl swim bait and with a real image craw square bill....a slow day expected better. Oh well next time I guess.

Yes I could use a Kish report been a long time since I have been able to get out there either too busy or if I'm free for a full day outing the river is blown out after a hard rain so I hit a local lake or cold water species on the big pond. I do watch the gauges for kicks though and I'm glad to see the USGS folks brought the Fairdale gauge back to online duty.

UGH, can't do Saturdays 9-5 in school. Good opportunity to meet folks (darn).

Stable river will be good fishing...

Well tornado day was the day I was going to fish S Branch. I'm far away so I rely on USGS online gauges. Most important gauge I like to reference is Fairdale gauge, if not that the Dekalb and Perryville gauges.

After the tornado the Fairdale gauge reported error, now the Fairdale gauge was removed from the USGS list. I was hoping it was just a power outage problem but perhaps there was more damage than that.

When I head to the western edge of S branch I drive through the little town of Fairdale and right out of town I take a right at County line road - that's my route. Never paid much mind to Fairdale so small I'd barely slow down. Google maps doesn't even have a label for the town. Poor town got hammered, maybe they will add a label now.

If I didnt post you know how I did (thumbs down)

2.5hrs skunk Monday on the NB. Nice day though. Very nice. Split time between pike rigged rod and smallie rigged rod. Water stained and high with current it will be different story soon since river will be dropping and warming up a few degrees. Looking forward to April.

Only fish I seen was a basket of suckers that euro-harvesters were taking on worms.

I may try and give it a go Friday possibly, if so I would probably put on waders and give the SB a go (eastern part of river to shorten the drive).

Okay thanks guys. I did Fox in yak a couple days recently and there was ice flows and shelves. Double skunk and expect the same with Kish but I may give NB Kish a whirl today. Worse case I enjoy a 70 degree day.

Hello scouts....how is Kish doing...I know river is up per USGS gauges...lots of ice flows?

I will do everything in my power to make it. Newbie fly fisherman, never tied a fly, never seen a fly tied.

Joe

What I found in Nov and Dec is that the pike in Kishwuakee were aggressive. Not as aggressive as in summer but they still hit hard and will do some chasing. Big flies or stick baits in the 4-6" range. I tend to stay with baitfish colors nothing to flashy. Pearls, muted whites, etc with markings . The bigger fish feed in winter and in particular females they are egg factories now...they will be spawning at ice out. They will still come up to the surface but in winter I use suspenders. Fished more slowly, with pauses and twitches. They won't rocket up to the surface from deep water like warmer weather but they will hit the surface in 1-3 FOW if you find a fish in the mood.

You won't find them in current, they certainly don't like that in winter. Quiet waters especially those with sticks and branches and leaves on the bottom where they can just park there and blend in. But yes the problem with fishing them in winter on a place like the Kish is those areas will have ice shelves. They may be in shallow or deep water just like the summer. On sunny days though deeper or in the shade. If you find quiet open water areas you could catch pike if it's a pike area. Last year was the first year I fished Kish so I don't know it real well but I learned that some areas have low pike counts and some areas have decent pike count. Not worth winter fishing them in low pike count areas.

Good stuff Jude. Thanks for sharing.

I consider that open water fishable.

You just got to think teeth in the winter.

East of Belvidere.

Jude...how's the mighty Kish looking in this somewhat mild winter? ...ice flows?

Hey Joe…want me to check the Kish tomorrow and see if it's floatable?

Ha Ha. That ship has sailed already. I did a long outing on 12/26 north branch. Nice day mid 40s probably almost had to pinch myself water was probably upper 30s I'd guess and the teeth were very active in quiet spots.

I'm on the ice playing with panfish these days... no Kish until ice out early spring (I think). On the otherhand I did play hockey for many years and still have some gear might be a thought to put on the PFD and skate up and downriver scoping out new areas that are hard to reach. I could cover lots of miles that way

Okay thanks Jude. Did some fishing closer to home today had a time restriction. This week temps look reasonable I dont think the river condition will change much this week. Off all week but with holiday and appointments it makes it hard to get out. Will see,

N.B.

I take my time, water, snacks...6hrs pass fast if there is bite on....since Kish is longer drive I always make a full day out of it. Temptation for Sunday again but I expect ice will be a problem in slow areas plus with Holiday activities it may not fit.

As intended was able to get out for a 6hr float Sunday (no ice!), had to paddle through some decoys and lots of shooting going on but everyone was polite. About equal time between spinning a setup jigs/swimbaits and the 8wt with big flies. Aside from one smallie that rose to the occasion to meet a big fly it was teeth, teeth, and more teeth and nothing but teeth. All day action but nothing of size.

That's got to do if for Kish this year, the ice should be taking over again after a bried thaw.

This should give you the general idea.

No brainer. Loop. No idea why any manufacture wouldn't have a loop. Since I have LADD (Lure Attention Deficit Disorder) I'm always switching up presentations so I use snaps excluslively with exception of some cases where I want to direct tie onto some presentation like a jig/grub where I know I'm specifically targeting smallies and that rod would be dedicated for that purpose.

For the R spinner baits I dont use them as is.... I tie wire around them and make my own loop. Hassle it it is but needs to be done.

If your throwing spinner baits that's an example where you're apt to be tossing other things also that day...inline spinners, crankbaits, top-water, etc so you are probably rigged with a snap.

I've only fished solo on Kish, friends I fish with, or family for that matter, realize I have a little fishing problem....I invite folks but the caveat I always mention beforehand is "you will be gone all day and then some". A 'yes' often turns into a 'no' after the caveat is mentioned.

Mid-November had record lows. You'll have to refresh my memory regarding the SB. Where and when? I hope I wasn't rude.

I was coming down river you were going up river, I suggested going a little further to some holes....you were babbling endlessly about chug bugs ...I have a Ocean Kayak Tetra 10 yak. You mentioned something about ISA and that's why I joined. I fished the Kish April and May and then took a few months break and started again in Sept so perhaps it was in Sept.

Upriver of the forest preserves area.

Really? Surprised but not hugely I guess...I tried to put in at Picasaw creek mid-November and just paddle upstream as far as I could to scout around but too much ice so wasn't navigable. I did find some open water further downstream where a warm flow spills into the river.

Since over 100 mile RT trip for me any info is helpful before I make the drive. Thanks Jude maybe I will run into you again on the S.B. (you may have to think back..)