Terry Dodge

CRUNCH TIME! I have made the decision that we will meet at the Camp Kish Park on Saturday morning. I will run out and buy some eggs and stuff for you to eat if you so choose. Please be at the park between 7:30am - 8:00am. or earlier if you so choose. I will try to have the gate opened by 6:30am. From there we will choose straws to see what group you get stuck with. I will also try to pull off dogs/brats/chips for you to cook up after a day on the water. Sorry for seeming so unorganized. If we work together we will have a very enjoyable experience. This warming trend should set the Kish smallmouth bite a blaze and the feedbags on. Get some!

Kevin, I do have a pontoon you are welcome to use if you would like? I think the 'toons are good for floating/wading. Just thought I toss it out there.

So Kevin had asked earlier about maybe meeting for breakfast at CVC on Saturday. How does everyone feel about that? Us campers could either cook and eat our own breakfast and then meet cafe, or just meet at the cafe with everyone for breakfast and then break into groups. Looks like Kevin and myself will be wading while the rest of you float. Need a time to meet at the cafe.

So you are out? Make sure they use Estwing tools, that is if you want the job done right.

Yes there are pits and wood available.

Trying to make this a good experience for all. Please let me know whether you plan to float or wade. Thanks.

Scott, Ken, Ben, and whomever else, I plan to be at the park at by 12pm (noon) on Friday the 15th. Please let me know about what time you plan to arrive so I have an idea of when to expect you. Thanks.

Kilbuck Creek: A theory Let me refresh your memory with this pic > The pic shows a stain coming out of a tributary and seeping into Kilbuck Creek. About a 1/4 of a mile downstream of this tributary is the old Johnson Mill Dam. > I believe the stain is being held up at the dam and is being slowly released (through a breach) to the lower part of Kilbuck Creek creating a constant stain to the lower part of Kilbuck Creek below the dam. If the dam was removed and the creeks water was allowed to flow freely, would this improve the clarity to the lower part of the creek allowing the stain to be filtered naturally? Thoughts...

Don't miss out! It is going to be gorgeous, GORGEOUS I tell you.

You are more than welcome to participate in anyway you see fit, and the same goes for anybody else that would like to join us in anyway they can.

Meaning maybe last chance to spend time and fish with a number of fellow ISA chums.

Camp Kish is a great way to bring the season to an end with fellow ISA members. Camp Kish 2017 Campers List: 1) Terry Dodge 2) Scott F 3) Jim Wright 4) Ken S I hope to add more names to the list as the event draws closer. The 2017 campsite is a perfect location. What are you waiting for? Let's do this thing!

Got the chance to meet up with my 2017 Bronzeback Blowout silent auction trip winner of the Kishwauker River south branch, Mr. Ken K####er. We met in Cherry Valley at 1pm., I explained the plan, dropped my car off at one forest preserve, and then drove to another forest preserve to put in for a two (2) mile up-stream wade of the Kish south branch. Stepped foot in water at 1:30pm. Ken hooked the first fish of the day which was a 13" walleye. Strange for the south branch. The bite was tough on this day but we did manage a few fish and had very peaceful and enjoyable day in the water. Wildlife sights were bald eagle, turkey vulture, some kind of slithering snake, red tailed hawk, a dog, a horse, and 4 kayakers. Soft plastics were the only thing we could get them to bite on. Ken ended the day with 6 smallmouth and 1 walleye. My day ended with 8 smallmouth. Ken had the big smallie of the day that taped at 13 inches. Stepped foot out of water at 7:30pm. Pics from the day....

Check.

Nice!

Welcome! Participation is key. Hope to meet you at one of our events.

I also had that problem a couple of times in the last week.

When the sticker first came out, it was written up so that tubers were included. The tubing community through a hissy fit about it and got the DNR to drop the stamp for tubes. http://www.mystateline.com/news/tubing-tax-fallout/156706634 https://fr-fr.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=492491260820484&id=101691346567146

I noodle the bigger ones. Flutter your fingers in front of their noses, when they open their mouth to strike, in one quick motion punch them in their tonsils. My biceps are so huge that it spreads their mouths wide apart and they can't bite down. Not sure how big your biceps are so you might want to start out with the smaller pike like PaulT does. Or just buy a Boga Grip. Seems to me that some sort of glove would be a pain in the butt.

Yes there is an out house and I believe the water is hand pump.

Mike - That is one super nice video. Not sure how I didn't see it earlier? I must have been away on vacation.

Would like to start pushing this event. I have myself and one other that are confirmed. This camp is perfectly situated on the banks of the Kish main branch. Please let me know if you plan to attend. One (1) night or both. $10.00 per night. You can't beat that. Tent and pop-up campers only.

1st Report We had a large group for our first NW Region outing of the year. I think there were like 10 of us seated at the breakfast table..... Jude, BenK, BrianO, Bill k, Jay and Tom, Paul T, Eric G and his brother, and then myself. Yep, that's 10. After chow we assembled in front of the cafe for a quick shot.... Nice looking mob, huh? Ben K will post a better pic. We had to split into groups. Paul, ben, Eric and his brother, all headed south to drop their kayaks in at some point way upstream on the south branch of the Kish. Jude took Bill and Brian down south also but not quite as for as the yak-heads went. Jay, Tom and I also fished the south branch but stayed in Winnebago County. When we first stepped foot in water and waded to the opposite bank we came across this bird all tangled up in knots with some mono. The line was wrapped around a toe and the a few times around the neck. I took hold of the varmint while Jay cut the line away with his snippers. Bird bounced into the weeds to rest. looked a little stressed. Jay was casting a crank bait most of the day, Tom had his fly rod and I tossed him a Jude-Bug to tie on, I had the spin rod in hand with a tube tied on. Tom popped the first smallmouth of the day casting the Jude-Bug up against some rip-rap. Jay thought catching a smallie on a fly rod looked pretty fun and Tom talk him in to making a few cast. It didn't take long and it was FISH ON!! Jay's first smallmouth with a fly rod. Seemed like it was going to be a great day. WRONG! It was pretty slow after that. Jay did pick up one more with a crank bait. I got the skunk. Hope the other guys did good. It was nice to meet new people and see Jay catch his first fly rod smallmouth. Also, it was nice to actually have an outing here in the NW Region. Tough year.

BIG group. This will be interesting.