Terry Dodge

I see Grant leads the "Top Youth Anglers".

It should be noted that the link I posted is of "mobile uploads" so the results on the link are not final. People using regular cameras will not up-load their photos until they return to the check-in at 3:30pm.

Like Mat is doing. HA!

Actually, the Schaaf boys are leading the entire thing at the moment. I just saw that Erics' son Mat (Yakmaster) is fishing also.

Eric holds 1st place in the "Individuals" bracket.

Eric is in the River Bassin; Tourney. You can keep up with all the up to date (real time) action here > http://www.kayakfishingseries.com/tournament.php?id=2626 Go team Schaaf! (kind of cool watching)

Kishwaukee River condition: Kishwaukee River Wade Outing, July 18, 2015. The water level at the PRY12 Gage, as of 7/9/15, is cresting @ 7.98ft. as I post this. Truthfully, this is not good. There is a chance for thunderstorms this coming Sat, Sun, and Mon. for the area, and this too is not good. I am still holding on to hope, but there is this feeling of doubt that seems to be clinging on to my hope. My personal feeling is that if the PRY12 is not reading 6.30ft. come the 18th., then this wade outing will probably not happen, due to unsafe levels. With that being said, a float could be possible as long as the level is not higher than 7.80ft. I'll know more come Tuesday morning (7/14/15) after the storm chances have passed. It's been a tough year, and I know everybody is itching to get out, but I just felt it best to inform you all of the conditions and forecast, as I will not host an outing if it means putting peoples lives in danger. Keep the fingers crossed, and if you happen to run into Mother Nature..... Give her a swift kick in the buttocks for me.

June 27 - Kishwaukee River Wade: Cancelled due to high waters July 18 - Apple River wade outing: Cancelled due to an unforeseen schedule conflict. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The June 27 Kishwaukee River wade out has been rescheduled in place of the July 18 Apple River outing cancelation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ With a little luck, I hope we can get all this darn-tootin rain to stop, allowing us to step foot in water in search of the mightiest fish that swims.... our beloved smallmouth bass. Mother Nature has not been all that nice to us this year and I know many of you are itching to get out and get a smallmouth on. Paul T has run into a conflict schedule with his work and hosting the Apple River out, so therefore I am rescheduling the Kishwaukee River Wade Outing that was cancelled in June. July 18 Kishwaukee River Wade Outing Again we'll meet at Cherry Valley Cafe ( https://plus.google....out?gl=us&hl=en ) @ 7:30am. After breakfast and smallmouth talk, we'll break into groups and fish both north and south branches of the Kish. Note: Don't forget your CHUG-BUG! Contact Terry Dodge for more info > http://illinoissmall...hp?showuser=877 Please post here or contact me if you plan to attend this Kishwaukee River Wade Outing on July 18. The Apple Outing may be rescheduled for an August date. Keep an eye on the Forums or contact Paul T.

And Eric will be fishing from 1:30 to 3:00.

Sounds like a good fun tournament, and is something that I might be interested in doing in the future if....... They can change the "Be Back" time from 3:30pm to a later time of say 6:30pm. It kind of decreases the region (with the time frame that is in place now) when you consider travel time.

Nice pics! Really like that last one in your second post.

Congrats! Time well spent during retirement.

Again we'll meet at Cherry Valley Cafe ( https://plus.google....out?gl=us&hl=en ) @ 7:30am. After breakfast and smallmouth talk, we'll break into groups and fish both north and south branches of the Kish. Note: Don't forget your CHUG-BUG! Contact Terry Dodge for more info > http://illinoissmall...hp?showuser=877 CANCELED DUE TO HIGH WATERS

I'm stupid, but not as stupid as some of you might think. With the rivers running high and my arms aching for a fight, I decided to pump up my personal pontoon, Misty, and hike her for a mile across land to a little Kishwaukee River backwater area known as the Blue-Hole. I wasn't in a race so I took my time and a couple breaks along the way and still made the mile hike in 40 minutes time. Shoved off from port and started casting topwater as I made my way towards the deep water that surrounds the railroad bridge. The Blue-Hole has been over taken by a thick weed growth and made casting anything else other than a topwater very difficult. The water clarity was crystal clear as I quietly paddled my way using my kayak paddle. I knew from past visits (from many years ago) that the Blue-Hole was weedy, and this is why I chose to leave the normal rowboat style oars at home and bring the yak stick. Sometimes I surprise myself when I do smart things like that. I couldn't find any action this side of the bridge or around the bridge. I thought for sure I would find some action at the bridge, but the only action I could muster was a locomotive as it passed by. On the other side of the bridge there was an open pocket of water between two weed bed areas. I parked Misty and myself in the pocket area and began to toss a Blaze Popper and nailed a 12" pike on the first cast in the area. Unfortunately about a second and a half before the timer triggered my camera to shoot, the damn slimy thing jumped up out of my grasp and back into the water, leaving me with this one and only dumbfounded CPR photo.... I kept casting the area and had many, many, many, chases, attacks, blowups, just all kinds of action, but could never get anything to hook up. Some of the splashes were quite huge. I had my fly rod with and probably should have gone after them with that, but I didn't. The next few hours saw no action and fatigue began to set in as I could see the sky in the west begin to grow dark. Packed it all in and up and started the mile hike back to the car. I ran in to a couple hikers along the way. One on my hike to, and one on my hike from. Each hiker was kind of startled when they came upon me, and with each passing I would just mumble "I ain't got nothing better to do with my life." Saw these and they made me think of Jude, so I had to stop and snap a quick pic..... All in all I had a good time and didn't get skunked, so I'm happy. And of course I ran across someone stupider than me.... The area is getting dumped on again as I post this. Starting to really not like rain. ~Terry

It's like the night before Christmas! Hope to wake up around 04:30am.

Being I am a 2nd shift worker and don't own an alarm clock, I was wondering what time in the AM does stupid start? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Kayak? No.

Yard waste can. Yard waste.

So am I.

This little thingy just might play a major role in my stupidness....------>

That's right. I'm going "Full Stupid" this Saturday, June 20. Be sure to check in this Sunday, June 21 to see my report. That is as long as there are no storms on Saturday. I HATE all this rain, but it can't keep mr from my Kish. The look of stupid......

I carry two rods (tube and topwater) and I use the pouches underneath the bottom of the seat when not using one or the other. I found early on that placing a rod in the rod holders tends to cause problems when floating near or under overhanging tree limbs, and the fact that they could interfere with your cast. Our first float this year in the NW Region I brought three rods and put on in the hold. Sure enough, trouble. Never again. The only time I put the rods in the rod holder is when I am entering or exiting the yak.

HA!

Nice! It's about time. Added to my blog page.