Terry Dodge

It's gotta have something to do with the extreme heat were getting. Hopefully that's cause of it and this so called out break is not anything of any great concern.

I've been asking around about this bacterial infection Furunculosis (aeromonas salmonicida) that may have popped up at the Distillery Rd. F.P. in Boone County during the IDNR stream sampling. I have been unable to find a great deal of info on this subject and it's effects on smallmouth bass or fresh water fish in whole. What info I have found I can't really make heads or tails out of. So I ask you, the members of the ISA, to please share any info you might have on this bacterial infection. I'm basically looking to find out if the furunculosis is reason for concern, or reason for great concern? Thanks. Not sure why I didn't start off asking here. Da!

Scott - I might like to try and tackle that task as long as Bill K doesn't have a problem with me including his info. (?) Would probably have to use a few of Bill's South Branch photos as you (Mr. Scott F) never seem to like the pics I have sent you in the past. Something to do with me having a cheap-o-matic camera or something. But hey........If Bill K wants to take it on then I would be more than glad to share the info. I have to admit that sometimes my spellin' ain't all that rite. (!) It just ain't good.

Kilbuck Creek Stream Sampling 7/15/11: The Kilbuck stream sampling pulled out the biggest variety of fish I've seen yet and the most. They had 3 nice size smallies, a few white bass, a few rock bass, a couple walleye, one big northern pike and many other smaller one's, catfish, carp, suckers, blue-gills and some pumpkin-seed. The water was extremely cloudy still with about 4" of visibility. They netted so many fish that they had to work fast so I didn't have much time to snap any good pics. Here are a few of what I got. I really enjoyed watching as these fine people as they did this work. I just wish I could have joined in and help. It's hard to stand on the sideline and watch. Next time.

Not really suspected, I asked, They said it was routine. It's how they determine the health hazards of the fish that people eat that we read about in the IDNR Illinois Fishing Digest each year.

I'll just tag the Kishwaukee River Forest Preserve sampling on to here. Kishwaukee River F.P. Stream Sampling, 7/14/11 Took a thermos of coffee with me this morning and meet the IDNR team @ Kishwaukee F.P. I guess I should state that I'm just watching. I pulled some lower back muscles at work Monday night so I don't want to get in there and wade over large rocks and mess myself up some more plus with the whole Workman's comp thing it probably wouldn't be a good idea. It kills me just watching. Any hoot........... The team put in at the canoe launch and worked it's way upstream just past the Blackhawk bridge. Many fish were taken during this first run and they did do a 2nd run but I had to leave before they returned. They had a few hog-head carp in the nets which according to Karen is a good sign of good clean water. There were many good size cats taken and of course many fish of the carp family. There were about 8 smallies taken with the biggest being taped at 16". There were also about 4 rockies taken and they taped between 4" to 8". All of the smallies, rockies and many of the catfish had to be all sacrificed for contaminate test. The DNR cuts one fillet from the fish wraps it in tinfoil and ships it off for testing. They were a bit stunned when they offered me the other half of the smallmouth fillet and I refused. I just couldn't do it. Before they began to fillet the fish I took a close look at the smallies and rockies. One smallmouth did have a small peach spot near it's tail and so did one rockie. Other than that everything looked fine. Here are some pics of the sampling......... Well that's the report from today, I'll also be at the Kilbuck Sampling tomorrow morning. I might get there a little bit late as I have to go to rehab first but should be able to catch most of the show. Also it was nice to see some of the Higher-Ups from WCFPD on hand at this sampling. I mentioned to them about the upcoming clean up on Sunday July 24th and asked to be sure that we could leave the trash collected in or at the dumpster at the park and they gave 3 thumbs up and thanked us ahead of time for the clean up.

That's an interesting point that Paul brings up about the trout. I have also seen that information while reading up on this bacterial infection. I have also read that the out break normally occurs during the month of July with extreme temp changes. We have had many days of 90 degrees and above over the last 30 days, with more days of the same in the forecast. Wayne also said that it spreads much like the flu in your household during the winter months. One person in your house gets the flu and then it usually gets passed to the next family member and then the next and so on. He (Wayne) also said that it's the over all health of the smallmouth that will determine how badly this bacterial infection will effect them. Definitely something I need to spend more time reading up on and understanding before getting too worried about I guess.

Nice report! I found the same with the wealth of knowledge. They are glad to talk about everything and anything with you. Great people. I have a report from today's sampling (7/14) at Kishwaukee F.P. in Winnebago Co. that I will write up and post later tonight or tomorrow morning before going to the Kilbuck sampling. Bill - Just wondering......Were you at the sampling with the ANGRY land owner who was tossing the IDNR's equipment around?

Thanks but - slow down there Mikey! It seems we have a problem.......... Furunculosis: http://aqua.merck-animal-health.com/diseases/furunculosis/productadditional_127_113308.aspx Now that I got the spelling right I'm reading up on all the info and it does not sound good. Not at all.

Today I attended the IDNR/IEPA Stream Sampling of the Distillery Rd. F.P. in Boone County. This is the same area where the BCCD/ISA stream-barbs were installed back in January of this year. Let me first start off by saying that these people are very enthusiastic about their jobs and you can definitely see that they all enjoy do this work. I first met up with Karen and introduce myself as being with the ISA and she was very happy to have me there to watch. I then met Wayne who is an older gentleman and it was easy to tell that he was the "ol' dog" of the crew. This is Wayne............ http://youtu.be/H_vClwHs6mw Did you catch that? We'll get back to that in a bit. The team put in at the canoe launch and headed upstream to the stream-barbs. Two (2) people in the boat and many following behind with nets. I also had to ask and take note that nobody had on neoprene's? I asked Wayne about this because folks here at the ISA have always said to be sure and wear neoprene's. Wayne said that neoprene's were not necessary. He then proceeded to put his neoprene's on, the ol' dog. here ar a few pics............. The team netted many fish most of which were of the carp family and also many catfish It was noted that most of the catfish had leeches on them and were also kind of beat-up a bit. The catfish that is. Many of the carp had blisters and sores around their mouths. There were four (4) smallmouth taken and they ranged between 8" to 12" . Now then getting back to Wayne............... http://youtu.be/H_vClwHs6mw Did you catch that? (listen again if needed) I knew there was no way I would remember that word when I got home so I had to tape it. It's some kind of bacterial disease. Take a look.......... Notice the peach colored spots near the tail end and along the belly. Wayne says that it's a bacterial infection caused from spawn stress. I tried to google the word but I can't seem to find the right way to spell it. It seems that there may be something going on or maybe even in the water in Boone Co. I met with the IEPA people when they arrived but they had already waded down stream after the sores and bacterial disease were found. I'll speak more with them about it tomorrow. I know that they (IEPA) won't have any answers right away but I would like to at least get a contact number. If anyone has any info on this bacterial disease please share. This was my first attempt at doing a report like this so sorry if I didn't collect all the info. If anybody has any questions they would like me to ask please post them. Until next time. (tomorrow maybe)

Kind of messed up my back last night at work so I don't think it would be wise to attend this event at the moment. Sorry.

Is there still an "Adopt-A-Stream program"? I click on the down loads and nothing really happens. And what about the Adopt-A-Stream web-site? Thanks for any help or info.

I'll give Karen a call on Monday to let her know that I'm interested in watching them do the stream sampling. I guess I'm going to take a vacation day on Friday to watch them do the sampling at both spots. Water is low so maybe I can help out with the seine shocking at the secound spot if they do it. I can't wade or hike to the spot where I believe the quarry drains do to the fact that most the land owners in the area also stake claim to the creek.

I got a little creek that I like to spend time on and over the last couple of years there has been what I believe is a rock quarry using the creek for drainage. A creek that up to 2 years ago always ran clear is now very stained with maybe 3 inches of visibility at best and is pretty much not worth fishing any more in my opinion. I will be attending a stream survey this week on the creek with the IDNR. Should I bring this to their (IDNR) attention and are there any questions I should drill them with? I'm kinda mad as hell about this. I want my clear running creek back. Help a member out.

Okay, help me out I'm stupid. Let's say that I go to Kilbuck Bluffs on the 15th @ 9am to watch this boat sampling. Are they going to stay in one place and take samples, or am I going to be running along the edge of the bank trying to watch this as they float down stream? Just trying to figure out if I need a coffee cup with a top or can I go topless? Help a brother out. Welcome back Jude. rich - Nice dog.

rich, Don't mean to hound you but if you can post that Kish date as soon as possible I would appreciate it. Being short handed at work, I need to put in for a vacation day at least 48 hours ahead of time. Thanks. Again, I don't mean to hound you.

Thanks rich. I was just thinking about that today. Let us know. I'll try and be there.

Headed out to the stream after the Wimbledon Ladies' got done with their tennis match and I pretty much received the same butt whooping that Sharapova did. I failed. Thing is I kind of expected it. I never go out at this time of day during the summer but I had nothing better to do. I went back and revisited the Winnebago County Forest Preserve stream-barbs (These are NOT the Boone County/ISA stream-barbs) for the first time this year. You might remember the pictures posted last year. You might also remember a few of you said that these barbs would probably not hold up........ Well for those of you who said this, I am here to tell you that you were correct! They failed and are failing....... (same barb) This barb is the worst of the four but believe me they are all crumbling. It was not that great of a day and the only real high point I had (besides the temp that is) was running across Jude on the way back to my Bass-Van.......

Mine is registered but I was told that the numbers do not have to be stuck on inflatables. I keep the sticker and paper work in one of the many pockets on the 'toon in a zip lock baggie. I have never been checked. Last year I ran into an officer who asked if it was registered and I said....."Yes, would you like to see my papers?" and he then replied....... "No. Since you are taking out, I don't need to see them." I thought this seemed strange but oh well. Anybody doing any kind of floating on the Kish on weekends be sure to have your craft registered and be sure to have your pfd. They will check. PatH - Yes that counts.

Why don't someone just right an article mentioning the rules of the man card, design a card and then print the article and card on the inside of the back cover of the Bronzeback Bulletin? If this is ever done please be sure to add the dash guidelines around the card. I'm not real good with scissors and without them I'll be all over the place.

I don't see that happening, Norm. If you are referring to me as the "river dance god", I'm sorry to inform you that I'm completely bald. About the only way I can think of to get the feathers to stick to my head would be with the use of a staple-gun.

http://abcnews.go.co...laylist=1363932

I like it. I like the fact that I can float to an area that I want to wade and just stand right up. Don't have to worry about crawling out of anything. I've had it 4 years now and have never had a problem. It's not the greatest thing to float and fish out of and you for-sure can't even think about heading up stream but as far as using it on the Kish to reach an area to wade, it's good. Paul was hanging on the right front of it after he flipped his yak and I was never worried about the 'toon flipping. Very stable. TimU liked how much crap I could load on it.

Just incase anyone has any thoughts of it............. With the Rockford Air Fest going on this weekend the Kish around the airport area will be closed. I saw on the news last year where they made canoers and yakers take out at Belt-Line Rd. during the Air Fest weekend. Just so you know.

It's tough. I think the fact that the Kish is shallow and narrow and really has no eddies to speak of, the smallmouth are just hunkered down behind whatever large rock or tree they can find and are more worried about surviving the high fast current than they are food. That's just what I think.