Terry Dodge

I have never fished for the Trout and I'm not sure if I ever will. I think it's great to see them in this area this late into the year but what are the chances of a Trout in Pine Creek making it through the winter? Obviously I don't know much about Trout.

Today in the Rockford Register Star a person reported catching a Rainbow Trout out of Pine Creek at White Pines State Park. I was surprised that the fish even made it through the warm water period. Does this seem odd to anyone else? I'm not questioning whether the fish was caught or not, I do believe the fish was caught, I just thought it was odd. From what I understand trout can't survive in waters when the temp is over 70 degrees.

Here's what I don't understand....... From what I do understand ethanol is very dalutable. So I don't see how it can travel 30 to 40 miles in a river down stream and then start to effect fish. It seems to me that this tragedy must be the cause of something else. We should be hearing test results of the fish they tested at any time now. They say that they should be able to make an announcement by the end of the week on the cause of the fish kill. I wish there was a link we could click on to check the progress of their findings. I really don't think this is caused from the train wreck in Rockford, but then again I kinda hope they can tie the train wreck into it because then we can hold Canadian Railways responsably for a super great restocking program. STOP THE PRESSES!!!!----They said on TV while I was typing this post that they will announce the results today. Channel 17 WTVO, Steve Staddleman @ 5pm. I'll be at work! I'll be checking back here when I get off. Hope to see something from you fine gentleman. 2nd shift sucks!

I also went out on wed. looking for signs of dead fish or signs of life. I watched a young father and his two small children at Kishwaukee Forest Preserve catch smallies along the bank floating a worm and bobber. The kids were happy and enjoying themselves, so I was pleased to see signs of life. As far as dead fish........Nothing. I called the bait shop at the Oregon dam on the Rock River and they have seen no dead fish.

Latest news from Rockford. We should know something by this week-end. http://www.rrstar.com/news/publicsafety/x7...surpasses-1-000

I know this area real well and find it hard to believe that this terrible accident is going to affect the Kish. There's a little run off stream that runs next to those track and if followed eventually dumps into the cities man made ditches (cement) which eventually dumps into the Rock just north of the airport where the sanitary site is. With all the rain we got on that day and with the help the fire departments the run off from the accident could reach the Rock easily. In order to get to the Kish the run off would have to go against the flow of the stream, on an up hill grade over lots of farm land. I just don't see that being too likely. I've seen how "flash flood" waters flow here in Rockford and can tell you that the first part of this post is probably going to be what the investigators find to be true. Rockford has a real problem with rain run off. I live in the middle of town at least 5 miles from any river and get flood all the time. The city of Rockford knows that it has a problem but don't seem to be in too big of a hurry to correct it. If anyone hears of anyway we can help with clean up please post.

Now see it's post like that last one that hurts my head. All those words. What do they mean?! I'm going fishin'! By the way, I was contacted by one of the people I had checking some stuff on this matter and found that "yes" the people by the creek do own all the land in that area. May peace be with them. Later.

From what I've been told Winnebago County, where the Kishwaukee runs through, had some kind of "county" law passed that states the Kishwaukee River in "Winnebago County" is navigable. This is what I've been told. If it's a fact,well I couldn't say for sure. But if it is true....................Well "the creek" that I started this whole discussion off with is a major tributary of the Kishwaukee River. Makes me wonder if this "tributary creek" would be included in this so called county law, if it exists. With that being said I would like to thank everyone for all the great info. A lot of you did a lot of work and research and I greatly appiciate it. After all that has been said I can tell you this - It's still up to me (the fisherman). If I want to pursue this then I'm going to have to do all the foot-work. We have our state laws, city laws, county laws, dumb laws, good laws and what ever else kind of law you can think of and it's just too much to go through. Maybe I'll just go up to their door and knock and ask permission. This has been a very interesting discussion. Again Thanks to all. ( just so you all know, I haven't just been reading your post. I have contacted some people on this matter ) Even if I find that I can legally fish this area it may be sometime before I do if I do at all. I don't want trouble with these people. I was just wondering what the wading laws were in Illinois.

I'm sorry.

Mr. Clifford I'm gonna have to study that post for about a week. Thanks for the great info. I do need to say that I hope no-one thinks that I'm trying to be a jerk about this spot. It's a good spot and like I said I've respected the so called land owners wishes. You only have to tell me once and the land owner was nice about it and that's why I've respected it all these years just the same as I'm sure all of you would. The thing that got me confused about it was - it's a state owned highway, a state owned bridge and don't the state own so much land on each side of the highway and bridge? Then I'm in the creek. Never on land. Now the part where people can own the land under the water........... I can never get a straight answer from anyone on this. Also does it mean anything if this creek has a registered dam on it? Again thanks for the info.

There's a spot I use to fish off of a state Hwy. I would park on one side of the bridge, walk the side of the bridge down to creek, enter the creek and wade an area about 75 yds. on each side of the bridge. People who live near there tell me that I can not fish this area. Do they have a right to say this? I have respected their wishes for the last few years but have always wondered if they had the right. Is there any site that I can go to to find an answer?