8/19/10 Fox Saw Wee Kee

From the Wisconsin border to the Illinois River, some of the best and easily accessible fishing in the Chicago area.
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Ken G
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8/19/10 Fox Saw Wee Kee

Post by Ken G »

Got out at sunrise since I'm sitting around waiting to start working. Sitting around the house is not an option. Bores me to tears.

The river is coming down pretty fast and is in perfect condition. The benefit of having flood stage the beginning of August is that it pushes all the algae out of the system. The Chain and the pools above all the dams are responsible for that hideous green color from the algae blooms that plague the Fox. Today the visibility was a good 24 inches.

Was able to hook up with 5 fish. Since the could see where they were going they would run all over the river. Normally they make short bursts through the stained water. I've always assumed it was because they couldn't see. I think the clear water runs of today finally proved what I've pretty much known all along.

I'm beginning to not like hooking a fish within the first 100 feet of starting to fish. Gets my hopes up for a banner day. Pretty uneventful day over all, but it felt good to be out walking around in water. Therapeutic for me. Even my wife will chase me out to go wading when I'm tense and buggy. She doesn't understand why it does what it does, she's just grateful when I come home laid back.

Boring pictures, but it was that kind of day.

Image

Somewhere to take breaks.

Image
Ken G
Stand still like the hummingbird.
http://www.waterdogjournal.com
http://kengortowski.com
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Ken G
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Re: 8/19/10 Fox Saw Wee Kee

Post by Ken G »

Brian, the fish are there. Make sure you float something around in the faster chutes of water. 3 of the fish came out of that type of water. I think things will improve as the water comes down more. Good luck if you go there.
Ken G
Stand still like the hummingbird.
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MattC
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Re: 8/19/10 Fox Saw Wee Kee

Post by MattC »

Nice report Ken. Ohhh im dying over here, maybe i can make it out this weekend for a little while. Probably not but i can hope right?
You can never fish the same river twice, by the time you get back it's not the same river.
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BrianZ
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Re: 8/19/10 Fox Saw Wee Kee

Post by BrianZ »

:D :D
nice, will be poking around there tomorrow morning about 5:30. i know you said to hike up and walk down but i still like making the upstream casts so i'll wade my way up for a couple three hours or so and then wade my way back down. plan on packing it in by 11am or so.
are there any walleyes or pike down that way?

i will definitely be floating stuff all over, i'm a little bit of a topwater junkie.
thanks for the reports, will definitely have a coupel days worth of reports on monday.


oh yeah, wading and fishing is some of the best medicine for the soul that there is imo, when you can just get out and get into a rhythm of casting and listening to the water rush by you...occassionally a fish will interrupt and remind you why what we do is so damn enjoyable. always kind of resets my psyche being out fishing alone, its nice to fish with freinds ina social setting but the solo trips seem to always get my mind right as well.
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Ken G
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Re: 8/19/10 Fox Saw Wee Kee

Post by Ken G »

Forgot to mention I got a hard hit, a drag screaming run and was then bit off. I use PowerPro and that never happens. I have no doubt there are walleye and I've seen muskie feeding, but neither of those have been caught along there. I guess I came close this day.

You need to get used to wading down stream. Much quieter approach. You'll be pushing all that water and the fish will hear you coming a mile away walking up stream. Besides, the fish are hanging out in the current. You have to hang things out in front of them to get them interested. Only down stream casts will work with that.

Looks like a bunch of rain tonight and into tomorrow. Was going to try to get out Saturday morning, but not sure now. And the river was just about to dip below 1000 cfs.

That figures.
Ken G
Stand still like the hummingbird.
http://www.waterdogjournal.com
http://kengortowski.com
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