A few times a year we get enough rain to make the Fox River ideal for high, fast and muddy fishing. Wading at that point is out of the question, so walking the shore of the flooded river and fishing the nooks and crannies within a foot of shore is simple. The fish tuck in tight to get out of the current, making them relatively easy pickings.
The problem is, I’ve done this so many times I’m bored with it. I usually wait a few days then go fish creeks. They drain and clear up much faster than the river.
I think this time it’s not going to work out that way.
That’s Big Rock Creek. I usually get in at this spot then go either up or down stream. Usually the water beneath this bridge is barely crotch deep. I’d say it’s about 10 feet deep now. There were a lot of nice eddies, but it was a little too muddy. I think the ideal spot would be off in the distance, beyond that thin strip of green. That’s the field where the cattle graze. I hear smallies have a penchant for cow pies.
The other direction is even more out of the question.
A pool beneath that bridge in the distance is almost impossible to walk through even at low water. Based on what I saw, I’d say it’s about 15 feet deep now. There’s not a whole lot of traffic that crosses that bridge and those that do drive across it give wandering anglers a wide berth while they walk the bridge. Might be worth dropping a line over the rail.
Another favorite high water spot is the outflows of treatment plants, or crap plants. The outflow is always crystal clear and when the river is blown out and muddy, they’re fish magnets.
In Yorkville right now, fishing the crap plant couldn’t be easier. You can go sit on the porch of this building, out of the rain and fish in dry comfort.
Or, you could wander through the two to three feet of water and hit the walls of the building next door.
Personally, I’d be targeting the dumpster.
There’s always the holding tanks. I hear some crap plants keep them filled with carp, carp will eat just about anything you know.
The question becomes… should I use a floater or a sinker?
All up and down the river there’s new structure to fish and you should make an effort to cast at as much of this new structure as possible. Everything can hold fish under these conditions.
I almost wish I lived here…
Off on the left is the kitchen. I could drop a line right out the window, catch a fish, reel it in directly into the kitchen and have it cooked and plated in less than half an hour.
Doesn’t get any fresher than that.
Walt
19 Apr 2013I once tried fishing during a hurricane in the north, and fishing during a blizzard, too, but there’s something about floods that brings out the willies in me. I think it has something to do with not becoming food for fishes. Anyway, an interesting idea.
Ken G
20 Apr 2013I’ve pushed my luck twice Walt when the water was flowing at 5000 cfs. This event almost hit 17,000. Found out trees don’t like me wandering around them at high water and they try to suck me under them. Had to do it twice, I’m a slow learner.
howard levett
19 Apr 2013I think the day I fish the crap plant is the day I take up golf.
Ken G
20 Apr 2013On a normal day Howard the water flowing out of them is supposedly clean enough to drink. No interest in testing that. Around Chicago a good part of any river consists of waste water effluent, so you’re fishing in it whether you like it or not. The East, West and main branches of the DuPage River has 17 plants on them. Explains why they never freeze over during the winter. The outflow during the winter is around 55 degrees.
Jim McClellan
20 Apr 2013Damn, Ken! Looks like some pretty significant flooding up there. Under these conditions, we usually set trotlines in the backwater to catch the big channel cats that move up in there to feed on the newly submerged bottom. But depending on the location of the WTPs, I’d probably pass on that.
Ken G
20 Apr 2013Was just out wandering around Jim, water is dropping, but one creek seems to refuse to come down. Down my way on the river the banks get pretty high. No backwaters around here, otherwise I’d give that a try. I don’t worry about the WTP’s, not enough down this way either to matter.
howard levett
20 Apr 2013What’s going on back there. I don’t ever remember this much water.
Ken G
20 Apr 2013The gods hate us Howard. Drought last year, floods this year. It’s the end of the world I tell ya.
1996, 2008 and now this. I believe these are called 100 year floods. Somebody failed math. Watched a show last night on the disappearing of the glaciers. I’m blaming the glaciers.
Olaf
21 Apr 2013Despite the fact that these floods have stolen what would have been my first fishing weekend of 2013, I’m glad they’re happening. Last spring we had basically no snow melt and no rain until the beginning of May. Trying to fish BRC in April 2012 was an exercise in collecting leaf litter, weeds and algae, since nothing had ever cleaned out the accumulated crap of summer, fall and winter. Then there was a summer of low (no) flow. A couple weeks ago I checked out the park in Plano to see if the shorthead redhorses were getting it on yet. They weren’t (too cold, I think), but I noted the bottom was still a lot dirtier than in previous years. I have a hunch the clean sandy bottoms will be cleaner and sandier after this. AND I’m hoping to find some obviously man-made structures redesigned by nature.
That spot you show (the no trespassing bridge) is one of my favorites. Got chewed out by a game warden there last year, though. I had waders on and a rod in hand and he made it very clear to me that a) it’s illegal to fish anywhere except right next to the road bridge downstream because it’s private property, and b) if I didn’t stop arguing I’d be getting a ticket. That was the day I learned that Illinois has really stupid laws about who owns the river/creek beds.
Thanks for the photos. Tells me I can wait another week or two before heading all the way out there.
Ken G
22 Apr 2013I haven’t bothered heading upstream this year on those creeks, there’s been nothing moving at the mouths so I never bothered. I’m sure the creek beds are getting rearranged. That happened on BRC after the 2008 flood. The stretch up stream in the Forest Preserve became unwadeable because of all the new deeper water.
You must have got the CPO on a bad day. That area is always crawling with anglers. The cattle farm owner doesn’t seem to care and I’ve talked to the Boy Scout leader as I walked across that property. But I was wearing waders both times. I think they cut us a break because were not sitting on the bank with a bonfire. I wouldn’t let that stop you from going there.
And, if it’s the CPO I think it is, my run ins with him prove to me he’s a bit of an asshole. Uniform went to his head. The one that retired a few years ago was more reasonable.
The creeks were coming down fast, we’ll see what this weeks rain does. Might be alright by the weekend.
CHUCK KOENIG
25 Apr 2013KEN: ANY REALLY DECENT SPOTS NOW WITH THIS HIGH WATER (FOX R.)?
Ken G
25 Apr 2013I’m waiting till the water comes down Chuck. A few anglers I know are walking the shores, fishing the current breaks and doing okay, but I’m going to wait till I can go wading.