FIRST OUTING THIS YEAR

[trevor]

I managed to get out Saturday for a few hours, first time this year, and the first time since early November.

I went to the Illinois river at Morris. The river was chocolate brown, and flowing fast, with plenty of turbulence. Anyone knowing the place it is called Stratton Park. The park was closed due to the very high water flooding parts of it, so I had to park on the fringes of the area.

I found a couple of slack pieces of water just down stream of the Morris bridge. I fished one line right in the slack water, and the other on the edge of the slack. After about 45 minutes I started to get a couple of very small knocks, but hit nothing. Then about 1 1/4 hours in I got my first real bite, which landed me my first fish of the season, a buffalo of about 3 1/2 lbs. I then caught another about 10 minutes later of a similar size. I did get a couple more indications of fish, but had no more. Both fish came from the line right in the slack water.

I think due to the awful conditions of the river, just getting a bite or two was doing pretty well.

Anyway it was great to be back on the water again.

Trev.

[mark]

Very good performance when you consider conditions. How deep was the water and what was your choice of bait?
Mark

[trevor]

Hi Mark
I was fishing in about 4-5 feet of water on the inside line and about 10 feet on the other line. I took with me some small red worms and pineapple flavoured corn. All bites and fish came from the corn. I was using a small open ended feeder, with my normal river groundbait mix on both lines, but the worm line I was plugging the end with groundbait putting some chopped worm in the middle and plugging off the top end again with groundbait.

Trev.

[mark]

Thanks Trev
Catching in cold , high water is always challenge. I'll give it a try. Our buffs like pineapple flavored baits also.
Mark

[trevor]

No Problem Mark.
Of course my bait and groundbait was also laced it Biosource too. I am pretty sure it gave me a edge.

[mark]

I'm thrifty with my B. I use it in still or slow moving water when the probability of fish is good but bites are scarce. When used in clear water with visible fish you can see the results. Tell Pat thanks for the B.

[trevor]

Hi Mark.
B also works in moving water as long as it is fished on the bottom. It is heavier than water, so it will leak out of the bait and creep along the bed of the river. Water also normally moves much slower near the bed of a river than at the top, due to drag created by the bottom.

I have still had great results in water requiring a 5 or 6 ounce feeder to hold bottom.

Trev.