Kankakee Report for 8/13/12

[Fishaholic]

My wife must think I'm nuts...with it being overcast, a slight drizzle falling and cooler temps I grabbed my gear and headed out to the Kankakee River backwaters. Visions of crappies laying on ice in my cooler danced in my mind as I drove towards the river. Upon my arrival, it looked like there were decent sized fish breaking just under the glass-like surface...excitedly, I rigged up with a jig n float combo - I worked every edge, piece of timber, and flats near weedy dropoffs I could get to - NOTHING! Not even a little bump.

HMMMM, what to do? I decided to take a little break and went back to the van, grabbed my baitcaster with a 3/8 oz. tandem spinnerbait. Just as I made my first cast, the sky opened up and it proceeded to pour...so there I stood, looking like a drowned rat, casting past tangled masses of timber hoping for something to shake loose...and it did! After a short while, I hooked a 27 inch northern pike about 4 feet from shore just after it bumped into a branch...it was a fairly good battle for the little pike, it lept out of the water a few times and tried to reach every snag it could, but still I managed to hang on and land it for a quick picture before releasing it. Another twenty minutes passed and I caught a short bass around 13 inches...and that basically was it for the rest of the day.

I drove to another location to try some other water, but after standing in the pouring rain for 4.5 hours I only had the two small fish to show for it. Called it a day and headed home.

One bright spot was seeing a couple green herons...I don't see them very often, but it's fun to watch their antics. The banks were lined with cardinal flowers too - an awesome display.

...all in all, it was still a great day down by the Kankakee.

[gijimbo]

Excellent report!! Are you back for good and off medical leave? Nice to read your stories once again!!

[Firehyd]

Nice job!

[crappiewisdom]

Glad you are back! I always appreciate your posts. I enjoy that you include the appreciation of nature in your posts about your fishing experiences. Makes me feel like I was there. You have a real nack for writing. Thanks again!

[filletfetish]

Fish, we all know you're a little nuts.....and thank goodness for that!

Sounds like a full day, congrats on that, too!