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How Many Fish Did I Catch?
I caught a couple. This past weekend I fished one day only and taught a fishing class. I spent a good part of the time talking to anglers and showing some rigs. The class stayed after and we talked fishing, so instead of doing it I talked about it.
The Catch
Do you see the number above? Let me explain what those are. Most importantly, in 3 outings, I drove under Two hours. If you learn only this from me, drive less fish more. Spending gas will NOT mean better fishing- ever, only more expensive fishing. This venue will add a few miles to my total, fishing in Prospect Heights, but I want to run fishing classes to the North & South so my driving total - if also fishing will be higher than I would like. Still, not a great deal of driving fishing 4:1 is my driving ratio (driving 2 hours, fishing 8 hours).
This weekend's pond where I taught, does NOT feature a massive fish population for some reason. Smaller fish are less available, I think in part to two predators and possible chemical issues. The predators on this pond feature the commorant - a skilled fishing bird that dives for its prey mostly targeting small fish. This pond also features a big "fishing derby" and stocking by a local club who overdoes the channel catfish stocking for sure. Action was very slow as wind and cold took the sensitivity out of my rig, I had to go larger to combat the waves, wind & current. In cold, that is not a good thing.
Twenty Six is the number of fish-per-hour that I caught in the past couple of weekends. This number took a dip because on this pond, fewer fish, cold mean not a lot of opportunities. I toughed it out though and caught one big bluegill - very odd, a smaller carp and then another fish, featured below. I had been packing up my gear right after landing the gill. I gave it the "one more cast". Earlier in the session, I had sized my hook down to a #14. Explained in my two classes, small hooks are your ticket to success- especially in cold water fishing in the urban waters of Chicago's suburbs.
207? Two Hundred Seven is my fish count for the two weekends, caught on a public pond in DuPage and Lake Counties.
Fish Pictures?
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Lake County Public Pond - 3rd day, 2008
This picture features the top fish of our waters- the largest, toughest fighting fish in any urban water - the german carp. The fight was a delicate battle over a 15 minute period on 3 lb. leader with a size 14 hook, gently stuck in the corner of its massive mouth. The fish was released to grow into a larger trophy, and to provide urban angling prize in a very sustainable fishery of carp in the Chicago area. |
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Picture 2 features the enemy to an urban pond -man. This sign sums up one of the major troubles for keeping our waters in balance. A properly balanced water would feature an aquatic apex predator (top of the food chain) the bass. Although there are signs such as catch-and-release bass, I have seen 6" bass on stringers and bass also end up in buckets and in the bellies of commorants and blue herons. Having large predator bass in the pond would:
- Eliminate sick fish and smaller fish (prevent overpopulation)
- Free up more food for healthier, larger bluegills
- Reduce the population of smaller carp and the lake being overrun by carp
- Reduce population of geese!
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If you haven't been to a seminar, or booked private lessons, you might want to get in on some as the methods are simple, the gear is affordable and fishing close to home is incredible. Note that all fish in these photos were released.
Where am I next?
You can find out here:
Sign up for the 2008 chicago fishing event calendar and get notices of all great Chicago fishing events-
You can also find the next event on our schedule page: Click here
Outings
Experienced anglers share tips, tricks,
venue information as well as more advanced information on catching
fish in the Chicago area lakes. The main fishing club is located
near Chicago's Southwest suburbs and fishes at many public urban
lakes.
Lakes we hold fishing seminars at include Arlington Heights,
Wheaton, Palatine , Downer's Grove, Skokie, Joliet, Elgin, Plainfield,
Frankfurt, Chicago, Prospect Heights, and Villa Park.
Fishing events are held at: Plum Grove Reservoir,
Churchill Woods, Barth Pond, Fox River, Cricket Creek, Lake Arlington,
Skokie Lagoon and other lakes around Chicago. Chicago Park District
lakes, Du Page County lakes and other public lakes are fished by
the club.
Chicago Fishing Seminars
Seminars are held every month in and around Chicago to teach fishing. Fishing Tips, fishing Chicagoland's waters and species are covered in the seminars. Admission to the seminars is on a reservation basis! Seminars will be lead by experienced anglers who have competition experience including World Championship fishing, and US Competitions.
For more information, drop me an e-mail and
we will help you out with some more information or directions to
our next event: john@midwestangler.com or call my cell phone 630-235-2162 (John Wilkins). |
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