Illinois stream wading

[BenCantrell]

Howdy folks!  I was feeling desperate last weekend because I hadn't caught a fish in January, so I drove to a spot 2 hrs from home that's always been reliable in winter for smallmouth bass.  I almost never fish artificials when I'm trying to catch new species for my lifelist, so this was a good opportunity to try out different jigs and lures and just enjoy being in the water.  Got six species all together: smallmouth bass, rock bass, green sunfish, longear sunfish, striped shiner, and creek chub.  The one species that I was hoping for but didn't come across was spotted bass.  I took way more photos than was necessary, but I hope you guys enjoy them anyway.

[Latimeria]

Wow, Ben!  That brings back a lot of memories when I would fish the streams back east.  Lots of bass, rock bass and sunfish!  Super cool trip and thanks for sharing that.  I have to admit, I thought you guys would be under 4 feet of snow by now! lol

[xjchad]

Great report!  I love fishing streams and it looks like you had a blast!

[BenCantrell]

I thought you guys would be under 4 feet of snow by now! lol

People were ice fishing in central Illinois last week, but over the weekend it warmed up quite a bit, so I doubt they are now.  Probably the end of the season.  I'm usually not brave enough to ice fish around here.

[greyhoundfan]

great collection.

[Pinoyfisher]

That's a pretty productive stream!

[BenCantrell]

That's a pretty productive stream!

I was fishing below the city's waste water discharge. 

[Pinoyfisher]

That's a pretty productive stream!

I was fishing below the city's waste water discharge. 

So plenty of chum!