Southwest Outdoorsman

Hybrid Striper run on the Kaskaskia River

Mon, August 01, 2011

Usually this time of the year spillway and river fisherman on the Kaskaskia River are used to dealing with low river levels and slim to none white bass or hybrids to chase, but with the record rains the Southwestern Illinois area has received this spring and early summer, Carlyle lake has been as high as 9 foot above normal pool level and Shelbyville hasn’t been that far behind.  That means good things for the striped species anglers, which is a consistent flow of water that is being released from both of the lakes Dams.  Those consistent release rates of cool deep water and boosted dissolved oxygen levels from Carlyle draws hybrids, white bass and even true stripers off the Mississippi Rivers in search for a break from the warmer waters of the Mighty Miss. While high water can ruin the bite on one species, it can really turn another one on!

This year has been the most productive I have even seen for the striped species and fishing has been hot and steady the last couple months.  This weekend after I got some work done in the deer woods I headed down to the Kaskaskia to target some hybrids that have been busting shad throughout the late evening hours and provide plenty of drag screaming fun on 8 lb test.  The hybrids did not disappoint as me and a couple friends quickly caught out limit of 3 hybrids over 17” and ended up with 32 hybrids total. Out of all the species I have fished for, nothing is more exciting than watching a pack of Hybrids or Stripers bust a group of shad on top water. It is the closest thing I have ever seen to a shark feeding frenzy!

6 Lb 7 oz hybrid. biggest of the afternoon

6 Lb 2 oz & 5 Lb 10 oz Hybrid

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Lake Monster!

Wed, June 29, 2011

What has been already a good year for Flatheads keeps getting better and better.  I headed out to the lake lastnight after work,tired and running off of 5 hours sleep, my buddy who also works nights talked me into putting the boat in for a few hours to hunt some Catfish. I sure am glad i took him up on his suggestion as i hooked into this nice 37 lber on a whole bluegill at about 2am.  It reminded me that no matter how tired you are you cant catch a good fish or shoot a nice deer while in bed!

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What a Weekend!

Mon, June 27, 2011

Even with less than prime weather and 6 plus inches of rain this weekend the fish were still biting and the frogs were croaking. It was a busy weekend as I took a couple youngsters along on the youth frog gigging trip, tangled with Channel Cats & Flatheads on Bond Lake and hammered the White Bass on the Kaskaskia River.

I took a couple young Frog Giggers out Thursday night for the annual FFGA (future frog giggers of America) youth frog gig. The kids had a blast even though the temps were in the mid 70’s and the water was warmer than the air. With high water it was harder than usual to locate the frogs as they were high and dry on shore lying up in the thick grass. I managed to spotlight the young men on a limit of nice frogs and they went home happy with plenty of croakers to fry up. It was great to introduce young outdoorsmen to new activities in the outdoors and important to keep traditions alive.

a couple of up and coming outdoorsman with a limit of Frogs

Friday night I headed out on the home lake for some rod & reel action and to jug for some catfish. With high water and big storms rolling in it really had the cats turned on. We caught a few Channels rod and reel in the 5-12 lb range but did most of our damage on the jugs using whole bluegill and shad, with 18 catfish in the 5-15 lb range with big fish being a Flathead. In between checking the jugs and rebating I also took the frog gigs along and took a couple croakers for myself!

Flatheads & Frogs a good combo

Phil with a couple nice Channels

My brother with 2 more nice Channels

Sunday afternoon I headed down to the Kaskaskia River below Carlyle Lake in search of some White bass. The river has rose quite a bit with the recent rains but that didn’t seem to stop the White bass from biting as they were on fire.  Most of the fish were in the .75-1.5 lb range with big white being a fine 3 lb 6 oz specimen. We ended up keeping and cleaning 123 whites to feed the family for the annual 4th of July fish fry and easily caught over 200 on the day all on crawdads. It was just one of those days that as soon as the bait is in the water, a fish is on

biggest White Bass of the day

Cooler full of 123 White Bass fillets for the 4th of July fish fry

Overall it was a great weekend to be outdoors, don’t let the wet weather/ high water keep you away from fishing as it hasn’t seemed to bother the fish a bit. I hope everyone has a great 4th of July and is able to enjoy it, make sure to thank the ones that have made it all possible!

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