At the Illinois River (Thursday, 21 Apr)

[flyfishermann1955]

The web site showed "no generation" for the day and the weather looked good, so I ventured east to see for myself. I had a few things to do here at the house, so I didn't leave as early as I usually do. I stopped for gas and a foot-long Subway at I-40 and Choctaw Rd and departed there at 0630. There was only 1 car in the parking area below the dam when I arrived. I ate half the sandwich and then rigged up, so it was 0900 when I started fishing.

It's a whole new river after the Dec flooding! The U-shaped row of rocks are gone, as well as the nice pool they created. The water is still "murky", as you can see in the pictures. I started in the flowing water downstream from where the nice pool once was. Because of the water color, you can't really tell how deep it is, or what structure or snags are there. I hung a pink worm with a gold bead off the bend of an olive jig and worked my way up stream. Caught 1 on the worm, which I figured they would be able to see. Visibility was only a few inches in the greenish-brown water.

I went farther downstream to fish some more moving water and learn the new layout. Not a single strike here, so I worked my way back upstream. There was a guy catching fish in the tail end of the still water, above the old U-shaped rock location (far left side of the 1st picture). I went upstream 20 yards from him. Caught 5 on the olive jig and 1 on a green squirminator. 1 fish was "a typical 10 inch stocker", but all the rest were bigger fish, with the best 1 at 17 inches. I briefly tried a zebra midge too, but no takers. I never saw a single fish splash and only saw a few midges. The guy downstream was hammering fish (easily 50) on a black wooley bugger.

I only fished until 1330, so I could go look at some old bamboo rods a lady who lives nearby inherited.





Thanks- Ken

[jcw355]

Disappointed when I saw it earlier this year. That place has spoiled a lot of people over the years and I haven't been back since the end of february. In my opinion a lot of changes for the worse, lost fish holding spots but thats just the way things are when flooding happens.

[jcw355]

I'll add, I've been from the dam to below the cable at watts. Some changes at Watts as well, some better, some worse, but thats my opinion. Glad you got some fish.