 |
|
|
 |
"Skinny" Water Excitement
By Jonn Graham
The smallmouth bass lives and prospers in a variety of waterways. In addition, these waterways stretch geographically across our great country. From the large impoundments of the South to the crystal-clear lakes of the Canadian Shield, and from the famous rivers that populate the east to the up-and-coming smallmouth fisheries of the west. Yes, it is safe to say that Mr. Smallmouth is very adaptable! But even with all these different venues, the smallmouth still seems to possess and exhibit the traits that make the specie great! No matter what body of water you choose to fish, you can count on the smallie's aggressiveness, fighting ability, and beauty to be unsurpassed.
With that said, I have to throw in a little contradiction and prejudice. Though I have caught smallies from every type of waterway (lakes, rivers, impoundments, reservoirs, gravel pits, etc.), there is one type of waterway that, in my opinion, is unmatched for pure smallmouth stalking excitement! What "liquid world" am I speaking of? CREEKS!
Referred to by many as "skinny" water or "cricks". Whatever term you use makes little matter. What matters is the great bass fishing that abounds in many of our area creeks. But more than just catching bass, fishing a "crick" is an EXPERIENCE! From the act of wading knee-deep as you sneak upstream to catch your next smallie, to the wonders of nature you cannot help but notice. For my money, creek fishing for smallmouth bass is the whole "enchilada"!
It's little wonder why I hold such an infatuation for small stream smallies. As I have written in past articles, I was lucky enough to live just a couple of blocks from a creek that emptied into the Rock River. It was on this creek that my earliest information and impressions were gleaned. Matter of fact, it was years before I ventured away from this creek and began to realize that smallies live and prosper in other bodies of water other than "my" little creek. I can honestly say that after seventeen years of stream fishing for smallmouth bass, some of my fondest memories occurred way back in those early years on that little Whiteside county stream. Many days were spent trudging up the creek with friends. Getting wet, sloshing through sand, mud and rocks -- what could be better!? We caught plenty of fish, but the real fun, the stuff I remember to this day, has nothing to do with the number or size of the fish. No, what I miss most about those childhood creek experiences was the pure innocence of it all! We took off each morning on our bikes without a care in the world! We did not have to worry about paying bills or making sure our children were safe. All we needed to care about was getting home on time! Of course, when it came to fishing, that was a tough one for me! Many a day was missed due to my house incarceration which was a direct result of me not getting home on time the day before. I think another fact that made those early days so special was the idea that we were off on our own. We did not have any parents or other elders with us. It was just us and mother nature! Boldly going where no one else had gone (or so we thought). Boy, those were definitely the good 'ol days! I wish you could have been there. Heck, some of you probably had fond childhood fishing memories just like mine.
I guess it is safe to say that my fondness for "skinny" water has carried over to the present day. Nothing is more exciting for me today than to spend time on a small creek. And when it comes to fishing a new creek for the first time, I nearly lose my mind over the excitement. But what really makes creek fishing so great? Well, I began to answer this question in the paragraph above, but I feel I did not answer the question completely.
First of all, in most cases, fishing a creek affords you the opportunity to fish by yourself. For me, this is a big reason why I enjoy creek fishing so much. Now, do not get me wrong, many times I chose to fish with a friend, but when I want to fish and not be seen or heard, I head to a local creek. The quietness and serenity that can be enjoyed along a stream corridor is unexplainable. It is just you and mother nature! That brings us to another plus when it comes to "skinny" water fishing. "Slipping" quietly along affords one the opportunity to see nature close up. And I do mean CLOSE UP! If an angler is quiet (which he should be if he wants to consistently catch bass), he or she is sure to see some amazing sights. I cannot even begin to recall all of the truly amazing things I have seen while stalking stream smallies. Due to the small number of anglers who choose to fish creeks, the stream side wildlife encounters very few humans, thus the wildlife is truly wild! No tame geese or deer like you sometimes encounter at our local parks and forest preserves.
In addition, the simplicity of equipment needed to enjoy a day of creek'n is another characteristic that makes this type of angling very enjoyable. No need for big fancy bass boats here! Though like any other hobby, you can spend as little or much as one wants, a "skinny" water angler, in essence, only needs one rod and reel combo, a small box of tackle, and a pair of old shoes to get into the "game". Creek smallies' aggressive nature makes picking the correct lure to offer them a cinch. A small variety of three to four inch soft plastics and plugs is all one really needs to catch fish on a consistent basis. This short list of offerings would probably fit nicely into a small tackle box that could be tucked into an angler's back pocket. As you might guess, I carry a considerably larger amount of tackle when I trek to a creek. But, truth be know, I really do not need half the "stuff" I lug with me on each and every trip. My fishing success with just a small box of tackle stuffed into my pocket would probably be the same as when I bring a tackle-shop -supply of baits.
The one aspect of small stream angling that I have fail to mention thus far is, without a doubt, the number one reason why I continue to enjoy creek fishing year after year. For me, the pure "exploration" factor is what really excites me! As I am trudging up a creek I am constantly inquisitively asking myself, "what's around the next bend?" Will it be the best spot in this section of the creek? Will there a be a big mature smallie just waiting for my offering? These are the types of questions that keep me going. Of course, sometimes my inquisitiveness causes me to trek longer distances than first planned, which equates to a long walk back to the vehicle. Even with creeks that I fish year after year, there are always changes. Every spring mother nature normally completes a few "remodeling" jobs on my local creeks. So every year when I fish my creeks for the first time, it becomes a new and exciting exploration -- kinda like fishing it for the first time all over again. Speaking of "first time", as mentioned previously, nothing is more enthralling than to fish a stream or section of stream for the very first time. Many times while exploring new areas I think to myself how great it would have been to travel with Lewis and Clark, or any other explorer from years past, and see what they saw for the first time!
So the question becomes, "how do you find these little hidden, unknown creeks? Well, most die-hard creek anglers, including myself, will not just release the names and locations of his or her favorite skinny water destinations. But no need to fret, with a little knowledge and a little homework, any angler can find these little out-of-the-way, under fished, excitement factories.
First of all, an angler looking for a suitable smallmouth creek needs to get a map. Not just any map, but a Delorme Gazetteer map. They are sold just about everywhere and these maps show every little creek, ditch, river, lake, etc. In addition, this map shows every little back and side road, which are the types of roads that these small water sanctuaries have a tendency to traverse. Once the map has been purchased it becomes a fairly logical "search and find" mission. First look for the major rivers that contain fishable smallmouth populations. In our state that would be rivers such as the Rock, Fox, Kankakee, Illinois, and Mississippi. Next, using your map, locate small tributary streams that empty into these larger rivers. Now, of course not every trib. will be suitable for 'ol Mr. Bronzeback. Try to find those with a decent water volume. In most cases, little ditches that are only a few feet across are not worthwhile. Keep in mind that I said, IN MOST CASES! There are a few very small ditch-like streams that hold a few smallies. But for the most part small creeks that are at least ten feet wide and contain suitable smallmouth habitat (clean water, rocks, woody debris, and holes in excess of three feet) are worth checking out! Not all the streams you check into will yield worthwhile results, but the more you explore the larger the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow will become. Sooner or later you will find a creek with suitable number of smallies and this one creek will make all of your work that much more rewarding. In addition your findings, in most cases, will provide great fishing for years to come.
While anytime is a good time to fish a small stream, the month of May ranks among the best times. Why? Well, the month of May is usually when you will find the highest concentrations of smallmouth bass in small, tributary creeks. They have swam up these skinny waterways for the purpose of spawning. While it is true that some bass spawn in these feeder streams and then return to the main river, many bass choose to stay in these feeder streams throughout the summer and may only return to the big river late in the fall. While I do not condone fishing for spawning bass, an angler should take advantage of the great pre-spawn action that can and does take place (when conditions are right) in many of our state's small creeks. Smallmouths are naturally aggressive, but during the pre-spawn period they often become "super-charged", slashing and eating any number of baits. In addition, the time prior to the spawn gives the small stream angler a chance to catch a true creek "giant" as big females are quite often laden with eggs. Of course, a quick picture and a speedy release must be par for the course in order to assure successful angling in the future (I will talk more on this subject later).
I thought a good way to wrap up this month's article would be to provide a top ten tip list as it relates to successfully enjoying the creek "experience". So without further ado, here we go:
Tip #1: Creeks = Private Land
Ninety-nine percent of all creek miles here in Illinois lie on private land. This means it behooves any angler who wishes to fish a section of creek to first gain access to this stretch by first asking permission of the landowner. In most cases finding out who owns a piece of land is not difficult. Just locate the nearest house, and normally you are in business. But if this does not work, attaining a Platt book may be your only solution. A Platt book illustrates who owns every piece of land for a whole county. These books can be purchased at your county's courthouse. Keep in mind that wading and/or boating a small creek is considered trespassing in almost ALL CASES!! The only circumstance where it is not considered trespassing is when the body of water is listed with the state as a navigable waterway. But for the most part, very few creeks are listed in this manner.
Tip #2: Catch and Release Angling is a MUST!
To put it as simply and direct as possible, small streams cannot and will not continue to provide quality fishing if the smallmouth bass are removed from the system! Spawning success in our state's streams is fairly low due to unfavorable conditions that quite often dominate the spring spawning season. Because of this any number of year classes of fish are often missing from the population. I could go into a long "sermon" concerning the importance of C&R when it comes to small creeks, but I won't.
It's a simple fact, CATCH AND RELEASE IS A MUST TO PROVIDE FOR SUITABLE POPULATIONS FOR YEARS TO COME!!!
Tip #3: Clear Water Conditions = Best Fishing
As I have detailed in past articles, the smallmouth bass is a sight feeder. So, as you might guess, when a small stream is "running" clear, the bass can see their prey that much better and thus are constantly on the prowl. Because of this fact anglers should take advantage of clear water conditions whenever and however long they last!
Tip #4: Dog Days of Summer = Hot Angling!
In many ways this tip relates to tip #3. When the month of August rolls around and lake anglers complain about the "dog days of summer" and how all the bass have gone "deep", small streams are at their BEST! Not surprising is the fact that the heat of summer usually coincides with clear water conditions, which, as I stated previously, equates into exceptional catch rates. The clear water combined with the bass' high metabolism due to peak water temps. makes for some great "dog day" angling.
Tip #5: Finesse tackle is best!
Skinny, clear water calls for light action rods and reels coupled with light line. I believe a six foot light or medium-light spinning rod is the best all around rod for creek'n. I would also suggest six pound test line that is clear or light green in color. When it comes to baits, artificial lures are all one needs. A few jig/plastic combos, three inch plugs, and a few topwater baits will fool smallies most of the time. Just make sure to keep your offerings fairly small. Lures measuring two to four inches are normally best.
Tip #6: Best Stream Habitat Holds the Largest Smallies
All things being equal, the largest smallmouths in a small creek will choose to live in the best hole! Usually this haunt has everything a big smallie would want. Deep water with rock or wood cover and shallow water nearby is usually a prerequisite.
Tip #7: Stealthy Approaches Pay Big Dividends!
Skinny water means skittish smallmouths. Couple that with clear water and they can become very aware of their surroundings. When it comes to catching them under these circumstances, an angler needs to keep noise and vibrations to a minimum. Always approach the water cautiously and only get as close to a spot as is absolutely necessary to deliver an accurate cast. Stealth really pays off when trying to elicit strikes from large, mature smallies.
Tip #8: Best Small Streams Receive Little or No Pressure
If you are really looking for a prize creek, find one that sees nary a few anglers each and every year. Normally, to accomplish this one needs to either find a VERY small stream that most creek aficionados would pass up, or one that meanders through private, desolate land and provides very little access. In other words, find a stream that has very few bridges over it. Small creeks that require long distant hikes to find suitable habitat sometimes hold some really large bass.
Tip #9: Leave No Trace!
Once you achieve permission to fish a private stream do not jeopardize future access by leaving trash along the stream's bank. My good fishing friend, Ed, says it best when he tells landowners that he will ONLY LEAVE FOOTPRINTS AND ONLY TAKE MEMORIES!!! I think that says it all!
Tip #10: Smell the Roses!
While tromping up and down a small stream, it behooves any angler to take time out and take-in all there is to see. Mother nature is truly a beautiful thing! Don't fish so "hard" that you miss the exciting sights that occur above the water.
Well, there you have it. I hope I have given you enough reasons to give creek fishing a try and enough tips for you to be successful. Over the years, I have introduced a large number of anglers to the joys of creek'n. Not a one was ever disappointed and all had a strong hankering to come back and do it all over again. I am sure you will feel the same way.
All rights reserved - copying any information is strictly prohibited without the consent of the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance.
top
|
|
|
