heading further up river

As I continue to explore the Milwaukee River going further north, my love for this water grows exponentially. Originally last year when I got started hunting smallmouth in this watershed, I was focused on areas just north of the city limits of Milwaukee. Every trip I have taken this year has brought me closer and closer to reaching its headwaters. working a foam filled pool on the upper Milwaukee...

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apple river smallmouth bass

apple river dragon fly When people even mention the driftless area, the first thing that comes to mind is the world class trout fishing found throughout Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. With that being said, the warm water fish of the driftless area sometimes aren’t even considered as an afterthought. But, the locals who pursue the smallies and pike in the driftless area know the potential and are...

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fox river illinois smallmouth

fishing the fox river in Illinois I remember this boy named Michael from grade school who happened to live in the next sub-divison over. He was never somebody that I was overly friendly with but never a guy who I ever had any trouble with either. To be honest, he was quite the awkward boy. A tad bit more then slightly overweight, with sweaty palms, a noticeable lisp, and a mild odd odor, one couldn’t...

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lake vermilion bass fishing

a nice lake vermilion bass Lake Vermilion is a 1000 acre reservoir located in Vermilion County. The nearest city is Danville Illinois bordering the lake just to it's east. This lake is an impoundment of the Vermilion river and boasts a healthy population of game fish. This lake is a quite a popular destination for the tournament anglers from both the Northern and Southern half of...

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trout fishing the kickapoo river valley

For his birthday, Neal and his brother along with their significant others spent a weekend kayaking the Kickapoo River in Vernon County Wisconsin. It just so happened that the camp and their cabin sat on a very nice stretch of private river. The pools and riffles here were stuffed with some eager and willing trout. kickapoo river valley flyfishing the kickapoo river, right behind camp 2...

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Dialing In On The Kish

  This past Sunday I was able to get out exploring on the Kish again. This time I had the Fly Rod in hand with a Minnow Streamer tied to the end of my tippet. I started off my search this time in the Rockford area.   First stop was the Espenscheid Memorial Forest Preserve. Upon arrival I quickly scouted out a couple of bends. They looked fishy, but where empty. With the drought going on...

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Top Water Bass Action

  Well, the dog days of summer have certainly come. The extreme heat and lack of rain has defiantly done a number on the finned species we all seek. I have only hit the water a handful of times, and success has been up and down like a roller coaster ride. Hopefully we will soon get the relief that we need.   Last night I ventured out as the temps have come down a bit compared...

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the drought of 2012

Well no, I haven’t disappeared. With vacation the entire week of the fourth, my priorities have just been other places. That certainly doesn’t mean that I didn’t fish, in fact it’s quite the opposite. I’ve done a good bit of fishing but just haven’t devoted much time to writing about it. With my laptop in for service and summer vacation with the kiddies my focus has just been enjoying every second...

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