12-08-04 - I started at the top of Island Park.

Continued on downstream (this image is just looking downstream from the same spot as above).

12-08-04 - I've been neglecting my "home waters"!!!

Waters Fished: Root River
Fish Caught: 0/0
Outing Date: 12-08-04
Weather: Cloudy
Air Temp: 40's
Water Temp: Didn't take it, around 40F or so...
Water Level: 250 CFS
Water Color: muddy, visibility less than 6"
Fish Species: Steelhead, Brown Trout
Pattern Fished: Spawn
Pattern Color: Pink and White Mesh
Fishing Quality: tough

OK, so I've been hearing that the local fishin' has been quite alright, but heck it seems that I've been off our rivers for almost a month! I had a few spare hours this afternoon while driving between Lake Como and Chicago; what better opportunity to make a slight detour and get in some time on the water!

Recent rains have the Root's flows up, way up. In fact later on in the evening it looks like they'll hit 300 CFS or so. Well, with all that water, lots of debris in the form of twigs and leaves were floating through the otherwise chocolate milk waters. Since I had some spawn left from PA, I figured this would be a prime time to break out the centerpin and drift some spawn (GASP - I'm goin' straight to hell 'eh?). I figured I'd start in Island Park; about 3:45 PM when I was finally on the water.

Despite covering most of Island, it wasn't till late in the day that I actually even had confirmation that fish were in. While drifting at a bend and looking downstream, a huge silver fish erupted from the water, reaching SEVERAL FEET into a low-earth-orbit before succumbing to gravity. My last 15 minutes or so were spent drifting that spot while chatting with Dennis (the creel survey guy) about what was hot, what was not.

Suffice it to say that there are definitely both steelhead and browns in the river, browns being more prevalent right now. Also suffice it to say that I'll be back out a few times in hopes of better fishing in the days to come!

  MP