Haven't been fishing in about a week. Got out at noon today for a solo wade. Started at the Fox River, which was up a little and slightly stained from the recent rain. Fished a 1/4-ounce white and silver swim jig tipped with a 3" glitter and chartreuse Big Hammer Tail. Short, methodical casts worked downstream tight to structure. Finally connected with a fish, a beautifully-marked thick 16" smallmouth. The air temp was 37.9 degrees and USGS data was 11.87' / 1,810 CFS. The action on the swim jig was just what I needed to give me some momentum for the day.
I debated heading home to checkout my GoPro footage but it was only around 1 PM. I drove to the DuPage River to see what I could find. Sure am glad I did! The Dupe was on the rise and a bit muddier. I worked both the swim jig and the float-n-fly. Caught four smallmouth and one largemouth on the swim jig and four smallmouth on the float-n-fly. Biggest were 17" and 17.75". Air temp was 37.4 degrees and USGS data was 5.85' / 271 CFS. Took off late afternoon and was back home before dark. Would have been happy with one nice smallmouth and was ecstatic having landed 10 river bass in early December. Both the swim jig and the hair jigs were created by Jonn Graham of Warrior Jigs.
A swim jig smallie at the Fox River
A swim jig smallie at the DuPage River
A float-n-fly smallie at the DuPage River






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