Emiquon has led a rather precarious existence from the outset due to its proximity to the Illinois River. As an angler, I had concerns about how long the incredible fishing would last in the face of a collection of natural and man-made challenges.

Originally posted 8-15-10

One need not look far in the regional outdoor news or for that matter even the national headlines to find reports of the latest scourge to hit the waterways of Illinois. Often grouped together as Asian carp, a pair of prolific exotics known more specifically as silver and bighead carp has currently invaded a number of the state’s river systems. There’s plenty of information out there on these fish written by those much more knowledgeable than yours truly. Therefore, I’ll leave the particulars and the debates to someone else.

Only a narrow levee separates Emiquon from the burgeoning population that now calls the Illinois River and the Spoon River home. You only have to look about eighty miles upriver to the Hennepin-Hopper complex to get a feel for the disruptive nature of some members of the carp family. This similar wetland/backwater lake restoration project was undertaken in the early 2000’s and by 2004 was open for limited public fishing. However, by 2009 the common carp had so significantly disrupted the habitat that a total rehabilitation was warranted.

I’m not big on gloom and doom (see global warming) but it doesn’t take much of a leap to see that the carp next door certainly have the potential to foul things up in a hurry. (2019 note: the Hennepin-Hopper complex is back in business with positive reports on the fishery, particularly for northern pike).

Nature does its thing when given a window of opportunity. For as long as I can remember I’ve been repeatedly punctured while wading through the natural hedge known as multiflora rose. More recently I trample the ever growing groves of garlic mustard in search of my already elusive morel mushrooms and spy the purple traps hanging around in local ash trees.

In addition, Dad and I had a strange day on Emiquon a few years later that was both puzzling and alarming.

From my 7/8/2013 Emiquon Report

Carp Flotilla – The lake was literally littered with carp carcasses in varying stages of decay. Everywhere you looked there were bloated floating brown and white fish of the common carp variety. For my money, any dead carp is a good carp on this relatively new restoration project so I can’t say it hurt my feelings. Unfortunately, the frequent splashing and thrashing meant that there were still plenty more of the lake wreckers still swimming. I will say that I do enjoy catching and fighting carp but overall they are just bad news in terms of lake health. Luckily there was some wind and the temperature was not typical July as I’m sure the place would have been really ripe. I’m not sure what to make of the whole situation but it was certainly a new look.

Now I realize that fish and fishing may not be the primary objectives of such restoration projects but they certainly play crucial roles. And the window of opportunity mentioned above leads me to the collective entity that makes up Potential Pitfall #9 to come your way tomorrow.

Having been out of the Emiquon loop for quite a few years now, I’m not certain how it has evolved other than recent years have seen a significant drop in water levels. There’s also been plenty of contentious debate to be found on the internet regarding management practices. I welcome any comments on the status and often think that the best way to find out would be a return invasion of my own. Talk to you later. Troy

Ten Years ago today, a new fishing hole opened up in Fulton County.

And, boy, what a fishing hole it was. A place known as The Emiquon Preserve or simply “Emiquon” to this fisherman.

Between April 23, 2009 and July 25, 2013 I made nineteen trips with several family fishing partners down to the spot located southeast of Lewistown, Illinois. During those outings I managed to catch my current personal best bass, watched my brother, Brent, fall a few bass shy of the century mark one evening, observed some head shaking behavior from other anglers while fishing with Dad, caught bass in 105 degree air and 90 degree water temps with Julie, helped a guy with a treble hook stuck in his thumb (bass attached as well) and the list of adventures just keeps going from there.

From that span of roughly four years, I managed to write over 50 blog postings on the site. If there is anybody out there in cyberspace who has written more about Emiquon bass fishing than yours truly, I have yet to find them. And, yes, I’ve certainly looked.

It’s hard to believe that for various reasons I’m now pushing six years since my last visit to the crazy fishing hole. A lot has changed down there according to the bits and pieces I have picked up in my routine wanderings on the web and most of it has not been for the better. But those are stories for someone more familiar with and knowledgeable of Emiquon’s current state than this blogger.

Nope, for this year-long tenth birthday celebration it’s simply a look back at some of the writings I that have submitted over the years. For starters, over the next couple weeks I plan on mixing in a batch of Emiquon posts amidst the regular features and hopefully a couple new fishing reports from this Easter weekend. This first series of Emiquon posts are a Top 10 list of Emiquon perils first submitted in August of 2010 after roughly a year of fishing the spot. In addition, several Friday Flashback posts will feature a look back at some of those initial 2009 Emiquon visits.

Hope you’ll continue to tune in for a look back at the phenomenon that was the Emiquon Preserve in those first few crazy years. Talk to you later. Troy

We head back 30 years this week with a quality bass from what was once a quality fishing hole.

The original log entry from 1988 tells of both the bass (23″ catch from 8/28) and the popularity of the destination

Green Oaks, Knox College’s biological field station, is located a few miles south of Victoria, Illinois in close proximity to another contemporary fishing haunt, Little John Conservation Club. I still fish Little John all these years later but my days on Green Oaks Lake are long gone.

But back in my college days, it was a regular weekend bass fishing stop as well as an off the beaten path camping spot. A perfect getaway where a group of college buddies could enjoy a few beers around a campfire often resembling a bonfire.

But I digress…

My personal best at the time, hitting 5-8 on a good, old DeLiar scale

Today’s featured fish came from a spot on the lake that we called “The Forbidden Zone” due to it being designated as off-limits for watercraft. And yes, I am posing in a beached watercraft for the release below which is all I will admit to although I suspect that the statute of limitations has long passed.

Speaking of that beached boat, 30 years later I am still rowing it around across the road at Little John and dragging it around up the road at Snakeden Hollow. Sadly, the same can’t be said for putting it to use at Green Oaks and contending with the moral dilemma presented by the outstanding cover in “The Forbidden Zone.”

Tease from earlier this year on my Facebook page which brought the disappointing revelation below

For as someone in the know commented on a Facebook entry I posted in late April of this year: “Unfortunately a winter fish kill a couple years ago has made Green Oaks a large crappie pond. No bass.”

Kind of sad. But boy, there was a time…Talk to you later. Troy

Many years ago, when I used to play a little baseball, we had a saying “Have a day” when a teammate was hitting on all cylinders. I guess it was the modern equivalent of “in the zone.” Well, August 6, 2003 could have qualified as I enjoyed a successful multi-species double header of sorts.

Original “boxscore” from a full day on the water.

The day started off with an early morning wade in the creek with Dad as detailed in the excerpt below. The report and pics were originally submitted to family and friends back on August 21, 2003.

August 6 (Pat’s Creek) – As a break from the fast-paced world of bass fishing, Dad and I headed for Pat’s Creek armed with two dozen dew worms for some multi-species angling. Our efforts were rewarded with seventeen catfish, two carp, two freshwater drum and a turtle. Top catfish was my 2-3 and top carp was my 2-7. Dad somehow caught the turtle. We were standing above a deep hole when he jokingly said, “I’ve got a turtle” as he reeled in his bait. As I was downstream on his left, I jokingly said, “Don’t reel it by me.” Although neither one of us was serious, sure enough, here came a painted turtle past me as Dad reeled it in. I guess we should have tried joking about having a ten-pound catfish hooked. Overall, a very successful outing. Our worms lasted right up to the last hole, no busted shins, no falls and I didn’t get lost in the cornfield.

The nightcap of my split fishing double header involved bass chasing on an old favorite pond with my brother, Brent. Once again, an excerpt from the same report included below.

August 6 (Emstrom’s Pond) – Brent called me up to see about hitting Emstrom’s for a couple hours. Julie and I had no plans so I figured there’s no sense in passing up a second fishing trip. We fished from around 5:30-7:30 pm and caught two bass. They weighed a total of 5-1 and one only weighed 12 ounces. The other was a 4-5 that was actually skinny. Its mouth and head were very large and its length was 22″. Either sick or malnourished, the fish could have weighed considerably more, but I can’t complain. Despite the 82 degree water temperature, the bass was extremely energetic as it cleared the surface when it slammed my buzzbait (silver glimmer) and again during the fight. This bass is now the Top Buzzbait Bass, eclipsing Dad’s 3-15 from Emstrom’s Pond on 9/8/01. Dad’s 2-3 from August 5th lasted as Top Bass of August 2003 for approximately 36 hours. My 4-5 would relinquish Top Bass honors in less than a week. Thanks for the phone call, Brent.

A little tease there on the end of that submission. I’ll cover the details in next week’s flashback, as the summer of 2003 featured some real solid catches. Fun to look back for a glimpse at life before Julie and I started a family. It provides part of the answer to the old question, “What did we ever do before we had kids?” Talk to you later. Troy

How many times have I told you that I am glad that I took to documenting outdoor adventures via the modern equivalent of a journal?

At least a couple, and I mean it. How fun is it to look back in time and get another smile, chuckle or head shake out of some details that are long gone from the memory?  Sure the big fish or weird catch sticks with you but it’s all the little details that really make the writing worthwhile.  Throw in the photo album and some video these days and you’ve got a winning combination.

For example, the words and pics for today’s flashback come courtesy of the original report submitted to family and friends back on June 10, 2003.

Pat’s Creek with Dad on 6/6/03

Weather – Despite the weatherman predicting rain, we went fishing, spending around four hours in the creek.  Part of the time it rained, the rest of the time it rained harder.

Tips – Wait to see if anyone is injured before laughing.  I’ve learned this one over the years and was able to chuckle after Dad slid down the bank into the creek.

Hygiene – Always clip your fingernails before creek fishing.  Dad and I were on the same wavelength.  He mentioned it in the middle of the creek and I was on the same page.  We left no room for grit (the subtle things you learn from Dad…)

Boots – Smart enough to check for a matching pair.  Not smart enough to check for holes.  With a knee-high hole in one of my hipboots, I might as well have worn sandals.

Bites – Numerous fish with a handful of hookups, but the rain limits mosquitoes and biting flies.

Monsoons – Rivals Beefy’s Monsoon of 2001.  But, that’s another story…which may be another article…possibly concerning my penchant for “another story”

Species contest – Dad wins again 2 to 1 (5 channel catfish/1 carp versus 1 channel catfish)

Record Book – Dad (Channel Catfish 3-9 and Carp 5-12)

So, have you started your own outdoor or fishing journal yet?  Years down the road, you’ll be glad you did.  Talk to you later.  Troy