North Branch outing 4/1.

[Brandon]

Been a slow spring for me in a handful of outings so far this year. Have seen a lot of interesting things on the river lately. A lot of people fishing in kayaks and fishing boats. I've even seen people wading and fishing with fly rods. I suppose word has got out that the bite has been decent but for whatever reason its been rather skunky for me.

Got out around 9 am yesterday, lots of clouds, intermittent sun. Temp was around low 60's with a cool breeze. Not quite the warmup that was forecasted. Water level up just a bit but nothing drastic. Set out to target crappie and bass. Fished at 3 different spots between Foster and Lawrence. Caught fish at each. Ended up catching somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 crappie, 2 bass and a gill. The crappie bite was pretty automatic. I threw 3" white and 3" red grubs, 3" Lunker City minnows and 4" Powerbait minnows. Caught about 8 or 10 crappie on each. Figured more bass would have got in the mix with that selection but only managed 2. Both bass were small, about 10 or 11" but had great coloring and looked very healthy. 5 or 6 of the crappie were around 11" as well.

Tried some tubes, spinnerbaits, and a craw colored crank bait for bass later on but got no takers. Can't complain with the action as constant as it was. Weather was very pleasant and it made up for a half dozen or so skunks this Spring. A few photos of the fish below...

[Whats the catch..Ron'chi?]

u fished the NSC? or the river? nice bag.

[cb-fishes]

nice crappies!

[Brandon]

As far as I'm aware the North Shore Channel is part of the river, but this was the North Branch.

[Aux Pleins]

As far as I'm aware the North Shore Channel is part of the river, but this was the North Branch.

Not exactly part of River,,,,,,, however they do joing at Foster as you know... Mainly the channels water comes from the Lake...The skokie channel as I call it was dug around 1900 to help flush the Chicago River southward.. The River as you know starts way up near waukegan in the Flood Plains and meanders its way down,,, does anyone fish skinny North branch forks? Its either people hit the Channel or where the channel and the river meet.
None the less, Brandon you got those bodies of water figured out, nice job

[Brandon]

thanks for the info AuxPleins. I've never heard of anyone fishing the North Branch above the spillway at Foster but I'm sure it has probably happened. Have never seen it reported here or elsewhere though.

The NSC has been a little slow for me this Spring. Have only tried once or twice though. Crappie bite was decent up there in late winter.

[The Count]

Years ago I drifted some nightcrawlers through some fishy-looking spots below the RR bridge in LaBagh Woods, but saw nothing resembling a fish. I've seen carp and the occasional bullhead and minnows above the dam but you're generally wasting your time.

[Whats the catch..Ron'chi?]

Threw like 25 crappies two bass and about ten gills above the spillway last week

[Brandon]

hmm..wonder if they just went back down it. water is so shallow right there, you can walk right across it barely getting your feet wet in spots. can't see them swimming upstream very far or doing anything productive.

[Busse Jim]

those are some nice crappies!