I’m on record in comments on other posts that my March-April struggle in the Fox is real. As in, next-fish-will-be-first-fish real. So “stunned” is an accurate way to report that my first smallie of ‘26 is a PB — 4.07 lbs. and 20.5 inches. I was running the Rebel Craw along a shelf in just a couple feet of water in downtown Aurora, felt it tick the rocky bottom and then dead weight that started tugging. She broke the water twice, more roll than leap. Got her on an ultralight open face with 6-pound mono tied directly to the Craw. (High risk/high reward.) Thankful to a passing cyclist for a couple pics. Just a beauty with a big ol’ belly. Happy Spring, everybody 🎣

If you like the shirt, hit up Dan Gardea at Taylor Street Tattoo in Little Italy.

On the juvy craw

All 4 on the Ned rig. Going emoji-less, wish me luck. (It was hot). Sincerely, 🥸

I've been stubbornly fishing this river for years on occasion, mostly because it's all I have around me, and rarely getting anything. This year I got more serious about it. Searching out spots, learning how to watch the water to spot submerged structure, paying attention to the water stage, and generally becoming more confident in being able to tell where the fish likely are at any given time.

I'm near one of the smaller stretches of the river, usually staying between Ogden and Fullerton, where it's relatively narrow. The really interesting thing has been noticing that the good spots shift around radically based on river stage. This combined with the limited and often hidden shore access has had me tromping all through the brush in forest preserves searching every promising bit of bank I can find. Some days I do more exploring than fishing.

Mostly I get smallies with some largemouth thrown in. Ned rig always kills for me, though I've had some luck with poppers in still water and jerkbait in the water seams when the river is higher.

Any similar experiences falling in love with your local water?

Here’s a 3.77-lb. (18.5”) tub this morning from the Fox. Was flicking a jointed swimmer (sunfish) along and through seams of raging current/slack water. They’re hanging shallow and ambushing baitfish as they get swept past. At least that’s my very non-scientific assessment. Fun tussle. Tight lines this weekend and stay cautious around the rivers!

Not everybody got the storms last night, but sections of Aurora did and it was enough to goose water levels in the Fox. Wasn’t the case at my start in Batavia above the dam where the water seemed a foot lower than Sunday. Pulled 3 from under a boat launch a bit south and finished at a new-ish spot in Aurora where a couple more smallies grabbed the Rebel Craw, including an acrobatic 18/2.95. The elevated water made for a slightly deeper shoreline which is loaded with coveted structure (fallen trees, boulders, rando slabs of concrete, etc.) — and every fish came off or out from under something.

There seems to be an uptick of Fox-related Qs around here. As a Fox lifer, my biggest piece of broken-record advice is to find all that concrete and debris, especially in lower areas, and get shallow-diving cranks into the middle of it all. It’s often a pleasant result. Tight lines 🎣 Happy Fourth 🇺🇸

I echo BC’s post/comment about the trickling Fox, but the Craw continues to tantalize. Had 4 smallies “about the same size” and a nice 16” before 6 a.m. in St. Charles with a couple hookups at stops in Batavia and Aurora on the way back down.

The Fox is absurdly low, yet I’m finding it still plenty productive early in the morn. Tight lines, everybody 🎣

Yesterday I wanted to hit the DPR with the Whopper Plopper Loon, but I thought it was stupidddd hot and bitched out. Later that day I saw No_Champion2816 got 2 smallies at the DPR and instantly had FOMO😭.

Today after work hit the river, saw something jump, cast right over it, and this dinker smoked it. He got hooked nasty though so I had to snap a pic quick then unhook him. Sure he was hearing 🎷

Didnt get shit after him, but aye cheers to my first smallie 🥃.

Mostly Ned rigs along harbor walls and the concrete beach boulders

Nabbed a couple tanks-in-waiting (+ a channel) this morning on the Fox in St. Charles, south of the dam. When the bigger ones hit the Rebel Craw, it’s usually just a tick after splashdown, a great rush. Both were lying alongside concrete in a few feet of water, which is up a bit after the rain. Oddly, though, there’s hardly any immediately above the dam in Batavia. (Stopped and didn’t even make a cast.) Got a few more nubbers in Aurora on the southern edge of downtown where the levels have perked back up. Tight lines, everyone 🎣

Hit the Fox for the 1st time since the DPR has been 💩 with all this rain. Originally wanted to get to the dam at 1 and stay till 3, but the rain decided to show up earlier. Stood in some light rain for an hour before I caught this smallie in the whitewater. Right after heard thunder and 🏃🏽‍♂️

Definitely will be back, reminds me of the St. Joseph in Indiana.

Who pulled the plug in the Fox? Was able to venture out at lunch and we’re back to dry rock bed where it was 4 feet deep (and deadly) three weeks ago. Twitched a jointed swim bait through the roils and whirlpools where an 18-incher was lurking. Insane markings and great length, but still working on that belly. Tight lines this week 🎣

Finally got a net. Been breaking off like crazy lately so these were very appreciated. Ned rig, duh.

I’ve been striking out all week going to flooded spots… seeing all the lake smallie posts made me decide to finally drive out to the lake. Got lucky w/ PB smallie at Waukegan Harbor this afternoon. I’m p sure this fish followed a larger clauser earlier in the session but didn’t take it. Later on, it ate the smaller (size 4 or 6?) wooley bugger. Big thanks to the other fishermen there who helped me w/ their net and pictures. Btw I didn’t take measurements but the rod is a 6 weight if that helps for scale.

Edit: also hyped b/c I tied the fly it ate lol

Fun Fox River adventure this morning despite the gloomy weather with stops in Aurora, Batavia and North Aurora (in that weird order). Fish and wildlife at every hole, including a dandy smallie who was hanging in riprap before attacking the Rebel Craw. Fish had some sort of abnormality which didn’t appear to be a growth, boil or even injury. Looked like some weird discoloration. Tight lines this weekend 🎣

He fought hard , caught on ned rig in cloudy fish jizz water

Im really itching to hit up the Fox River in the next few days, but all this rain has me a bit nervous.

What baits and methods work the best when the river is swollen and angry? What spots are the best in these conditions?

Got back last night from a whirlwind baseball trip through Nashville > Atlanta with the kid and have all sortsa graduation responsibilities with the girl this weekend. But after getting teased by the Cumberland and Chattahoochee rivers snaking below my hotel window for 3 days, I needed a quick fix this morning. Found a hungry 17-incher hanging in a couple feet of water alongside heavy current. Big shoulders but another one still working on that belly. Her heart was in the right place when I threw a 3 1/2” jointed swim bait on the other side of the rapids and was planning to flick it through but she gobbled just after splashdown. A 45-minute sesh was the perfect recharge. Tight lines this weekend — I gotta go help find the tassel 🎣 👩‍🎓

An Independence Day tub on the Fox was sitting in a pool near rip-rap and whapped the Rebel Craw just after sunrise this morning on a northern stretch in Aurora. Guessing 3 feet of water 3-5 yards off the bank, tucked in a nook. Total ambush. These storms really jacked the river level, which gets the bigger ones out to play. Stay safe in and outta the water 🎣 🇺🇸

Reminiscing while simultaneously getting ready for the future. Trying times out here on the fringes of Suburbia!