I was headed to Big Basin on the Des Plaines today because of the wonderful weather, but when I found out that Steve and Mark were headed out to Des Plaines Conservaton Area backwaters, I decided to join them instead. Good thing too. As I was on my way down there, I saw that the wind was stirring up whitecaps in the basin since the wind was howling right up the river.
I got a new fish bow the other day and I'd been dying to try it out.
It's a Samick Spirit takedown recurve and it shoots like a dream. I threw a retriever on it, and took a few practice shots to get the nocking height adjusted (using some of the floating dead shad as pseudo-carp).
Mark got there just as I got my boat put together and powered up. We shared some venison snack sticks from my doe. We were about ready tohit the water with me in the Green Bobber, and Mark in his canoe when Mark spots a carp with bulging eyes about 8 feet from shore. After we studied it a few seconds trying to see if it was moving, he nailed it. The fish didn't really seem to care. It was in bad shape and I think Mark did it a favor.
We fought the wind for a few hours in our boats and brought in several more carp even though they were hiding pretty well. I had a total of 4 with the biggest weighing in at 6 pounds by the time Steve showed up and it was time for me to leave. I also shot a dead 11 pound buff (I think). It was in pretty bad shape too so it was hard to tell. Just had to weigh it out of curiosity.
There is some minor very thin ice in the most shallow backwater that goes East from parking area 9, but the rest is now wide open. Shoot 'em up. It's so nice to have a good place close to home. It makes a nice home base. There's nothing like shooting fish on your own turf.
My new bow did great, and as always there was plenty of good company.
I'll let the other guys post their final totals and some pics.
Don't forget to add to the fish count thread!
__________________ http://www.illinoisbowfishers.com
The truest measure of a man's ethics is what he does when no one is watching. -God
An unarmed man can only flee from Evil, and Evil is not overcome by fleeing from it.
- Colonel Jeff Cooper
I had to work, then come home, pull Romex and get all gooped up taping sheetrock.
You two sure know how to have uh, fun.
The weather was screaming my name, so I took the day off.
Well worth it.
In fact, not only did I break in the bow bow properly, but that is the 3rd bow I've shot fish with already this season. It's the little things that keep me amused.
__________________ http://www.illinoisbowfishers.com
The truest measure of a man's ethics is what he does when no one is watching. -God
An unarmed man can only flee from Evil, and Evil is not overcome by fleeing from it.
- Colonel Jeff Cooper
Christine where are you doing jury duty at? Can't you tell them you have more important things to do, like going bowfishing?!
Drew and I are headed to Evergreen this Friday or Saturday night in the Carp Cadaver. I need to make a call down to Dawson to see what the status is down there. I'm sure it's thawed. We may go to one on Friday night and the other lake on Saturday night if I get clearance from my better half! Any takers?
Jury duty was in Bloomington. Today wasn't so bad except for the having to get up early part. Ugh. I don't know how people work real jobs.
We the jury found all parties involved (both sides) to be guilty of drunken stupidity and ordered them all flogged. Well, not really, but had it been an option that's how I would have voted.
Kendall has the CIRFCU all hooked up so, barring bad weather, we'll go to Evergreen or Clinton tonight. I'm not sure what the weekend schedule looks like.
Just goes to showthat you don't need a big boat to get out, shoot some fish and have some fun. And all of these boats are plenty stable enough to bowfish from. Plus, they can get into the shallowest parts of a lake, they're very light and easy to load and unload by yourselfand they don't need a big motor to move them around. I'm working on putting lights on mine for night-time fishing as well.
What a great day! If only that darn wind hadn't been so strong! I only managed 2 carp for the day since I spentmost of mytime paddling, but still had a lot of fun. I was surprised at how thick and active the carp were when we found them. And we were floating around ice!
Northern IL Icebreaker Shoot Results
