Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Okay fiends and neighbors, poison squirrels...

I took a midweek bowfishing excursion into Central Illinois.
It was a great little trip.
I was a bit worried it wasn't going to go well at first when I got stuck in lots of traffic on I-55 around Joliet. It took me an hour to go 5 miles. [:'(]

I met up with my buddy Kendall and we got out onto Evergreen Lake in Bloomington a little after midnight. The fish weren't out in big numbers, but we had plenty shots. Because both Kendall and I are such accomplished archers we were trying to impress each other with how closely we could miss a fish. As in "Did you see that shot? Just an inch over that carp." [8D]

We did mess up a few times and actually hit the fish. But only about 8 times. ;)

We had gone all over the lake and were pretty far from the ramp when the motor died. We ran out of gas. Right at that time tho' a giant lightning bolt appeared. We turned the genny off and put the troller on full speed which, with the wind, made us go along at about 2mph. Obviously, we made it back without getting fried but the lightning did make the trip that much more exciting.


Okay.... enough of Evergreen... on to Peoria.

The picturesque Peoria Dam.




Unfortunately, it looks better than it smells. I'm not sure if it's from the dam or the locks or people snagging... but there are dead fish everywhere... and it's very aromatic. :shock:



There were plenty of bigheads out there though. Most were rolling, kind of like gar. Those were very, very difficult to get a shot at. There were bunches of them right at the dam... but you aren't supposed to get closer than 150' to the dam... and it's dangerous to get much closer than that anyhow.

Still, due to our exceptional shooting skills... we managed to get some bigheads.

Kendall with his first ever bighead carp.



Me with my bighead, and my first Asian carp. ;)



Kendall's brother John was there too. He got several silver carp simply by driving his boat around. When he got close to the lock, the fish were popping out of the water like fireworks.

Resting between silver carp runs...



Between the strength of the fish, the current and the trick of getting wrapped up in the troller.. we only managed to boat four fish. But they were definitely a lot of fun.

The one Kendall is holding was the biggest of the day. (~20lbs... it's bigger than it looks in that photo) It was strong enough to actually pull us towards the dam. We saw much bigger fish there. When these things grow to 30-40lbs.. they're going to be scary.

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

So you finally got some. Good for you girl. I've said all along, they're the only fish to pull my boat sideways through the water. Now, did you fillet them?

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Fish, I didn't filet any of those fish, but I was planning to... I even put the big, big cooler in the bed of my truck. (holds two corpses if they're dismembered just right)

However, when I got to the river, the first impression was sooooo gross, that it really turned my stomach. There were dead, rotting fish all over the place. Even the ramp had maggotty drum and carp bodies on it. Kendall had to back over them with his truck.. (ewww!! [:'(]) I really don't know what's up with all the dead stuff but it's not very appetizing.

Maybe I'll be braver next time.

[&o]

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Every dam seems to have dead fish below it, but that seems to be pretty severe. But bigheads are filter feeders, so they should be good eating regardless.

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Looks like all in all a good time was had. Nice Pics, Getting me jealous. Haven't been out in over a week. :(
How I love the stories and pics, I gotta start bringin' a camera so I can post some stories when I go out. It definitly helps the "fever" seeing others being able to get out and stick'em.....To bad for work on the weekdays and people needing favors on the weekends. Oh'well, maybe this weekend I hope...

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Nice pics Christine! All the dead fish remind me of redtide down here in the saltwater. Hey, did you get your spices yet?

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Yep, got the package on Wednesday! Thanks so much!! I've tried two of them so far.(tho' I've been away from the house a lot this week...so I didn't do a lot of cooking) I can't think of the names..but the one has lots of sage and is really good on chicken. The other one is sort of a cajun type spice and I like it on everything. :D

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Cool! You gonna be able to meet up with us next weekend going for the big boys?
And...who you calling a fiend?

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Are you guys going down to Kentucky Lake/dam next weekend?

I want to go... but I'm supposed to have a class that weekend. [&o]

There's no way you can go the following weekend?

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Maybe, but the 15-17th is the only one I can positively count on. I am coaching a little league all-star team. So we are fishing the weekend between tournys. First tourny is this weekend, if we win, we move on.

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Good luck with the little league tourny, my fiend...;)

Good luck with the fish too. I wonder if the fuller the moon... the better? (less reliance on the spotlights perhaps)

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Well, we bowed out with a loss, so done with that.

With the rains, we very well may wait for the next weekend. Will let you know.

I definitely thinka full moon would be an advantage.

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

My son shot the current World Record Big Head here in north Alabama ... I have lived here all my life and had never even seen a Big Head until the night we got this one ... the Alabama state biologistsaid that it was only the 2nd one he had seen in the Tennessee river .... here is a picture of Chris my son and his Big Head ... 85#s

Doc

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

C, just wait til they look like that in Peoria!:)The fish I mean.:D

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

They get that big and I'm definitely tying myself off to your boat.:D

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Actually i can attest to the full moon thing the more moon the better you can see the big heads and the buffs with no light. I mean you can actually see them down in hte water its cool to see the bigheads coming at you with the mouths open.........

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

And next weekend's a full moon. :eek:

No bigheads today, but a mess of si\vers. Hit one between the dorsal and tail and it put up one heck of a fight dragging the boat around and all. By the time I got it in, it had torn its tail section half off.

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Well fish you have to admit that fightin those big buggers is a great time. especially when they are pullin your boat around the lake or river. nothin else compares.......Love those bigheads.....

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Not just to the boat C. We're talkin' industrial strength PFD here.
BTW - nice bunny:). It's soooo you. and I think it just might be "the smallest one I've ever seen.":D

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Nice pictures..and good job on your first Asian Carp

This is where i bow to the great BFG *bows* :D

RE: Bigheads in Peoria---pics
 

Hmmm. i think i missed the part about the dead fish everywhere part lol

That reminds me of a canal that runs behind the dam of a huge local lake we have out here. Sad to say its not a place you can bowfish at though. Most people fishing this place are going after catfish and stripers but majority of the fish are Carp; This was years ago but my dad and several of his friends took out out to this spot and i just recall the smell; there were literally hundreds of dead carp from the base of the dam and beyond on the bank.