I took the day off of work in search of that illusive "first fish of 2007".
While I didn't see any, I did manage to cover a fair amount of ground and checked on a number of regular haunts in the area. Here is what I found.

The water was about 50 degrees in all areas checked, according to my $2 pet shop thermometer.[:-]

DesPlaines River by Joliet: OPEN with floating ice, clear water. Very low water level. Backwaters have ICE.

DesPlaines River at Big Basin near Channahon: ICE in the basin proper, except near the North shore along Dupage current.

Dupage River from the Channahon dam to where it feeds into Big Basin and the Des Plaines: OPEN with some minor ice near the shore.

DuPage River in Plainfield: OPEN with floating ice.

Kankakee River backwaters at DesPlaines Conservation Area: ICE, but starting to open up at inlets and culverts.

Three Rivers Marina near DPCA: ICE


It shouldn't be long now for shootable water, but we still need some fish.
Here's to hoping.

-Bulz

Thanks for the report. Is it possible to get a boat in the Big Basin area?

Not yet, but it won't be long. The main DesPlaines was open, but everything in the actual basin was solid except the Northernmost 30 feet on the North shore. It looked about the same today as I was crossing the steel bridge on my way to the Deer Classic show in Bloomington.

Let me know if you see it open up. I want to get the Bobber out there.

Won't be long now guys.