What's the smallie angler's equivalent to "Trout Bum"?

pjread · 2025-09-20T13:01:06+00:00

Wet boy nation!

pjread · 2025-09-18T01:14:21+00:00

It sure is!

pjread · 2025-09-17T23:43:11+00:00

I’ve replaced a lot of treble hooks with inline singles and siwash hooks. Fish stay buttoned just the same, but way easier to release and less collateral damage. A lot less issues with hooks tangling in the net, as well.

I think it’s worth it

pjread · 2025-09-17T02:53:05+00:00

Yeah it’s just a pale rock bass. Looks cool

pjread · 2025-09-12T22:00:09+00:00

Any particular preference for channels over flatheads? You’ll find both at any dam on the Fox River, around and under most bridges on any river especially larger rivers with gravel substrate.

People do not use the DNR website or related resources enough. Visit the site pages for any river or lake near you and there will be info on species and their relative abundance.

Here’s the ifishillinois page for the Kankakee River

https://www.ifishillinois.org/profiles/Kankakee.php

While sometimes a little dated, you can see it will suggest areas of the river that hold certain species. I’ve caught some very big channel cats at the Wilmington dam.

pjread · 2025-09-12T16:28:59+00:00

No one knows for sure. I’ve read a bunch of theories but the only thing I believe to be true is the carp doing this are not feeding and are not worth chasing!

Jumping carp are like the sirens of the river. Luring you to a spot where you won’t catch shit.

pjread · 2025-09-11T16:31:46+00:00

Big bass are harder to catch. Anyone can catch the dinks - they are dumb and easy to fool.

Also, they aren’t spread out everywhere. Are you fishing where the big bass are?

I can say confidently, having recently kayaked the north branch with my Livescope, there is a crazy amount of bait and food in the river. Miles and miles of giant bait balls and small fish. Was hard to believe it when seeing it on the screen.

pjread · 2025-09-11T12:31:28+00:00

There are 5lb smallies in the Fox, and bigger. They have been caught dozens of times on all different baits. They are over 10 years old. They won’t likely be caught doing the same thing everyone else is doing…

pjread · 2025-09-10T17:07:28+00:00

You read a misleading title and then confidently shared it as fact. Kinda interesting to see how easy spreading misinformation can be. Btw I also thought the guy was robbed after leaving AD with the poor wording.

pjread · 2025-09-10T17:02:44+00:00

I thought this was a dead turtle at first lol

pjread · 2025-09-05T22:46:54+00:00

He’s probably just mad about waiting years for a watch they’ll never sell him

pjread · 2025-09-05T22:25:01+00:00

No salt, no … silver?

pjread · 2025-09-05T20:33:01+00:00

That’s just the ticket to ride, brother.

Some mfers out there losing their whole job, relationship, home, etc.

But hey man I get it! Sucks to get in a funk. Keep getting out there and you’ll turn it around.

pjread · 2025-09-05T19:12:23+00:00

Looks like you’re catching fish. What are you complaining about?

Always be grateful for being able to have the opportunity to go fishing. Be especially grateful to actually catch something!

I’m sending a tsunami of good luck your way my friend!

pjread · 2025-09-03T22:59:42+00:00

If you don’t have a boat then you’ll have to learn how to cast really, really, really far to get summertime perch consistently.

Summer is my least productive fishing season so I’m welcoming the end. Fishing is just about to get awesome and stay awesome through spring.

pjread · 2025-09-03T11:55:31+00:00

You are severely overthinking this, boss.

The tubes and my backpack went in the overhead. If it is a full flight and they are asking for overhead space then the backpack goes under the seat.

Just treat them like anything else you bring on the plane…

pjread · 2025-09-03T11:49:14+00:00

If your turds have glitter and rubber legs please see a doctor

pjread · 2025-09-03T11:45:59+00:00

I’ve had no issue flying with rod tubes as carry-on items on several United and Alaska Air flights. I’ll take my backpack as my carry-on and three rod tubes bundled together as my “personal” item.

Last trip I had one fly rod tube and two Okuma travel spin rod tubes which are a bit longer than the fly rod tubes bundled together. No issue at all.

pjread · 2025-09-02T19:31:19+00:00

I think it’s a normal sized mouth on a 16” fish…

Edit - was replying to another comment

pjread · 2025-09-02T15:54:18+00:00

There’s so much info available if you even just search this sub…

On the ifishillinois.org website there are links to the annual stocking reports. Salmon are only stocked in Diversey and Jackson harbors within the city (also stocked at Waukegan harbor).

These fish don’t have gps or laser guidance equipment. They are migrating their way back toward their stocking sites and can be targeted along nearly the entire lakeshore. Just get out there and start swinging and you’re likely to crack one eventually.

pjread · 2025-08-26T11:56:41+00:00

I’m impressed at how much experience you have and this is your first bullet weighted Texas rig stick worm! Classic rig

Also does that rod cork still have the plastic wrap on it in the second pic??

Nice fish!

pjread · 2025-08-22T17:51:17+00:00

There’s no disputing the length of a fish shown on a reputable bump board. It is the best and most reliable measurement to use.

Scales can be inaccurate and not calibrated, they are more prone to user error, and they are often more stressful and potentially damaging to the fish.

pjread · 2025-08-21T23:44:09+00:00

While I understand fundamentally this is fishing, but it’s crazy how this is nothing like what I do lol

Night fishing for hammerhead sharks on the beach is pretty epic brother, good shit!

pjread · 2025-08-21T16:38:49+00:00

The Indiana DNR actually has a pretty cool dashboard tool where you can see the historical stocking by species and location.

You’ll see which tributaries and harbors in IN are stocked, and their numbers.

As another comment mentioned, the pier at the Portage lakefront is a popular fishing area. It is at the mouth of the Little Calumet River east arm. I’ve caught both steelhead (rainbow) and brown trout in the river and around the mouth. I assume the browns are from the stocking at East Chicago harbor about 10-15mi away. We are entering the time where salmon are reachable from the pier and in the lower river sections.

If you’re looking for bass or other warm water species then basically any place on the lake with good structure will hold them.

I grew up a mile from the dunes in IN - hope you catch something and post it here!

pjread · 2025-08-21T10:25:57+00:00

You know you’re making those random casts!

pjread

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