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Do people really kill the fish before they fillet them? Usually mine are still trying to take breaths while they are in the off fall bucket. If you are worried about the fishes feelings how can you shove a hook through theyre mouth in the first place? Just fillet em they will die.

That last post gave me enough posts to put up pictures. ;D

I went out yesterday and checked out the ditch. I did not have any luck, but the water is still really cold, so I am not too discouraged. It was a beautiful day and I was even able to take my shirt off for a while. I mainly threw a 3/16ths chart/white single colorado spinnerbait which is my go to bait on unknown water. I also tried a white grub, a fluke, and a torpedo. Found several interesting features, including a small dam. Saw no baitfish in the water but did see many turtles. I went a little farther downstream than I scouted the other day. The bottom here was mud/sand and the water was fairly shallow from what I could tell, 3-4ft deep. How do you guys check depth without getting in the water? Around the bends the walls of the ditch where washed away with dirt going right into the creek. Staining the water pretty good. I now understand why the Mississippi is so muddy. They never should have channelized these creeks. Lots of corn chaffe and trash from roadway ditches floating. As steep as the walls are it was hard to find spots to fish. I don't think this is going to hold the smallmouth like I had hoped, but I think the largemouth will be here when the water warms up. I also think I may get into some white bass, especially around the dam. I want to post pics but I don't have enough posts.

Mike Ike...........The man has got some personality as opposed to many of the cookie cutter guys. Plus after seeing him fish with the youngster on "City Limits" Philly how could you not like the guy.

The only place I have ever caught smallmouth is in the Mark Twain National Forest. I go down to the Black river in Reynolds county at least once a year. Where I fish the river is not much wider than my bedroom but it is LOADED with smallmouth. They may not be big but they are fun on ultralight gear. My biggest out of the West fork of the black was about 2 pounds. In july when I usually go they are schooled up in the deeper holes with fast current and they hunt like a pack of wolves. It is cool down there because the water is so clear you can observe the fishes behavior really well. I use soft plastics that imitate crawdads and small spinnerbaits. I have heard stick baits and buzzbaits work well too. And if the Gasconade is anything like the Black the water will be cold. Icebox cold in the middle of july. Good luck

I worked as a cart pusher at walmart when I was 17. I had to stand at the door and stop people when they came out, the "loss prevention" guy followed them from behind. We had a few run and we could chase them to the edge of the property but we could not touch them. Chased some kids just to the edge of the parking lot and they gave up and walked back. They did not know they almost got away. I have some stories from that job.

Thanks for the welcome guys. Really friendly place ya' got here.

Now that I am older I know how stupid stuff like this is. But when I was younger and dumber I did stuff way worse than this. It really makes you grow up when you have to pay for your own household. You know how much destructive behavior really costs. I did laugh though.

Thanks guys. I just went and did some scouting this morning after I got off work. I just checked it out from the bridges. There is still a skim of ice in places but I could see a gravely bottom. I am mainly looking for a place to do some ultralight fishing and am praying that there are smallmouth in there. It looks pretty promising. I used google earth to narrow down some areas I think will hold fish and then found road crossings,bends, spots were two converge and many other interesting spots. After following it's course downstream I realized that it is not just a ditch it is actually the headwaters for a fairly good sized river. I really like using this google earth for pre-scouting deer and think it may work pretty well for fishing too. If you have not given it a try I would suggest it. It has saved me hours of walking in the deer woods, and I think it may do the same for fishing. Will fish stack up in the last hole they can get to upstream? I think I may have found a money spot when they spawn. I am stoked, I love fishing small water. I can't wait till Friday when temps are suppose to be in the 60's. I will take some pics to give a better I idea of what I am dealing with and let you know how I do. Senile1- It is funny you ask if it is like S.E. Mo. I usually drive down to the ozarks to get my creek smallmouth fix, I am searching for somewhere to catch some closer to home. And yes the area is very flat. The chemical runoff does bother me, but I don't plan on keeping anything. Hopefully it won't effect the fishing. TommyBass- Many parts of Illinois were unfarmable back in the day due to poor drainage. That is why these creeks were channelized. Farmers here try to get the water out of the fields as quick as possible so they put corrugated drain pipes under the field and the pipes stick out the side of the ditch and water falls down into the creek below. No worry of stagnation. Water will come out in the middle of july when there has been no rain for weeks so I bet there are tons of springs around also. Which means cold water, which I am hoping means smallies. Sorry for running on but I have been waiting to go fishing since November.I AM PUMPED!

I have heard he is a really approachable guy. Seems really down to earth. I like his fishing shows, his hunting shows on the other hand.............................

I live in a heavy agricultural area and many of the creeks around here have been channelized and made into ditches. I have never fished them but have been told there are bass in them. Anyone have any experience fishing these? Most are about ten yards wide max and I am not sure of depth. Odd structure is few and far between but there is fairly large riprap down the sides and there are bank wash ins and undercuts in some spots. There are also many drain tiles that come out of the fields and fall about 3-4 feet into the ditch producing pretty good aeration and it keeps the water flowing even when there has been no rain. We are suppose to get some nice weather later this week and I plan on going out. Any tips or techniques would be helpful. Thanks.

My name is Richard and I have a problem. I like to spend long hours on my habit while neglecting other things I should probably be doing. I came here for help kick the monkey off my back. But I think I may be in trouble, it appears you all are addicts just like me. Oh well spring is almost here and the waters are thawing, pass me the Rod and Reel and I'll hit the lake and take another cast. Thanks to whoever runs this place for having me and I look forward to getting to know some of you. Peace Rich