Jaws and I floated a new stretch of the Kishwaukee River in Mchenry County today in search of some early season pike. Armed with two boxes full of new flies we set out to explore a part of the river that none of my friends have really fished. The water looked promising with deep cuts and plenty of wood for cover, but this time of year I suspected the pike might be in shallow backwaters off the main river channel where they spawn right after ice out. The day was overall a little slow. I did see a couple pike in the 24 inch range in the shallows that didn’t seem aggressive likely due to the spawn, but at the confluence of a side channel and the main current I had one thick pike just shy of 30 inches inhale my fly.
