DPR is like Fox River in that no two sections are alike Id assume.
In any event I live around North and Harlem Ave. The River is 5 mins from my house, thought I would stop by today and check out what kind of area it is.
I was happy to see a lot of downed timber all along the banks, not too many hikers going through. I can park around First and North and hike North to the Dam in about 10 mins. Its pretty dam convenient for me. But here is the question-
What the hell is in there and how do I fish it?
I threw a spinner in, its hung up on some low branches currently. Tried a Gulp Turtle Back worm as well which I was just fishing with an hour previously in Wood Dale.
No action. I didnt spend a lot of time however and was just trying to explore some spots for later on.

A few pictures from the cell phone- Thanks in Advance!

Fallen Timber jutting out to the middle- Hell yes I crawled out onto it-


The View back when I was casting from the edge of the timber


A sign carried down the river apparently.. love that Urban Landscape.

I fished the Des Plaines a lot last year. Typically you will find it is easiest to catch Northern there. I use to live around North and 1st. I always wanted to fish that dam right off of thatcher. For the Des Plaines pike, they tend to chase white spinner baits. Don't give up on them if you don't get a bite right away, you will learn that certain presentations will work in different situations. Good Luck!! Maybe I will go fishing on the 4th by that dam!!

Thanks for that!
I did search AFTER I posted ( idiot rookie that I am) for random DPR posts and heard about white spinners and some success with Colorado blades as well. I might make a run to Dicks today and see if I can put a little something together.
The Dam is flooded currently , I walked right past it looking for it. Didnt even notice it.

Didnt look anything like BING promised!!!




If you do hit it on the 4th Ill suggest parking across from Menards and walking into that path. Dont take the bridge, veer left at it and stay on the path along the west side of the river. It seems the path on the East side of the river is all bikes, kids etc. I dont think anyone would be on the West side of the dam. ( my theory I guess, When i did catch it there were two kids smoking pot on the dam. I walked down stream and threw in some spinners and screwed around then went back. Pot heads gone- A group of 4 kids were just sitting all over the concrete wall. Seems to be pretty popular now that these bastards are out of school.)

Ill have to amend my previous post-
The west side of the bank is accessible-BUT NO EASY TASK!
That split trail just runs to 1st ave. Vere off east into the woods when you get to First. Climb on down into the muddy run off area and cross about a 4' wide trickle creek. Keep heading East until you hit the river. About a 10 min ordeal through some nasty weeds and fallen trees.
The reward? An untouched stretch of river because apparently no one is willing to do that.

The west bank is much more angler friendly then the sloping muddy east bank. The west bank is all overlooks and grassy/weedy cliffs. No slopes to be found. You can stand right on the edge and be over the water.

I stopped by after work today, only had about a half hour to try it out.
I casted for about 20 mins or so and headed home.

New to fishing, I have no idea how to fish a dam. Fast, slow, low, high? Before/After? I tried a bit of all. No luck however.

A few pictures-

The flooded Dam



AWESOME outcropping to fish from the west bank.

Keep it up! You will get one!! It is a lot easier when the water is lower. I am surprised the river is still so high. We haven't had a rain in a week

I will be going to the DPR tomorrow. I think I will fish the east side since I am not familiar with the west side of the forest preserve