Got off work early and hit up a local stretch of the river.Worked my way down and back again.Decided I was going to hit my starting point before I left. I passed a guy a little ways from it sitting near the trail smoking. Kept walking and got to the spot and started casting. I could still make out his blue hoodie through the trees back where he was. He got up and started walking the trail towards me. As he got closer to me he started making his way down the hill towards the bank. Up until that point I was looking out of the corner of my eye but I turned fully around and looked right at him. He stopped dead in his tracks just looking at me. He stayed there for a minute or so and went back up the hill. I continued casting and then heard noise behind me. He was on the trail up the hill but directly behind me. When I looked he stopped again and partially hid behind a tree. I casted again and heard movement again and now he was closer behind another tree. At this point I stay turned around and went in my bag for my water. He started walking some back the way he came and stopped. I grabbed my knife out of my pocket and walked up the hill while this dude just stood there watching me. Walked the trail back to my car looking back the whole way. Now there's a possibility this guy was up to nothing but I'd be willing to bet all my fishing gear he had something in mind. Sorry for the long post but be alert when you guys are out there solo. You never know who you'll run into. This topped the time I came across a guy washing himself in the river. At least that guy was just a harmless bum. Went 0-1 btw. Had 1 explode at the surface as I was getting ready to lift my crankbait out of the water. Completely missed and didn't chase anything else I threw there.
watch your back
fp fisherman1
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Yea usually stoners and young people partying or chilling where they can get away with it, and homeless. From like Foster South that is really common due to the city limits, plus madden and read state mental institutions are relatively near by said woods. Be careful. Out there and tight lines.
'Rambler, I know the "Thatcher Woods Hermit" creeped up on me a couple of times when I used to run those trails. Spooked me so bad the one time I actually stooped down and picked up a rock to have some kind of weapon in my hands on the return run to a car.
I, too, have had the "looking for love" type approach me in the forest preserves once.
But the most freaked out I ever got was one time at Trailside woods. I was fishing the pond behind the forest preserve building by myself, of all things trying desperately to tempt an undersized carp with a fly - perhaps the dumbest human endeavor on god's green earth (I still to this day have not succeeded).
I was so completely focused on what I was doing that I was startled when two guys came up behind me and pinned me in on the bank of the pond. Both young, hispanic, maybe only coming up to my shoulder height, seemed to have the bearing of guys who have just recently made the trip across the border (not judging, just the feeling I got at the time).
I was immediately mad at myself for not being more aware of my surroundings. They both kept looking at each other, like, "No, you go first". It was one of those feelings you get in the pit of your stomach where you just know something bad is about to happen. Each kept biding time, pretending to ask me questions about what I was doing, then trying to signal to each other when they thought I wasn't looking. Clearly, they were both trying to build up the nerve to jump me.
I've boxed a bit, and figured, "Oh well, I'm a dumbass. It's probably on. Go with it." I started talking too loudly, maintained body posture, looked each dead in the eye until they turned around and walked away, with me waving like I just made two new, lifelong friends. But a part of me is still convinced to this day that if those guys had more conviction I should have had a knife in my kidney while I was trying to hook a silly carp.
Not to ramble, but you do come across weird things in the CCFPs.
I, too, have had the "looking for love" type approach me in the forest preserves once.
But the most freaked out I ever got was one time at Trailside woods. I was fishing the pond behind the forest preserve building by myself, of all things trying desperately to tempt an undersized carp with a fly - perhaps the dumbest human endeavor on god's green earth (I still to this day have not succeeded).
I was so completely focused on what I was doing that I was startled when two guys came up behind me and pinned me in on the bank of the pond. Both young, hispanic, maybe only coming up to my shoulder height, seemed to have the bearing of guys who have just recently made the trip across the border (not judging, just the feeling I got at the time).
I was immediately mad at myself for not being more aware of my surroundings. They both kept looking at each other, like, "No, you go first". It was one of those feelings you get in the pit of your stomach where you just know something bad is about to happen. Each kept biding time, pretending to ask me questions about what I was doing, then trying to signal to each other when they thought I wasn't looking. Clearly, they were both trying to build up the nerve to jump me.
I've boxed a bit, and figured, "Oh well, I'm a dumbass. It's probably on. Go with it." I started talking too loudly, maintained body posture, looked each dead in the eye until they turned around and walked away, with me waving like I just made two new, lifelong friends. But a part of me is still convinced to this day that if those guys had more conviction I should have had a knife in my kidney while I was trying to hook a silly carp.
Not to ramble, but you do come across weird things in the CCFPs.
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Lots of creeps in the woods. Years ago I was fishing by the old Armitage dam. 2 young hispanics came by & I heard one say "mui malo". Didn't know if he thought I looked bad or if they were planning something bad. I just decided which one was going in the river while I took care of his buddy. I stared them down & could tell they decided it wasn't worth the effort.
As For the Thatcher Woods Hermit it seems he cleared out a few years ago. And with all the brush clearing going on there's not much chance of him or anyone else moving back in although I heard just recently that there was a tent set up just North of the tracks.
As For the Thatcher Woods Hermit it seems he cleared out a few years ago. And with all the brush clearing going on there's not much chance of him or anyone else moving back in although I heard just recently that there was a tent set up just North of the tracks.
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I was once trekking through an unfamiliar creek area, not a soul around when i heard branches cracking behind me. Turned out to be a deer but the "what if" is always in the back of my mind. It's too bad that you have to be on full alert and armed while out there just trying to fish. As for the blue hoodie scenario, i would've been outta there at the first sign of creepiness and not hang around playing hide and seek with the guy.
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In Riverwoods you're really in danger of being accosted by someone who insists you try their brie. I suggest investing in a cheese knife. :lol: :lol: :lol:jmdog2003 said:
But seriously, if you feel intimidated or even just something's "not quite right" call 911 immediately. Don't hesitate. This is why god invented cell phones.
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On two occasions, I've been accosted by thugs/gang members in the cook county preserves in the Wheeling area while fishing from shore. Fortunately nothing happened because I immediately left the area. Nowadays, when I do fish from shore I stick to Lake County where CCW is allowed...
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The first rule when dealing with this sort of crap is to be smarter than the creeps. Since you're all fishermen & into the out of doors we can safely assume you have considerably higher IQs than these knuckleheads. It's like dog training - 1st you have to be smarter than the dog.
Back in the 90s a retired Chicago detective named JJ Bittenbinder gave seminars on PBS about how to stay safe & he made this point several times. The creeps don't get into this shit because they're avoiding becoming NASA scientists.
Just be sure to keep your head about you & again, if your gut tells you something ain't right go with it & call 911.
One time a few years ago I drove into a CCFPD parking lot. There was a group of punks there throwing garbage cans around & acting like assholes. I got out of my car and made a big deal of pulling out my phone & calling the cops. They disappeared really fast - didn't even stop to cuss me out.
And while I'm on the subject. A few years ago some kids set up a "camp" along the DPR where I fish a lot. They hung a tarp made of heavy duty plastic from the trees. I didn't mind it until they left their shit and LOTS of beer cans lying around. Then I made a point of cutting the tarp to bits and fucking up their campsite.
When I got back to my car I called the CCFP HQ and asked them to send a car to where I was so I could point out the shit & ask for it to be cleaned up. I told them I'd wait as long as it took to get someone over there. An hour later a supervisor showed up. I showed her what I was talking about. She told me she'd have it taken care of. A week later all the shit was still there. I went thru the whole thing again. This time I made a big deal of taking the name of the guy who showed up. A few days later a crew came in & cleaned it all up.
The creeps aren't the only problem.
Back in the 90s a retired Chicago detective named JJ Bittenbinder gave seminars on PBS about how to stay safe & he made this point several times. The creeps don't get into this shit because they're avoiding becoming NASA scientists.
Just be sure to keep your head about you & again, if your gut tells you something ain't right go with it & call 911.
One time a few years ago I drove into a CCFPD parking lot. There was a group of punks there throwing garbage cans around & acting like assholes. I got out of my car and made a big deal of pulling out my phone & calling the cops. They disappeared really fast - didn't even stop to cuss me out.
And while I'm on the subject. A few years ago some kids set up a "camp" along the DPR where I fish a lot. They hung a tarp made of heavy duty plastic from the trees. I didn't mind it until they left their shit and LOTS of beer cans lying around. Then I made a point of cutting the tarp to bits and fucking up their campsite.
When I got back to my car I called the CCFP HQ and asked them to send a car to where I was so I could point out the shit & ask for it to be cleaned up. I told them I'd wait as long as it took to get someone over there. An hour later a supervisor showed up. I showed her what I was talking about. She told me she'd have it taken care of. A week later all the shit was still there. I went thru the whole thing again. This time I made a big deal of taking the name of the guy who showed up. A few days later a crew came in & cleaned it all up.
The creeps aren't the only problem.
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I've been meaning to reply to this & keep forgetting.Rich D said:
The hermit was fairly burly with a big beard. And as I said, he was pretty careful about not being seen. If the guy you ran into was smaller - like 5'8", balding with a close-cropped dark beard - that wasn't the hermit. That's another wacko who used to roam those woods. He was quite crazy but mostly harmless. I haven't seen him in a while so I suspect he's been put in a home for the mildly deranged somewhere.
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Yeah, but would you WANT to lip the guy to get the hooks out and return him to the water? :lol: :lol: :lol:busse bass man said:
Rambler, the guy I'm thinking of lived in a little squatter's settlement on the East side of the river, right off of Lake street up between the road underpass and the railway trestle. Honestly, I never got a good look at him - just a quick glimpse sneaking off into the woods like sasquatch.
Somewhat related story - this weekend I was fishing on a city pier on the north side and a guy there told me earlier a lady ran up and threw in a handful of rods screaming "leave the fish alone", scurrying off before anyone could catch her. Luckily they were able to retrieve the rods by hooking them with the one rod that survived the onslaught.
Apparently she was wearing Lululemons and looked like a typical runner (not some crazy person). So you never know - always be on the lookout!
Apparently she was wearing Lululemons and looked like a typical runner (not some crazy person). So you never know - always be on the lookout!
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It would be shitty to have my rods chucked into the drink... but god is that funny! LEAVE THE FISH ALONE!!!! :shock: :lol: :lol:tmanana said:
G
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·All of the above is some creepy-ass shit.
I don't recall any run-ins like that around the Fox or Dupe. Probably the "weirdest" thing I see with quite a bit of regularity on the Fox is people hooking up to cheat on their lunch hour. It's so friggin' blatant, and quite sad. Lots and lots and lots of cheaters out there. Ridiculous.
I don't recall any run-ins like that around the Fox or Dupe. Probably the "weirdest" thing I see with quite a bit of regularity on the Fox is people hooking up to cheat on their lunch hour. It's so friggin' blatant, and quite sad. Lots and lots and lots of cheaters out there. Ridiculous.
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