[Kool442]

Has anyone in the past made a decent run up the East Branch (wading)?
Last weekend I dropped in at the East Branch (Royce Rd /RT 53) and proceeded to head up stream. I quickly learned that this part of the river is consistency 48"-60" deep (not including deep holes). I did check the water data which recorded the river gage height about 6"-8" higher than lowest height. I typically fish quite a bit down stream from there but honestly, I was looking for a place that had the least amount of kayak and weekend float traffic.

 

[SpecialEd]

Has anyone in the past made a decent run up the East Branch (wading)?
Last weekend I dropped in at the East Branch (Royce Rd /RT 53) and proceeded to head up stream. I quickly learned that this part of the river is consistency 48"-60" deep (not including deep holes). I did check the water data which recorded the river gage height about 6"-8" higher than lowest height. I typically fish quite a bit down stream from there but honestly, I was looking for a place that had the least amount of kayak and weekend float traffic.

I've heard that the section that runs along Rt. 53 is a trough of very silty-bottom. I know a few who have kayaked that stretch and have repoorted success in a few key spots between Royce and Hobson. Gotta be a tough wade though...

 

[Kool442]

I've heard that the section that runs along Rt. 53 is a trough of very silty-bottom. I know a few who have kayaked that stretch and have repoorted success in a few key spots between Royce and Hobson. Gotta be a tough wade though...

SpecialEd, everything that you are saying is spot on, plus the shore edges are very steep (again not ideal for wading). So like most fisherman I do not give away any spots... any good spots that is. However I feel like i need to share this area with the kayakers out there (I do not own one). My son and I dropped in at this spot and traveled only about 100 yards before the water level began to come up to our necks. In that short 100 yards, probably 8-10 casts each produced 4 smallies (average size for DuPage) , one large mouth pushing 2 pounds and hooked at least a 3 pound smallie (twice) and lost him twice. All in a matter of maybe 20 minutes? If you have a kayak... this is your place. I'm heading back down river to some more reasonable levels.

 

[jmdog2003]

I'm assuming you mean that parking lot by the bridge just west of rte. 53? I have fished that area a fair amount but don't really wander too far. From what I have seen, it's not a spot to park and wade long stretches. Yes very silty, and yes depth tends to drop quickly. I would venture a guess that there are quite a few holes that would have you swimming if you were lucky enough to find them on accident. Also not a ton of boulders or anything like that. Mostly silty flats. That being said, under the right conditions I have taken really nice smallmouth and largemouth there.