Time to fall into a different rhythm

It seems like just yesterday when I was on the water, wiping the perspiration from my forehead while bringing in crappies and bluegills.

And I know I’m desperately trying to hold on to a late summer even though the cooler breezes are more to my liking.

But with deer season a scant two blinks away, I know the autumn time machine continues to grind away, as evidenced by the first snapshots of color changes in the forest preserves. And then there’s the great angling still available on waterways like Geneva Lake. Area resident Mark Engles has been on the water there and notes the smallmouth angling is tremendous over deep water. Engles has been using jumbo minnows on slip-sinker rigs down close to 30 feet.

Fox Chain: A substantial improvement for walleyes especially on Petite Lake as well as Pistakee Lake. Muskie action better toward evening.

Fox River: Water is very high. Some shore anglers catching smallies up against shoreline rocks and downed trees.

Bangs Lake: Largemouth activity fair.

Lake Michigan: Big Kings in Waukegan Harbor. Some are taking spawn sacks. Steelhead following the kings in to the harbor as well as holding right outside Northpoint Marina.

Ÿ Mike Jackson can be reached via email at angler88@comcast.net. His radio program is once again live-streamed on the Internet at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com and can be heard 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM.