Big Fox River smallmouth are out there - if you can find them

I could definitely point a finger, in just about any direction, suggesting where you could go to find and catch some beautiful Illinois smallmouth bass on the Fox River. But I won't do that.

I can celebrate the countless times I have thrown spinners, nymph fly patterns, topwater plugs, Mini-Mite jigs and the like, and each fish caught was a renewal of the joys of discovering absolute pure pleasure.

Yes, I treasure my moments on the Menomonee River in between Michigan and Wisconsin. I trumpeted my days of success working crankbaits over weed pockets on the waters of Little Sturgeon Bay, Wis. I even sat in amazement after boating a beautiful 3-pound smallie that inhaled a whacky worm on Kentucky Lake. Christiana Creek in Elkhart, Ind., offered me excellent smallie action, as did Michigan's Pigeon River. I saw the 7-pound brutes on Minnesota's Mille Lacs Lake, but never managed to boat one. And the DuPage River continues to amaze me every single year. The excitement level continued upward when the aggressive smallmouth bass rose to the occasion on the Kankakee River to smash a stick bait and an in-line spinner.

We don't have a lot of special smallmouth places, but what we manage to scrounge up are special, sacred spots holding fish sure to put a healthy jolt into your pulse.

So, no, I cannot openly tell you where the smallmouth bass hide on the Fox River. That is a real secret of the river's life. I used to share some special spots with readers and radio show listeners until my trust in our local angling fraternity was betrayed by poachers and out-and-out greedy slobs who pillaged and plundered a local public pond once inhabited by big schools of crappies.

It was local angler Ken Darga who wanted me to experience the wonderful crappie experience at a public pond. It was all cookies and cream until I published the story in this column.

This personal attitude of mine may appear harsh, jaded if you will, while others will be angered. And then there are those who understand the position I have taken.

Because we have very limited outstanding in-shore fishing opportunities in the Chicago area, some people believed it was their right to take as many fish as possible, all because they may have invested some dollars in an annual fishing license. And of course there are those uncaring folks who never bothered to spend a few bucks to get a fishing license.

And then there's Eric Schaff, another smallmouth bass devotee and member of the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance. Eric e-mailed me to comment on one of my talk radio shows.

Conversation eventually moved over to his great affinity for the Fox River. Our back-and-forth resulted in an agreement we get together next spring for some bassing on that interesting body of water.

Even though I started exploring the Fox some 30 years ago, I really didn't appreciate the possibilities until Darga showed me the ins and outs of working various areas of current. Ken and I waded sections of the river, watching for slack-water pools and finding smallmouth from shoreline spots to mid-stream holding locations.

And then Eric Schaff pops this great photo on me. I am still drooling.

There are plenty of fish like this is the river. Finding them will have to be your secret.

Winter prep:

For those of you who have outboard motors, the cooler weather means an end to the boating and motorcycling season for many.

Most important in preparing these vehicles for winter is managing the potential for engine damage from the ethanol blend mixed in gasoline stored for long periods. The concoction can damage marine and motorcycle engines, leaving a corrosive water-soaked ethanol mixture at the bottom of the gas tank.

Half of the respondents of a recent Boat Owners Association of The United States survey reported that they have had to replace or repair their boat engine or fuel system parts due to suspected ethanol-related damage, costing an average $1,000 for repairs.

Fishing update:

A few perch are showing up at Waukegan on the north while South Siders seem to have a better bite at 79th Street.

• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at mikejacksonoutdoors.com.