Kishwaukee River Fishing Spot

• Elevation: 760'
• Last Modified By: vinny60 on 09/09/09 07:57 PM
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The Kishwaukee River flows from Woodstock, Illinois to Rockford, Illinois where it is a tributary to the Rock River. The river begins as a small wetland stream off Route 47, just north of the Route 14 intersection in Woodstock. It meanders across northern Illinois to the Rock River, south of Rockford. The northern branch of the Kishwaukee, or the main branch is what starts in Woodstock. It flows in an east west direction into Cherry Valley. This stretch of stream has an average width of 50 feet but where the river flows past the Boone County line it becomes both wider and deeper. The South Branch Kishwaukee River originates high upon the Cropsey Moraine, just north of Shabbona. The river flows in a northeastern direction toward the village of Genoa where it turns westward and then flows north-northwest. The South Branch cuts across moraines and part of the river bed is the plain of an ancient lake. The South Branch's average width is 55 feet. The Kishwaukee River drains land in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. In Illinois its watershed includes McHenry, Boone, Kane, DeKalb, Lee, Ogle, and Winnebago Counties. The entire watershed includes 1,257 square miles of land, which includes farmlands, prairies, savanna, wetlands, sloughs and forests. However the vast majority of the Kishwaukee watershed is agricultural in use. Crop lands occupy a full two thirds of the watershed's surface area. Another favorite DeKalb County fishing hole of mine is just west of Sycamore at a rest stop on Route 64. Its one of the few public access points on the Kishwaukee River. An abandoned railroad bridge serves as a catch-all for limbs and debris and while there's plenty of snags to lose hooks, lures and sinkers on, there are also lots of fish. The Kishwaukee River is a surprising source for a variety of fish. Most think of it as a river full of carp and redhorse suckers. But I've landed some northern pike (early spring), bass and when the water levels are high some good-sized channel catfish. One of the better spots on the Kish is at the Knute Olson, Jr. Forest Preserve off Baseline Road near Genoa. North of the Baseline Road bridge, up to the golf course, and south of the bridge a couple of hundred feet , is great for wade and fly fishing. There are also some gravel pit ponds in the preserve with plenty of fish but the smaller pond gets mossed over early.

The Kishwaukee River, sometimes locally known as simply "The Kish", is a river in the U.S. state of Illinois. "The Kish" is famous for its high number of bridges that cross within its 100-year floodplain.