2010 FFF in Joliet, IL, aka 18 hours in sub-zero windchills! Options

[FJR1]

Four hardy (or fool-hardy) souls ventured into the night for FFF 2010. Mike (Carpbowl) Olinger, Larry (911 carp) Seeman, Dennis (Moneypenny) Davis, and Frank (FJR1) Rink represented the Chicago suburban contingent as we tried to conquer Joliet's DesPlaines River, a swim recently designated by some as the "Dead Zone." The moniker was created because of a December 2009 DNR rotenone fish kill upstream just a couple miles in an attempt to stem the onslaught of the dreaded Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

Although we didn’t start fishing until midnight, Mike, Dennis and I got there at 9:00 p.m. to claim end pegs for the event and to do a little pre-chumming. Larry arrived at 11:30. Special plaudits to Dennis, by the way, for coming out on a night like this. Dennis uses a wheel chair and can only be out of it for brief periods. Fishing all night in these conditions with a wheelchair frozen in the snow takes real bravery. Kudos to Mike, as well, for transporting Dennis throughout our session.

Dennis at a previous Joliet event at a "balmy" 40°

The 2010 FFF started with our having extremely high hopes, as always. We opted for the Jackson Street swim as opposed to our usual Bicentennial Park venue, as Jackson Street afforded better/quicker access to our cars. Access to warmth was definitely required as temps ranged from 4° to 18° all day and night. Combine those temps with a 10-20 mph NW breeze in our faces, and wind chills never rose above zero and dipped to 20 below at one point. We had to keep our bait and method mixes in our cars, because they would freeze if left outside for more than 30 minutes. We still had frozen hands and faces each time we ventured out to bait, rebait, de-ice lines, and unlock reels.

Moon over Mia . . . err, Joliet in sub-zero windchills

We took several water temperature readings throughout our long night-day session, and readings fluctuated between 40° and 42°, giving us a chance to prove Mr. Phone wrong again.

Water temps were 40° to 42°

The midnight hour arrived amidst shotgun blasts and home-made fireworks in downtown Joliet, and we made our first casts. I had just attached my swinger to my second line when I looked left and saw Mike hauling a fish at the other end. Mike had the nine pound, one ounce carp in the weigh sling at 12:06 a.m., just shortly after the bell tolled at midnight. I assume that Mike will be in the running for first carp of the new year. With this auspicious start, we all thought that the mighty DesPlaines River on this first day of a new decade would be the mother lode of carp gold.

Mike (CARRPBOWL) Olinger with a 12:06 a.m. catch!

Unfortunately, the tolling of that midnight bell in Joliet on 1/1/10 was a death knell for our fishing fortunes during the 18 hours that we spent in a quest for FFF success. That midnight fish was the sole gold nugget weighed by any of the four of us throughout the entire event! Maybe Phone is right!

Sad to say, no more fish were caught in the darkness of night, although we did have one non-fishing incident. Although I have never encountered any problems in Joliet, the area we fished is rather notorious for theft. We fished that evening across the river and a short walk over an adjacent bridge from a housing project known as a hotbed of crime in Joliet. I did have a knock on the car window at about 4:00 a.m. I jumped out, and the guy asked what I was doing out there in the middle of the night. When I told him I was in a national carp fishing event, he did not ask for my wallet nor did he pull a weapon. He simply gave me several suggestions about better places to fish. All the Joliet locals who never fish always have better places to fish with promises of 30 and 40 pounders. I did recognize the gentleman as someone I had talked with before during late night fishing sessions in Joliet. Larry S. did not recognize the conversant and was quickly on his way over to my car with a club literally up his sleeve, but the guy left before Larry got there. The guy evidently thought he had given me enough suggestions, or he knew Larry had something up his sleeve. I guess it was safe where we fished, but better to be safe (with a club) than sorry. Thanks, Larry, for being prepared!

Our safe swims!

Ice flows moved through our swim in the pre-dawn hours and despite our best efforts, it was difficult trying to keep lines from freezing to the flows. Larry and Dennis called it a day at about 10:00 a.m.


Ice everywhere!

Mike and I moved to Bicentennial Park where there were fewer ice problems. After shoveling snow and preparing our gear once again, we had lines in the water at 11:00 a.m. The weather seemed warmer and the water seemed more promising. The results, though, had us blanking for the two hours spent there.


Bicentennial Park--Some shoveling, some cold, no fish!

I scouted Jackson Street once again, and the ice had moved out, so we returned to finish the day. Same cold front, same conditions, same result—no fish.

Both of us left shortly before 3:00 p.m. after spending 18 hours at Joliet (9:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.) in and out of sub-zero weather conditions. They say that the thrill is in the chase, but I would be dishonest to say that I enjoyed this over other events where more fish were caught. It was actually a frustrating 2010 FFF, but I should have known better with a high barometric reading and a wicked cold front in our face, less than 18 hours old.

On the other hand, the company was enjoyable. I always appreciate the good will mutually shared by this group of anglers. Oh well, better luck next year.

FFF wouldn’t take place without some pre-planning and some generous dedication. Huge thanks to Jerome M. and the sponsors for organizing yet another stellar CAG event. I look forward to FFF's continuation!--Frank

[Larry H]

Great pics and very fine narrative. Again...I say you guys were insane. No way would I fish those conditions. BTW..it's supposed to hit 78 degrees here this afternoon. I may never come back to the midwest. Even my son's dog (Lambeau) is snoozing in the shade.

[Bridgeportnovice]

An amazing feat of determination to stay out there cars or no cars. I was cold just reading.

[Jerome]

Frank, I think you should publish your FFF story in National Geographic! Your photography is just splendid. Oh, and the 18 hours in sub-weather, man, I can't believe you can even type today!

[phonebush]

Frank,

Looks like that "single" fish had a train wreck with a fish hook and got snagged. You can't catch carp in cold water - didn't I tell you that?? It does look like an adventure I would have loved to "check in on" from time to time. I certainly agree with Jerome. What great photos! My question - why would you record for future generations such an event?

Phone
Good stuff!

[Ol Captain]

Excellent read & photos!

[Justin]

Nice job!!

[Brid]

Excellent story - and pics!! I'm so glad you actually caught one --- just to keep the spirit up Tough session guys - but -- I guess it will be inspirational for those that laid in their cozy beds dreaming about Carp
Cheers
Brid.

[FJR1]

Great pics and very fine narrative. Again...I say you guys were insane. No way would I fish those conditions. BTW..it's supposed to hit 78 degrees here this afternoon. I may never come back to the midwest. Even my son's dog (Lambeau) is snoozing in the shade.

Thanks, Larry. Please stop rubbing that San Diego weather in our faces .

[Zoomie]

Wow fantastic story and phenominal pics.

And I thought Charlie and I froze. You guys and gals take it to a whole new level. Hats off to all of you for braving those conditions.

[FJR1]

An amazing feat of determination to stay out there cars or no cars. I was cold just reading.

Thank you, Rob, I saw in another post that your "warm" wife, among other things, kept you home. Nice option. That reminds me to thank my generous wife for allowing me to fish these kinds of marathons.

[FJR1]

Frank, I think you should publish your FFF story in National Geographic! Your photography is just splendid. Oh, and the 18 hours in sub-weather, man, I can't believe you can even type today!

Thank you, Jerome, for the kind words, and for making these events a reality. Your generosity is appreciated.

[FJR1]

Frank,

Looks like that "single" fish had a train wreck with a fish hook and got snagged. You can't catch carp in cold water - didn't I tell you that?? It does look like an adventure I would have loved to "check in on" from time to time. I certainly agree with Jerome. What great photos! My question - why would you record for future generations such an event?

Phone
Good stuff!

Thanks, Phone. We'll be catching all kinds of fish in sub 50° water in the next two months during a Chicago area winter tournament; but on 1/1/10, your contention was right on target (or maybe the fish are really re-distributing themselves after thousands of their brethren went belly-up from the rotenone just a couple clicks upstream). You are also right about the fact that these "failures" are best left unrecorded .

[FJR1]

Excellent read & photos!

Thanks, Cap'n! You're the model to follow for fishing narratives.

[FJR1]

Nice job!!

Thank you, Justin. I wish I were as thorough as you with the positive feedback and kind remarks to all.