Bad Weather= Better Fishing.

The blog has had yet another face lift in terms of design... I complain about the difficultly to read other blogs, yet mine was illegible and I did nothing about it. Quite the class act over here. Also, hopefully the resized images help everyone out a bit, colored a bit outside the lines.

Everyone has their passions or hobbies during the summer, and mine typically revolve around the outdoors. More times than not, something less expensive in my book is typically better. I'm running on empty, and can't seem to find more work.

So, I'm here to fill you in on this wonderful hobby called fishing, and point you in the direction of some worthy tunes to listen to for summer.

Fishing Local
Fishing here seems to be quite a bit easier than the city, as there are accessible ponds/lakes all around rather than attempting to go to a zoned area (Harbor, etc) in the city.

Requirements
License- This won't set you back much and is highly recommended. The license will put you back around $15.00, but will save you a fortune in tickets/fines. You don't want to go that route (unless you enjoy all your gear, car, boat, etc impounded and towed, as well as a hefty $500.00 ticket on top of that).
Trespassing- Watch the signs posted. In most cases I've found that you can weasel your way around such signs as long as you are civil/ethical in your fishing, ie don't leave trash, bait, fish around and watch the noise level. Use your own judgement on this, not everyone is a saint when it comes to obeying these laws, but don't be a dick. (This isn't a requirement, trespassing, just giving you a fair warning that these signs may appear and all that occurs is you asked to leave. Worst case scenario if civil.)

Gear
Fishing Pole- Most people have a pole in their attic, or at a relative's house. If not, it's a rather cheap investment. You can find a rather standard pole in the ballpark of $25.00 up to $500.00. I'd suggest starting on the lower end of the totem pole of price if you're just starting out.
Bait-Always a tricky subject. Soft plastic baits if you feel like doing a decent amount of work or effort (jigging, flipping, pitching, etc). If you're looking to sit back and relax I'd suggest a box of Canadian Night Crawlers and a set of bobbers. For the first-timer it's convenient- watch the bobber, when it sinks, jerk the line to set the hook, and a fish is on the line. Simple stuff.
Chair- Not essential, but it never hurts.
Sunscreen, and either sandals or waterproof shoes can be helpful as well.

Typical Illinois Fish
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Gar, Crappie, Bluegill, Sunfish, Catfish, Striped Bass, White Bass, Rock Bass
Not all these fish are found within one area, so don't be upset if you can't catch them. The most typical fish to find in local ponds are largemouth bass, sunfish, bluegill, catfish, and unfortunately carp. Carp as a fish are terrible. They put up a fun fight, but they're difficult to reel in and even worse in regards to the effort.

Some proof of fish existence from this week... My younger brother and my own larger catches of the day.








Music:
Dirty, dirty self-promo. I can't stop listening to two friends' bands. They've been my feel good songs of the summer as of late, and I figured I'd show them to you in hopes that you'll enjoy as much as I do.

Light Pollution- Good Feelings


Secret Colours- Love (Stream 'em all if you like it, I dare ya)