Last week I traveled over the Fox River on Interstate 80.

I looked in wonder down at that stream, which was iced over. It’s been awhile since I fished this waterway, actually about seven years. My fishing partner Frank Greene and I used to fish it near the town of Millington. Frank passed away some years ago, and I still miss that little guy in the boat with me. But to get back to the story.

Frank and I would travel northeast on Route 71, eventually making our way to Silver Springs State Park. There is a boat ramp in the park, but the water is usually very shallow. I have a Jon boat with a jet motor. That combination worked just fine on the upper Fox River. Sometimes, though, I would clench my teeth when we ran a rapids that was only about 4 inches deep.

We traveled downstream to the town of Millbrook. Just before that town, there was an old mill. I don’t really know what it was used for, but right near it was an old broken dam. It reminded me of an old grain grinder. Below that broken dam it was 18 feet deep. And just below the dam a small creek entered the river.

Right away we anchored and began fishing. We caught some flathead catfish that exceeded 20 pounds in that hole. Not only catfish, but the creek mouth contained some huge muskies. We caught several.

I think about that area very often, and I am going to have to go back there again someday. During different seasons, there is no telling what else that deep hole may hold. Many times during the run downstream, we observed some huge snapping turtles as well as many deer and wild turkeys.

I would not recommend traveling that stretch of river with a conventional outboard, as it is very shallow. It contains holes, rapids and runs. The holes contain smallmouth bass, and the runs contain many channel catfish below the rapids.

In addition, the scenery is breathtaking. It is mostly wooded and not like the dells below Wedron.

La Salle County Pheasants Forever

The chapter will be holding its 2022 Youth Pheasant Hunt on Feb. 12. All youth ages 18 and under are invited. This event will be held at the Seneca Hunt Club, 2983 N. 26th Road in Seneca. Lunch will be provided. Registration deadline is Saturday. For additional information, call Chuck Eiben at 815-488-1390.

Hunting report

Monday was the end of the Canada goose season in our zone. Squirrel season will continue until Feb. 15.

Fishing report

Most river and lake areas still contain ice. Ice fishermen have been taking some nice bluegills in 20 feet of water. Wax worms have been the hot bait. At times, one may catch a nice catfish or a large mouth bass.

When the ice goes off, don’t forget to renew those salmon stamps. Some of the stocked waterways include the I & M canal, Gebhard Woods ponds in Morris and Big Lake at Silver Springs State Park.

• Fred Krause is a Shaw Media correspondent.