Bottom Fishing the Illinois River: Stopped by a Conservation Officer! Am I Fishing Illegally?

[@CrazyBaker1969]

I quit the illinois river several years back when the carp became so bad. Took all the fun out of sauger/white bass fishing!

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah that does seem to be a problem with carp. They are everywhere Thanks for watching

[@NobleKorhedron]

They haven't been declared invasive,@@BananasacOutdoors?

[@BananasacOutdoors]

The silver and big head are invasive, actually I think all carp are. The 2 I said above are a must kill if you catch them. Thanks for watching

[@jaredgibbs1011]

Lol I love the Illinois river I've caught giants

[@BananasacOutdoors]

@@jaredgibbs1011 oh nice, I’m still searching for some giants. Thanks for watching

[@whydotheathensrage]

You hurt your back, damn those river carp are BIG ! 🤣 Remember, fish have tails, but fishermen have bigger tales.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

I wish it could be from the big fish lol, but it was from doing yard work. Pulled a muscle and stuck in bed for 3 days. lol about the tales joke Thanks for watching

[@whydotheathensrage]

@@BananasacOutdoors ouch, hope your all healed up. Did I ever tell you the tale about the 600 lb Lake Michigan carp I hooked into? Threw my back out for a week! Sounds better then, I picked my sock off the floor and sprained my back 🤣🎣

[@BananasacOutdoors]

😂 that does sound way better

[@rickreppin9627]

Thank you for asking that question!! Been winding that myself for a while now. Great content keep it up!

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Thank you for watching. Yeah I don't think its explained well in the rules book that comes out every year.

[@j1ivibo]

Definitely got the information i was looking for pertaining rod amounts on the river. I read the same thing you did and just wanted clarification. Great video!

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I was reading the same thing, but then I would always get questioned by other people when I had 3 rods in the rivers. Glad he explained it well. I do have more questions I would've liked to ask him now that I edited the video. I would just want him to clarify what he considers a Bank pole just to be more clear for everyone. Thank you for watching

[@jvfishingfever]

Great video, keep them coming!

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Thank you, and thanks for watching

[@glenneal5074]

drum are very firm and clean tasting -- we bleed them when caught --lake Erie -- just started keeping them last year.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I definitely want to give them a try sometime soon. Maybe I will wait for cooler water Thanks for watching

[@AddictedAngler]

drums are real good eating , when you remove the mud line and real good

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I will have to try one for sure Thanks for watching bud

[@dougpettibone9657]

I'll second that. Good to eat. Not bony. Small ones clean and eat like crappie. Big ones don't flake when you cook them. Get creative. Toss in a little butter and garlic. Poor man's lobster.

[@evsta100]

I've got to say, all DNR officers seem to be so chill and friendly even though they have the power over all other COPS. Maybe local law should learn from them. Walking solo in to a camp is so ballsy. Just subscrided. Nice vid

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Thanks for subscribing and watching. Yeah I’ve always had good interactions with DNR officers.

[@williamnelson2332]

So i have been watching your videos because you fish the same areas i do. Most of your videos dont get too many views. Have an interaction with police and youtube algorithm puts you in the feed. Keep up the content. I appreciate it.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Crazy how the algorithm works. I appreciate you watching the videos and all the new people that have discovered me. It’s been fun to record my adventures, and it’s cool that people are enjoying them as well. Thanks for the kind words

[@ZombieHavok27]

I thought he looked familiar then he said Lasalle lake! Pretty chill guy

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah he was real nice and treated us well. Thank you for watching

[@bogolyskeepingitreel]

That’s a good looking spot to fish for sure! Like your buddies dogs!!! Glad you got clarification on the poles u can use on the river. Lol…didn’t want to get caught with your pants down🤣 Nice multi species 👍

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Glad you enjoyed the video. lol, never get caught with your pants down. Thanks for watching the video!

[@tonydavila2606]

Drum is fantastic. Too small is not worth it because they’re bony but they have like a bass structure. They don’t have any weird y bones like carp. The meat is pretty white and not fishy. And if you catch them towards the fall when it’s cold, they get fatty which might sound gross but You fry it like butter. Like buttery ribeye fat but for fish. I’ve got 36 inch drum and I have a picture i can email you when I was 15 fishing the fox in Aurora. My favorite species because they eat off the bottom , they will eat jigs. I love drum like they are awesome.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Oh cool, thanks for the info. I will have to look into it. My email is in the about section I think if you wanted to send an email. Thanks for watching

[@ernestclements7398]

The real problem here seems to be that he's in violation of a regulation that was introduced earlier this year by the Federal Fish And Wildlife Service this rule prohibits the use of lead fishing gear that's less than 1/2 inch in any dimension on any Federally managed water, since Most of the Ohio, Wabash, Illinois, and Mississippi Rivers, are covered by one federally operated Wildlife refuge or another ( as is the Rock) this rule, enacted to prevent lead poisoning in Bald Eagles applies with heavy fines for violating it, ( one friend of mine who fishes the rivers extensively has gathered up flat river rocks and using a Dremel tool cut a small slot in each then epoxied a swivel into said slot, if he loses a sinker no biggie because it's a natural material)

[@BananasacOutdoors]

That’s interesting about using the rock, it’s a good idea. What did you do? Did you switch all your weights to tungsten or did you switch to something else? I’m curious on what to use. Thanks for the info and watching

[@shawngremm3226]

Never seen the Illinois flow that fast

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah it was moving, it’s actually been higher than that earlier in the year. Thanks for watching

[@werftv4580]

Side note: drum are pretty delicious if they aren't too big.. magic range seems 2-4#

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Oh nice, I will have to one sometime. I heard its bony, to you debone it, or just pick them out after cooking Thanks for watching

[@werftv4580]

@@BananasacOutdoors just fillet as usual and cut out the pin bones, simple fillet job, Spencer/River Certified has videos about it

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Ok cool, I will check it out, pretty sure I’m subscribed to him already. Thanks for the tip

[@guyfile1529]

ever try canned sweet corn for carp....we catch some big ones on shoal creek central Illinois

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I like using corn as well, I was trying a new bait out the last few times I went out. It works as well. Not sure if it’s better than corn though. Thanks for watching

[@chadlambert3186]

Thanks for sharing always wondering about the pole limit. I'm from southern Illinois

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Thanks for watching, glad this video helped. Oh nice I go to the Shawnee national forest to hunt for deer every year. Looks like a lot of good places to fish down there as well.

[@RodsFishingAdventures]

New subscriber here, enjoyed the video I'm in Illinois myself on the lower end of the Illinois river

[@BananasacOutdoors]

@@RodsFishingAdventures oh awesome, I’ve been subscribed to you for sometime 😂 I’ve heard the fishing in the river is better down by you. Thanks for watching

[@RodsFishingAdventures]

@@BananasacOutdoors lol thanks I appreciate it, this is the first time I seen your channel. KZbin used to tell you who was subscribing to your channel they don't do that anymore for some reason

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Don’t worry about it, it’s all good 👍

[@brianevans1851]

If you get around Chillicothe Illinois I can get you on carp, smallys, sauger ,cat ,flathead , Wally's, small mouths,in the river and the local creeks

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Oh nice I heard there are good places to fish over there. Like banner marsh and powerton. I’m guessing the Illinois river has great spots out that way as well. I might have to take you up on that offer Thanks for watching

[@johnmills837]

Really, there is fish in the water?

[@brianevans1851]

@@johnmills837 haha of course there is what are you one of those naive demacrats that are about as smart as a box of rocks lolol

[@leonina4579]

What boat ramp was this

[@BananasacOutdoors]

It don't think it has a name, its near Marseilles and Ottawa. That was my first time there.

[@scottwilliams3481]

I didnt understand your headline, bottomfishing is it illegal? I guess the real question was how many poles, lines? I usually use only 2 no matter where I go. I usually deadstick with both if its at night or targeting cats or carp etc... but in the dusk, day and dawn in a spot like that I would set up one rod and deadstick with live bait and be casting with a lure on the other for a predatory fish, bass, pike etc... its a good way to weed out some of the bottom feeders and hook up with an aggresive chasing species of fish that would hit a moving lure, all while my other pole is out working the bottom for a river monster. Great video, I love to catch all kinds of fish, thanks. 👍

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah usually that’s how I fish. One on the bottom maybe 2 depending on where I’m at. Then try to catching something else with lures. Just I was exclusively trying to catch cats and carps this trip for a little tourney I was in. Sorry about the confusion in the title. Thanks for watching

[@scottwilliams3481]

@@BananasacOutdoors I remember now, I missed that explanation in the video. I hope the tournament went well for you, but either way I'm sure you had fun. Happy fishing, looking forward to more vids! 👍

[@brianevans1851]

Two rods with two hooks in Illinois I fish Illinois river as well I have excellent catfishing holes on the the ole Illinois

[@BananasacOutdoors]

If you look at site specific location on the guide book. Look at every river on there, none of them say anything about a rod limit. Every other site on there does have the 2 rod max. Thanks for watching

[@brianevans1851]

@@BananasacOutdoors I only say that because I was fishing outside of Chillicothe Illinois and was issued a ticket for fishing with 3 poles 15 years ago it might have changed

[@robertfandel9442]

Hasn't changed unless you're in a tournament especially crappie tournament.

[@FishingKC15]

You should try cutting that drum for catfish bait... with bigger gear and tackle that river looks like it might hold monster kittys

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Thanks for watching! Yeah that rod that i used for the drum was way to small. I did just pick an extra rod that should be able to handle the big kittys and giant bait. That river probably does hold some big ones, I just nee to find them lol.

[@scottyboy1975]

As an Illinois river fisherman my entire life, this river definitely has big fish. I don’t know what section of the river you’re fishing, though. But it should have biggen as well! Great show man!

[@BananasacOutdoors]

@scottyboy1975 yeah I’m usually fishing between the Dresden Dam and near Ottawa when I’m on it. I’ve caught some big fish on it. Still hoping for a river giant. I’ve seen people catch them. Thanks for enjoying the video!

[@jamesturner5427]

See, respect gains respect, we’re all humans/americans here and can treat each other accordingly

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Amen Thanks for watching

[@rasstarr11]

I used to fish the Illinois River under the bridge before you get into starved Rock State Park, the action was always good then one day DNR rolled up on me and told me I was on private property and I told him how was I supposed to know and the sign was hiding behind some brush, after he ran my driver license and checked my fishing license he told me to go somewhere else

[@BananasacOutdoors]

@rasstarr11 oh that sucks, you would think they would’ve trimmed up the bushes. Almost sounds like someone seen you and called it in. Thanks for watching

[@joelwcarter8058]

DRUM ARE GOOD TO EAT.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I heard they are good to eat, just never tried it yet.

[@TheIrishAmish]

@@BananasacOutdoorsDrum is crappie/bass tasting.

[@jhova6542]

@@TheIrishAmish they are great! Especially the smaller guys. Stay away from the big ones!

[@randpherigo9724]

Grain elevators are all up and down the illinois.. carp love grain..

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I need to find one with some public access nearby. I’ve heard there are big ones near them. Thanks for watching

[@WhitchurchFishing1]

I love kayak fishing the Illinois river for small mouth

[@BananasacOutdoors]

I will have to do some kayak fishing in the Illinois River, I’m sure there are great spots on it. You don’t have to give exact location but whereabouts are you on the Illinois River? Thanks for watching

[@WhitchurchFishing1]

@@BananasacOutdoors I live in Quincy IL I'm 45mins east of the river

[@andystampfli9127]

Drum is just like bass. What would any rock fish or snapper cost at a restaurant that's what you are releasing

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I will have to try a catch n cook with Drum sometime. Thank you for watching

[@andystampfli9127]

@@BananasacOutdoors when you skin it leave the fat layer on the skin. They have pin bones like bass or perch easy to cut out. Bleed them and there won't be a red patch in the meat.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

@andystampfli9127 thanks for the tip

[@Mikesr.84]

Good video and your not to far from where I fish I’m near Ottawa

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Oh nice, I just started to hit the Ottawa area, I usually am fishing more east of there. I’m hoping to find some good spots out your way. Thanks for watching

[@tonysimons7218]

We can fish multiple hooks each pole can you?

[@BananasacOutdoors]

From what I know of it’s 2 hooks a rod here in Illinois. Thanks for watching

[@williamfelts7530]

Drum die easy but there are tons so good bait

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I think half the time I catch a drum it swallows the hook. Yeah good bait for sure, and people are telling me good to eat as well. Thanks for watching

[@kaizerblade75]

FYI, he’s a public servant, he doesn’t have a choice to be filmed and posted!!!!

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Oh I didn’t know that. Thanks for the tip Thanks for watching

[@billkaldem5099]

Very true

[@3SevenFishing]

dnr are some of the nicest cops around if you do what you did here. Every DNR ive run into has been super cool. They even let us run our unregistered electric kayaks in east chicago marina and didnt care that they were unregistered.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

oh thats awesome about them not caring about that. Yeah same for me on interactions with the DNR. I feel if you treat them with respect, they will do the same. If you ever do the Chicago Marina again, I would like to tag along. That sounds awesome, especially if you are doing the Salmon run. Thanks for watching

[@shawngremm3226]

Dnr around Peoria co. Would have have the other guy a ticket even if he didn’t have a pole in his hand.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Really that would suck. Good thing I’m recording the whole trip, I have visual evidence that he didn’t fish at all. Thanks for watching

[@joelwcarter8058]

YOU CAN BE DRUM KING IF YOU CATCH ONE THE WEIGHS 5 POUNDS

[@BananasacOutdoors]

lol yeah that would be cool.

[@joelwcarter8058]

@@BananasacOutdoors BIGGEST ONE I EVER CAUGHT , WAS A4 1/2 POUNDER

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Oh nice, I’ve caught a bunch of 3 pounders, but haven’t broke the 4 pound threshold on drum yet. I’m sure it will happen sometime

[@mortonmorton6083]

I used to fish in illinois all the time i lived in that horrible state i fished havana,bath,chandlerville, Carlyle lake Mississippi river all the way up to quincy game wardens in this state are assholes except a few new guy in harden is a nice dude

[@BananasacOutdoors]

I agree with Illinois being horrible. Never fished those places besides the Mississippi River. I will have to google map them and see how far away they are. Most of my interactions have been good with the game wardens here. I Must of caught them on a good day. Thanks for watching

[@StonedDead1981]

That DNR guy has no idea what he's doing, must not have read the regs himself. The two rod thing is accurate, I just checked the regs. 50 hook refers to trotlines and bank poles. Bank poles refer to poles with no reels.

[@kylebehrens3815]

There is no definition of bank pole in the regs. The no reel suggestion is merely your interpretation. Anything can be considered a bank pole if labeled and fished as such.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

That’s what I’ve heard as well, no definition of a bank pole. I’ve had people tell me they have had some 25 rod and reels setup and were checked by DNR officers and said what they were doing was fine

[@Facts1173]

Bank pole refers to pole with your name on it. All bank poles must have your name on it. In order for it to be declared a bank pole.

[@captainnemo5379]

40 years fishing the river in Illinois. You absolutely can have more than 2 rods in Illinois.

[@ernestclements7398]

And in order to use a trot line or bank pole in Illinois one must have a commercial fishing license.

[@danielgentry6759]

Am I the only one that noticed that an interaction with law-enforcement out in the woods is laid-back and nobody gets excited and they just talk like real human beings but if you go in the city, all they wanna do is be confrontational and drag you to jail

[@drjekelmrhyde]

Not just in the woods, most suburban police are way more laid back than city cops. I think city cops are under more stress because they have to deal with a lot more people.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I think if you give them respect, they usually give it back. Even if you are in the wrong. All my interactions with DNR have been pretty good. Thanks for watching

[@bustinnutsinslutsbutts]

They also know that when in the woods, backup is a ways off. It's smarter to be nicer when no one can come save you.

[@bouncerslabrealnature9143]

Regardless... badge wearing revenue generating domestic extortion experts are not 🚫 your friends and can not be trusted. 🤔⚠️

[@andrygonzalez9349]

Bonito lugar donde es ay amigo?

[@peterolbrisch8970]

Two rods only, two hooks or two lures per rod. It's been that way for years. It's in the rules and regulations the DNR published every year or so. No rules against bottom fishing.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Site specific for the 2 rods and 2 hooks or lures. Yeah most people don’t know rivers are not site specific. So you can use more. Thanks for watching

[@peterolbrisch8970]

@@BananasacOutdoors Neither did I. I find that most times, a third rod gets in the way. That's because I'm lazy and don't want to set up another rig that I have to run back and forth to. Thanks for your reply. I learned something today, and I'm older than dirt. Have a great day!

[@BananasacOutdoors]

lol, it’s all good. I only learned about this last year.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

@@BananasacOutdoors Well thanks for the info, you learn something every day. There are situations where a third rod could come in handy, especially where I fish, which isn't site specific.

[@ryanharrod1155]

DNR in Illinois are a joke. 50 hooks a person is an absolute disgrace to the sport. Every time you go out the banks are lined with bank poles. All about people feeding their families but I fish with two poles and I am actually there when I catch the fish. Bank poles trot lines hoop nets and so on should be illegal.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

It does seem excessive right Thanks for watching

[@88ranchok]

What state is this

[@BananasacOutdoors]

State of Illinois Thanks for watching

[@ericstevens8744]

Interactions with game wardens. Are hell Had to have my attorney threaten ky dept of fish and game with a lawsuit to get them to leave me the hell alone 😢

[@ericstevens8744]

I ended up moving from Kentucky On account of the harassment. The Ky dept of fish and wildlife caused me 😢

[@fload46d]

My dad ice skated on the Illinois River (probably 1915).

[@BananasacOutdoors]

lol yeah probably had to be that long ago. I’ve never seen it ice over. Thanks for watching

[@jwboilermaker]

I saw a guy drive a car on the river one year out of Spindlers marina

[@BananasacOutdoors]

That’s crazy lol Thanks for watching

[@huckfin1100]

By the way, you don't need his permission to film him either he's a public servant in public ! Jeez you got a lot to learn !!

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I won’t ask next time. I figured being polite might get him to be polite with me. Thanks for watching

[@sasquatch7642]

It will be posted if the body of water has a 2 rod limit

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Should be posted on the yearly guide book. It has all the sites in Illinois. Rivers it says nothing about a rod limit Thanks for watching

[@aleckrug1554]

Montgomery in tha house

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Hey that’s not too far! How’s the fishing at the Montgomery Dam? Thanks for watching

[@minipyrokamden2324]

It says it on page 10 in the 2024 Illinois fishing regulation information book

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah that’s what I read as well, but you would be surprised how many people think it’s just 2. I’m still glad I got clarification from the officer. Thanks for watching

[@MrJustin0919]

@@BananasacOutdoors That's gotta be annoying sometimes having those people who don't understand the law try and tell you what it is

[@brianlocal3]

drum is delicious

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I have to try it sometime, I keep on hearing how good it tastes. I will to do a catch and cook sometime soon. Thanks for watching

[@carloscardona3924]

It's a scam just don't allow commercial fishing.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

What do you mean by scam, just curious? Allowing up to 50 poles in Illinois? Thanks for watching

[@maskranger38]

Here in Virginia its no rod limits

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Oh nice, how many do you usually setup when you go out? Thanks for watching

[@maskranger38]

@BananasacOutdoors I used 3 or 4 rods

[@BananasacOutdoors]

@maskranger38 that’s cool, yeah probably to many more might be hard to handle

[@jaredgibbs1011]

You got a Facebook Im in the Peoria area

[@BananasacOutdoors]

I do, I think I have the wrong link on my KZbin page. I will make sure I update it tomorrow.

[@joelwcarter8058]

HOW MANY SPOTS DO YOU FISH,WHEN YOU MAKE A VIDEO????

[@BananasacOutdoors]

I usually fish the same spot per video, unless I catch only 1 or 2 fish. Then I will put a couple trips together on 1 video. This video is all in the same area, I just moved about 50 yards down river half way through the video. Thanks for watching

[@jplzx3]

Nice video, What city were you fishing?

[@BananasacOutdoors]

I was between Marseilles and Ottawa Thanks for watching

[@patpetersen7645]

don't people know that river is nothing more than a sewage drainage ditch for Chicago

[@BananasacOutdoors]

A lot of good fishing in that sewage drain 😂 Thanks for watching

[@joelwcarter8058]

I WOULD LIKE TO FISHING WITH YOU SOMETIME

[@john0johno650]

You and your buddies should have an Asian carp tournament. Takes a skilled angler to bring home a stringer of them !

[@FishingKC15]

lol... spin around in a boat with a net handy and you can fill the boat by them jumping in

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah that would be awesome. We run the tournament through twitch, So its a bunch of anglers Nationwide. So they do carp that are also Nationwide to make it fare for everyone. The Asian carp are not Nationwide yet, and hopefully it stays that way. I do want to catch one and see how it tastes. Thanks for watching

[@BananasacOutdoors]

yeah I've seen that before as well. Thanks for watching

[@ernestclements7398]

And since these Asian carp only feed on vegetation, ( and game Fish eggs) the best bait for them is believe it or not a Cherry tomato!

[@jhova6542]

I’ll be scared to eat fish out that river.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Yeah I can see that, I know during the extreme heat they recommend not eating catfish out of the river. Not sure why. Thanks for watching

[@jhova6542]

@@BananasacOutdoors yea it had something to do with algae or chemicals dumped in there.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Oh ok i thought something like that as well

[@Boy_Al1en]

So only 2rods per person or 50 hooky on one rod? I don’t get it 🤔😳

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Max 2 hooks per line. On rivers you can use more than 2 rods per person. You do need to label I think anything more than 3 with name and address to be legal. Thanks for watching

[@reaper2009rzr]

so called game warden doesn't have a clue....how do these people get jobs????

[@davephillips3790]

Very misleading and false caption . And it’s 50 hooks is the law for rivers not lakes goober

[@BananasacOutdoors]

lol goober haven’t heard that in awhile. I did state rivers in the video though. Thanks for watching

[@stevenhunt933]

I've eaten drum . Its boney and rubbery . Did not like it

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Oh ok, I think I will still try it one day. Thanks for watching

[@bhartung09]

clickbait title

[@BananasacOutdoors]

Maybe a little lol Thanks for watching

[@19dodgeram99]

Click Bait Every fisherman knows 2 pole limit per person

[@BananasacOutdoors]

On rivers you can use more than 2 Thanks for watching

[@LinneaBuras]

I hope no one is eating those fish.

[@BananasacOutdoors]

People do Thanks for watching

[@Sasquatchgaming97-qm6gy]

turn that officer in . i got 3 reports on him now

[@BananasacOutdoors]

He didn’t do anything wrong to me, and treated me fair. I Can’t turn someone in over nothing. Thanks for watching