I neglected to include in my “Report” that on the last day of our camping trip we “fled” to Glen O. Jones Lake - a spot we know well, and we can usually depend on it to catch a few edible size fish. The hope was to get south of the t-storms and my daughter wanted to pick up a cute shirt at a place near there and “Garden of the Gods” called “The Outpost”. After driving through a QUITE impressive t-storm (in terms of rain and lightning) we arrived into calm conditions with the rains having moved off. After getting our teeth rattled by taking the brand new killer speed bumps in the park as gently as possible (nastiest speed bumps ever!), we decided to go hit The Outpost first (they have great if slightly pricey ice cream concoctions too!), then go back and fish @ Glen O. Jones lake until dusk, then head home (still a 1-1/2 hour drive).
Naturally, as soon as we got back to the lake, another thunderstorm hit - really more of a t-shower for us, but, it took about an hour to move off. THEN, finally we got some productive fishing in, from about 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, thereafter heading home. My wife picked the spot to fish, as it usually produces nice bluegill, which she likes. THIS time, it coughed up mostly bluegill and green sunfish, 6 barely big enough to keep, but, to my delight we also caught 5 channel cats in the 17” range (great eating size even tho’ these were much more slender than the same length CC’s @ Dolan Lake) AND I caught an almost 19” Black Bullhead. I’ve never seen one that big. But, out of good water (MUCH nicer than Dolan) it’ll taste good too. All are cleaned & frozen: We’ll eat the bullhead, the one CC from Dolan, and a couple CC’s from Glen O. The other 3 CC’s will go to a family friend who can’t get out to fish in any but ~70 degree “nice” weather any more due to advanced COPD, but, he loves fish, esp. good water catfish.
Glen O. Jones Lake Profile: https://www.ifishillinois.org/profiles/waterbody.php?waternum=00240
And on the way home? No T’storms!!! That made wifey really happy - cars plus bad weather is NOT her thing — even as a passenger she freaks out.
Our place got over an inch of rain while we were gone, so, my worries about parched garden plants were needless, but neither did they drown. :-)
Really enjoyed your story. You’re a good dad, making sure to stop for a shirt for your daughter. I hope she appreciates what you’ve done!