Gary L

Those look like they gonna catch some Smallmouths for sure.

You will be using weighted line and fishing deep canyon reservoir for suspended Smallies. You have evolved in your fishing into a specialty type fishing with finer points and more care given to presentation and imitation of the forage. You are at a point where Greg R. was 25 years ago I bet. Just a baby learning how to walk. Oh, and Happy Fathers Day I hope it is an enjoyable day for you.

It could be they just didn't like the rain falling on the surface of the water and moved deeper to avoid it. It bothered them for sure and will be something to remember and experiment with next time you get on a Buzzbait bite like that. Now I am wondering also if the Crankbait bite was there all the time but you were unaware of it because you had fish hitting the Buzzbait. Then the rain came and moved the Buzzbait fish off and you switching to a Crankbait started catching the Crankbait fish. Questions, Questions, Questions, with no real answers.

I am sure glad you were there at that time and were able to save that very precious life. She was sure lucky you were around when she needed someone.

I would say that a man with your vast amount of knowledge about fishing should be able to collect big speaking fee's at clubs and other special events. You are a credit to the ISA and we are glad we get to have you for Free!

You may be fishing to fast or the fish have moved. I always fished the Eddies real careful making sure to hit all spots. I usually started on the upstream edge of say a large tree and worked my way around to the back or downstream side then fished the bubble line and all of the slack water inside. They are somewhere in there you just need to find them. My favorite lure on the river was a 1/16oz. Charlie Brewer Crappie Slider with a 3" BPS Watermellon Stik-O. I used that most of the time. I also used a 1/8oz. Buzz Bait in the fast water runs and caught some very aggressive fish. Another good spot is the edges of these fast water runs as the Smallmouth use it as and ambush point. I caught a bunch on the Kankakee fishing these areas. I was actually a better fisherman on that river then Norm but he won't admit it. :lol: :lol:

Norm, nobody else is old enough to remember Bucktail Spinners. I bet I still have some originals in my boxes somewhere.

Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers. I used to fish for Walleye with the big old Nightcrawlers. I bet them Smallmouths would just love a fat juicy Nightcrawler.

I always felt it was to crowded fishing below the dams. I preferred and spent most of my time fishing well down stream from the dam. Eddies are where you are going to find most of your fish. So anything that forms an eddie should be fished thoroughly. The area above a dam is for the most part kind of dead water as it usually has low oxygen levels. You need to be away from the dams both above and below to get into concentrations of fish. All of the rivers in northern Illinois like the Fox, Kankakee, DePage, Kishwaukee, Rock and others have great eddies to fish and most area can be waded on all but the Rock River. With you being in Schamburg you will have to accept the fact that you will need to travel some to get to good water. I would suggest the Fox or DuPage and to get with some of the other members and pick there brains. I always enjoyed the stretches of the Fox south of Aurora.

The Best Tip I have gotten was to Join the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance. The next best Tip was when using a Spinning Reel always close the bail by hand to prevent loops.

Good Luck Jack and keep in touch! I have some friends over in Batesville, Ar. area.

The Western Basin is most noted for its Smallmouth fishing. I believe that would make Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ontario Canada all have a stake in this. The Central basin is mostly Steelhead and Trout Species and the Eastern Basin has a fair population of a mixture of Walleye, Bass and Trout. Here is a good article on this and hope you find it helpful. http://ezinearticles.com/?Lake-Eries-Weste...&id=1329539

Hate to say it but I thought this was a thread about my favorite Missouri "crank" Gary. Hey, you talkin bout me! I'm just a happy go lucky guy and not a cranky bone in my body. They must use them on the rivers cause they sure don't use they on the lakes. Wiggle Warts and Jerkbaits get the most use on the lake.

My January/February got here on March 4, 2009. Can't beat snail mail.

Looks like a great time was had by all. Congratulations to Mike Clifford for his years of outstanding service and to Marc Miller for his appointment to Director of the IDNR. I may have to think about getting up for this event next year.

Just attended a Table Rock Lake Smallmouth, Kentucky and Largemouth Seminar sponsored by www.ozarkanglers.com and given by long time professional guide Bill Babler. It was a very informative Seminar and you can listen to it on the site under Table Rock Lake. Where else can you go and have the opportunity to catch all three species during your fishing trip. Learned some new tricks and got educated on where to go for Bass on Table Rock during the Spring. I bet your seminar on Lake Michigan Smallmouths will be every bit as informative as the one I attended down here.

The Kaskaskia River has a fair population of Smallies so it is quite possible that the Creeks that feed it may contain some also. I would search those that have water deep enough to sustain a population year round and then hit a few this Spring that have higher water in the Spring Spawning season. That area is a growing Smallmouth population so document your venture into these uncharted waters and then pass this information along to the Conservation Officer that has been working on them. His name escapes me right now but I am sure that someone like our very astute President knows what it is and will pass it along to you. I hope to see an article down the road on these fisheries and how the population is doing. It also helps the cause of Smallmouths everywhere and you will surely gain more information and meet some wonderful people if you join this fine organization. It is dedicated to Conservation, Education and Socialization and has spent many years creating a viable Smallmouth Fishery here in Illinois. We want you to be part of this program because we need members from this area. The ISA has a great deal to offer you as a member and you should join and if you can attend the Bronzeback Blowout that is coming up March 7, 2009. They will have a great Dinner some very good Speakers and you will meet some really good fisherpersons also. This is the Organization you need in your life to build on your love of Smallmouths and help in the enhancement of the fishery you seek.

I would bet it is a Lake Michigan Smallie. They have some monsters swimming freely about the Chicago Lake Front. I thought you would get a kick out of that Don.

That is just a typical DuPage River Smallie Jonn. That is a little small but very typical of what I used to catch up there.

If you are young enough and strong enough you can do what you are thinking about. They had a canoe rental in Montgomery back when I was about 14-15 which was many years ago. My cousin and I would rent a canoe and float down to my Uncles cabin in Yorkville and then paddle back upstream to Montgomery. It was fun but a lot of work. I guess being young it was good exercise too. I think the experience would be more rewarding if you planned a trip with a friend, as company is always good, and positioned a car at the takeout point to bring you and the canoe back to the start.

A light action 6'6" rod with a light action reel spooled with Power Pro 15/6 and tie on a 1/16oz. Charlie Brewer Crappie Slider and a Bass Pro Shop 3" Watermellon Stick-O. I used this exclusively when I waded the rivers of Illinois before I retired to Missouri.

I live in Nixa, Mo. about 15 min. from the main office of Bass Pro Shops and about 33 min. From Aunt's Creek Ramp on Table Rock Lake. My Zip is 65714.

No I didn't get mine yet. I just about a week or maybe two weeks ago got the Nov/Dec. issue.

It would be a 3" Watermellon Stick-O on a 1/16oz Charlie Brewer Crappie Slider.

This is what we have been waiting for In Illinois! Someone that understands the needs of it's residents and the people that they serve. My hat is off to Gov. Quinn and a big Congratulations to Marc Miller with this appointment Illinois is on its way to becoming a destination of fisherman and not a starting point. What a monumental appointment this is.