Matthew Wier Posted May 1, 2023 Report Share Posted May 1, 2023 Good afternoon, My name is Matt Wier. I recently married and moved to McHenry from St. Louis. I caught the smallie bug more than 20 years ago and particularly love fishing moving water (though I'll fish everywhere and particularly love wilderness fishing in Quetico PP. ) I was the President of the MSA for several years so I really support the ISA's mission. I'm looking forward to learning about chasing some Northern Illinois smallies from my fellow ISA members. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dodge Posted May 1, 2023 Report Share Posted May 1, 2023 Welcome! I’m sure we’ll meet soon on the Kish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Trybul Posted May 2, 2023 Report Share Posted May 2, 2023 Welcome to northern IL and the ISA. We have some good moving water for you to explore. You'll even get to experience some random fish with teeth while out chasing smallies. The MSA is a well run organization with a strong following. From a leadership perspective, we would love to hear more about what made the MSA successful and what we can duplicate here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Wier Posted May 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2023 22 hours ago, Terry Dodge said: Welcome! I’m sure we’ll meet soon on the Kish. Thanks Terry! I'd love to meet and fish with you soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Wier Posted May 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2023 4 hours ago, Paul Trybul said: Welcome to northern IL and the ISA. We have some good moving water for you to explore. You'll even get to experience some random fish with teeth while out chasing smallies. The MSA is a well run organization with a strong following. From a leadership perspective, we would love to hear more about what made the MSA successful and what we can duplicate here. HI Paul, Thanks, I'm glad to be here. I actually love catching Pike (some vicious topwater strikes!) and walleyes so I'm looking forward to tangling with some of them as chances appear. Thanks for the kin words about the MSA, we always felt the same about the ISA. I was lucky enough to find a terrific younger guy (born on the same year as the MSA!) to take over as the President. He's brought on board some good younger folks. I'd be very happy to chat with the ISA leadership team about what worked/works for us in Missouri. I've made some great friends from all walks of life via the MSA and fished with them in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ontario, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon p Posted May 2, 2023 Report Share Posted May 2, 2023 Welcome, Matt ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben K. Posted May 2, 2023 Report Share Posted May 2, 2023 Welcome to the club Matt. There’s some great water around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asherman Posted May 3, 2023 Report Share Posted May 3, 2023 Matt, Welcome to the club! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Wier Posted May 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2023 Gordon, Ben, and Asherman, Thanks for the warm welcomes, I really appreciate it. I look forward to getting out on the water sometime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon p Posted May 3, 2023 Report Share Posted May 3, 2023 22 hours ago, gordon p said: Welcome, Matt ! if you find yourself in northern Wisconsin………. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dodge Posted May 3, 2023 Report Share Posted May 3, 2023 Matt, I take it you know Ryan Walker? Great guy! Going off your profile picture it looks like you need a new ax. 😁 I joke because I worked at Estwing for 28 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick G Posted May 3, 2023 Report Share Posted May 3, 2023 Matt, we are excited to have such an experienced smallmouth guy joining our group. Checkout the Tinkers Dam outing on the Menominee River happening this summer. You will fit right in. This trip is a lot less expensive than a Canadian trip, with big time fish landed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Wier Posted May 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 Terry, that's actually an ax my buddy Kurt forged with a Hickory handle he carved. I won it in a silent auction at the MSA's fundraiser earlier this Spring. I've owned a few Estwing hammers. Someone stole my favorite from a work site but I still have one in my collection. Dick, Thanks for the compliment. I've learned a thing or two about smallies but I'm always working on my game. My goal this year is to spend more time fly fishing than gear fishing. I'd love to join you guys on the Menominee. I've fished it many times based out of either Pembine, Dunbar in WI or Crystal Falls up in the UP. It's definitely a world class smallmouth fishery. This August, I happen to be going on a fishing trip to MN with a group of my MSA buddies at the same time and we hope to enjoy some equally outstanding smallie fishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dodge Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 Just poking some fun at you. Nice looking ax! I always tell roofers they’re doing it wrong when I see them not using an Estwing. 😁 If you’re interested (conservation wise) in the waters in the, McHenry County area, then you might find, Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnership (KREP), to be interesting.. Good group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Wier Posted May 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 Thanks for the good recommendatino Terry. I'm a librarian by trade so reading and research are part of what I do pretty much every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Wier Posted May 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 Gordon, Apologies for not answering you earlier, I actualy will be just outside of Hayward for a week in July. Its a family vacation but I'm hoping to take a run over to the Namekagon with my wife and any of the kids who want to go. I've enjoyed some great fishing there. I'd really love to run down and fish a certain Chippewa trib with my daughter's boyfriend if he's game but, its a family vacation first and foremost so we'll just roll with what the kids want to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon p Posted May 5, 2023 Report Share Posted May 5, 2023 I love the Nam and the St Croix. Too bad you are perhaps a tad to far for a day trip to my neck of the woods and the gorgeous upper Wisconsin. If ya get a wild hair let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon p Posted May 5, 2023 Report Share Posted May 5, 2023 13 hours ago, Matthew Wier said: Gordon, Apologies for not answering you earlier, I actualy will be just outside of Hayward for a week in July. Its a family vacation but I'm hoping to take a run over to the Namekagon with my wife and any of the kids who want to go. I've enjoyed some great fishing there. I'd really love to run down and fish a certain Chippewa trib with my daughter's boyfriend if he's game but, its a family vacation first and foremost so we'll just roll with what the kids want to do. Also, I have fished several sections of the upper Chippewa as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Wier Posted May 6, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2023 Gordon, I'd love to fish the upper Wisconsin with you some time. Rhinelander is a bit far for a day trip from Hayward but I'd love to drive up and fish your home waters. I've never fished the upper Wisconsin at all. Fished the Menominee, the Flambeau, the Chippewa and tribs, the Namekagon and the St. Croix but never the upper Wisconsin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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