Paul Trybul

All I have to say is this was a pretty cool experience that I'm glad I got the chance to experience. Out of approximately 400 ISA members I can't believe 396 missed out. It was your loss to get some real inside information. You still have one more chance if you can get off next week to help shock some Pecatonica River tribs. It happened pretty much the way Jude described it. Here are some pictures: First you have to put up net barriers both upstream and down. Then we lined up behind the electricity and got to be the dippers. Then they measured, ID, and released them. Of coarse it wasn't all work and no play. The big fish did seem to escape us but we did get decent numbers of smallmouth

We need to introduce our youth to the outdoors. Too many have adopted a life of being a couch potato. Too much technology like TV, internet and video games keep them indoors. Not enough playing down by the swimmin' hole in the creek like alot of us did as a kid. Like they said "nature-deficit disorder". I hope that never happens to me.

Kevin, Good luck with your move and I am sad to see you go. You have to do what's best for you and your family. Thanks for introducing me to the ISA and places like Sylvania.

So far it will be me and my father driving together. I did get a call from a member last night but I think the 3 hour drive from Joliet may have scared him off. It is supposed to be pretty hot on Saturday. I was thinking about getting up early and fishing and then meeting for the shocking. I'm not sure it is possible for me to fish until dark but I would certainly like to if the fish are cooperating. We could all drive together but my father and I might kill your fish till dark plans.

I have a post pounder but it is my own personal one for my horse pasture. I'm happy to let anyone borrow it for a good cause like this. I could use a few signs for some urban spots in downtown Rockford where some education could do some good.

Having a Honda Civic that gets 38MPG makes this all possible. I'm actually pretty excited about hiking the porkies too. Whenever I get into fly fishing, this may become a fishing destination of mine. Lake of the clouds is supposed to be an artificial only C&R only smallmouth lake too. The shorline sounds like it is too steep and wild for shore fishing. I will scout and see how easy it would be to portage a canoe into.

Jonn, that still sounds like a pretty cool trip. I've done some research on those rivers and I have read good things. Most of those start out as native trout streams in the headwaters and end up being quality smallmouth fisheries through the main and lower basin. The Sylvania smallouth are getting a big break this year. Our NW group was trimmed back big time this year. I had booked a Canada fly-in already so I couldn't book a Sylvania Trip with the guys. I did manage to work out a 1st anual father/daughter camping trip. She just turned 11 and in a few years hanging out with Dad probably won't be cool anymore. We will be base camping at the drive up camps in Sylvania. The plan is day 1 visit bond & octonogon falls and drive up to do some hiking in the porcupine mountains. Day 2 paddle/portage the clark, loon, DI, cub, BB loop. Day 3 paddle/portage the crooked, high, kerr, E&W bear, mountain loop. I know this is taking on a lot and the weather will have to be good to get this done. Traveling will go faster when you're not fishing all the time. Fishing will be secondary on this trip with mostly photographing and observing wildlife as the primary focus. Don't get me wrong I'll be dragging a senko or hula grub through a few key spots. There are also some smaller lakes up there where a kid can catch bluegill on almost every cast using a small hair jig. I'll try to post a report when I get back next week too. I look forward to hearing how your trip went Jonn.

Karen sent me the schedule today and it looks like they are doing 2 weeks of surveys in the Pecatonica River Basin. The 1st week will be done from boats so our help is not needed. The 2nd week will be done on smaller tribs with electric seine which requires waders and more manual labor. This is where the DNR needs our help. They will be doing 2 sesions a day, one at 9:00AM, the other at 1:00PM starting Monday June 25th and running through Thursday June 28th. They only need 1-2 people per day. I can take off work Wednesday June 27th. Maybe we can split our time and be more helpful. Call Paul Trybul at 815-703-2651 if you would like to volunteer for this cool hands on experience.

I'm not sure if we are taking a poll here but put me down for wet wading April - October. The only reason I wear waders is if the water is cold. Generally I fish more rual waters like the Kish, Rock tribs and the Apple. I do wet wade the Rock River and it is not the cleanest. What works for me may not work for you. I understand there are risks and I am Ok with that.

Jude, I'm probably 60/40 that I'll go it just depends on what I have going on at work. Since we don't have a solid date yet it is difficult for me to schedule around a mystery date. Also we are probably better off in my Honda that get 30-40 MPG. Breakfast sounds good though.

I've got pair of 3.5mm noeprene waders. I was just hoping that I wouldn't have to wear them in mid-June.

Tim, I planned on wet wading. Is that a bad idea considering electricity will be flowing through the water? I was under the assumption that we would be standing a safe distance below the electrical current. Wet wading is my personal choice, and I'm not necessarily recommending it for everyone.

On Saturday June 16th at 10:00AM the ISA in conjunction with Dan Sallee and the DNR will be conducting a shocking survey on the Clear Creek. The Clear Creek is a tributary with confluence to the Apple River at the Apple River Canyon State Park. The ISA has partially funded a grant that will support stream bank restoration. The DNR wants to do a before and after to test the water quality and fish populations. This we be a fun learning experience and ISA members are invited to participate or just observe. Knowing the location we will be at and the members attending there will most definately be some fishing afterwards. Please call NW Regional Coordinator Paul Trybul at 815-703-2651 for more information on this event.

I'm not a big crank fisherman but they do have their place. I fish them mostly when water temps are in the 40's & 50's in the spring and the fall. Once water temps hit the 60's its pretty much all plastics, topwaters, and spinners for me. Pretty much in that order too. The retrieve that works best for me is a series of twitches and pauses mixing up the cadences. I have not had success burning a crank in the river. I have had outstanding success burning a crank in ponds but that is mostly with green bass. I will definately agree that bumping structure and pausing is a great trigger of agressive strikes.

I still fish but I use more caution at this time of year like some of the things already mentioned. We are still stewards of the river and I hate to see the rivers abandoned by the most respectful anglers and left to the ignorant. Especially this time of year.

Another place you can check out are the Porcupine mountains in the UP of Michigan. This place is supposed to be a backpackers paradice. You can hike in to fish natural trout streams or there is a lake call Lake of the Clouds which is loaded with smallmouth from what I hear. Keep an eye out for bears though and hang your food at night.

Rain and warm weather should have them popping. I've looked in a few spots and have found nothing so far. I'm not the most experienced hunter but I do know what an elm tree looks like. Anyone having any luck?

I agree totally. I picked 4 off of my body yesterday in the cherry valley area. None were imbedded, just crawling around.

Also Dan Dallee wanted us to help with a shocking/survey on the clear creek branch of the Apple River. The proposed date on this was June 16th and ISA members will be welcome to help or just watch and learn. I hope the water is low for the pecatonica river survey. That river runs much deeper and siltier than some of the other rivers in the area. This river is a sleeper big walleye river. I'm definately interested in what they shock up. The pec also runs a good 50 miles through IL. Did she mention what area they would be surveying?

I know it's been an odd spring, but with the nice warm weather and rain coming do you think the morels will be out soon? It looks like about this time last year they started showing up. I haven't had much luck finding them since moving to Rockford but I have a lead on some new spots to check out. I was wondering if anyone has stumbled across any yet.

Gregg, are you calling me a "character"? I resemble that remark. I'm feeling the blues too because of constant rain, high water, and lets just throw a 30 degree temperature drop on top of that too.

Sounds like an interesting read. I should go for an autographed copy too. Jim didn't lie to me. My best free guided trip ever in IL waters was guided by Pete Plauk. If I never joined the ISA it probably never would have happened. Pete probably offered me this trip because I turned him on to the spot where he caught his 20.5" Kish smallmouth. It all comes full circle.

I'd go breathable chest waders

You're not the only one. So far this year I've only caught 3 smallmouth. None over 12" and not more than 1 per trip.