John Gillio

More time to catch that last smallie of 2015.

I am also very happy with the Cabela's reels. The Prestige has been a workhorse for me. I also have the Wind River for a 5 wt and an 8 wt. I was surprised at how well they both hold up to strong running fish including some fair sized carp and salmon. I used the 5 wt quite frequently the past two years and it is starting to allow the narrow stretch of my weight forward fly line to slip out of the reel between the main casing and the spool. That worries me some but I wouldn't hesitate to use these as an inexpensive backup reel or for someone just giving fly fishing a try. They seem to be quite good for the price.

Thanks Mike, I'm A streamer guy for trout and bass.

I usually try to travel light too. I like a small pack. However, when I am going to be out for a long stretch of time I do like a vest. In my old age I need to rehydrate more often than I had to in the past. I also always have a pocket camera with me. The vest along with a small pack allows me to carry the liquids, lunch, and some fishing gear while making gear easy to reach and balancing the little weight there is, so I don't get sore. For reasons such as this I have a lightweight mesh vest with some larger pockets that can easily hold a couple bottles of water or gatorade and something to snack on.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I rinse and drape the waders over a lawn chair to dry before hanging them in the basement. The boots dry in the sun or in cold weather on a boot dryer in the basement. My boots always outlast the waders. Like Norm said, "mileage may vary". When in high school, college, and about 10 years after, I used a pair of LaCrosse rubber hip waders that my dad used for years. I rinsed off the mud and hung them in the basement. I also rubbed them a time or two with some sort of product to help preserve the rubber. I wore the soles out before ever springing a leak. I don't expect that will be happening again.

Thanks mike.

Other than what Bill mentioned the only other access areas downstream from the Dayton dam are 1) just below the dam by taking 23 north off of Rt 80 to 18 (the road just north of Farm and Fleet) take a right here. This will run you into Dayton. Take a left before the bridge to the small lot below the dam's power plant. 2)The other area would be going east on 80 to 23 south into town take a left onto Rt 6 to Champlain St. which is just before the river. Take a right on Champlain and you will soon be in the vicinity of the Fox River Park which has lots for parking and a boat launch. 3) There is also access at the mouth from the park below the Illinois River bridge. Just take a right off of 23 before crossing the Illinois.

Thanks Scott. We were able to get some glimpses of the start of the eclipse,but it became too cloudy to see the blood moon.

Very sad to hear. I witnessed something similar on the Vermilion years back. I was standing in the river fishing when I started noticing a number of dead fish floating by. Almost immediately fish started gulping and dying all around me. Needless to say I got out of the water right quick. It looked like every fish was killed in a mile to 1 1/2 miles of river. I noticed the gills of the dying fish were bright red. It turned out that a company illegally dumped chemicals into the river just upstream from where I was fishing. The chemicals bound to the fish's blood, causing the bright red gills and preventing the fish from taking in oxygen. It always makes me sick thinking about how stupid and uncaring people can be.

I'd love to join you but other plans will interfere. Hope it's a good trip.

Nice Norm. Too bad those catfish off the grill aren't ready to eat. If anyone could get the fishing gods to cooperate it would be you.

Terry, I have found that, if you do not prefer to carry live bait for cats, gulp crawlers work fairly well drifted under a float in a current or along a current seam. I have also had tremendous fishing for flatheads using a Northland lipstick jig with a powerbait or gulp trailer. Keep it moving wherever you may suspect the flatheads may be.

Tips that I have learned from a friend that uses it extensively: 1. Do not leave it with other tackle 2. Do not leave it in your or your friends car on a hot day. 3. Do not touch or go near your significant other after handling bait.

Thanks Mike.

Congrats to Eric and Grant. That is so cool!

Thanks guys. Those are a couple of nice shots Manny. I got out for a three hour hike to another part of the park today. Less water today but still enough for some falls.

Congratulations Ed. I wish you many more.

I took a 3 hr chunk of late morning and early afternoon to take the ten minute drive over to Matthiessen State Park and Starved Rock State Park, to see some of the falls. The lower dells area of Matthiessen was closed due to slippery trails so I could only see the falls from above. The trails at Starved Rock were open but extremely muddy. Mosquito repellent is a must. Because of all of the recent rain I expected to see much more water, but it was a nice outing anyway. Here are a few highlights. Matthiessen: Starved Rock: Kaskaskia Canyon, (Ottawa Canyon, Council Bluff, St Louis Canyon see below)

The same color combos as above tied on a large sized chartreuse/white roadrunner jig head have worked for me. It adds some flash.

Tom, if you like Cajun food and you happen to be in the area, Cajun Connection on Rt.6 just east of Utica has won high praise by many for it's spicy dishes. Jude, thanks for expanding my vocab. Midden was a new one for me.

Last weekend my neighbor had his annual crawfish boil. As is the case each year, I was not able to attend, so he graciously saves me some. This year I missed out on the sausages, potatoes, and carrots that are also in the mix, but as usual it was delicious. Before: After:

Nice Video: http://midcurrent.com/2015/05/11/video-hatch-2015-heritage-award-tribute-video-honoring-tom-brokaw/?utm_source=MidCurrent+Fly+Fishing+Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=b464ee98fe-MidCurrent_May_13_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8efbf3b958-b464ee98fe-42757989

Nice Norm. We need more of that in the world today.