John Gillio

Thanks Tom, I have a few bamboo rods on the wall. Some are baitcast some are fly. Aside from one that I rebuilt from some junk I found on e-bay, they are all factory rods. The one in the photo is my father's old South Bend rod. The net was his too. The other rods were also from family. The creel I bought on sale at Cabela's .

The woodpecker door knocker thingy was made by a student of mine back in about 1988. He still lives in the school district. I think I've seen the work of the fellow in Shabbona. He does some nice work. It is a cozy little shrine.

I usually have no problem falling to sleep, as was proven when I sat down after dinner to read the evening paper and listen to the beginning of the cubs/cards ball game. Two and 1/2 hours later I awaken to the late innings of the game. Now It's after midnight and I can't get back to sleep. So, why not talk some fishing. After pondering over Rob G.'s question about hook lengths, I realize I have nothing to offer on that one. Nothing too much to brag about on my few ventures to the river. So I think I will show off my home office. My wife calls it the cabin. I am usually not in the "cabin" at sunrise, but the other day I just happened to step in as the sun was rising. It looked rather nice as the sun shined through the east windows onto the west wall, so I snapped a few photos. I suppose you could guess, from this little display, that I am into fishing. Still no ideas concerning Rob's dilemma, so I think I'll go to bed and sleep on it.

That's cool!

The sauger and walleye in the Illinois river this year have been averaging much larger than in the past. I was told that this is due to the Asian carp which supposedly have begun spawning farther up stream. Supposedly their young are a new food base for the sauger and walleye. I suppose this is possible and may be one of the better side effects of the Asian carp invasion. I have seen a few sauger just under the state record, and some walleye in the six pound range which is huge for this area.

Thanks Rob. You are not at all wrong. The river is full of the short nose variety. They just aren't as large as they once were. I'm guessing this is because of the lack of shad and emerald shiners. I'm guessing this is due to the large Silver Asian carp population. They seem to be smaller than in past years . I'm guessing this is also due to their tremendous numbers. I'm doing a lot of guessing lately but I guess it is just the nature of our sport.

Rob, I may be mistaken, but is it possible that this garlike fly could be a gar magnet? It looks to be the size and shape that a gar would like. Is the material something a gar could get it's teeth tangled in?

I agree. This garish fly will be engulfed like a worm. I do like it's looks.

Thanks Kevin, I think I may have picked up the same one at Cabela's, I may look into Simms.

These have held up for years with the help of shoe goo. The felt sole is nice on slippery rock. When the neoprene sock was new it fit tight above my ankle and kept most debris out. Before these I would use old or cheap hiking boots with a soft rubber sole and removable inserts. I could get a couple of years out of them if the soles were sewn on. Don't see sewn on soles much anymore. Some kind of sock does help keep out the pebbles. Neoprene and or wool should do the trick. Does anyone know where I could pick up a low cut neoprene sock like the ones in the photo? Orvis has discontinued this boot.

Nice!

Ben, nicely done.

Nicely done!

Tom, I agree. It is a good trait. I believe your Foxy sits at an angle when at rest. It is a great fly. I have had tremendous luck with jigs tied on heads that sit upright or at an angle. I have also noticed that in my large fish tank at work, a dying minnow with it's tail sticking up seems to be a signal that says eat me an.d put me out of my misery

Oh so nice! A fantastic collection. That first Craft Fur Bunny is a real eye catcher.

Thanks Mike.

Thanks for the big can of worms Mike. It would have been truly appreciated in my bullhead fishing days ( Ineed to fry up a bunch of those little critters again someday). Adding to the can: I have been a bottom dredger on most of my outings, so I do prefer the hook up. One problem I have with this is the number of smaller fish that take a hook to the eye or worse. Even larger fish on occasion, when throwing a larger fly. I would feel better about my hook up outings if someone would tell me this is all in my head.

My thoughts also. Does anyone out there do one hook up and one down? Thanks Mike.

Looks nice Rob. I've tied up a few flat wings but have yet to fish them.

Merry Christmas and a happy 2015 to all.

Mike,the tribs in my area are also Asian carp choked, making smallies a tough target at times also. Thus the reason I have, at times, spent time with the fly rod trying to set into the mouth of an Asian carp. I am still trying to find a fly they will take with any regularity.

Sadly, this is true. I started making lemonade a couple years back. My shoreline fishing for spring walleye and sauger in the Illinois River has changed into the challenge of telling the difference between the soft take of a sauger and the feel of the lure rolling off the backs of the stacked masses of carp. When I am in a feeding mode the snagged carp end up in the frying pan. Most sauger will live to see another day. I feel no remorse cleaning up a few carp and they do taste good. The bones can be avoided if you don't mind leaving meat behind. It doesn't bother me if half the meat is left on these fish. I am still hoping that their numbers can be controlled to some extent. An Orson Welles ending would be just fine with me.

A very bad situation indeed. It reminds me of quite some years back when there was a breach in the Hennepin Canal. I helped the IDNR on a mission to save game fish and flathead cats from the stretch of canal that was drying out. We expected good numbers of game fish and some huge cats. They electroshocked and we were able to save some game fish, but their numbers were disappointingly low. No cats were found at all. What we did find were literally truckloads of European carp. I personally helped load some woman's pickup truck with barrels of carp. She took three loads home. Hard to figure why she wanted with so many carp. As the fish were being shocked it looked somewhat like the videos we see today of the Asian silver carp leaping frantically through the air as a boat motors by. We can only hope the Asian carp situation somehow comes into check soon. Too bad we can't find anyone who wants to hoard them like that old woman wanted those common carp.

Thanks Rob, nice to know. Check out the Lincoln Museum when you get down there too. It's amazing.

Fine work Tom!