John Gillio

Nice to hear the waters are fishable. I hope to get up that way in the next week or so. Sounds like you had a good trip.

Wow! Nice shots Rob. Yesterday, I saw a video of a bridge over bureau creek getting washed away by the high waters. I wish I could find it to post it.

Thanks for sharing .

LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam counties all declared a national disaster area. The Vermilion peaked at 30 ft. and 40,000 cfs at Leonore. It's average depth and flow at this rainy time of year is 5 ft. and 1000 cfs. Things are pretty messed up around here. The Illinois is still rising. I'm lucky to live and work on higher ground. I've never seen it this bad before. To add to the crazy weather, it is now snowing and the grass needs to be cut. When I woke up Wed. morning I looked out the window only to see that a lake had formed in the lot between my house and the neighbor's. I freaked out and ran downstairs to see if the basement was flooded. I was amazed that I was able to keep the seepage contained to a small area. I'm a lucky duck I guess. It's sad to see all the homes and businesses under water in so many nearby towns and villages.

Quite a flow up that way. That mess combining with a fast rising Illinois river has closed the Main Street Bridge in Ottawa and has breached the dike protecting the Ottawa High School. Utica is underwater again too. Most likely the worst flooding they have seen. Thanks for sharing the shots and video.

One more for those familiar to the area. This was taken from the porch of the cabin across the river from Matthiessen State Park, across from the old bridge pilings. Between the porch and the tree line would be the field. On the other side of the tree line would be the main channel of the river where the piling is laying in the water. The white house to the west was flooded out. I took this shot of the same spot today 4-29-13

A few shots of the Vermilion from about 5:00 pm. First a before shot from last year. The same bridge today. At Vermilion River Rafting. At Oglesby take out.

When you are in the area check out the caves at Blue Mounds if you have a chance. Cool place.

They are predicting near record levels at the mouth of the Fox, and on the Illinois R. at Starved Rock. The park is under water for the second time this year. A lake has appeared, for the first time in my memory, on the lot between my house and the neighbor's. I'm keeping a close watch on the basement, as I am home because of a rainout. This is the first time in my 35 years on the job that I couldn't make it in because of flooding.

A spitting image of a minnow .

Nice tips guys, thanks.

Nice Tom!

I ran into the same sale. They were stuffed into a kayak near the fishing section. Some of the same lures were on the shelf for $5- $7. All proven fish catchers. Great deal!

Saw something similar when I was a kid. My younger brother landed a small bass. He dropped it while removing it from the hook. It bounced off a log and spit out a small bluegill which in turn released a minnow as it hit the water. If I recall correctly, the minnow was dead.

They do look good. Tom, may have some valid concerns though.

Looks like a winner, for sure.

Nice ties Jonn.

Very nicely done Rob. My wife would like to take the middle one home as a pet.

One of those simple yet deadly flies. Looks nice too.

Looks good Jim. There is a nice sense of accomplishment when you land a fish with your own hand tied flies. Those should do it for you.

Caught in the act.

I never thought of hair brush bristles for eyes. Thanks Tom. It may just be me, but eyes always seem to give a fly a slight edge over similar flies without eyes. Angry Wife Craw, seems to fit well.

They do get the adrenalin flowing.

Ed, that is sad to see. I hope the day they reach the big lake never comes, but that report isn't very promising. Rob, those are some pretty salmon flies. Did you tie them? Would you like a showing at my wife's art gallery ? I too wish I could actually get them to bite a fly or lure. I'm working at it ,but I'm quite sure all the ones I hooked in the mouth so far were accidents that I increased the chances of by casting upcurrent of feeding fish.

My buddy Rob is getting into salmon fishing too. He says they taste good and give one hell of a fight.