PatrickWard

I used to fish Verdigre Creek in Northeast Nebraska. The locals would cast live worms on drop shot rigs on fly rods. First time there it was slow, but I met a local who had an impressive creel with this setup. I tied on a San Juan worm, fished it drop shot style, and it worked really well, so I've continued to use it, but mostly throw a UV Scud now. On most waters it will snag a lot, it works well in Nebraska because the creek is a kettle stone spring creek and there are no naturally occurring rocks in that part of the country. On the San Juan last year, it was my slump-buster, but I lost more than a couple UV Scuds down there before I put it away.

I originally thought this was more gimick than technological advancement. Then I started reading reviews and watching Youtube reviews, and thought there might be something to it. I then thought the price was too high. I received a new 3wt rod as a gift and went to my local Gander Mountain who had the 3wt SS line marked down from $60 to $15, so thought "What the heck?" I even bought some traditional 3wt thinking I might not like it. Well, I've fished Wisonsin, Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah so far with that 3wt rod and the Shark Skin hasn't come off yet. The buzzing sound is not annoying after a short bit, and I have actually have another cue to use to tell how I'm casting (especially on roll casts). As far as the fire pole analogy, I'd agree with you, but guides are hard and skin is soft, as far as your fingers are concerned, it's a cut, not a burn (and yes, that part stinks). All in all, I love the Shark Skin.

I realize I should know the answer to this question, but am relatively new to the state and am wondering whether Illinois has the same public access laws as most other states, such as access from bridges is always permissible. With the Vermillion river fiasco, I'm not sure. I ask because a colleague showed me pics of nice smallies caught on the Kickapoo Creek in Peoria county. I can't seem to identify any public access points with the exception of bridges in the areas he fished. He indicated he gained access from a parallel road which would seem to me that he trespassed. All fish were CPR and caught on a fly-rod with streamers and scuds.