Fredmo

Wow, the USGS site shows the Mack's level jumping up. But it was so low to begin with, it probably still is low.

Wow, the USGS site shows the Mack's level jumping up. But it was so low to begin with, it probably still is low.

You can bring a canoe if you desire--but the river is real low and

 

you will probably drag a lot. Good to see some reply and hope to have a fun day.

Is this a wet-wade trip, Dave? Do I expect to see several fly rods?

I will plan on being there. I drove over the Mac Saturday at Goodfield,and it sure is low!

Wonder what the price will be on this one? Will we be auctioning one off at next year's Blowout?

I really was looking for a place to get in and wade.. we were up there with an ISA group not too many months ago and it was a real chore to get down to the river from the south part of the state park(actually, going down wasn't too bad, it was coming back up, after it started raining, that just about killed me.) I crossed the river at Lowell on Tuesday while taking grandkids to hike in the dells area, and it looked too low to float anything there.

I wonder, has anyone challenged the cement plant's right to close the river? I know there has been discussion on these forums about the law regarding navigable waters that would suggest they might not have such a right.

I'm curious if there is a good location to get into the Vermilion R. near Mathiesson St. Park, without needing to scale a cliff or climb a mountain? Seems like it is a real chore to get to the river anywhere around the park.

Weather cooperating, I plan to get up there. I could be there at 8, but later would be o.k. as well.

How nice a car ya got? Are you going to leave the keys with it? Is the ac working? Got satellite radio? Big back seat? I could probly work out something.

Fred, I can do a sweep of the southern Vermilion River system, Salt fork, North fork and Middle fork to see how many signs we might need but that's a days travel and effort for sure for one person. Would definitely appreciate any help.

 

I'll probably need to take out a small business loan in order to cover the cost of fuel for my van.

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"Not appreciating this at all"

Sounds like an all-day bicycle trip, no gas, good exercise, for a worthy cause....

Since the event is not a go, should we be doing something about sign posting down here in God's country, like the boys up north are doing this weekend? Not sure we can put it together for Saturday, since signs and stuff are up north, but maybe some weekend soon? One of the troubles is we cover a pretty wide area. I'm thinking the Vermilion and it's branches over by Danville, The other Vermilion from Pontiac and on to the north up to the Illinois R., the Mack from Goodfield area on down, the Kaskasia, both above and below Lake Shelbyville. Any others? Any interest in helping?

I have seen signs on the Middle Fork near Danville, and on the Mack, but not many. I used to own a driver, and I'm sure I can find one if I can't locate my old one. I need to get some folks with ideas of where signs ought to be placed. The north Vermilion has a few obvious locations, near Pontiac, then up by Mathiesson. We need to organize a bit of a road trip, I guess. Not sure we can put it together by Saturday. I'll see what I can stir up in the way of others.

I probably can be available to help if there is any effort in the central region, either on the Mac or north Vermilion or elsewhere. Haven't heard of places, people or equipment for anything down here.

Sounds like last year, we kept picking dates, it kept raining, finally we got there after driving through the rain, just to have it stop before we got on the river. I've been tying bunch of white flies, figure that's what we use, but don't know if I can get there Saturday.

Last spring Steve introduced me to them on the Kaskaskia, putting in just north of Rt 121, east of Sullivan, IL. Bet you can find a map showing the place folks can put in the river.

On Saturday, I was able to get my new Coosa out for the first time on the river. been rigging it out a bit and need to start getting used to it and figuring out some stuff. Did a short two hour stint paddling upriver and floating back. I have loading it by myself figured out well and in 15 minutes I'm loaded and ready to go. I loaded it on Friday night so I could get out early on Saturday. Well Saturday morning was about 30 degrees or so and there was some frost on the old boat...

The boat worked great and I was able to start getting comfortable.

 

Here are some pics I took.

 

 

 

 

Aren't you the little guy I met at the Blowout? How did you load that thing by yourself? Must have had help from some muscular guy like me.

This whole thread has me wincing. Reminds me of when my grandfather took me fishing, using cane poles, bobber and a worm. As we left, the poles were all together and he was in front and I followed behind, holding onto the poles. Sure enough, he was faster, and a hook caught in my finger.(can't remember which one, this was over 50 years ago) We cut the line, drove into town to see old Doc Cole, who delivered me when I was born, set my arm when I jumped out of the swing and broke it, and also for every cold, runny nose, or required shot. He just numbed it, ran it on through and cut it off.

Wasn't fun back then, and the thought now isn't much better.

I have to laugh when I see those bargain prices, because I can't possibly build a fly rod for much less than $50 (materials cost alone) and that's built on a really crappy blank, crummy cork and a cheap reel seat.

Do I detect a little snobbishness here? Somehow we need to spend a lot for a stick to use to throw a line, and something on which to wind up the line.

I sent my check in last week, but it hasn't cleared yet. I notice the zip code for the tickets was not the one used for other ISA mailings in the past, even though the address looked the same. Any place I can call to make sure someone got my check?

Native Ultimate 12 Kayak

 

$1650

But can you jump up and do a 360 in it? For that matter, can you do that on dry land?

Look forward to talking to you about the new yak after you've had it in the water. It sure looks great on the Jackson videos. Wish it listed about 30 lbs lighter. What's that strange stick you have in your hand in the pic of you standing on the Coosa? Several other pagan sticks seem to be placed in the other photos, as well. Do we need to have some kind of intervention to rid it of those short little sticks?

Looking forward to your product review!

I want to see you do the 360 degree jump!

Fred,

 

Any chance you could give us a link to the device on Bass Pro on line? Though I am not in the market I want to be ready if my gadget breaks.

 

Thanks.

Here's a link to a Bass Pro system, but it's slightly different that what I have. Mine is enclosed, but this is basically the same mechanism, and this one is a couple of bucks less expensive.http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops%C2%AE-Locking-Anchor-Control-System/product/82165/-268836

Steve Jordan has these on both bow and stern, and there is a picture out there somewhere showing them.

Jonn's right. He's got a system that works nicely on my canoe. Bass Pro has the devise, and I mounted it on the canoe with one hole drilled in stern of the canoe, otherwise just held on with a bracket. It depends to some extent upon what style canoe you have.

Sure would like to be there, but I'm on call Friday night, and I have three granddaughters in the house that night which mandates my presence. (Three preteen girls might make me hope for a call-out, even in the bitter cold)

How about a trip to the Kaskaskia R. above Shelbyville Lake, when the white bass are in the river next spring?