Eric

No construction permit for a hog farm would ever be issued if it were to be built anywhere near the issuer's property.

I fixed it for him.

Welcome and great looking smallies!

Great job all and thank you!!! Sure was hot Saturday.

Fun tournament. I had a lot of spots scouted and felt confident of our game plan. I coached Grant throughout the week on what to expect. He was very excited. The morning bite at our "A" spot was excellent. We got into fish right away throwing big swim jigs in swift water / chutes with rock. Grant actually lead the tourney for a time but I ended up bumping him with a few bigger smallmouth. Still, I'm super proud of him (and relieved that the game plan panned out). Nothing like hearing your kid excitedly yell, "Got one!" on tournament day. Team-wise we bumped up quickly and no other team came close. It was all due to that morning bite. Mid-morning we switched to our "B" spot. It wasn't a numbers spot but the fish were typically huge. I had hopes of culling with a giant or two. Nope. Not to be this day. I caught three bass but none big enough to cull. It was a lot of wasted time in the blazing sun and heat. Around noon we decided to return to spot "A" and further explore it. That worked out for me, as I caught a 17.75" and increased my individual lead a bit more. Grant had a big one swipe at his swim jig boat-side and he actually figure-eighted it and a smaller one came out of nowhere and nailed it! It shook off but wasn't cullable anyway. We were beat from the heat and returned to Rocktown around 3 PM. Fishing stopped / all photos had to be in by 3:45 PM. My wife and youngest son came to the presentation. Our leads held and we successfully defended as returning champs. We won first place team, I won first place individual, Grant won first place youth and he came in fourth overall. The field was 28 anglers. They had hoped for a minimum of 40. :-( It was nice to see Drew and his new bride Christina. Good people. They and Rocktown Adventures put on a fantastic event. Lots of fun, friendly faces, fishing talk, and handshakes at the sweltering venue. We had a great time. Hopefully they return and can grow this tournament. I know Drew was disappointed with the low turnout and is thinking of ways to partner with KBL, etc., or taking Aurora off the tour altogether. They did a kayak raffle -- a Jackson Kayak Cruise 12' -- donated by Rocktown Adventures. Teddy Wozny won it. He also had big bass and finished second. Good guy. The proceeds from the raffle were donated to Friends of the Fox River.

Neat outing. I like that lamprey -- so weird. Thanks for sharing.

Nice to see some familiar names in the signups. 92 degrees with a UV index of 9/10. Yikes! See you there! Aurora tournament info https://www.kayakfishingseries.com/tournament.php?id=4883 Registration https://www.kayakfishingseries.com/tournament.php?id=4884

Welcome. On the JK Big Rig -- nice tandem kayak for comfort, room, amenities. Very heavy. If you have the strength to manage it and the means to transport it, might be fun for a while. I don't see it as a go-to, day-to-day fishing kayak unless you live on the river or are planning on using it at a vacation home. It's more/less a battleship. Good luck!

Correct URL: http://www.shabbonalakeyounganglers.org/

Is that his do-rag from the Bloods?

Thanks Jude. I appreciate it. Lots of effort club-wide for each issue -- officers, members, industry contacts. I was involved for about 20 issues but you're right, now just a regular member and no longer active in ISA leadership or magazine.

X2 / looks good.

Kick off the wading season? The year is half over! :-)

Nice when something you care about so much gets some recognition and protection. Congrats!

A long time ago when I was mainly into pond largemouth fishing, a bass grabbed and pulled off most of my Texas-rigged worm. I still had the little 3" piece that spanned the Owner wide-gap worm hook and proceeded to catch about a dozen more bass on it. Definitely something to be said for a small, straight piece of soft plastic. I think it's so unassuming that bass are willing to try it, and in some cases fight over it. Thanks for the Ned Rig tips.

Terry it takes a "special" kind of artistic talent to consistently get those silhouette fishing pics. I vote that one for next Bronzeback Magazine cover. Needs that gritty, local feel.

I think the Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier is the best casting reel for the money. It's typically $99 but you can find it on sale for less during a lot of their seasonal sales events. The only drawback to the reel is if you're super weight conscious it's on the heavy side. So if you've spent a lot on a lightweight rod it's silly to pair it with that reel. But for an all-purpose casting reel that can take a beating (believe me, I know how to abuse them), it's pretty good! I have that and two Concept A casting reels from 13 Fishing. They are a bit more expensive but so far have held up nicely and feel very precise. I've heard really good things about the Lew's Speed Spools but have never tried them. There are a ridiculously wide array of new manufacturers that have come on the scene and what I used to consider the "standard" for rods, reels, and lines have a lot more competition.

Very nice Gordon.

It's about time Jude. Nice catch. Why not share? If you enjoy reading, give back too. I like fishing any time. ;-)

Doesn't anyone fish any more? Perhaps we should change the icon at the top left of these forums to something else. I think Tom has to give lessons on how to fly fish in "less than ideal" conditions. Blow the dust off those rods boys!

Neat history but I can see why it's defunct given the state's budget deficit and tangle of financial / management problems. As they say ... "bigger fish to fry." Thanks for sharing though.

They look like toys...

My son Brent and I are in Geneva now and there's a fighter jet trainer doing passes over the town. We've seen it do a barrel roll and some other stunts. It's very loud as it flys by. Neat. No bites yet. Edit: Caught a 12" smallie on a Megabass Giant Dog X topwater.

Yeah, I emailed you some tips.

The river is in perfect shape for a float. There is stringy green algae washing downriver intermittently, but it shouldn't prove much of a bother unless you're throwing crankbaits. I would throw a pearl or white swim jig or spinnerbait and concentrate on the edges of structure in current. This could be logs, outside turns, drain pipes, bridge pilings, stream barbs, edges of islands, etc. Current is key. Put your bait in the right area and a smallie should pounce on it. I wouldn't hesitate to toss a buzzbait along bridge pilings, rock walls, etc. Bring it downstream and clack the structure. Plastics are fine but IMHO you need a search bait for this type of long float with many spots to hit. Have a plan if a storm and/or lightning rolls in. Geneva to Aurora is a hefty stretch. Get creative on your angles and what spots you hit and I'm sure you'll find some fish. A 15" seems to be an "average" big one lately. Lots of 13"-14" while throwing larger baits. If you nail an 18" or better on a Saturday while exploring, that's exceptional. Wear sunscreen, keep skin covered as much as you can. Bring plenty to drink. Get out and stretch from time to time. Use a paddle leash to keep your paddle secure. Narrows and shallower areas will be swift. And of course, wear a life jacket.