Bart Durham

Unfortunately with the heavy rain today it looks doubtful for Saturday but we'll wait until tomorrow to make the final call.  

We're going to try to do this float on Saturday but of course mother nature is calling for rain all day Friday.  We'll monitor the weather on Friday and if all goes well, will plan to meet at Warner Bridge parking lot at 8 am on Saturday morning to set up shuttle.  We'll plan to float from Bird Island to Warner Bridge, about a 6 hour float, depending on how hard you fish.  Let me know if your interested to get a head count.

I stopped by the Dupage River near Butterfield Road yesterday to check out how our water willows looked that the ISA planted two years ago.  I was pleased to see the water willows are flourishing in this area and doing their great work in filtering the river and creating smallmouth habitat.  Here are a couple of photos of the area we planted.

Boogle has been working well for me.  I think the Dupage smallies like the rubber legs.  

Mike said if we can get the gear to him at Herrick Lake around 7 am he can take it from there.  I'm not sure but I think Rich may have some of the games, etc as well.

Either he or Rich.

I like the garage hoist concept!

Mike,  as you know we love helping out on this great event and hope to again this  year.  Will you able to work with us this year and help with organization?

The crew after our cleanup efforts:

 I can relate.  BTW is the push up exercise  the key to keeping your shoulders healthy for life long fishing/casting?  

Six ISA members covered several miles of Dupage River this morning picking up trash between 111th street and 135th street. A big thanks and shout out to Forrest Miller, Mark Lutz, Dick Grundland, John Schenk and Evan Schenk who volunteered their time this morning as part of the Dupage River Sweep, Thanks again for your time. Hopefully Forrest can post the photo we got of the group.

Looks like the rain stayed away last night for the most part and will stay away this morning so come on out and join us this morning at the 135th street boat launch.  We'll have all clean up supplies needed but bring your own if you like.  If you can only make it for a short time thats ok and come on out.  The more the merrier.  The bulk of the work will be done between 9-noon.  See you soon.  

Dick, that is correct, we are meeting at the 135th street boat ramp.  Look forward to seeing you and all other volunteers there tomorrow morning at 9 am.  

Correct, I plan to bring my boat to assist us if needed. The water levels would have to come down some to use the boats so they are on stand by. Most of clean up will be done by hand and walking along  river and river paths with pick poles and garbage bags.

Looks like prime smallmouth habitat!

Looks like the weather is going to cooperate this weekend so we're still on for this massive river clean up event.  The ISA contingent will meet at the 135th street boat ramp, where there is ample parking.  The boat ramp is located off 135th street midway between Naperville/Plainfield Rd and Route 59.  .  Depending on the turnout we will separate into groups to cover different stretches of the river.  If the water levels cooperate we may have a boat or two to assist us.  All clean up supplies will be provided but  bring your own gloves/supplies if you like.  We will plan to work between 9 and 12 and have lunch/drinks afterwards.  Let me know if any questions.

May want to shoot for a mid to late morning start as chance for serious rain diminishes after 9 am.

The more the merrier David.  You have a chance to land a brute Illinois smallmouth on this float.  We look forward to meeting you and all other new members.  

Should be some nice smallmouth caught on this stretch, river is shaping up to be in good shape for Saturday.

Chauncey asked that we send this information regarding Ronald McDonald House fundraising fishing event to our members:

FYI we’re looking into the calendar issue and hope to have it fixed soon, looks like last nigh’s storm didn’t raise the water levels too much which bodes well for Saturday’s float ?

Agree Frank, if so could be really good float conditions on Saturday,  unfortunately won't be able to join for this float as wife and I have longstanding plans to be out of town this weekend.  The stars could be aligned for this one,  however. Best of luck to everyone!

Last year ISA volunteers helped clean up a stretch of the East Branch of the Dupage River near Hidden Lakes Park in Bolingbrook. 

This year the ISA will set up station at the 135th Street Boat Ramp north of Plainfield with plans to help clean up as big of part of the main stem stretch between Bolingbrook and Plainfield as possible.  We hope to have some boats and plenty of man and woman power available to help clean up and preserve this great smallmouth stream.  We'll plan on meeting at the 95th Street boat ramp at 9 am on May 19th.  The Conservation Foundation will provide work gloves, waste bags, clean up poles and help organize for trash debris removal. Free T Shirts will be given to all volunteers.

Let me know if you can volunteer for this environmental clean up event! 

Big find on the West Branch!

The purpose of the River Sweep is to encourage volunteers to help "sweep our rivers clean" by picking up debris in and along the local waterways and restoring nearby land back to its natural state.

Despite heavy rains on the day of the River Sweep in 2017, more than 600 volunteers came out to cleanup the waterways.  Some groups shortened their day and others rescheduled, but they all helped remove approximately 6 tons of debris from the DuPage River and its tributaries.  In 2017 over 65 miles of shoreline were cleared of trash.  The treasures found varied widely, including an adult bicycle, car jack, tires, seat cushions, lawn chairs, milk crates, a custom golf bag, ladder and golf, soccer, beach and tennis balls. 

Here is a recent article from Michael Hawthorne of the Chicago Tribune with an update on the Middle Fork Vermillion Coal Ash Issue:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-illinois-scenic-river-endangered-20180409-story.html#share=email~story