Jonn Graham

Who needs waders in the summertime?

Won't need to drool as I have one already ordered. This boat is really going to make stream floats much easier and will allow for better vision into the water. WATCH OUT BRONZEBACKS.

My father in law made these for me. Thought you might want to see his work. http://www.heartlandoutdoors.com/index.php/streamstalker/story/new_home_decor/

Rich: Been using the glue that you mentioned for a couple of months now..........definitely good stuff. Be prepared that Wal Mart may quit carrying it. Every time I have found an adhesive that I like at Wal Mart, they quit carrying it. Talked with managers and they said it is common for the company to switch adhesive companies. Today Loc-Tite, tomorrow Super Glue.

Ji: No airbrush.....though you could use one. I use powder paint and just heat the head with a heat gun and dip the head into the powder paint. Sometimes, like on the jig above, I dip a very small paint brush into the powder and then paint the color on the heated jighead. There is a learning curve with using and curing powder paint, but once you get it the material's uses is limitless.

That particular jig is a 3/8 oz model.

Kevin: Thanks for the comment. I think this color will really hammer largies in ponds and lakes. Most of my customers at the winter sports shows are largie fishermen. I think it will sell like mad this winter.

Well, with the new year it is time to come out with a new color from my Scout swim jigs. My "Bullgill" pattern has been immensely popular, but I wanted to tweak it a little. My "Bullgill" pattern is pretty dark in color to match the colors of a male bluegill. I have been playing with coming up with a new pattern that matches the lighter colorations of a female bluegill. After some trial and error, here is what I am going to go with: The head is painted three different colors: yellow bottom blue top watermelon/red flake sides The skirt has multiple colors: blue/black/brown on the top yellow and perch belly color on bottom pumpkin green and blake flake and watermelon blue flake on the sides of the jig Here is a better picture of the head: I think this pattern will sell well. By the way, now is the time to place your orders for spring. I have many different jigs in stock with more in the works.

I have the 95 Gunfish and it always has been an easy walker for me.

How much does that model weigh? I would like to see a few pictures. YOu can send them to grahamj@district87.org thanks

Gavin: You bring up a good bait - the Gunfish. While the Sammy is great and all, the Gunfish will do everything the sammy will do but also has a cupped face that throws a little water. It is a cross between a popper and a walker. Truth be told, if I was going to go out and buy a walker right now, I would buy the Gunfish.

Paul: The Sammy is hands down the best dog walking bait to learn on. When I am teaching my clients to walk the dog, I always start them on the Sammy 100. As Eric has already said, the Sammy flat out catches fish. I would definitely buy the 100 size. I first started throwing this bait when it first came out and bought the 65, 85, and 100 size. Now my 65s and 85s just sit in the box........never use them. The 100 is the one. Casts farther, walks easier, etc. The bait, while it is semi-big, still catches small and big smallies alike. One side note, if anyone is interested in purchasing some used 85s and 65s, I would part with them for $5 apiece. I also have some 100s that are basically new that are surplus baits for me. I would part with those for $10 apiece if you bought all of them (like 3)

Mike: My hat will always be off to you. Kudos, my smallmouth brethren.

"Federal law trumps the state law". I have heard the same thing, but I am not sure you would get a law enforcement agency to buy it here in IL. Brendan brought up a good point about landowners and law agencies not knowing the law. I would agree wholeheartedly with that point. I think there are alot of landowners who allow people to wade on their property because they figure if you are in the water you are not trespassing........which, of course, you really aren't, except by Illinois definition. If you think game wardens know the real law, (which they should) they don't. I like Jim's idea, but I am afraid, while it might help a little, if a landowner wants you out and is willing to call authorities, I think you will be screwed unless you have deep pockets to take it to court, or you are a lawyer. I know one lawyer that is a member of the ISA. I would love to have the ISA address these laws someday. Would we win..........maybe, but I am fairly sure no other parties have really pushed to have the law changed.

The biggest crazy part to Illinois water usage laws is the fact that, while landowners do not own the water, you still have to have permission to canoe/float down a stream that has been deemed non-navigateable by the state.

Ben and Rob: Never tried tying it with the eyes on the bottom. The reason I chose the top of the shank is because that is how Tim H. ties his "winter minnow" pattern..........and that is where I got the idea for the type of fly that might work under the float. Maybe if tied the eyes on the bottom, maybe you would not have to bend the hook? Would just have to try it and see if it will sit horizontal in the water. Terry: Yes, I do heat the hook before I bend it. And, no Gander Mountain does not have Arctic Fox tail hair..............sorry. If you wish to order some of the best Arctic Fox I have ever seen, shoot me a PM and I can direct you to the folks I get the hair from.

By the way, the flies posted above are not tied with the customary craft hair. These are tied with Arctic Fox hair. A very, very good substitue for craft hair.

Rob: Here is a photo of a fly that I use for the float n fly using the fly rod. Notice how the hook eye has been bent back so it sits directly above the bead chain eyes.

Rob: First, you have to get a small jig hook (90 degree bend). Then heat the junction of where the shaft meets the 90 degree bend. Once you warm up the junction, bend the hook eye toward the point just a little. That way your hook eye will be right above where you tie in your bead chain eyes. If you do it right, the fly will sit horizontal under a float. I will try to make a couple tonite and post tomorrow.

Wait a minute here. I think some of you are not quite grasping the whole fnf technique. IT IS NOT A DEAD DRIFT! You cast out the fly (jig) and float. When the jig settles, you begin to "work" the float by jiggling the float with your rod tip. Jiggle, jiggle, stop, jiggle jiggle, stop. You are not just casting the rig out and letting it dead drift. There is a difference between the two terms - dead drift and fnf fishing. Now I am not saying it cannot be done with a fly rod...............it can. You are going to need a smaller float (of course) and lighter fly than the standard fnf jig. What I have done is take the same hook that we use for our fnf, and bend the eye back sligtly toward the point of the hook. This bending allows the fly to sit horizontal when in the water - VERY IMPORTANT. Then, for weight I tie in bead chain eyes on the top of the hook right in front of the 90 degree bend of the hook eye (which will be less than 90 because you bent it). Then, I fish the technique the same with the fly rod as I would with a spinning rod................jiggle, jiggle, stop, etc, etc.

Quantum Accurist

YOu won't find craft hair at Gander. Best craft hair on the market comes from punisher lures down at Dale Hollow. www.punisherlures.com Most colors and best price.

I guess the biggest "thing" I learned this past year was not to be afraid to explore different parts of your river. I had a certain section of river where I had been spanking smallouths for years and then the population seemed to "dry up". I made a long move upstream and found a much better population. I know in following years I will not be afraid to "throw out conventional wisdom" and explore new areas of river no matter how good or bad they look at first glance.

I made my own log up on the computer. Cannot say I record all my trips, but I have recorded, in detail, every single guide trip I have done since the beginning. I am a numbers/figures guy when it comes to my guiding. Normally, throughout the year I like to look back and figure out the average number of fish caught per trip.

Rob: Yup, that is the hook that Brad uses. I will have to order those.................looks like a great, muli-purpose hook. Where do you get them from?