Matt Pasteris

Spoke with Terry Hannan (DeKalb County Forest Superintendent) last Saturday. He sounds interested. Ph. 815-895-7191. He mentioned Owens Creek at Kirkland.

Some of our environmentally rational and foresighted brothers and sisters in Rockford gained a significant win for the Kishwaukee River Water Shed south of Rockford. You know, that beautiful stretch of river from Cherry Valley to the Rock River. I'll let you read to two articles. News article heading from the Rock River Times - March 25, 2009: "City reconsidering commercial, industrial zoning along Kishwaukee watershed" Frank Schier who caught the ears of the elected ones. This man and others turned the tide on industrial development along the Kishwaukee River. http://www.rockrivertimes.com/index.new.pl?cmd=viewstory&cat=13&id=22919 News articile heading from the Rock River Times - April 1, 2009: "Approximately 1,400 acres in Kishwaukee watershed to remain agricultural and green space...Last-minute budget; Kishwaukee help under way....." http://www.rockrivertimes.com/index.new.pl?cmd=viewstory&cat=13&id=22982 Good things can happen with a voice!

My 12 year old has sight issues and seeing his line from the tip of his pole to the water is hard for him. As we all know, this can be a huge disadvantage in dialing in on hook-ups. Can I be advised, from our knowledgable membership pool, a name brand that will help him see his line. We use open face spin cast reels with 6lb line on ML 6'/6.5' rods. thanks, Matt Pasteris

one thing to keep in mind is that dave fishes northlakes and upper miss. Patterns and techs maybe different than the rivers around here although i could relate to a several things he said that hold true here as well. I related to what he said of Upper Miss sm seasonal patterns and behavior much of which I see on Rock River. The schooling and grouping of sm was interesting as well as multiple bass chasing the same presentation. The video of the bass blow-ups on top water were kool!

ditto on Cabelas store. The guy working there looked at me said "sliderhead?" let alone Charlie Brewer. The place has alot of stuff, most of which is dust collectors. The place isn't a very good bargin on alot of things. I guess in conclusion I'm a little down on Cabelas.

sorry boys, got scheduled to work this weekend during the days.

Hi Ho - The Dairy O! Although not completely defeated - we do have Mr. Quinn in our court. The Lieutenant Gov. has a good track record on environmental issues.

I know, I was there too.

Not to change subjects completely, but I had a CICADAS experience on the Vermillion River last Sunday. The heavily forested river gorge was roaring with CICADAS. I was pretty kool as i waded and fished the smallies (20 plus fish day). They made a much different noise when they ended up in the water - kind of a drowned ticking noise - weird. I could hear them coming up behind me as the down stream flow approached and I faced down stream fishing. As I fished my last spot (a back pool/eddie), I noticed surface swirls on the lite foamed water surface. Watching this closely for a few minutes, I noticed that something was attacking the CICADAS that had fallen into the pool. I next unzipped my chest pack and grabbed a small wiggle wart that closely matched the color and shape of the CICADAS. I casted high at the action creating a large splash. Now these wiggle warts float so I twitched it in the foam. Within seconds there was a huge explosion on the wart and my drag went reeling. Man my heart jumped!! I quickly realized I had a problem when i looked at my spool and could see metal (i don't spool much line). Fortunately, the aggressor stopped short spool knot on it's first run. I worked it in slowly and heavy to realize & see i had a 15 to 20 lbs carp on. What a pig. As I stepped toward a convienent docking area, it saw me and took off again. Unfortunately this time it didn't stop in which i lost my line and wart - bye, bye. Forturnately I was carrying a second pole and within the next 20 mins or so i picked up (2) more carp the same way - same spot - with a short floating Rapala (perch color) - both had orange and eyes. The second (2) carp were approx. 5 to 7 lbs ea and were a riot to bring in. Anybody had this carp/cidada experience? It was a total surprise to me. On the way out of the gorge I stopped by the tree line edge of the river for 10 minutes or so and watched thousands of Cicadas make flight and cheer. The sun was in the background of my view shooting it's rays thru the creature wings with a golden/orange glow - can you see it? It was 17 year moment that I will never forget. Also, when I got back to my truck to leave, and older gentlemen approached who was walking and asked how I had done. I said "what?" - he repeated and I answered. He asked a couple of more question in which I asked him to repeat not hearing what he said. It dawned upon me that the CICADAS chant had effected my hearing. I still had a little ring in my ears and hour or so later but was pretty back to normal by the time I got home.

Try this. Worked for me. got in dekalb - Medicine Shopp. zanfel.com

The gal at TJ's (Oregon Bait Shop) says that they come in numbers in the Winter right out her back window in trees by the river. There is one pair that keeps home year round at the big rock just north of the Castle Rock boat launch. The nest is as big as my kids bedroom. She says that there are other pairs starting to stay on the Rock as well (don't know the number or where). Alot of these birds we see in Winter at the Rock will move back North or to the Mississippi once Winter ends. Open water is their search, thus fish to feed on. There has been a big turn around in the last ten years with the baldies re-establishing their former territories along the Rock!