jude

If you go during the weekend, go early or stay upstream of Cherry Valley. Lots of tubers this time of year. Putting in at Belvidere (there's a canoe launch on Stone Quarry Road, just N. of Newburg Road) and floating to Distillery Road Park is a decent weekend trip. Not many people. How much time do you plan to spend? Look for a PM.

I guess that explains why there was no one at Crane Grove Creek this morning! Oh well, got some fishing time instead.

Jeff answered my question about the breathables: he said a couple times he felt a little tingle behind his knees. Nothing bad at all. He said in that heat, he would choose the breathables again.

Personally, I think stocking catchable fish is a huge waste of money. Spend the money on habitat restoration. Combine that with more legislation or education about catch and release, and you won't HAVE to stock catchable fish. As far as the future of the sport, I think there are fewer participants, but I think the participants are more serious about protecting the resource than past generations. I don't remember clubs like the ISA even existing when I was a kid. I'm really not too worried about the future.

Welcome aboard, Eric! If I remember correctly, we met when you signed up with the ISA at the Fly Show in Chicago. (If I remember incorrectly, we didn't! ) Check the Chicago Region sections of the forum. The reports will give you an idea of what rivers are out there. Better yet, take advantage of an upcoming ISA outing. I'm not sure when the next Chicago area get together is planned, but you can check the calendar on the top of the screen. Also, if you're ever looking for new water a little to your west, P.M. me and I'll either join you on the Kishwaukee or give you some ideas on access. Pretty soon you're gonna wonder why you used to spend all that time and money going out of state to chase smallies, when all along you've had such good fishing right in your own backyard!

Hey Steve...The Ozark minnow seemed to get Karen's attention, but nothing too exceptional. The Pecatonica trib shockings next week should produce a bigger variety of game fish. I don't think Dan got it too bad. He didn't even mention it after lunch, which was after he ripped a nice sized hole in the crotch. Actually, I think Jeff had breathables on as well, and he didn't mention any issues. How about it, Jeff....did you catch any juice?

It was steaming hot. It was exhausting. It was a blast. Yesterday morning four ISA members (Myself, Paul Trybul, Paul Trybul Sr., and Jeff Blevins) met up with three DNR people (Dan Sallee, Karen Rivera, and Rick ?) for a day of electro-sampling. We met at the Apple River State Park at 10:00. After a short pep talk explaining the process and the safety issues we pulled on the waders to get started. Paul and I both were cussing out Tim Smith as we noticed Dan putting on breathable waders. Here it was going to be a gazzillion degrees, and on the advice of Tim, we were in neoprene. We had to retract our cussing later on, though, because Dan did get the occasional jolt through his breathables. Sorry we doubted you, Tim. The set up uses an "electric seine" stretched across the stream and pulled upstream just like a regular seine. Instead of a net hanging down between the seiners (Karen and Dan), there are a bunch of electrodes dangling down, which shock the fish temporarily. The ISA guys acted as the "dippers". We walked directly behind the seine and dipped out the stunned fish with long handled dip nets. Behind the dippers, Rick pulled a little aluminum boat which held the generator and a tub with aerated water. As we headed upstream, the action seemed to go in spurts. A few here and there until we'd come to a pool. At the pools all heck would break loose as the dippers scrambled to net the hundreds of fish that floated up. Actually, the ones that floated up were much easier to net than the many that stayed towards the bottom. Once you had a bunch in your net, you'd have to rush back to dump them into the tub then hurry back to the seine for more. Four guys with long handled nets in a narrow rocky stream running back and forth from seine to tub. I can't believe no one went down or took a net handle to the head. We finished the 650' Clear Creek stretch around 11:30 or 12:00. We were steaming hot and physically spent! I had no idea how much work was involved. At this point the Trybuls stoked up the grill to cook some pork chops Dan brought for lunch while Jeff and I helped record the catch. Dan weighed and measured the fish and called out the stats to Karen, who wrote them down. This stretch yielded surprisingly few smallies, and all were small. I believe we got more stocked trout than bass. We also got plenty of suckers, chubs, minnows, and stone rollers. After a lunch of pork chop sandwiches and chips, Karen said she would like to do another 650' section of similar water if we were up for it. The Trybuls and Jeff all had commitments later in the day, but we all decided to stick around and help as much as possible. The next stretch was a stretch of the Apple that was a little rockier than Clear Creek. This stretch held a lot more bass, but again, none of any size to speak of. We got it done in time for the Pauls and Jeff to get on the road at a decent time. It was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun. Dan, Karen, and Rick made it very enjoyable and they were very appreciative of the manpower the ISA supplied. Karen really knows her fish. You, too can join in the fun!! The DNR has asked for our help shocking some Pecatonica River tribs the last week of June. They will be needing dippers June 25-28. Paul posted about it in this forum, so give him a call to sign up.

Mike....I tried the black Bug on Monday, but the river was too high and muddy (which I am getting very sick of). I saw plenty of them floating by, and watched every one of them, but never saw any get hit. Matthew, I never would have guessed they'd be good for carp! Sounds like a blast. BTW, you forgot to capitalize the second to last "cicadas" in your post. Might want to edit.

Because the cicadas are often referred to as "17 year locusts" people often mistakenly think they are the same as the locusts that devour biblical stuff. They are two different insects, and the cicadas are harmless.

Just three of us? Come on, guys. I don't want to sound like a nag, but I'm shocked (bush league pun intended) that there aren't more guys interested in this. Personally, ever since I was a kid, every time I look at a body of water my imagination goes wild wondering what might be hiding in there. This and the Pec shockings in a couple of weeks are golden opportunities for me to finally satisfy that curiosity. As an organization, these are golden opportunities to show the DNR what we are made of. More than just a bunch of guys that love to fish (which, of course we all are), we are also a group dedicated to the protection and improvement of our rivers and streams. We don't just use the resources, we are stewards. The DNR has a whole lot of influence in one of the biggest parts of our lives. They make the rules. Any time we have a chance to interact positively with them, we should do all we can. Down the road, when we lobby for rule changes to improve our smallie fisheries, hopefully they will think of the ISA as a conservation minded, river loving, helpful bunch of involved fishing citizens. If they know they can count on our involvement, perhaps our input, which I think they already have respect for, will carry even more weight. Ok...I am now stepping down from my soapbox.

Tell him congrats! I met him at the Blowout and he seemed pretty enthusiastic. Now he'll progress (or digress) from enthusiasm to obsession.

I bought some neoprene waders last night, so I'm ready for some zappin'. So, Paul, are there any other guys out there that will be participating? I plan on driving out early, getting some fishing time in before hand, then probably stay late and fish 'til dark or so afterwards. If anyone plans to do the same and wants a ride, I have plenty of room. You can come to my house in Cherry Valley if you live east, or if you live west, I can pick you up. The forecast and levels look great! Just a thought: if anyone plans on fishing prior to the shocking, it would probably be best to stick to the Apple and avoid Clear Creek. I would imagine that the shocking results would be best if the area were left undisturbed.

The Kish could certainly use some. Lots of Forest Preserves with lots of traffic. I'll check a bunch of parks this weekend and get an idea of how many signs I would need. Tomorrow I'll call the County Forest Preserve office and make sure they have no problem with it. Is there a limited number available?

I've sworn by Fireline Hi Vis Green for a couple of years now. For some reason, I now have PowerPro on my reel, which is dark green. Now I realize how visible that Hi Vis is! I'm really having a tough time seeing the Power Pro. I keep on thinking I'll get used to it, but I may be switching back to the Fireline soon.

Paul...I think they need help all five days of that week. I won't argue with saving some fuel. We'll talk as it gets closer. Tim...it ain't no Belize, but I think your expreience would be great to have along. Does this mean you're going to make the Clear Creek shocking also?

C'mon guys....how can you pass this up? To sweeten the pot, if anyone signs up to join me on the 18th, I'll drive and buy breakfast. I know there's a man rule about the rider buying, but I'll waive my right to a free breakfast this time.

Nevermind. I'm stayin' home. It was the mental lapse thing that sealed the deal. That and death. ( Just kidding. I'm really looking forward to it.)

Never having done this before, I too was kind thinking about wet wading. Thanks for chiming in, Tim. All I have is breathables, but I could pick up a pair of cheap neoprenes if necessary. I plan on doing the Pec River shocking also, so maybe it would be a wise investment.

I wet wade as early as possible in the spring and late as possible in the fall. There's just something about not having to jack around with waders and boots that appeals to me. Ain't kilt me yet.

It does look kind of toolish. The marks on the notch end do seem a little larger than the typical chew marks you find on rodent chewed bones and antlers.

I know I've said it on here before, but the WJ Creel is the bee's knees. High quality stuff.

Am I right assuming this is during the week? Is it for the entire day? I can take a vacation day any day but Friday that week. Put me down for Monday the 18th. I'm pretty flexible, so if it comes down to it and they're going to be short handed later in the week, I can switch days.

Looks great, Gregg.

What color were the yabbies? Were they wacky rigged?

Tonight wasn't quite as productive (7), but still a greattime. Jeff, I'll be throwing some bugs in the mail this week. Since you said you wanted to try to tie some, I'll send you some foam cut to size to give you a head start. Some instructions, too.