Norm M

A naturally sustaining , native population with the possibility of a trophy fish should be the goal for all species .

I prefer in line buzzbaits , since I switched I believe my hook up ratio improved . Of course the biggest thing is being able to resist setting the hook until you feel the weight of the fish . Somehow the hotter the bite the harder to gets to be , too much adrenaline I suppose . I currently carry Uncle Bucks which I remove the wire weedgaurds from .

Jim , I was out before the sun came up , plenty of smallies feeding up top but couldn't buy a hit on topwaters . I think they were prolly little guys chasing bugs . I switched to a crankbait and fished underneath them and got quality fish . I believe the big girls were taking advantage of an easy source of food , little bass intent on eating bugs . Later a buzzbait in the riffles was taking some nice fish .

JB About 3 hours depending on construction delays . PM coming

if that's 12 lbs , I'll kiss a carp's axx .

JB , No problems at all with the other guy having a camera . It's just one of my superstitions that I don't carry it . Hmmm , haven't been to Sindianner in a few years .

When the knees go , I'll break down and buy a boat .

I hesitate to say any smallie is over 5 lbs unless I at least put it on a DeLair and check the deLiar later . All I can say was it was fat and healthy .

Not carrying a camera is one of my superstitions , bad stuff happens if I do . Didn't measure girth , didn't want to handle the fish too much . Maybe 4.5 lbs give or take .

Popped a 22.5 incher today on a jig/pig below a riffle .

I got a vacation day lined up . I will be there . Anyone meeting for breakfast ?

Jude, 35 years , 150 plus days a year on the same flow combined with a rapidly closing window of opportunity on some older very successful year classes .

Only 7 twenty plus so far this year , been real slow so far .

I plan on being there in the morning to give him my best wishes and thanks for a job well done .

I enjoyed the times together . Good luck on the move and I'll offer up prayers for a safe and uneventful journey .

Forget about area 7 , that spot has had more signs than I care to think about . There seem to be persons or person that just flat out doesn't want a sign there. I know I put 3 signs there myself and I think Mark K and prolly Jonn both put signs there over the years .

And hopefully upwind of Don perchance ?

Gary , Nah , he is going to try to catch a turtle other than foul hooking it's foot .

While tubes work on the Kankakee , I have other plastics that I have much more confidence in . I have been decreasing the amount of tackle I carry and the best way to do that is to only carry what you have the most confidence in . Tubes have been left behind , not because they don't work but my confidence level is much higher with a Power Pulse Worm . Texposing a tube with a weighted keeper hook is extremely simple . Shove the barb in the nose and the hook thru both walls of the tube . Bing bang done . You can also skin hook either side of the tube if you like . My favorite way to use a tube was a big heavy 5 incher unweigted on a 5/0 EWG Gammie . Definitely a big fish bait , especially in slackwater pockets in high cold muddy water .

If you go with the quick dry stuff , which is great stuff indeed , wear a pair if heavy boot socks . You can tuck the pants in the socks and your feet will appreciate the extra layer of padding . The socks also help take up some of the extra room you allowed for in your boots for the stocking foot waders . It beats the heck out of blisters 3/4 of a mile from the car due to the boots sliding all over your feet . I have tried everything from jeans to sweats to gym shorts for wet wading and all have had thier shortcomings . You should buy the shirt as well as the pants . When it gets hot you can dip it in the river and get cooler as it drys and you won't have a heavy wet tee shirt half the day . If they have come up with quick dry bvds , I haven't found them yet . Bring a towel to sit on when moving from spot to spot saves a wet seat on the ride home .

Wet wade . even done total wet wade .

Green asphalt , let the wind blow it away . Trade the blower and the hose for fishing gear .

To tell the truth I had to quit wading au natural account the mermaids wouldn't leave me alone . It may be heresy but take what's chewing . Channel cat , walleye and rock bass are chewing , smallies ain't . Hijack over , back to the topic . I'm glad I live on a flow where it is safe to wet wade . Tim is right about the heat in the rubber waders , even if you keep up the fluids on the water you still end up dehydrated unless you can pack a heck of a lot of water . If I had to wear breathables during the summer I guess I would buy 3 pair of closeout deals and rotate them . Maybe they would last longer if they weren't being used 3 days a week or more . How about wading boots , how long do yours last ?

Ken , Call in a contractor , put in Astro Turf . Forget about the yard and fish more . One day my wife will buy it , I hope . Mike , Out all day today , still no sign of them .

Scott , I quit buying big dollar waders because the didn't last more than a year . I search for closeout deals and such and buy a couple or three pair of decent waders over a couple years . Last pair I got was $50 LL Bean Flyweight rubber and I'm on the third year , knock on wood . I have never had a pair of waders last this long in my life . Neoprenes never again , too hot to wear most of the year , attracts stickers and thorns and I got tired of women throwing money at me to stop doing the hootchie coo dance to get in them . Breathables are nice but I never got a full year out of any brand I tried . Maybe because I put in in 150 trips or better a year . Shoot I bet they never got completely dry at any point . Today , I started wet wading again so waders won't be an issue for a while . You can't beat the quick dry wading pants/shirt in warm weather .