ronk

It's probably illegal in Plainfield too but since I'm not married I don't have to worry about my wife turning me in.Seriously though since I believe rabbits also feed at night I'm not sure it would've been very affective.I'm old enuf to appreciate the"Rifleman" reference.

I have a Grossman air rifle purchased at walmart a few years ago which still works fine.I use it to chase away grackles from my backyard bird feeders which would otherwise be dominated by the damn things.After killing a few they get the message and leave the feeders alone much to the delight of the song birds.A opassum patrols the yard at night and disposses of their carcasses.

Korkers Co. which makes replacement felt soles no longer provides the glue with them. Apparently because it's now considered a hazardous material?They recommend Aquaseal but ShooGoo is easier to get, cheaper and probably as good.Whatever is chosen make sure it's ok for use in water as not all glues are.Unless you're going to be using some kind of watercraft which would be damaged by studded soles I recommend studded felt.They provide better traction on slippery streams and also significantly extend the life of the felt.One maker of wading shoes provides interchangeable soles for different uses and another allows for removal of the studs as needed.Lug soles are not meant for general stream wading.They provide no traction.I've not used Aquastealth soles but if studded should provide good traction.

That's nothing compared to the scowl on my face when the algae/weeds get bad on the Dupage.

After taking a one day break from fishing to recharge my batteries I hit the river again Monday fishing a spot I'd only fished once before this Spring.Upon arrival I decided to try a bassbug and immediately got a strike and also immediately lost it when the 2x tippet broke. There must've been an isolated weak spot in it as it didn't break at the knot.Although at the time I was disappointed not only to lose a nice smallie but to also lose the only bassbug I had with me,what happened a little later made me realize it was fortunate.After catching 6 or 7 more smallies only 1 of which was slightly over 15" with my fly of choice, a 3" black Zonker, I started wading back to the car to head to another spot when I made a cast to a submerged rock in midpool.A carp inhaled the fly and took off on a pretty long, deliberate run downstream.I was able to turn it and bring it back with the 6wt beaching it after about a 5 minute fight.It was a female heavilly swollen with roe measuring 25" weighing an estimated 10+lbs.Had I been fishing the bassbug I wouldn't have encountered Miss Piggy. I had no luck at another spot. Wiliam C's recent fine results notwithstanding, it seems that that the prespawn feed that began in mid March is winding down.With water temps in the mid 60's the smallies' thoughts seem to be turning from food to amore.My thoughts are turning to slab sized bluegills with a 6.5' 2wt.flyrod.

Sounds like I missed out on a really good outting.I would've come but having fished the previous 3 days in a row I needed a break.

Iagree that eyes can be a benefit in other than murky water.At the very least they can't hurt and might help and so why not use them.

As long as the subject of outtings has come up one thing about them that has always puzzled me is why they always start so early regardless of the season. I recall an outting on the Fox in October a few years ago when we met for breakfast before sunrise in order to be on the river early even though the fishing at that time of year is better later in the day and in my experience river fishing for smallies is at least as good in the pm as the am at any time of year.About the only fishing I routinely get up early for is largemouth bassbugging from late spring thru summer starting at 4:30-5:00am and packing it in by 7:00-7:30 once the sun's on the water and the bass, which are much more light averse than river smallies,drop into the depths where pursuing them with a full sinking flyline is BORING. If we met for a late breakfast/early lunch at about 10am you working stiffs wouldn't have to get up so early on your day off and everyone would still be home in time for supper after getting in a good 5 hrs fishing which is about all anyone wants. Anyone wanting to do a whole day could arrive as early as they want and than break for the breakfast.What do you guys think?

I'll 2nd your amen to Eric's assertion re tape measures and cameras especially as small and portable as they are these days.I never did posts until this year because it was only this year that I learned how to post pics thanks to a cupl of our members taking the trouble to show me how and didn't see the point of doing them without corroborating pics especially when fishing alone.

The only watercraft of which it was said couldn't sink. Titanic.

I'll come

No reports?Has squinting over your tying vises damaged your guys eyesight?One final question, John.Why no response to the 2 emails I sent you re leader links we'd discussed at theblowout?

Rain rain go away,come again another MONTH!

Going forward in a floatube is difficult and awkward regardless of the style and unnecessary.When floatubes came out about 50 years ago folding metal paddles designed for forward movement were used instead of fins. I used them when I started floatubing the Cook County Forest Preserve sloughs in the 1960's(fantastic fishing in those days for big largemouths,bluegills,and until they started poisoning the weeds and cattails northern pike especially in Saganashkee Slough).Because going forward was difficult in littlle or no wind and impossible in a chop I got the idea to try swim fins.What a difference!So much easier to glide along from place to place going backwards in light winds and even able to make decent headway in a heavy chop.Casting was also easier since you never had to cast against the wind but either with it ,the situation most of the time, or across it depending on its direction in relation to your target. The few guys who floatubed(boats weren't allowed)all threw away their paddles for swim fins too.

Jim is right in praising the virtues of a floatube for fishing strip pits, quarries,ponds and small lakes.Since you move about and hold position with your legs both hands are free to fish which is especially important in flyfishing. While it is more difficult in a stiff wind it's more difficult in any kind of watercraft on a windy day.Being lightweight they're easily backpacked fully inflated enabling you to walk back to your starting point after fishing with the wind.In places like Mazonia or Sylvania they're easily transportable from lake to lake.While Jim seems pretty neutral re closed front vs open front I much prefer the open front ones since they allow you to sit higher in the water and are as ez to enter or leave as an ez chair.The open fronts typically include a pair of backstraps.Pontoon boats are best suited for moving water where the oars are vital in the current.They're much heavier, take up much more space in your vehicle,are more difficult to set up and more expensive.Most importantly they're much less maneuverable using just your legs.I prefer the skin diver type swim fins that simply slide directly onto stockingfoot waders and wear a pair of cheap waterproof slip on shoes to and from the water.Cabelas carries many kinds of floatubes in their flyfishing catalog.

A wide wading belt such as a skin diver type that's infinitely adjustable is a good alternative to the 3rd grip and works especially well with spinning rods with their long handles.The fully rigged rod is carried vertically along your spine and as long as the belt is snug wil stay in place nicely.Years ago when I used to both spinfish and flyfish I searched with the spinning rod and when the fish were found I'd switch to the flyrod.

If not familiar with a river's wading conditions or if those conditions are known to be somewhat difficult a wading staff is a good idea.They typically come with a rope with which they can be secured to your wading belt allowing them to drift in the current while your casting.The collapsible staffs can be stored in a tool belt type holster when not needed.

Same thing for me too.Must be a problem with this site.

Thanks Mark.As I understand the web info the forest preserve initiative was just started last November.If so it'll take time to bear fruit if any. In the meantime all you canoe/kayak guys should find one of those bridges and float the Mazon. With limited access it may hold a lot of good sized,unpressured smallmouth.Am not sure if you'd be legal if you remained afloat the entire time under Illinois law but even if not it would be more difficult for landowners to ask you to leave and they might not bother a floater.It's worth a try.

Mark, I've heard the Mazon while a good smallmouth stream is difficult to access as it flows thru private party owned by farmers disinclined to allow access.Are you able to comment on its accessibility?

Eric's 1st report of the season got me off the couch too.Dusted off my 9`4wt and fished 3 hours Mondayafternoon.The river was in fine shape, moderate in height with adequate clarity and a brisk flow not yet impeded by any algae or weeds.It looked like it did in the 90's and the 1st cupl years of the millenium when you could see the streambed.I suppose it's too much to hope for that last years massive algae growth won't reoccur as Spring advances.Fished 3 different areas carhopping.Caughtn 3 smallmouth 13"14"16" on a Puglisi bluegill fly.Normally don't photo any smaller than 15" but since this was the 1st outting of the season did photo the 14 along with the 16.Fishing was slower the next day.Hit only one on a black Zonker but it was big.Had him on only long enuf to know that he was likely a 17" at least and maybe bigger before he shook free.The only way to get over the disappointment of losing a big fish is to catch one.With that in mind I fished again yesterday.As I was driving to a new area I came upon a fellow ISA member(Wally N) putting away his pontoon boat.He'd had a good day catching 2 big ones.Fishing the Zonker again I immediately tied into a big smallie only to lose him too half way thru the fight.Didn't seem quite as big as the other I lost.Caught 3 more small ones about 14,13 11" before driving a short distance to another area that held a large numbrer of smallmouths.After catching a cupl small ones I finally landed an 18"er. On the very next cast caught almost his twin, a fat 17".Spent the rest of the afternoon in thisarea catching more small ones,losing another nice one and landing a 15" that had a cupl battle scars on his head maybe from a previous c+r.All told about a dozen and a half smallies hit this day with 5 including the 2 lost being photo worthy.All were hooked in the soft part of their upper jaw just behind the lip which together with the fact that the Zonker had a fairly small hook could explain losing some of the bigger ones.Without thick vegetation to impede them all put on a hard fight.

While there is good smallie fishing in that area it's most known for its rainbow trout which species originated in that area.There's a fly shop in Redding, Ca 1-800-669-3474 you can call for info.There name appropriately enuf is The Fly Shop and they specialize in booking flyfishing trips both in their area and thruout the world.Years ago I booked a trip to flyfish the salwater flats in the Yucatan peninsula thu their shop.If you're gonna be in there area stop in for more info than you might get over the phone.If you have the coin, booking a guided trip on one of their many rivers some of which have stretches where they have exc lusive access rights would be a very memorable experience.

I own 4 pair of waders and each has its place.Since high quality breathables are much more expensive,less durable and more leak prone I only wear them in warm weather.When air/water temps are in the 30s-40s I wear 5mm neoprenes,either stockingfoot($60 Cabelas) for wading/floatubing or bootfoot($120 Cabelas) for the really coldwater wading as they keep your feet warmer than stockingfoot.A leak is annoying anytime but in extreme cold it's a deal breaker.5mm neoprenes are not only less likely to leak they don't require the hassle of multi layering and waddling around like that little kid in A Christmas Story.I floatubed for trout at the club I belong to til mid January with air and water temps in the low 30s and ice along the shore for 5-6 hours each time out and was perfectly comfortable in the neoprenes with just light layering on my legs and a pair of neoprene booties on my feet. They also have handwarming pockets which came in handy.In cool weather I wear lightweight nonbreathables. They're comfortable then and again less expensive($49 Cabelas) and less likely to leak. Finally in the really hot weather nothing beats wet wading for staying cool, refreshed and less thirsty no matter how hot or humid.In the long run having at least 3 waders(the bootfoot neos being highly optional)will actually cost less than always wearing expensive,less durable breathables which would have to be replaced that much more often.There'll also be fewer leaks to deal with and backups when a leak does occur.All waders should be felt soled as most rivers have slippery spots at times to one degree or another.I prefer studded felt soles.They give max traction and greatly extend the life of the felt soles as well.

Scott, Try a small hairjig resembling a fly when they're feeding which is evident when they're either tailing or mouthing at the surface or moving deliberately and slowly about just below the surface in a small area.As hard as they are to entice when they're not feeding they're pretty ez when they are as they lose much of their caution when they become focused on feeding.They really go nuts for mulberries in the spring and will hit bassbugs at that time.Also on caddis patterns during a summer caddis hatch.

There from a strip pit at a fishing and hunting club near Braidwood. Check out the album I'll have at the Blowout for more date and time stamped pics of 'bows etc. Thanks again for the pic posting info.Re your discussion with Don about pic size mine also were too large and off center at first but after a few seconds self ajusted to comply with the size of my 15" monitor.I have dial up.