SKollmann

Still the same patterns, Rich . . . found no new ones posted.

Bought a couple packets of the slow death hooks last year, Rich . . . were made primarily for walleye fishing as you note, but I do wonder if smallies would also bite the rotating nightcrawler? Plan to answer my own question this year as I head out trolling in my boat.

IT'S OPEN ! by Tom Lindblade I VISITED THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE VERMILION TODAY. All of the local officials and a number of DNR big wigs were there . Including Marc Miller DNR Director, Arlen Juhl, from the Office of Water Resources and, State Representative Frank Mautino See DNR newsrelease below I did have an opportunityto discuss recent concerns about the proposed new Paddling Pass system with Director Miller. Director Miller assured me that our concerns about State to State reciprosity and the cost for canoe livery outfitters would be addressed. He said that these are details that are handled once legislation has passed and that he felt certain they could address them to our satisfaction at that point. The rest of the morning provided an object lesson in why our registration fees amount to an incredible bargain for us. The Vermilion Lease arrangement is absolutely unique, and would not have been done under previous administrations. Having a paddler and former member of the IPC Board as DNR Director has made an incredible difference. The last piece of icing on today's cake is that I had noticed some major work being done on the Southwest side of the Ed Hand bridge. For those of you not familiar with the Vermilion, The bridge is the take out point for the Rapids section of the river, and is a notoroiously steep and dangerous take out with large trucks speeding across the bridge as boaters load their vehicles on the bridge shoulders. In an almost totally unpublicised project, the DNR is building a new access which traverses the high valley bank down to the river. My estimate is that there will be parking for at least 50 cars, and more than adequate space to pick up rafts and boats. All of the grading is done, and it looks like all that is left is paving the road, seeding and landscaping. It could be complete in a few weeks. All of this for a modest increase in my boat sticker fees, and a $35 yearly pass to the state parks, are costs that, I for one, will happily pay. Illinois Department of Natural Resources Pat Quinn, Governor One Natural Resources Way ∙ Springfield, Illinois 62702-1271 Marc Miller, Director http://dnr.state.il.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Chris McCloud March 31, 2012 (217) 785-0075 <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TheIllinoisPaddlingC/3c7f014331/307076252f/46c264bad0/to=chris.mccloud@illinois.gov" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.2em; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; " target="_blank">chris.mccloud@illinois.gov IDNR restores public access on Vermilion River in LaSalle County River section had been closed for dam safety modifications Oglesby, IL – Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Marc Miller joined State Representative Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley) at a ceremony today to officially reopen a portion of the Vermilion River for public recreation. In the summer of 2009, a nearly three-mile section of the river was closed at the request of Buzzi Unicem USA while an agreement between the IDNR and the Pennsylvania-based cement company was crafted and while subsequent safety modifications were made to the privately-owned low head dam on the river. “This is a great day for the citizens of LaSalle County and for everyone who enjoys paddling and rafting. This stretch of the Vermilion River is widely regarded as the best location for whitewater rafting and paddling in the state. I want to also thank Buzzi Unicem and Representative Mautino for their efforts to make this day possible,” said Director Miller. “By entering into this state lease with Buzzi Unicem, the IDNR took innovative action to work with a private landowner to successfully open access to the recreating public. We are happy to be a part of restoring public access to an improved Vermilion River.” “I am very pleased to announce that this section of the Vermilion River will now be open to the people of Illinois and visitors to our state who enjoy spending time on the water,” said Representative Mautino. “The Vermilion River is a beautiful waterway and a tremendous resource for our Illinois River Valley communities in the State of Illinois. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, IDNR Director Marc Miller, and Buzzi Unicem. Thanks to the dedication of all parties involved, those who love spending time outdoors can enjoy the Vermilion River and the recreation opportunities it provides.” The lease agreement reached between the IDNR and Buzzi Unicem USA in November 2010 provides that company ownership of the river continues while allowing the IDNR the right to reopen the river to public access for paddling and rafting recreation. “Buzzi Unicem USA appreciates the IDNR’s cooperative efforts to make this beautiful natural resource available for the safe use and enjoyment of the people of Illinois. We thank Director Marc Miller and all of the IDNR staff that worked on this project for their tireless efforts to protect and preserve the natural resources of the state, to ensure the River’s continued availability for safe access, and for their diligent oversight and protection of the River against misuse. The company also expresses its appreciation to Representative Frank Mautino for marshaling the necessary resources and for his substantial work toward making this opening day a reality. We hope that the paddling community will both treasure the use of this resource and protect it against misuse and abuse through a campaign of educating the River’s users about the safe and proper use of this outstanding resource,” said a Buzzi Unicem USA spokesperson. Pursuant to the lease, the IDNR Office of Water Resources oversaw safety modifications at the low head dam to reduce the risk of objects becoming trapped under the water due to the force of the current flowing over the dam. IDNR staff also installed various warning devices such as buoys and signs upstream and downstream of the dam. The public should note that the river area at, below and above the low head dam has been designated as a restricted area under Illinois Administrative Rule. The only legal access over the low head dam is to the river right, which is the right side of the river looking downstream. The restricted area is marked with hanging buoys. Now that the river is reopened, the public is once again legally able to navigate this portion of the river. The IDNR reminds all recreational users that whitewater, rapids and dams of all types are inherently dangerous. Public awareness of the area and what is ahead is imperative to personal safety.

We must understand that a fly line is used to move weight forward to the end of the cast, whether it be a hook, small dry fly or a heavy weighted streamer or nymph. Fly lines are measured in weight by grains and this grain weight is used to move weight forward. For example; a 5 weight fly line weighing 140 grains is not capable of pulling the same weight thru the cast as a 210 grain 8 weight does. There are many variables to consider while casting such as wide open loops, chuck and duck, over powering or lobbing. This chart is designed upon the ease of the cast plus normal tight loops that will cut the wind with ease. An oval back cast along with the use of the body is a must when casting weighted flies. We will start with a 5 weight fly line, anything under that is specially designed to cast small light flies and is not suited for any type of weighted fly. Lead Eye Weights most suitable for these line weights. Line Ounce of weight 5 weight = 1/120, 1/80, 1/50 6 weight = 1/120, 1/80, 1/50 7 weight = 1/120, 1/80, 1/50 8 weight = 1/120, 1,80, 1/50, 1/30 9 weight = 1/120, 1/80, 1/50, 1/30, 1/24 10 weight =1/120, 1/80, 1/50, 1/30, 1/24 The above listing of course is not written in stone but if the formula is followed, long easy casts can be made. In many instances a heavier eye weight than listed can be used but it will test the caster and the capability of the rod and line. Note" The above suggestion for choosing the right weight a fly line can move forward with ease has it variations of course, most variations comes with the style of casting being used. The most proficient style developed by Lefty Kreh where the body is involved in the cast will make casting weight more efficient. Bob Clouser

Should us fly tyers bring along our vices and tools . . . or is this show only for observation?

Conflict has arisen which will preclude me from manning our ISA booth on Friday, January 27th. However, I remain available the afternoon of Sunday, January 29th. Steve

I'm available the afternoon or evening of Friday, January 27th . . . and/or the afternoon of Sunday, January 29th. I trust parking fee is reimbursable again this year, right?!? Let me know when you need help on these two day. Thanks. Steve

In Illinois, on most of our rivers and streams, it is legal for a landowner who owns land on both sides of a river to close that river. We believe this is the result of a misinterpretation by the courts, but it is legal. Such closures almost never happened, until two years ago when the only significant whitewater river in Illinois was closed by Buzzi Unicem,, the Italian cement Company that owns a mostly abandoned plant on the river, and a dam at the plant where several rafters have died over the years. There had been another rafter death at the dam and another drowning upstream. Buzzi was afraid of additional liability, so they decided to permanently close the river. Much as we believe that all waters in the state should be public, the fact is that they had every legal right to do what they did. The Vermilion was closed indefinitely. At this point, enter The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and its Director Marc Miller. Director Miller believed that the Vermilion should be open to the public, and so he asked the IDNR'S lawyer to enter into lease negotiations with Buzzi. It took several months during which time Buzzi's lawyers made it clear that the company reserved the right to cancel the lease at the first sign of increased liability for the company, and that the company sees the lease as an interim solution. A final solution would eliminate the dam, and would require two to four years of permitting and construction before it can be done. There are many people in our community who for various reasons distrust the IDNR, but this is one time when our state government has gone far out of its way to be of service to the Paddling Community. IDNR agreed to put an exclusion zone around the dam and spend a significant amount of money eliminating hazards, preliminary to a more permanent solution that would provide the plant with necessary water, but eliminate the dam. Until then, the river would be open, but no one would be allowed near the dam or on Buzzi property, eliminating portages around the dam and Wildcat Rapid. (we have asked for reconsideration of allowing portages). These are the terms Buzzi imposed. If all falls in place the river will be opened this Spring. Buzzi holds all the cards. We may not like it, but if we want the river open we will have to live with it. Much of the information in this editorial came from a meeting with IDNR personnel held on January 6, 2012 P.S. Letters thanking Director Miller, Lawyer Bob Mool, and Arlen Juhl-Office of water Resources might be helpful.

I tied several red + white Seaducers last year and proceeded to catch four very nice largemouth bass from by boat on the Chain. Have yet to catch a smallie with this pattern tho. Yes . . . one can fly fish for bass from a walleye boat.

Having inquired about the effectiveness of hopper fishing, here's a lengthy but related article that appeared in the December 5, 2011 edition of Fly Anglers Online. THE MYSTERIES AND MAGIC OF GRASSHOPPERS By Tom Travis "Some say big flies mean big fish, but sometimes that just is not true, the innovative angler must be observant and flexible when considering the options". In the Rocky Mountain West there are few times in the fishing season that create the excitement generated by the appearance of the hoppers. For many, the onset of the hoppers means big flies and big trout! It is the eternal hope that the next cast will bring to the surface one of those fabled trophy trout. When I was growing up, every school boy knew that hoppers made great bait for trout, bass, bluegills and smallmouth. For centuries anglers have looked fondly on the grasshopper as excellent bait during certain months of the summer. The path of the grasshopper pattern is indeed interesting. Here in the West during the early 1970's you might find a Joe's Hopper, Letort Hopper, Dan Bailey's Hopper (Deer hair version of the Joe's), possibly a Pontoon Hopper and, of course, a Yellow Muddler Minnow. Today the number of hopper patterns is somewhat overwhelming. Many American anglers seem to believe that "Hoppers" are purely an American invention. That simply is not true! According to W.H. Lawrie, in his book entitled A Reference Book of English Trout Flies, 1967, the first mention of a grasshopper pattern can be found in The Art of Angling, 1651 by Thomas Barker. That was followed by Charles Cotton in 1676, with his Instructions how to angle for a Trout or Grayling in a clear Stream. This was added to an edition of Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler. Cotton listed the Green Grasshopper and the Little Dun Grasshopper, and others, down through fly fishing history, have mentioned grasshoppers or listed hopper patterns. However, Andrew Herd, a noted British Fly Fishing Historian, states that in the United Kingdom, the development of grasshoppers never kept pace with the development of Mayflies or Caddisflies and was never considered all that important. In Fly-Fishing Secrets of the Ancients, 2009, the author Paul Schullery offers a thought from Vincent C. Marinaro, the author of A Modern Dry Code, 1950. Marinaro thought that maybe the size of the grasshopper caused many in the Halford era to disregard the hopper, as it simply was not elegant enough. It was aesthetically inappropriate, and thus to be ignored. It was left to the Americans to launch their own inquires and develop their own theories on pattern design and presentation methods. We have a fairly interesting report from the Lewis & Clark Journals regarding hoppers. On July 16th 1806 Captain William Clark noted the massive number of grasshoppers he encountered while moving along the banks of the Yellowstone River. In the East in 1864, Thaddeus Norris wrote about the grasshoppers and how much the trout liked them. The development of the grasshopper moved forward very nicely during the 1800's, however there was also controversy between those who decried the realistic patterns as totally needless and worthless. Yet there were others who were fascinated by the challenges offered in creating realistic hopper patterns that were effective. As far back as the 1890's there appeared Thomas Chubb of Vermont, who tied and sold a reasonably realistic hopper in his catalog. John Harrington Keene, who published Fly Fishing and Fly Making in 1892, had a very realistic looking hopper that he pushed. But at the same time his criticism of Mary Orvis Marbury's wet hopper was harsh. From the 1890's to the 1950's many fly tyers played with grasshopper patterns, but only a very few patterns have stood the test of time and become standard patterns among the anglers of today. One of the first hopper patterns which were to become a classic standard is the Michigan Hopper. This pattern was developed by Art Winnie, a noted Michigan fly tyer. Art developed this pattern during the 1920's and popularized it. When it was first designed, the Michigan Hopper had a Yellow Chenille Body and no ribbing of clipped hackle. The pattern that evolved is as follows: Joe's Hopper Hooks: Mustad 9671, 9672, 94840, or 3906B Sizes: 4 to 16 Thread: Black Tails: Red Hackle Fibers Tail Loop: Small loop of the body material Ribbing: Brown hackle, palmered through the body, clipped short on top and bottom and clipped flat on the sides Body: Yellow wool yarn, wrapped Wings: Mottled turkey, tied downwing style Hackle: Grizzly & brown dry fly hackle, mixed In my reading I have found that there seems to be a bit of a controversy over how it went from the Michigan Hopper to Joe's Hopper. Was it because Joe Brooks, one of the best known anglers of his day, wrote about and used this pattern? Or was this pattern developed by George L. Herter in 1929 and named for Joe McLin? I leave others to debate that topic. For me, it will always be the Michigan/Joe's Hopper. What caused the popularity of the Michigan Hopper to grow, where other patterns had faded in the mist of time? In my opinion the answer is simple; first the pattern was easy to tie and secondly, it worked! There is nothing like success to garner popularity. This pattern became the standard accepted hopper pattern for anglers across the country. In the East another hopper which was destined to be a classic was being developed in the late 1950's by Ernest Schwiebert in cooperation with Ross Trimmer. At the very same time Ed Shenk was also developing a hopper pattern. Both patterns are similar, yet they are both different. The pattern I am referring to is the Letort Hopper. The testing ground was the famed Letort Spring Creek in PA. After a quiet discussion between Ernie and Ed, Ernie's pattern became the Letort Hopper and Ed's the Shenk's Letort Hopper. Both patterns were highly effective. The following is the recipe for both patterns. Letort Hopper: (Schwiebert) Hook: Mustad 38941, 3X long Sizes: 8-16 Thread: 4/0 Primrose silk Body: Pale-yellow polypropylene dubbing Wings: Brown mottled turkey wing quill sections Legs: Brown deer body-hair collar, trimmed out on the belly to float flush Head: Brown deer hair, trimmed to shape Shenk's Letort Hopper Hook: Orvis 1523 (1X fine standard dry fly hook) Sizes: 8-16 Thread: Yellow 6/0 Body: Yellow, cream or tan Fine & Dry dubbing blend Underwing: Mottled tan turkey feather folded, tied flat and trimmed in a V Wing: Tan deer hair Head: Tan deer hair, spun and clipped to shape This is the pattern listed in Spring Creek Strategies, By Mike Heck, 2008. A few of the author's hopper patterns In the 1970's we began to see other hopper patterns which were effective and would become standard accepted patterns in the hopper world from fly tyers like Dave Whitlock, Doug Swisher and Carl Richard, Jack Grathside, Mike Lawson and Rene' Harrop. More hopper patterns were to follow at a steady pace until the year 2005. The number of hopper patterns exploded from 2006 to 2011. Which one is the best to use? Why the pattern that works! I know that is not much of an answer, but I couldn't resist. Now, we will talk about hoppers and presentation methods. Recently, I read an author who claimed that all the hoppers in the east are brownish or green. Yet having grown up and fished in that part of the country, I remember (my notes confirm this) picking up yellow bellied hoppers on the West Delaware, Beaverkill and along the Letort as well as on many of the waters in Michigan. I have also seen and collected some greenish, tan, brownish and grayish hoppers on those waters as well. The point is there are several species of hoppers; some with distinct color marking, while others can be influenced by the chemical content of what they are feeding on. Therefore, catch the hoppers on your home waters, or on the waters you intend to fish and look at the bellies, bottom of the thorax, head and sides. That is what the trout see, not the top! As I stated at the very beginning of this missive, many anglers go for big hoppers, hoping for bigger trout. However, the only rule is that there are no rules. I remember reading in John Shewey's 1994 volume Mastering the Spring Creeks, where he was fishing on Slough Creek in Yellowstone National Park and the natural hoppers were a size 6. However, the trout ignored the larger hoppers and fed on small hoppers. I have seen this happen many times myself over my many years as both a fly fishing guide and as an angler. Be observant. Haste and casual observation can lead to frustration, as often the trout will rise to the larger imitations but they won't eat them. Not only must you be observant to the day you are afield, but you also need to be knowledgeable to the season. Here in Montana this year we were all given a stiff reminder. This year (2011) the hoppers never showed up in late July in any reasonable numbers as they normally do. This was due to a long, cold winter season and cool, wet spring that wiped out the early hoppers. In mid-August when the hopper fishing should be going strong, the hoppers were still very small (Size 14 to 18's) and their numbers reduced from what we normally see in most of Montana. Every now and then we would catch a few fish on hoppers, but overall the hopper fishing was far from normal, except for the reports coming from the Big Horn River. On the "Horn", they were having some pretty decent hopper fishing! Lately, I have had a chance to catch up on my reading. I have been doing a lot research as it relates to presentation methods and the fly manipulations of hopper imitations on the water. Some of the stuff I have read is pure "Bull" and some of it made me wonder if the writer had ever really fished a hopper imitation. Therefore, here are my thoughts on the proper presentation methods for fishing a hopper pattern. First, if you are going to fish a hopper imitation, be sure that you are using a fly rod that is suited to the task. You want to be able to deliver the imitation to the surface of the water in the proper fashion. This means you need to cast the imitation to the water rather than two or three feet above the water as you would with a mayfly imitation. Part of the attractor of the hopper is that is plops down on the water. This happens because the wind blows them off the bank, or they take an ill advised leap and end up on the water's surface. At first they will sit there for a moment and then they will struggle on the surface. This dead drift and struggle is the key to the presentation of the hopper. Drive the imitation to the surface, allow it to drift for a moment or two and give it a little twitch to simulate the natural struggling on the surface. Now, I said a little twitch to simulate the struggling insect, not wild jiggling to imitate a hopper doing the Foxtrot or Line Dancing. Another point of interest is the tippet. I have often seen anglers switch to a hopper and never consider the tippet; 5X, 6X or 7X tippets don't work real well with hopper imitations. First, it is hard to drive an imitation to the surface with those tippets and secondly the hopper "take" can oftentimes be explosive. Light tippets mean that you can often be broken off on the strike. On Spring Creeks I generally go to 4X; though if it is very windy I will use 3X. On the big rivers like the Yellowstone I will be using 1X, 2X or 3X tippets depending on the wind and the size of the hopper imitation to be used. I also consider if I will be fishing the hopper alone or if I will be using a brace of flies; fishing a hopper with a nymph dropper, or a dry hopper and a wet hopper; or possibly two dries, like a hopper/beetle combination. If you are going to use a pair of flies, consider the size of flies to be used and the weather, then select the proper leader and dropper strand to do the job. When the trout are really on the hoppers I seldom use a dropper, unless it is a wet hopper. When I am using a hopper as a searching pattern, I might use a nymph or even a small streamer. On streams like the Lamar River, Soda Butte Creek and Slough Creek in Yellowstone National Park, I will often use a hopper with an ant dropper as a searching combination. In conclusion I would like to share a short story about a trip to the Big Horn River in mid September 2011. We had arrived on the "Horn" and were expecting trico spinner falls. Some caddis and baetis fishing had been reported, along with nymphing, and we were told a few trout were still being taken on big hoppers. I noticed that the water was less than clear. There had been no recent rains, the flows and water temperature were reasonable, so what was causing the discoloration? Ah, an algae bloom in Yellowtail Reservoir could cause the discoloration and that, indeed, proved to be the case. I had checked with friends about the size of the hoppers being used and was told that sizes 6 & 8 hoppers had been the general choice of the anglers and guides. The morning was just perfect with unbelievable trico spinner fishing which began around 9:15 A.M. and didn't end until 12:30 P.M. The fishing was outstanding and even though the tiny tricos we were using were size 20's, we were using 5X tippets. A lighter tippet would have meant too many break offs due to heavy weedbeds. After we broke for lunch I took a walk along the bank and there were hoppers everywhere, the ground appeared to be moving. Many of the natural hoppers had yellow bellies; some had tan and there were even a few greenish hoppers. The overall sizes were sixes and eights; so the reports seemed to be correct. As a light breeze began to blow, we noticed that the trout seemed to move closer to the banks to feed on this bonanza of hoppers. There were hoppers all over the water and the trout were on them, like they hadn't fed in hours. We took the time to change to 3X leaders and one of us tied on a Yellow Size 6 hopper, and the other tied on size 8 Tan hopper, and the trout totally ignored our offerings! We would get an occasional rise to one of the hoppers, where the trout would come up and bump the fly. We tired twitching them and nothing! Because of the discolored water and the heavy weedbeds, we were only fishing single flies, so switching was fast and easy. We tried a size 10 Yellow Foam Hopper and a size 12 Tan Foam Hopper and that was the answer. The fishing was outstanding; as a matter of fact we used nothing else for the rest of the day. The next day the trico fishing was shorter in duration as the wind came up earlier in the day, so the hopper fishing began around 10:30 A.M. Once again the fishing was outstanding, however only if the patterns were size 10 and 12's. They just were not interested in the larger hopper patterns. We tried Purple Hoppers and Pink Hoppers and as long as the size was right, the trout ate them. On both days we fished the hopper using the drift and twitch method. Why did they take the Pink and Purple Hoppers? I don't know. I do know that those colors work and have worked on several different rivers. A pink hopper A purple hopper A 'popper' hopper Our trip to the Big Horn was one for the books. The hopper fishing was some of the finest I have ever enjoyed. In these times of fishing many two fly rigs, it was really fun to fish a single fly. When the conditions are right and the trout are on the hoppers, it can be the most exciting fishing you will ever have. Just remember that sometimes bigger isn't better!

Monday nights (as well as Thursday nights) are tennis evenings, so won't be available to join you. Darn!

Can't make it . . . same night as one of my two tennis evenings. Enjoy in my absence!

Giving up church choir rehearsal to attend . . . given that our Lord is a forgiving God. Looking forward to the event. Doubt I'll make the December Pizza Party . . . a fair jaunt from Northbrook to Darien.

Thanks, Ed . . . under what tab in Lake-Link did you locate my post?

My thanks to you three for your quick responses . . . should provide me with good guidance as I shop. Most appreciative!

During the increasingly chilly temps during this Fall season, I have refrained from taking my new boat out on the water without proper attire. That said, I do need attire to stay warm in the late Fall and early Spring when fishing from my boat comparable to what hunters wear. Any suggestions how to stay warm while on the water, but remain agile in reeling in fish?

A "Star Quality" video of my favorite river, Bill . . . but most importantly, I trust your nephew made it back home safe and sound.

Just for the record . . . "old" is not in my vocabulary at this point in my life. Prefer "aging" like a fine red wine . . . the longer it ages, the better it tastes.

You got that right, Eugene.

Wish I could join you and the others, Ed . . . but our four little grandsons are heading down to our farm for fall harvest on Saturday, and I wouldn't miss them riding on the tractors and combines for anything (even floating fishing in my canoe on the Fox with fellow ISA colleagues). I'm finding that with tennis, boat fishing, cycling, volunteer work, and home maintenance, "retirement" is much busier than expected.

A little early for Halloween, John . . . but what a great start to a Halloween outfit at month's end.

Brings back memories, Mark . . . when my Dad took me fly fishing to French Creek and Waterloo Creek in the driftless area of NE Iowa (grew up in Waterloo).

Sorry, Ed . . . last night came down with a bad sore throat, congestion and fever. Stay tuned tho . . . my boat will indeed make its way to Shabbona one of these days (maybe even later next week if I can shake this cold). Thanks for asking.

Wish I could help out, Eugene . . . but have already scheduled the transport of my boat from the marina to public storage to provide me more accessibility during the next two months before it's winterized and put in the shed for the winter.

Anyone have a handle on the latest fishing results at Shabbona? Weather is forecast to moderate next week, so thinking about taking my boat over for the day. Rich . . . counting on you in particular for a response. Thanks.