Rob G

In case anyone is interested in catching a ride, just let me know, it looks like we have at least 7 going over together from central and east central IL on Saturday.

Rob

Lebanon, IN  straight down Interstate 65

http://heartlandflyfishingfestival.com/

Should also mention that you have 2 1/2 nice fly fishing shops within about 25 minutes as well (yea, this Orvis is only 1/2 a shop)

Another good video on hollow fleyes with some decent info.  Check out the size of this of smallie guide's patterns, WOW 2/0 hook !, Doesn't he know they're called smallmouths because they have a small mouth. ha

7 hours ago, John Gillio said:

 Jamie was a former student of mine. He said anytime he would gladly shuttle me upstream. 

Let me guess, Jamie never turned in a paper but got an "A" anyway.  Ha

Colin, looking forward to seeing you again and hearing all about your fishing adventures this past season.  Hopefully you've got a fly or two up your sleeve that you would like to demo for us.

Rob

20 minutes ago, John Gillio said:

The chubs like them too . My pref for streamers has nothing to do with numbers. Yellow seems to be a good bet for me. Was yellow working for you guys. I have somewhat limited experience with wild

I should have known, Johnny G. the ole' Chub Master 

As to the favorite color, two really stood out and I shall take to the grave with me their identities.....errr that is unless you want to go up there with me sometime for a day or two  Ha 

The idea of a horizontal presentation is interesting.  This past November I spent a few days trout fishing with a friend of mine up north.  He is an excellent fisherman and kicked my booty in landing numbers of fish.  Where I used more standard fare such as scuds and nymphs, he used these small micro jigs that he tied up along with an indicator.  He feels the horizontal presentation offered by those size 12,  1/100 oz. micro jigs made all the difference.  I finally succumbed and started using a few that he had tied and lo and behold my catch rate increased.  Then it became only a challenge to see which color they preferred, and color did seem to make a distinct difference.  He swears by that same configuration for crappie as well and believe me, this fine fellow takes more than his share of those slabs.

Btw, l like that meat whistle 

Are we talking flies for "float and fly" fishing or flies to be cast with a fly rod?  Just curious, and I have nothing to add here since I'm a wuss sitting in my warm den with a cup of hot tea and tying flies for next summer.

Please note the time change.  Because of the new Fire station policy, the meeting will run from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM.

Again, open to all and more info to come later.

Rob

For those that want to view the Photobucket photos that were no longer visible because the user wouldn't pony up the $400 per year to allow for 3rd party hosting, there is a fix that I was recently made aware of by one of the guys over at the Indiana Smallmouth Alliance.  Unfortunately I deleted my account at Photobucket so none of my photos can be made visible but for those that weren't that hasty, with this extension, you should now once again be able to view those photos.  Let me know if it works for you but it seems like I can see Mike G's photos again.

From Goosepond Monster over at INSA:

As with most things that get taken away on the internet, there now seems to be a fix for this...

Google Chrome:

Click on the three dots on the right side of the screen;
A drop down should appear;
Hover over "More Tools";
When the next drop down appears, click on "Extensions";
Go to the link towards the bottom that says "Get More Extensions";
In the search box, type "Photobucket Fix";
Click "Enter";
Click the "Photobucket Hotlink Fix"
Once the install is complete you should be able to see Photobucket linked photos again.


FireFox:

Click the three bars at the top right of your screen;
Click "Add Ons";
Click in the search box and search "photobucket hotlink" ... Photobucket Hotlink should be the first result in the list that's generated;
Click install;
Reload the forum.

Twice he made it down to our fall outing but regrettably I never had a chance to fish with him either time.  While at breakfast beforehand, I was surprised at how well he knew the local waters, including a couple of hidden gems that many of the locals didn't know about.  Had a nice discussion on reading water where I picked up a few tidbits as well. I'm sure he will be missed and yet it reminds me just how thankful we should be each and every time we are able to stand within that river as both the current of time and water pass beneath our feet.

So very sad to hear.

Heck, I didn't need to wade through all that since it mostly involves how to handle "larger" bass.

For the 10th year running, come January, we will be holding our award winning central Illinois fly tying events.  I know it's a little early but I wanted to get this out there so you can plan your "month of Sundays" with this in mind.

Central Illinois Fly Tying Gathering to be held:

January 28th Sunday 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Bloomington, IL at the firehouse  

1911 Hamilton Rd. 61704. 

There is no cost to attend this event.

The event runs from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM but afterwards the group will likely adjourn to the nearby Famous Dave's for a little BBQ and beverage.  All are welcome, both ISA and Non ISA members alike, as well as beginning fly tiers.  More information will be forthcoming in the near future, so stay tuned.  If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me here at the ISA forums.  Rob G 

Not sure as to where they were taken but I can tell you where a couple of those are going. ..... My computer desktop.  Well done

20 minutes ago, Kev-mo said:

 

It's not like some random skeleton that could potentially be identified as any number of ungulate species...

Obviously you have not spent much time with this group 

Let's try this again.  Stumbled  upon this on one of my last wades this fall.  I'm thinkin' Moose here, but I'm open to suggestions ?

Hey Eric, quick question for you.  If I post a photo using this new enhanced direct to thread procedure, can someone open up the "inspect" and derive any useful information from it, such as where and/or when photo was taken?  Using a 3rd party hosting site prevents that, correct??  Thanks for your input.

Rob

3 hours ago, Kev-mo said:

LMAO!

+1000

Just wanted to mention that a long standing member of the ISA and a good friend to all down here in central IL passed away yesterday.  Dave Franklin, aged 74, will be truly missed.   Dave was a long standing regular at all of our central IL ISA fly tying gatherings and fishing events.  Six years ago Dave came over to our East Central IL ISA outing that I was hosting and asked if I would accompany him back up the Salt Fork river where he had many years before, landed his first 20" smallie.  Only too happy to spend the day fishing with the man, I agreed and so the two of us set off to cover miles  of water and yet we were to land very few fish on that occasion.  It was just one of those days, but Dave never complained once, he just continued on fishing with that big smile on his face, reassuring me that he was just happy to be able to walk that water again.  And that my friends is exactly the type of gentleman that he was.  Gonna miss you Dave !   

  035c by robow 77

In A dry Fly Code, 1950, Vince Marinaro talked about the finest tippet material he could get 5X. It broke at 1/2 lb.

Wow, now 5x often has 5 lbs breaking strength. Thanks for sharing.

Two things,

Mark, I generally get the most spin out of my surface flies when when they have "wings" that stick out to the side such as on a dragonfly imitation which will create a propeller like spin or a flat fly such as a gummy minnow. If you are not adverse to micro swivels, that will work along with what Mike said, beef up the tippet and use a stiffer tippet like Maxima. Also, try to keep your false casts to a minimum as well.

Mike, that chart has been around forever and I would love to know who first put that out, was it originally for dries? I have my doubts about its usefulness in that I can toss a size 12 dry or a size 16 nymph that has a tungsten bead and some additional .030 lead wrapped that creates a far heavier fly than the 12. I'm sure it's a good starting point though.

Mark, can you post a photo of your fly, it really shouldn't spin any more than any other popper I would think.

On calm or still waters I don't always want that big pop but if you're looking for aggressive big fish and or in faster water, it works well. You can tone down the pop by more subtle strips but what I think sometimes turns them on is when you get the strip just right and you spray water forward, Lordly watch out. Ha