Rob G

Not sure who would be in charge of obtaining our ISA merchandise but was curious if we could come up with a hat similar to what the Indiana Smallmouth Alliance has. They're really nice hats made from a high tech material with a neat emblem. I know mine is very comfortable. Anyway, just tossing it out there because I think we could sell a few and it advertises well for the organization.

Sounds great Cory, the more the merrier as they say. We're still hoping that Cecil and/or Junior might be able to join in but no confirmation on that yet.

Mike, the adaptor for flies is very easy to make, I used a few inch piece of wooden dowel rod which you can quickly file to fit inside the receiver and attach large foam disk that you pick up at Walmart or any hobby lobby for pennies. A lot of times you can find a cheap electric hobby motor for not too many $ and I even had a friend who used his variable speed drill held in a vise with a foam disk pushed down on a bit secured with tape. How could I forget the Muddler, doh!

Mike, like any deer hair that I spin, it will likely float for the first 2 casts then sink slowly afterwards if left untreated. Hence why I use foam for my surface flies, oh and the fact that I'm too lazy to tie these.

Well here it is, my imitation of a tadpole. Don't count on these being available commercially since it took me an hour and countless tries to get the deer hair spun/trimmed to a reasonable shape.

Rich, thanks for the insight. I should have known there would be a good reason not to see more of them. Van, I once made a dryer out of my old bbq grill rotisserie motor, and later it went back to its duty on the grill.

As I was wading a local pond today, I came upon a couple nice big juicy tadpoles, two or more inches long, and it occurred to me that you don't really see a lot of flies that imitate the swimming amphibian other than the occasional popper. You know the smallies and largemouth must feast on these things and the shape would not be difficult to emulate, a pair of olive or dark hackles coupled behind some bloated oval material that might swim just subsurface. Got any ideas or am I missing patterns that do just this?

Stan, google or map quest: 210 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801 I would personally take I 57 S to I 74 E, get off on Lincoln Ave. exit south, then left or east on Green St. Go down several blocks and the parking lot will be on your left.

My casting deck should be so cluttered

For those of you that never view the "event announcements" page, Just want to get this out there officially, we'll be having our first fly tying get together on: November 14th, Sunday, 1-4 PM at the Urbana Free Library, lower auditorium. 210 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801 We are planning on having a special guest tyer, Reggie Alexander from Indianapolis, who will be tying the historic Everette Drake's Wounded Minnow along with providing other fly tying instruction and history. Of course we'll have open time for tying / instruction of your other favorites as well. And finally we will be topping things off by grabbing a bite over at the Crane Alley bar and grill noted for their fine selection of adult beverages and fine burgers. Further details will be made known as they become available. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions but I'm hoping we can put together a nice sized group so as to welcome our guest tyer. Rob

Just want to get this out there officially, we'll be having our first fly tying get together on: November 14th, Sunday, 1-4 PM at the Urbana Free Library, lower auditorium. 210 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801 We are planning on having a special guest tyer, Reggie Alexander from Indianapolis, who will be tying the historic Everette Drake's Wounded Minnow along with providing other fly tying instruction and history. Of course we'll have open time for tying / instruction of your other favorites as well. And finally we will be topping things off by grabbing a bite over at the Crane Alley bar and grill noted for their fine selection of adult beverages and fine burgers. Further details will be made known as they become available. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions but I'm hoping we can put together a nice sized group so as to welcome our guest tyer. Rob

Sunday afternoons generally work well for me also. John I. and I are trying to schedule a guest speaker for November 14th at the Urbana library in the larger room. Hopefully more details to come soon. TimothyT and the southpaw, are you in? And yeah, that's a nice gill.

Rich, I'm not sure I can convince myself that minor hue differences make that much of a difference. Large color differences, yes, I've seen that proven time and again, though be it more often with other species of fish under more controlled conditions (if that is possible). And seeing how chartreuse doesn't show up naturally in nature often, contrary to what a noted big name fisherman states, I feel it works because they can see it under more conditions and from a further distance and therefore they're more likely to hit it. Just my thoughts though.

and from Greg C "No brainer...sparkleminnow." My runner-up for sure

I know it's boring, but a size 6 Black Woolly Bugger, any stream or river, clear or stained water, most any fish. It just looks like so many edible things. I never head off to any new waters across this country without a few in the flybox.

Finally getting around to reading Tim Holschlag's excellent book, "Smallmouth Flyfishing" and he emphasizes movement and action of the fly in the water and not the appearance of the fly in your box. So maybe we're on to something here.

She's a beauty for sure but if you use the reel seat and cork grip for scale (generally 4" max. and 7" respectively), then the fish isn't even 21" inches in length. But, yea, I would be showing it off as well.

You know, after tying countless craw patterns that were designed to look like the real thing, and not being successful often enough, I eventually found that the more interpretive patterns which exhibited better movement are move productive for me, but I do keep trying.

Well, although the weather didn't look promising in the beginning, the rain did hold off and it turned out to be a nice day on the water for the couple ISA members that weren't scared off. Three hours on the Middlefork yielded about a dozen Smallies with the largest being a couple pound 15+ inch porker and several Rockies thrown in for good measure, all taken on an assortment of various flies. For those that are interested, the central IL long rodders are looking to have a fly tying session with a professional guide and guest speaker on Sunday November 14th at the Urbana Library 1-4 PM. Though tentative at this time, more specifics will come later on so please keep in mind.

Though they're calling for possible rain on Saturday morning mostly before 1 PM, I forgot to mention that if there are those that are interested in floating the Salt Fork, I would be willing to run shuttle service more or less to get you back to your vehicle. Contact me and I can give you my cell phone if you don't plan on being at the truck stop at 8 AM.

Fred, I will do my best to put you on fish if you can make it. Now whether the bite is on, well that's a different story. Now be aware, I'm much more familiar and can be more helpful with the Middle Fork River than I am the SaltFork since I prefer to wade rather than paddle at this time of the year. The Saltfork does have a few decent access points for those who want to paddle though.

Fred, you can probably float much of the Salt Fork River but the Middle Fork is too low to float continuously. Of course that makes the Middle Fork quite nice for those that would like to wade. Not sure how many will attend but I can direct individuals to various points along the river for access if they are interested.

Paul, I did the same thing a few days ago, a size III in titanium. Like I really needed another reel but then again if my wife can have 50 pair of shoes then maybe........

My only fly that worked this evening was a small black woolly bugger, caught five and none were worth breaking out the camera for. This was in a tiny farm pasture stream that was really low.

Mike, excellent idea. I once saw this older woman tying beautiful flies at a show using a small pair of hand held pliers and she was probably quicker than I am at my vice.