Mike Clifford

Thanks! Can still use a few more. It's going to be warm, but plenty of water will be provided. Opening ceremonies are around 8 this year instead of 9.

So far you, me and Pat. I'm hoping Craig and some other regulars, but I don't have any phone numbers. Hopefully someone can help us by reaching out to a few.

Thanks Rich!!!

Now, lets get some fly guys out to mentor these kids on their craft.

Can anybody reach out to Stan and see if he can bring a flyrod out again? He is phenomenal.

Or anybody that is capable of instructing....

Thanks for posting this! I'll be there around 7. Free lunch as well as the hot and buttery corn-on-the-cob for all. Sno-cones, popcorn as well.

Event was filled at 350 kids registered a month ago.  So, we're looking forward to a great day!!

I'll be there.

Does Craig have the targets and rods?

Sgt. Tommy's Kids.

Have done it for over a decade.

Can anyone tell me if the ISA still plans to run casting at Herrick Lake on June 16th? I haven't seen anything posted anywhere.

One of the best places to start.

ISA will be teaching kids to cast.

http://www.sgttommyskids.org/

I don't know when it became necessary to put inferior hooks on baits, but the same applies to the jointed Rapala. They changed the hooks, and I began to lose quality fish.

The Rebel Wee-Craw.....same thing.

1 hour ago, Mark K said:

What's this Keeper hook thing?  I've never heard of it.

You are right, John. Mullady and Minas also turned me on to the keeper hook. However, at some point the quality of the hook went south. It isn't nearly as sharp as the original version. That alone caused me to carry a sharpening stone in my vest.

On the Kankakee, this rig is known as the "weighted keeper hook". With the weight on the hook shank, it slides over, around and through river structure and weeds.

Several ISA folks have done his radio show as well. My favorite memory is when he invited me to come on and do an update on conservation, and it turned into a 45 minute radio conversation running the gamut of kids and fishing, invasive species and everything in-between. Still have the audio disk they sent me from that show. What a wild ride Bob provided for us all over these many years.

Bob is in the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. I used to write a monthly article for the publication as well called Conservation Corner. It was hard to keep up the pace after just a couple years, so one can only imagine what he endured to put out such a quality publication since 1981. Just a class act in journalism. None compare. 

Meaning? What's happened?

Stunning news. 

Prayers for his family.

A very active member of the group. He will be greatly missed.

43 minutes ago, Scott Ferguson said:

My guess is that $6 barely covered the administrative costs to run the program. 

Sure looks that way.

I've spent 3 times that amount for one drink in a fancy restaurant. I'm more interested in knowing what it funded and what will be lost.

The USF&W version of a refuge that he fought against tooth and nail was the most significant. 

We came to a mutual respect for one another after years of battles.

The Kankakee River has lost another conservationist in J.R. Black.

Though we were on the opposite end of the spectrum on most river issues, he was a true champion for the river when there were none.

Thoughts and prayers go out for the family.

I asked the same and learned it is 420 N Meadows Rd

Tammy needs your help!

Fishing tackle garage sale.
In Memory of Norm Minas
Saturday, Jan 27th 2018
10am-5pm
420 Meadows Road
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Priced to sell, everything must go!

John.....

Post the link on the Kankakee River Rats facebook page, and other Illinois fishing pages on there.

The memories we have of Norm could fill a book....