Kev-mo

Norm, How will the clean up day work? What will be provided and what will we need to bring? Are we getting in the water or just working the shoreline? Any other info you have would be good. Breakfast before? Go to lure for the afternoon?

So far I have that weekend free. Unless something out of my control changes I can make it. Fishing after..?

Even though I don't fly fish that is really stinking cool! From what little I know it seems as if the worm would be pretty hard to cast. Do you need a heavier weight rod for that?

I know it's a huge long shot but I'm looking for the older style Simms Guide Boots. They are the ones that were discontinued in 2007 I believe. I'm looking for a size 13 with the aquastealth or studded aquastealth NOT felt. I couldn't find anything online but maybe a local store (or not so local to me but to someone else) has something tucked on a back shelf... Thanks

If you look at the original post on another website the pictures do the fish justice at least lengthwise.

I'll add a fun fish story to Don's thigh jumping fish. I was maybe 14 and we had taken a small family vacation to the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. No idea where we were at (the p's would know). Anyway we were at down at a beach and I saw what seemed to be a decent size fish continually breaking the surface about 50-75 yards out. Being young, fearless and just not knowing any better I decided to try to wade out and try to see what it was. I got kind of close and then it disappeared. I was standing there looking around getting a little frustrated as I was pretty close and then no more surfacing. For some reason I looked down and there was the fish right next to me. I moved with lightning speed and the next thing you know I had a 24 inch coho or some sort salmon species in my hands. I managed to get it to shore and my parents ended up cooking it. I don't remember if I ate any but it was pretty cool catching it. It's mouth was pretty tore up. I assume someone hooked and it got off but was pretty darn worn out which allowed me to catch it. I also chased down a rather large black/blue racer that weekend. Man those things can move! I don't know what I would have done with it had I caught it but it was all about the hunt back then. I guess it still is... Ron, Grammar question for you. For some reason we started calling Jewel food store Jewels. As in "I need to go to the Jewels to get some milk". Any idea on how that might have come about?

Ethanol is "lighter" or rather less dense than water. I believe water is the standard at 1gm/ml. Ethanol's density is .789 gm/ml. Another way of looking at it is ethanol is 20% lighter than water. If the ethanol spill is found to be responsible for the fish kill I suppose it is possible that due to the high water and swift current that the ethanol got swept downstream in the top section of the water column and then slowly mixed in with the water once it hit obstructions dams etc. It looks like we'll have an answer today at five... I almost forgot. I was in town (rockford) last night for a scout meeting for my oldest and I was talking to a couple guys and one of them said that he saw on the news or read that someone called the police about a problem with tracks and the railway was contacted about it twenty minutes before the accident. Anybody know anything about this? Absolutley tragic if it is a truism.

Just how much water did you guys get? I read the story and it appears from looking at gmaps that the crash was a good 1.5 miles from the lower north branch. I guess I have to assume that with the water being up to the tracks any gullies along side filled with water would eventually lead to the river. I've actually driven by that intersection many times but not for a while. So sad for all the people that got hurt/killed in this Too bad for the rivers also Some of these types of accidents should be able to be avoided. I know they are called accidents for a reason but if people would just slow down or stop and try to think ahead and "what if" when circumstances are not "normal" maybe some "accidents" could be avoided. I don't know, I guess it's easier said than done especially when business is involved. It seems like every time I turn around though I'm telling my kids to slow down, stop and think about what you are going to do, what could the consequences be, what just happened, why did it happen, what could you have done differently to have a different outcome. Basically stop and think for a second before you act. Then five minutes later they trying to beat each other up and saying the other one started it

I know you asked about fishing but my number one use of the gauges is safety. As far as fishing goes; if the water is low and slow that generally means clear. This translates into fish using sight more, which for you could mean more natural colors/presentation. Also longer casts to avoid spooking and best off all a possible topwater bite. If there is an extremely sharp slope of the gauges the fish are probably looking more for security than food. However for you it would mean a heavier jig to stay near the bottom. A more gentle slope could be the start of a feeding binge like when they regularly open flood gates on a dam. Almost like a dinner bell. Just like anything else there are always exceptions and I mostly just use the gauges for safety.

Scott, You are also fishing at what I think is a tough time of the year with the spawn and all. It's also complicated by the up and down water we have had and to top it off you fished a holiday weekend when everyone and their brother's brother is out. In a couple of weeks it'll be hard to keep fish off your line. I've been doing the river thing for 9 years and I there are days when I still feel like a beginner...

Not to stir the pot up as it seems to have settled but perhaps someone knows exactly where the below is from and what it references. I found this a couple years ago on another site. I believe someone was trying to use it as an arguement to wade creeks. "(615 ILCS 5/18) (from Ch. 19, par. 65) Wherever the terms public waters or public bodies of water are used or referred to in this Act, they mean all open public streams and lakes capable of being navigated by water craft, in whole or in part, for commercial uses and purposes, and all lakes, rivers, and streams which in their natural condition were capable of being improved and made navigable, or that are connected with or discharged their waters into navigable lakes or rivers within, or upon the borders of the State of Illinois, together with all bayous, sloughs, backwaters, and submerged lands that are open to the main channel or body of water and directly accessible thereto."

Sorry Steve but I LMAO cause I can imagine the Cabelas guy asking his co-workers for a thumper. Anyway I believe it's a terminator ss. The owner of the monogram can give you a lot more info I'm sure.

And to add insult to injury I was just reading that they found zebra mussels in Deep Quarry Lake. They are supposed to set up mussel monitoring stations on the west branch. I guess its only a matter of time before I'm cursing cause I lost another fish due to frayed line from all the mussels... Probably a good idea not to river hop any more...

Ron I'm truly sorry for you and anyone else that has to deal with loss due to water damage. I have experienced loss but not in that genre. However this is really a pet peeve of mine. Neither the river nor the high ground water are to blame. What is to blame is that somebody thought it would be a good idea to build right next to the river. What is to blame is somebody thought it would be a good idea not to leave a flood plain or buffer zone. What is to blame is somebody thought it would be a good idea to build a room underground and expect it to stay dry. What is to blame is our (or the powers in charge) general attitude that we/they can control and shape this planet with no regard for the consequences and no forward thinking. The really sad part is they keep making the same mistakes over and over again...

I would use the same one you have been catching the LM on. Also stick with your confidence colors. If you do well with a shad colored crankbait get a shad colored swim jig.

Another idea that's a lot more labor intensive but might be a neat project would be to make one. If you did it right it's not something that could be used this year as you are supposed to let the wood dry for a good chunk of time before you seal it with spar varnish. Lots of tips/directions on the net under making a walking stick.

I think you should be throwing whatever Norm is throwing I'll be trying swimjigs, cranks like Brenden and grubs and tubes.

I stopped at REI to ogle for a bit before a dentist appointment. On the way out I noticed a brochure for the Dupage County Riversweep. I had never heard of it before but it looks like it's been going on for awhile. Anyway it's scheduled for May 16 nine to noon. For more info you can go to http://theconservationfoundation.org/ I'll be camping with the oldest for scouts but if anyone has a hankering to clean up some trash this looks like a good opportunity.

They hugged the legs pretty good. Actually it was a struggle to get them off. It was the foot part that was bigger just like a wader footie which allowed water to pool. I'll be staying away from anything that traps water. JMO based on my experience. I still need to find some boots myself for wet wading. I've been using my regular boots but they are not as snug as I would like despite wearing thick socks and I don't want to twist an ankle. I think I am going to look at a regular pair of wading boots and just go down a size since I won't need that extra room for neoprene footies. Best of both worlds IMO.

I'd stay away neoprene socks or anything not breathable/porous. I picked up some Cabelas neoprene sock things with gravel guards and wore them in 07 and 08 for wet wading to both take up space in my boots and have a gravel guard. They worked but I ended up with a pound of water in each sock by the end of the day and I also ended up with a couple warts (one each year) that I have no doubt were the cause of my feet being in contact with what I would consider stagnant river water sweltering in my neoprene socks all day long. I would use the same boots you wade with normally but pick up some Simms gravel guards and wear a pair or two of cheap wool socks to take up the space your wader footies normally would.

I'll let you know my findings as soon as the water recedes, warms a skosh and I can get back in it

I'm thinking about throwing more crankbaits throughout the year and in going through my stuff have noticed some corrosion on my split rings and hooks and of course the hooks are somewhat dull. I've never had a split ring fail but have lost fish due to dull hooks. Do I rejuvenate (wd40 and sharpening) or do I just replace everything. If I replace, what treble hooks does anybody like and why? Also split rings for the same question. It'd be nice to be able to get these at BPS or Cabela's as I have gift cards... Thanks, Kevin

You're killing me Jonn... I'm going to need a bigger box for my swim jigs. Very nice!!

From what I understand it's not cheap to operate and maintain these gauges. So I guess it means just what it says, the funding to maintain these two is going away. It also states that you should contact them if you believe that the gauge should continue to be funded. I would send them an email, I already have.