Andy C

Appalling.

Sorry to hear this. RIP

That's my favorite too. 3/8 oz has been the best all around size for me. Trim the skirt a little bit and it is good to go.

Do you have names for the different color schemes?

Have gotten my spinnerbait and lure making parts from lurepartsonline for a few years. Good products and service. Good to see they will be carrying more fly tying materials now too.

Not happy to have this happening is some of my favorite watersheds. Sickened by the greed that drives our countries decisions while ignoring the long term effects.

That was my first thought. Might have to tie some up.

Looks good, love the action of those big hammer swimbaits. I have been using the reaction innovations little dipper, and keitech swing impact lately, I like those a lot also.

Well said.

That looks killer. Going to tie some up and go to work with some colored pens. I might try some of these as swim jig tails also. Hope my 7wt can handle them.

Felts illegal on most good trout water in Missouri. I use cleated lug soles.

Scuds and sowbugs, size 18-24 midges, woolie buggers, 1/80 oz marabou jigs, and streamers after dark.

How about a boat review?

I fly fish from my bass boat and use a stripping basket. I use a hand steered trolling motor on the bow with a foot operated start switch. I set the speed and forward/reverse on the top of the motor and steer with an extendable handle. I like it much better than the cable operated units that I have had prior. Much better in rivers in my opinion. Much easier to stand up and fish and very serviceable sitting down. Mine is a 12 volt and has plenty if power and lasts two full days of fishing on a deep cycle marine battery. I really like having a bow mounted and transom mounted fish finders. Sidescan on the transom and traditional sonar on the front. Not essential but great for most lakes IMO. Especially if your are fishing for suspended or deep fish. You don't need color, so go with grayscale unless Money is of no concern. I use 12 volt lawn tractor batteries to power my sonar to save weight and space.

Hmmm....Preserving a "restored" backwater,or improving the the health and connectivity of a major river system? Tough call on this one. Me thinks that the Illinois river has been degraded enough to need improvement, and although it will introduce those nasty carp into the system I don't think it will ruin the fishery. It will also provide habitat for imperiled river species. Hard for me put the benefits of a sport fishery over those of the whole ecosystem.

Signed

Is is a downright fantastic bite for a day or two then it gets really tough. Black and red sneaky Pete's work very well during a hatch. Had a couple of great days drifting big bugs to browns in Missouri a couple of years ago during a 17 year emergence.

Marabou and craft fur jigs from 1/100 to 1/32 oz on a fly rod are some of my most productive patterns for a multitude of gamefish. Trout, crappie, white bass, panfish, bass, etc. Wouldn't go fly fishing without them.

Or a 1/32 oz hair jig

I use them in fast water areas around boulders and quick fastwater chutes and runs, also good below dams and heavy riffles. In slower water I prefer a sink tip. Can be especially good at certain times of the year.

Get rid of all of them in my opinion. Let those rivers flow! They are a danger to the public, catchments for toxic waste, and inhibit the movement of fish. Not many positives to dams.

Trophic cascade at it's finest. Thanks for the share.

Sounds good Gavin. Should have some time to float in March and April. Let me know.

I am the one who is buying the red canoe. I envision the canoe seeing a LOT of smallies in the future. Also...mild whitewater in the ozarks, arkansas and southern IL, BWCA trips, river cleanups, and 50 miles of the buffalo river in Arkansas this May. It will be added to the stable of 3 other canoes, a john boat, and a bass boat. Who doesn't need 6 boats??

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