Scott Ferguson

1 hour ago, Jim Wright said:

As a first time Road Tripper, and first time on the Menominee, I have a few noobie questions:
What time is check in/ check out? 
How are meals handled?
Any fly/lure recommendations? 
What are the safe USGS gauge levels? 
I will be bringing my kayak, any advice there 🙂

Thank you in advance, looking forward to this. 
Jim 
 

Because you are arriving on Tuesday, you can get there anytime you like. And, because you leave on Saturday, you can leave anytime you like as well. For meals, you just coordinate with the others who will be there with you. I’m not sure how restaurants are operating during these times. There are supermarkets 15 minutes away in Marinette with anything you might want. As for flies, I’m sure someone will post who knows. As a non fly guy, everything you use on any other river will work. Whopper Ploppers have done well in the past as well as Ned Rigs, Senkos, spinnerbaits, jig and plastics, in line spinners, most smallie baits will do fine. The water levels were over flood stage recently but have been falling steadily. And if the trend continues, should be good by the time you arrive.  Here is the nearest gauge, upstream of the cabin. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/wi/nwis/uv?site_no=04067500
There is a good launch a few miles upstream of the cabin where you can float in 3 to 6 hours back to the cabin, and another a few miles downstream. The launches require a $5 (?) fee. Several other places to launch on both sides of the river. You’ll find some maps showing their locations on the counter by the back door of the cabin.

Address of the cabin is W 2437 Twin Pines Lane, Porterfield, Wi. The sign at the road says Tinkers Dam. Some other things to know. Cell phone service is nearly nonexistent at the cabin. There is a phone in the cabin with free long distance if you want to call home. The phone number of the cabin is; 715-732-2623 if someone needs to call you. There is WiFi and satellite TV.   The schedule posted at the beginning of this thread is up to date as to who is coming and when.
Any other questions post here or call me and I’ll try to help. 630-209-9452. 

4 minutes ago, ericg said:

I am requesting to be changed to the aug 11- aug 15 slot if still available

Sure you can. I'll make the change.

There has been  another cancellation. There is now another  opening arriving  Tuesday, Aug  18  and leaving on Saturday, the 22nd. You can always see the updated schedule in the first post of this thread.

Hybrids are pretty rare. I’d say it’s a largemouth. Even largemouth aren’t very common in the DuPage.

Welcome Gene. Glad to have you. We are almost, neighbors.  Looking forward getting to know you on the Menominee trip.

Even though this is one of my favorite ISA events, I don’t think I’m comfortable hanging out in a group of people yet so I’m going to have to miss this one.

I did have one more cancellation. I now have one spot open for these 3 choices. The last 4 days of the first week, the first 3 days of the second week, and the last 4 days of the second week. Check the first post in this thread for the dates and details.

There is a water treatment plant that discharges water into the DuPage near the confluence of the East and west branches. That’s the only one I’m aware of.

I haven’t heard from everybody yet, but enough have confirmed they are going that there will not be any increase for everyone else. I’ll be sending out requests for final payment very soon. Thanks everyone, I’ll see half of you there!

Nice report!

I understand Frank and Pat. You have to do what’s best for you. I hope everyone who is going will evaluate your health before coming and stay home if you aren’t feeling well.

It’s not like nobody ever went tubing on the DuPage before. On weekends during the summer there are always dozens of tubers on the lower end of the river. They just aren’t sanctioned by the local town.  

Ok Ken. Thanks for the reply.

As you are all aware, the ISA Road Trip is just 2 months away. I checked with Karen Prange, owner of the Tinkers Dam cabin, and she is open and expecting us. She assured me that she is being very diligent in cleaning and sanitizing the cabin after every group of guests leave. Even with that, I can understand that some of you may not be comfortable sharing the cabin with 5 other people. If you decide to stay home, I will refund your deposit or apply it to the 2021 trip. Be aware however, that we are still responsible to pay the entire amount due regardless of how many actually stay. Depending on how many drop out (2 already have) I may have to ask for more money from those of you still coming so that the club will not have to make up any shortfall.

Frank Briggs can probably give you the best answer. From what little I know, the pedal drive alone without a kayak runs around $1,000. Having both for $1,500 might have you looking for a used one

Electric motors only, largemouth, catfish, crappie, bluegills, no smallies.  Bass size and numbers have been dropping in recent years. A few years ago, guys were catching a hundred bass in a day, but it hasn’t been as good in the last few years. 

The NMMA,  National Marine Manufactures Association,  has had major cutbacks due to the Covid 19 situation and has as of now, cancelled the 2021 Schaumburg fishing show. Todd Alberto, who managed the past shows for the NMMA, was one of 23 others who was let go from the organization, is in negotiations to take over the show and run it on his own.  
if any other news comes out, I’ll try and keep you informed. 

42 minutes ago, Jay said:

I was going to post a picture of a recent smallmouth caught with a DT4, but the size limit on this forum is quite restrictive.  I am active on several other hobby forums and I have never had an issue posting photos as the sites make posting unrestrictive and user friendly which I feel is great for members.   I am not sure the logic behind the restrictions?  I feel high quality pictures would be a definite plus to show off fish and scenery details that members would genuinely appreciate.   Posting pictures should be a simple unrestrictive process as it encourages participation on a forum.  Thanks again for the informative comments.  

If you are willing to pay for the extra storage that high resolution photos require, we might be able to accommodate you. A photo that is posted at the full resolution of the original takes up the same amount of space as over 100 photos that have been reduced with minimal difference in what it looks like on most screens. Many other sites automatically reduce the size of pictures for you. That isn’t an option with this software.

There really is no reason for a swivel. Using a snap to make changing baits easier is fine. If you have lures like a spoon or sometimes an in-line spinner that will give you a lot of line twist, a snap swivel can be good, but just a plain snap is better with a crank bait.

Current in rivers always makes throwing crank baits a challenge for me.  You must crank fast if you throw upstream to get the bait to wiggle right, and very slow throwing downstream. I prefer more versatile baits in rivers.

I cant read the article as I won’t allow Google Drive on my computer. Is it something that can be reprinted in the newsletter?

Now that the Governor has ordered all sit down restaurants closed until the end of the month, we have no choice but cancel our breakfast get together.  That is unless we want to get some donuts and coffee from a drive though and meet at the river!

The prices of the Z-Man heads at 3 for $5, makes me want to use the Charlie Brewer Slider heads which are less than half the price of the Z-Man. If you aren’t familiar with Slider Heads, they look like this,

Obviously, if the situation with the virus changes or gets worse, the get together will be canceled.