Scott Ferguson

Thanks, Tim. Tim agreed to help us out covering Friday evening until the show closes at 9:30. Now we just need some more help on Saturday and Sunday.

Stan Zarnowiecki has volunteered for Thursday evening. Thanks Stan!

For a while, there was a notice posted on the USGS water level monitoring site for the DuPage River that due to a lack of funding, the gauge at that site would be shut down. For those who weren't aware, funding has been found and the gauge will continue to operate. This is the notice that was posted. The concerned citizen's and emergency manager's response to the potential loss of this streamgage has been incredible. Thanks to all of you, we believe we now have the necessary funding to continue the operation of this gage. FYI, this gage will now be funded through the following partnership: USGS National Streamflow Information Program NSIP Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Water Resources Will County Stormwater Management Planning Committee (Mr. Derek O'Sullivan) I thought you might be interested to know.

There are no passes for parking. You pay to park and send me your receipt, and I'll reimburse you. There are a limited number of vendor show passes with names already on them. I can't say for sure how it will work but we usually leave the passes at the vendor check in desk and when you arrive, get one from there. It may not have YOUR name on it, but it gets you in. Check with Mike Clifford and he can tell you what badge to ask for. If no badge is available, pay for your ticket and again, I'll pay you back. MAKE SURE TO SIGN IN the log sheet in the show binder to show when you were there! As we said before, you will have to work at least 4 hours to get your parking and show ticket money back. Send your receipts to; ISA 1506 Roth Dr Joliet, IL 60431

First of all let me say thanks to all of you who have volunteered to work the ISA booth at the upcoming outdoor shows. Next, when you get to the booth, be sure to sign in the show binder and write down what hours you were in the booth. If a question comes up later, it is helpful to know who was there when. Please read the instruction sheet so you are familiar with how things should work. There are some good tips in there that will help you sell ISA memberships. Please remember, that in addition to making ourselves known, we are at the show to sell memberships. We spend a great deal of money to attend these shows, so the more you can sell, the better. Remember, it is very important to ask for the money right there. If someone walks away without paying, odds are they won't send in the money later. When taking down new member information, please take your time and PRINT legibly. Read the info back to make sure everything is correct. If I can't read the writing, the new member might not get what he paid for. There is a change in the way we are taking credit cards this year. We now have our own credit card account so we no longer have to use Jim Jozwiak's account. At all the shows except for Rosemont and Rockford, there will be a credit card imprinter that you will use along with a multipart slip. This is old technology but you just put the card in the imprinter along with the slip and drag the handle, I'm sure you remember how they used to do it. You then fill in the amount, and what they are paying for. Have the person sign the slip and include their phone number in case there is a problem. Then give them the middle (customer) copy. Because we only have one imprinter, at Rosemont and Rockford, you will have to write the credit card number and expiration date on the slip. If you have any questions, please post them here and we'll try and help out. Thanks again.

Steve, the openings we have are listed in the post above, if you'd like to add another time, please pick one of the open slots that is most convenient for you and post it Thanks for helping out!

Is this it?

If you haven't noticed, we are now selling tickets for the Bronzeback Blowout happening Saturday March 6, 2010 . You can sign up online by clicking on the banner at the top of this page. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet and speak to the IDNR Director Marc Miller who will be one of the featured speakers. Along with Mr. Miller will be Tim Landwehr owner of Tight Lines Fly Shop who has a very entertaining smallmouth presentation. There will be dinner, lots of great raffle prizes, many guided fishing trips on the silent auction table, discount certificates for top shelf fly gear and the chance to talk smallmouth with 200 other die hard smallie fanatics. As John Lennon once said "A splendid time is guaranteed for all!" Don't miss out! Purchase your tickets in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door. We are always looking for donated items for the raffle and silent auction tables. Also, if you know of any great deals on outdoor gear at local stores or on the internet that we can purchase for the Blowout, let us know. See you there!

By the way, any members who work the show for us will get in the show free, and we will pay for your parking.

That is true. We found out today that thanks to Don and Mike Clifford, that we will in fact have a booth at the Rosemont show. If you would be able to spend a few hours in the booth helping promote the ISA, we would be grateful. Any members who do work the show for us for at least 4 hours will get in the show free and we will pay for your parking. What a deal!

Do you want to change the one you listed here on the forums? If so, I can help you with that. Send me a PM and I'll see what I can do.

It probably never will be. The guy who caught it did not submit the catch to be considered for the record.

In the past, we were given a free booth. The new owners cut out the freebies except for a small number of not-for-profits and we were not one of the chosen ones although I did ask. The regular cost of the booth is still more than we can afford to pay.

Too late, it's already gone. The items listed keep changing. right now, it's a shirt from Simms.

We are looking for members who would volunteer to help out by manning the ISA booth at the outdoor shows coming up. We really need a few guys from down South to work the Bloomington Show at the Interstate Conference Center, January 29-31. Set up starts at 11:30 on Thursday the 28th. Show hours are Friday; 12 noon to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 to 7, and Sunday 10 to 4. We also will need some help at the Great Waters Fly Show, the same weekend at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, The Tinley Park show Feb 13 & 14, the Quad City Show Feb 18-21, and the Rockford Show, March 5-7. Please contact me if you'd like to help. , email (isalliance@sbcglobal.net or call me in the evening at 815-577-7529. Thanks, Scott Ferguson

It wasn't that long ago (1992) when my computer could only hold 10 Megabytes of ram and then, 1 megabyte cost about $400. At those rates, 8 gigs of ram back then would have cost over $3 MILLION!

Sure they do! It's called the personal pontoon! THE most stable and comfortable personal fishing craft made! The only drawback is that it's a one directional craft on a river - downstream only. But, if you can arrange a shuttle, they are great. Getting in and out is the same as getting out of your lazy boy, just put your feet down, stand up and walk out. I have the same problem with kayaks, I can't comfortably sit in them or get in and out. That's the biggest drawback for me. I also don't like having water pour on me with every stroke of the paddle. No one tells you about that.

Only $250 a pair.

I feel the same way about the length of the handles. I could not find a 7 foot rod with a short enough handle so I had one made for me.

To eliminate any confusion, sam is only a forum member and not a paid member of the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance.

I have the same problem with the cold. My fingers really hurt. Those gloves with no finger tips are not the answer. Fishing with gloves on is pretty difficult for me. Fabric gloves are hook magnets, and pretty useless once they get wet. I've got some neoprene gloves that keep my hands dry and relatively warm, but they are hard to get on and off and it's nearly impossible to tie on a lure while wearing them. I really just quit fishing when it's cold out. The discomfort outweighs the enjoyment of fishing. I have the same problems with cold feet as well. It's just not as fun when you are uncomfortable.

If by the Chicago Show, you mean Rosemont, It is the same weekend as the Great Waters Fly show. As of this time, we aren't doing the Rosemont show but that may change.

I had a custom made 7 foot Rouge rod made for me about 5 years ago that I paired with a Quantum Energy reel. The rod is only about 6' 8" long now as I have broken the tip twice. I liked it so much, I had a second one made that thankfully is still 7 feet long. The Quantum reel still works like it did the day I bought it.