Mark K

http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=96Y1&dir_id=1137&group_id=1157&cat_id=12021&subcat_id=12022 I have so many wading packs and vests one might think I have some weird fetish for them. The truth is I have been experimenting to find something I find comfortable and efficient. This is the closest I've come to one I like. I hate having stuff in front of me when I'm casting. The great thing about a sling is the you can swing it around your back when not in use, and unlike a backpack you don't have to take it off to get at your stuff. If you are wading thru deep water it's easy to just grab one strap and pull it up to keep your stuff from getting dunked. 99% of the wading stuff out there is intended for fly fishing for trout. The first time I saw this pack I heard the halleluia choir go off in my head. FINALLY, someone made a wading pack big enough to hold respectable bass size boxes. It's big enough to hold 3500 Plano boxes so, for the foot-bound river smallie chaser it's every bit as good for conventional gear as it is for fly fishing stuff. If you look around you can find boxes designed to hold a half dozen spinnerbaits. The large compartment will easily hold 2 Plano boxes, a bomb-diggity Plano over'n'under box or a Cliff's Bugger Barn. I don't use the detachable small compartment, but I suppose if you were so inclined you could fill it up too. The main compartment will hold an embarrasingly huge collection of plastic or whatever. It has a little retractable zinger thingy and a plier holder (sweet). There are more D-ring thingies, for hanging do-dads unique to trout fishermen. If you are a serious fishing technocrat, I can't help but thing you could organize this thing to the hilt and utilize all this stuff. If I have any criticism, I would prefer this pack skinny-ed down cause I've become a minimalist and I defintly would like less things like straps dangling around...but even if you are minimalist and particularly a minimalist on foot you still gotta carry stuff. IMHO this the way to do it. Lastly it's durable. I've had mine for about 5 years now it's still in fine shape. While they are on sale, I am getting a second. One for fly stuff one for conventional.

How did you guys learn which ones won't make you take a dirt nap?

I am posting this in the conservation section because this is a great learning opportunity for youngsters and adults alike. http://www.chicagoherp.org/fest/index.php The DNR comes out with pretty much every reptile and amphibian native to illinois. Members of CHS bring their own animals out for display. All kinds of snakes, lizards, frogs, gators, monitors...you name it. This isn't a reptile sale. It's all about education. A really great show.

HA! :-)

Yes, Bolingbrook. I think I got the last 6 footer. They had a bunch of spinning rods left.

The picture came out crappy. The fish needed to go back stat. You get the idea sizewise.

I picked up a Bass Pro XPS EXTREME (doesn't that reek of NASCAR)rod on clearance. $39.99 I think they are normally 90 bucks. a 6 footer, medium heavy. Best of all it's got a short rear grip and for whatever reason I can cast fairly accuratly with it. I put a 15 year old Shimano Citica 5:1 ratio reel spooled up with 30lb Power Pro. .I think one could raise the Bismark with this outfit I tied on an absolutley killer looking 7 dollar 1/2 ounce spinnerbait on. It's a Strike King, shad something or other. OMG does it look cool! So, I took it out on the DesPlaines with my oldest boy. Stuck a little northern- maybe 24". I got it up on dry land, but it got off and made it's way back. Cool. This rod has a little mojo. My son was losing his mind. Kids love he sight of a northern. Today i had a short window to fish. Due for dinner in Bolingbrook, I made a short stop at a river bridge. As soon as i got out, man it started pouring. I said "screw it" I'm going anyway. As soon as I got under the bridge. I saw a boil, then seconds later a fish jump. I fired a cast and it was dead on. If you didn't know me better, I might be confused with someone who knew what they were doing. 2 cranks. Fish on! A nice little largie 16-17": I fished a little longer, but lightning was kicking up and considering it was Easter AND the Wifies' B-day figured I better...well you know..

I would hold out and save up to get a St Croix Avid. Lifetime Guarantee. Go with a 7ft Medium light. Perfect all around smallie rod. I think they are about $170 bucks. You'll never need to upgrade and if your wife breaks it over your head you can get a brand new one for 50 bucks. So basically, unless you lose it, you got a rod for life. And a great one. They are light, sensitive and reasonably durable. I have two of them. a medium and a ML. ML is probably a little more versatile. 7FT cause you can launch baits a mile with it. a good thing on the kank. They make a 2 piece (I have it). I like the 1 piece better. Matt Straw recently wrote an article for In-Fisherman Pamphlet (too skinny to call a "magazine" anymore). He basically said if you are going to have one rod for smallies, that 7ft ML avid would be a good choice. You can throw cranks, plastic, live bait whatever. You can handle a big fish with it no problem. As far as reels go, they all pretty much suck. Spend about 60 bucks, you'll get something that'll work and last a couple of years if you are lucky.

Nice fish. You should have posted this in the reports forum.

I finally watched it. I see his is a downsized version. He mentioned that he used the Murdich on the Kank. Was it with someone from the ISA? Jon Please post pics when you finish yours.

These are the ones I have- They went up in price. I thought they were cheaper...maybe that's what I told my wife:-) http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1043923_-1_1501500_20000_1502003 Anyway they are very, warm. I use them for other stuff too.

I have owned three pairs of waders in my life. Personally, I do not find neoprene warm at all, except in mild weather. Then I find them sweaty. I owned a pair of cheap-o BPS waders. They were okay for the $. But they aren't cut all that well. However they get the job done. On a budget, something similar would be fine. I replaced them with a pair of Simms. They are well made and cut nicely. The were fitted like a pair of pants, wher the BPS brand was not. No leaks so far. However mine are an old pair of Lightweights. No belt attached, no gravel guards. That sucks big time. I would never buy a pair like that again. All waders are cut to fit an imaginary avg size relative to the boot size. That sucks too. I wear a 12.5. Any wader would be cut for guy 3 times my width, which to me defeats the purpose of buying anything nice. If you are average proportioned not an issue. I have found the Gore-Tex waders with my bike tights undernieth to be a good combo. I'm not sure how warm actual wading pants are but "housebrand" bike tights sold by places like "Performance" and "Nashbar" are relatively inexpensive and very, very warm. And unlike cotton, (which "good" should not be used in the same sentence with) they wick moisture away. They aren't bulky so you could wear fleece over them, but in a lot of cases that would really be over kill. The only disadvantage is they look goofy, if taht bothers you. If you pop into places like Marshalls and T-J Max you can find Under Armor and ski type underwear cheap too. Also really nice knee high wool socks for skiing.

Worked on mine.

Wow, that looks cool! I love that website. Very cool of him to go thru the trouble. There is a video on Tight Lines website on the Bart-o-Minnow (Barteaux???) Also cool looking. Last year a guy I met on the water gave me a mini-Murdich. Maybe half or less the size of a regular Murdich. Really had a lot of fun with it. I never took the dang thing off. Caught all kinds of fish with it. I may just tie the thing back on till it falls apart.

I love this website: http://www.flyfishohio.com/Mixed_Media.htm Question for those of you that use the hook he recommends. It looks to me that the way he ties the eyes on they will ride above the shank. Wouldn't that make the fly less likely to ride hook up? Other models of hook the kink would be outside the bend making the eyes ride lower, therefore hang up less. Seems like an awesome idea. The eyes will never turn. If you haven't already check out the website. Lotta cool videos.

Hands down, it was the best smallmouth presentation I have ever seen...and I've seen a lot of them. He's a great speaker and he has really cool visuals to back it.

No especially in the current he is anchored in. You probably would not land the fish. I think some kind of foam body would be a good fly for this situation. It would float easier, and if you could make the wings out of something synthetic it would be more durable. If you notice he skates the fly accross the surface. They never get a great look at it. Course you could tie a half dozen Mo' moths. and be done with it. I wish there was some kind of way to forecast those fly hatches. I would love to fish one. It was incredible, the amount of fish activity. Never seen anything like it my life. Tim Landweir was talking about flying ant hatches in his spiel, when I saw him at the fly show last year.

Rob. Nice job. That's a great looking fly. I've messed around with similar flies, and they are a little too delicate. I think under most circumstances a more durable popper (dderhair, foam, cork, whatever) does as good or better of a job. And they float a lot easier. For the most part smallies aren't particular enough to require dry flies. However, I've been on the Kankakee when a mayfly hatch starts and the fish literally go crazy. They bust the surface everywhere around you. Judging by how aggresive the fish are, one would think they would hit pretty much anything. Not so, in my experience. However, this was in my pre- flyfishing days so all I had was regular topwater in hand. It got totally ignored. Under such circumstances I think your fly (or something similar) would get eaten big time. This video somewhat demonstrates such a hatch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MByG-n86_UE

I took my son there today. It was a pretty good time. He got to shoot a bow and arrow. And we got to meet a pretty famous fisherman who's television show we both like. Nice guy. I wish had my camera not a crappy cell phone.

He forgot to mention the flyrod. I'm guessing a Sage. 8wt. The headgear is to hide identity. Ditto on the shades. The new running routine to become fast enough to wade from spot to spot without being recognized. The lures and the winch is just a front. He's haunced over a Dyna-King (not the Harley) spinning the worlds most perfect diver right now. :-)

Norm...Only if they were filled with something pleasant. Nudge, nudge. I got auger and some ice fishing stuff via gift certificates. Looking to decrease my load of fishing junk and organize better. 'course been saying that for the last 10 years. If I took all the gear I actually used in the last 15 years it would probably amount to less than 10% of the bulk I have. Furthurmore I could reduce that load to the the things that actually produced to a very small managable amount. well my kids will never have to buy tackle I guess.

sounds good. Thanks.

Yeah and then how do you get back upstream. You would have to put a car downstream. I got to paddle one of eric's boats this year. It was a tandem and I had another guy up front. I was amazed at how easy it was to go upstream. That is a huge plus.

Yeah. I had my yak in Mazonia. It worked but I think a belly boat would be better. Couple of my freinds use them and they love 'em. I'm getting one this year. belly boat would be quieter too.