Mark K

Counterpoint #2: These fish were introduced in "lake x" a hundred years ago. They're a native now.

A fish might be "naturalized" and begin reproducing in a given location, but that doesn't mean they've stopped causing problems. Evolution and adaptation can begin right away, but they operate over very long time periods. One hundred years is barely a tick on the clock and no human introductions in recent history have resulted in "native" fish in any real sense of the word.

Do smallmouth in the Boundry Waters of northern Minnesota and Quetico in Canada fall under this catagory? I think smallmouth were not native- stocked in the early 1900's.

Now the area is crawling with smallmouth. Other species aren't extinct, but their numbers probably suffer as a result of competion with smallmouth. Right?

So, am I gathering correctly?

The smallmouth don't belong there. Therefore everything should be done to reduce their numbers. Every legal fish caught killed in an effort to reduce numbers?.

Or just don't be afraid to have your fill of smallie shore lunches so as to reduce numbers to a level where competition with other specioes wouldn't be an issue?

Is there a grey area? Or is this a black and white issue?

If it were possible- do you think it would benefit to set the "way, way back machine" to 1800 ish"?

If it weren't for smallmouth I probably would have never even heard of Quetico or the Boundry Waters.

Tim-

That is an excellent blog. I am highly impressed. I book marked it and will check on it regularly.

Mark

I've always looked forward to b'gill time with a flyrod in Spring.Fast and furious action and great little fighters on a light flyrod.I use a 6.5' 2wt that weighs just 1 oz.Great on the table too.Caught a cupl dozen in the Mazonia area Sunday.Kept 17 8 inchers.Plan on going back today.

Amen. I'll eat bluegill over walleye anyday. In fact I like catching 'em more too. That 2 wt must be fun.

I've been using a popper called a Booglebug. It's a really nice popper I got at One More Cast. They are 5 bucks each but I've caught a plenty of gills on them. Hooks are razor sharp and the paint looks like new. Kind of like a "Sammy" of poppers.

The popper is small enough that a bluegill can take it and big enough to attract a bass.

I've been using a nice 6 wt Loomis with Clouser line on a Bastock Battenkill that is very light. The whole outfit is lightweight, so even thogh it's a 6 wt a good bluegill puts up a struggle.

I can cast pretty far with it too which is a plus.

This, from a guy (along with Mark Kasick) that is responsible for posting the majority of the original signs in the Kankakee River watershed.

Your efforts have made a difference, Norm.

I try to update when I can, but it is a daunting task.

 

All we can do is keep plugging along.

thank you.

that said...

there was always thought on placement of the signs so as not to disturb the "aura" (groovy, man) I prefer the word "aesthetic" of the place. Always stuck to "aura-free zones" like parking lots, boat ramps etc, areas that see a lot of traffic. Tried to avoid actually putting them on the river, particullarly in scenic areas.

Also we (Eric Moller and I) did considerable lengths of the Dupage around Shorewood and Channahon with consideration not to increase pressure in certain stretches.

Its a few weeks out but coming up fast. I know we will have help but I wanted to specifically invite any who have not tried this yet. ESPECIALLY new members - come out for the morning & meet a bunch of ISA members, plant a couple of flats, talk about fishing, have lunch on us & fish later if you have time. This is my favorite conservation activity - the results are there in the river to see, this is year 5 I beleive. We will meet below the dam in Montgomery on the west side. Anyone want to help with day of event coordination? Let me know. John

That is totally cool that you have the ball rolling still on this John. I am committed to another worthy cause that weekend (Multiple Sclerosis Bike Tour) or I would certainly help you the day before and come out to plant. I have organized these events before John and the most hectic part is everything the day before. John assisted me with a few things and it was ENORMOUSLY helpful.

New members would certainly benefit from participating. The planting part goes fast and the commradery is great. You will probably learn more about fishing than you would at an outting.

great job and hope it goes well.

I saw one of the most incredible events take place when thousands (literally) rallied to perform a clean-up of the White River. Reading of that has stuck with me to this day.

What an outpouring of support for a watershed.

 

You guys have something special there in a core volunteer base that needs to be harnessed against yet more environmental carnage.

Mike or maybe Tim- Has there been anything done to establish the quality of the watershed as it is right now-pre dairy? Kind of like a standard set? I'm thinking of that program the DNR had a few years ago where people sampled invertabrates. By the type and number, one could guage the water quilty.

I can't remember the name of the program.

Never got around to it but I was thinking a real heavy floating braid, like 30 lb Powerpro maybe even hit with some silicone fly floatant to make it more bouyant coupled with a weedless topwater like a salad Spoon or Horny Toad might probably get you by.

The moss has been getting worse and worse like other guys said. I have been fishing upstream and there is less, but sit's still there.

Even if you use a totally weedless lure, it catches on your line. It's hugely frustrating.

June 21st and 22nd I'll be at NIU Dekalb, doing the MS150 bike tour. I would like to fish one or both days afternoon when I get done, which should be before noon.

I could use some advice on a good place to park and get in. Don't need any hotspots. But certainly would not turn any down

I fished it once before but for the life of me I can't remember where. PM would be fine.

I would certainly be open to hooking up if anyone wanted to fish. Open to either day.

Fishing line: Anything you want just as long as it's TIGHT! with a 4 pound BRONZEBACK doing an aerial dance at the other end....No twists and...NO GREEN FISH!!!

Hate to say it, but I think the perch is the official fish of Chicago.

Also good to eat. There I go again.

Best dogs in town?

 

I manage to find myself at Ferro's (31st/Dan Ryan) almost daily, and those are some mighty fine Chicago Style hot dogs......at a tasty price.

They now serve up a pretty good perch dinner platter as well!

My vote, if it's still there...

The Weiner's Circle on Clark. Charbroiled. The service is totally rude. It's a trademark.

I make the best burger on my grill.

i used to go to Maxwell street all the time (drunk at 2 am). Handn't had a polie in years then they opened the imititations all over. I thought it was greasy and repulsive and the fries sucked. I love fries.

I eat pretty healthy. To be honest, I haven't had a fast food burger in years and eat very little red meat. My weakness...is pizza. first I have to disagree with previous poster, deep dish pizza is a Chicago trademark.

a toss up... It was invented here...

The best pizza...in the world, since pizza anywhere other than Chicagoland blows.....

Uno's down town or Lou Malnati's in Elk Grove.

Is it any wonder that Portillo's is as big as they are and can get you to drop 7 bucks on fast food. Man they are good.

New York has tasty dogs, with kraut on them. Very thin pizza an exception to the everywhere else rule.

Florida has great seafood. Texas for roadside BBQ and mexican food.

I'm hungry again.

Not to digress from the discussion of proper condiment selection when dining in Chicago...

But with regard to line. when winding onto a spinning reel, it's of the utmost importance to put the line on the reel the same direction it came off. It's easy to screw up and a 100% guarantee of line twist from hell if you do. I usually have another person hold the spool then trace the line comming off with my finger and make sure it's going in the direction of the bail. Do this BEFORE cranking. I put moderate tension on the line with a damp rag.

I (the originator of the "death before mono" phrase) have been dabbling on the dark side. 4lb test (BPS Excel) is exceptional for panfishing. If you put it on the spool correctly it fishes really nice. And it's filthy cheap so you can change it as much as you want.

I tried 12lb Mcoy on my casting reel but don't like it.

I saw one on hamburgers too. There was one place that wouldn't put ketchup on their burgers. Man, was I hungry after that show!

 

 

 

Started out in the back of the yards, then moved a little west from there. Is that Chicago enough for you?

That was louis' lunch box, the originator of the hamburger.

Small world. Yeah thats pretty south side.

My folks were from back of the yards. I grew up in Gage Park.

51st Rockwell Casmir's Custard Stand. Hot Dogs, Burgers, Tom Tom Tamales. Chili on everything unless you ask not to. Curly Cue fries, frozen lemonade. Custard.

The ultimate post Sox Game feast.

I'm getting weepy. Talk amongst yourselves.

I just bought four of the Sub Walks from Rapala. I took them down to my local creek and made one cast with them and said..............."WOW"! That bait is going to be deadly on river bronzebacks. I am glad I bought four of them.

Saw them on al Lindner's show. The reason I did not get one is because of the floating moss in the Kank. Otherwise yeah, they would probably kill.

HA! I love these silly statements.

 

I was born and raised in Chicago, and ketchup on hot dogs is just fine in my book. I guess nobody ever explained the rules to me.

They are unspoken rules.

You wouldn't go to Lou Malnati's and ask for goat cheese and pinapple on your pie.

Actually I didn't make that up (for once). The Food Network had a documentary on Hot Dogs. Of the many joints they showcased it was mentioned "just don't ask for ketchup".

You guys are making me hungry and i just ate.

Brian,

Gotcha- makes sense.

 

Mark,

You confirmed what I was already thinking about the retrieve. Like Senkos, I thought that a lot of the strikes would hit on the fall. I was thinking that the retrieve was that mid-level, walk-the-dog action. That is the main reason why I want to add it to the aresenal. A finesse, mid-water column bait.

 

Thanks all. Gonna pack some the next time I head out. Good fishing

Rapala has an interesting looking hard bait taht does that. I have not tried it. Looks like an X Rap though and I've been doing good with those on LM.

and ketchup on hot dogs?

Like I said...It's just wrong, especially in Chicago.

I was hoping some of you veterans could give me some advice on fishing flukes. Flukes is a presentation that I have rarely ever fished and I wish to add it to my arsenal. I have been using Senkos for a long time but I know that flukes fish a little different. So these are my questions:

1) When do most of your strikes occur?

2) What is your most successful retrieve?

3) What type of flows do you fish it in? I read that some guys fish in current. How successful is this?

4) Under what conditions is it the most successful?

5) What color has been most productive?

 

Thanks for any advice. Paul

I fish a Fluke on a 3/0 or 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG. Superline, 10-20lb. A flouro leader drastically improves action and is totally worth the trouble. I used 30 lb in Florida. 10-20 here.

rigging it PERFECTLY straight is critical.

1) On the fall.

2) Fish it like an underwater topwater. Like you would a Pop'R or Zara Spook. Exactly the same. Rod tip down index finger pointed straight forward. Blip, blip...blip....kill it.....

or a steady walk the dog.

3) It works great in current. Especially clear water, deep with large boulders. It's major succesful and extremely fun.

4) Clear water, the clearer the better. Anytime bass are chasing baitfish it is a killer. Totally weedless a freaking killer. Missed topwater strike? It's the ultimate second weapon. When all else fails, throw a fluke.

5) There are times that color does not matter all and Zoom makes lots and lots of cool colors. I like Rainbow Shad and Albino Shad. Arkansas shad looks cool too.

Heavily weighting a Fluke to me is like putting ketchup on a hot dog, some people like it...but it's just wrong. In those cases most any piece of plastic will work. If you must weight a Fluke try to distribute it evenly. Nose eighting destroyes the action unless it's a very small amount of weight.

There are times that a Baby Bass Assasin will fish circles around a Fluke and everything else for that matter. You should certainly have it in your arsenal too.

Fish it on a 2/0 Owner screw lock. Albino Shad. You can thank me later. Bigger is not always better.

In all honesty, I might say that the Baby Assasin has been more productive for me in the Kank for smallies.

Slow ? Why I can run the mile in under uh, 30 minutes ? And Mr. Smarty Pants, try playing one of yer rootin-tootin, horny horn solos without a bass player and see if anyone dances !!!!!!!!!!!!!

What unmittigated audacity!

Gordon you should pick up some deadly yellow snow and rub all into his beady little eyes with vigorous circular motion hither to unknown to the people on this board but destined to take the place of the mud shark in their mythology.

I second what Gary said about Seaguar. I've used the Invisix and its limpness and castability are great.

 

In terms of line twist- I have never had a problem with it. I manually close my bail and put on my own line. I'm doing something right. Good fishing

Gary-Paul we are talking filling a spinning reel up with it not a leader...right? It doesn't leap off the spool?

Great Googly Moogly is right!

I like Suffix too.

But...Line twist has nothing to do with the type of line. Line twist is caused by some mechanical force actually twisting the line, like improper line installtion or the lure physically twisting.

Mono doesn't twist by itself and it should not bird nest without being twisted. Braids and fused lines are less suceptable to the effects of twisting (like bird nests and those annoying loops). I believe this is because they are smaller diameter and much more limp.

Might want to take a look at what is causing the line twist as even though it seems like a miracle cure, Suffix can bird nest too.

Might save you an annoying day when you discover that.

Whats the "density" of the fluro line vs mono that made it sink faster/deeper?

 

Does anyone know the sink rate of fluoro line to mono?

Is there published info on that?

 

One can conduct an experiment at home.

place a glass beeker 6" dia x 36" long, in an upright position.

Fill the beeker with distilled water.

Place a coiled section of 10lb line---30ft long, rolled in a 4" dia coil.

Place the coiled line on top of the column of water.

Measure the time in seconds, with a stop watch, that it takes for the coiled line to reach the bottom of the beeker.

 

Compare the fluro, mono and coplymer results, and make a comparison,

and witness for yourself which has a faster fall rate.

Ken-

Do you have a home lab?

Where do you find 3 foot beakers? An even better question- how do you manage your time well enough to do this kind of stuff AND fish.

HA-

Check this out....

WBBM Investigation: Nearly Half Of Ill. Cong. Let Taxpayers Pay For Their Cars

http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/2193182.php?

I will think twice about driving four hours to a fishing hole. I am also thinking twice about buying any gas powered "toys" like bass boats and motorcycles. I even use my lawnmower alot less. Got me acouple o' dem push-reel mowers and let me tell ya' I'm becoming a fan.

If I do drive anywhere...I go the limit or maybe 5mph over. I take the expressways to work in Chicago (85mi. round trip) and my little Hyundai gets 350 miles to the tank if I go 60-65. If I go 80-85 like all the rest I'll get 250-275 miles to the tank. Let's see....14 gallon tank x $4.00 a gallon = $56 to fill it up

I just lost my lunch!!! I got rid ov my truck so I wouldn't have to pay $50 per fill up.

I cut my own hair , too.

This nation has changed the world...sometimes in good ways.

We can split the atom and put men on the friggin moon, we can read license plates from outer space, and drop a bomb on a fly. But I'm supposed to believe that we can't come up with a better way to operate vehicles??? What ever happened to the electric car???

Usually, when people screw other people there's dinner and a movie involved. I don't remember going on any date last night but, for some reason, it hurts to sit down.

Gee, thanks Uncle Sam.

I had to drive to Wisconsin friday night. I returned yesterday evening. Zero traffic for most of the way. I saw lots of cheesehead state troopers so, I kept about 5 over the speed limit and there was a slight tail wind. I got 29 miles to the gallon, where I typically get 22-24 highway being my typical mileage.

The tailwind for sure will help, but yep staying off the lead foot can't hurt either.

Not sure if Uncle Sam is at fault on this. Actually, most of the world would love to pay what we do in gas.

We have several people that bike commute now where I work. They have short commutes. I did it when my commute was shorter. It was great.

I'm seeing more and more people doing it. Maybe we will get some more bike lanes built.

it's funny that it takes gas prices that are really not all that high, to even consider changing our driving habits. It kind of interesting that no one mentions or even considers air pollution and emmisions in this whole discussion, only the econmic impacts and this is a group of conservation oriented individuals. Imagine what regular people think.

Fact is if gas went down to 2 bucks a gallon, we would all go back to our old ways. Perhaps, we need 5 or 6 bucks a gallon?

From 1984 -2000 there were only 2 years when I didn't drive to the Rockies to trout fish for 2- 3wks.After the financial beating I took when the market crashed in this millenium those trips are gone for good with the price of gas going forward.I'm even reluctant to go as far as Wisconsin or Michigan for trout or steelhead as I used to do a cupl times a year.Now about as far as I go is 30 miles to trout fish at the club I belong to in the Spring and Fall or to b-gill or lmb fish at Mazonia.Living in Plainfield I only have to drive 1-12 miles to fish anywhere on the Dupe,11-15 miles to fish the Fox in the Yorkville, Oswego or Montgomery areas,and 17 -20 miles to fish the Kank from Wilmington downstream.I own a '94 Chevie Lumina Euro which looks and runs like new and gets 28 mpg even at 148,000 miles.

Wow. Sad. The flip side of the coin. A 2 week trip to the Rockies is far from frivilous. Man that is sad.

On the other hand most of the rest of the world would be pretty happy paying what we do for gas.

The mid 90's were good years for nice affordable cars.

My poor baby '95 Toyota Tacoma really needs a rest. With nearly 240,000 miles still runs like a trooper but she is straining. She needs to be "put out to pasture". I need to find the right caretaker.

It cost me 56 dollars to fill up my tiny 22mpg truck yesterday.

I heard an analyst speculate that would not be suprising for oil to hit 200 bucks a barrel next year.

Just curious if those of you with a long drive are going to change any fishing habits due to gas prices.

I was thinking about it the other day. Most of my life I've had long commutes to work so driving long distances just became second nature and it wasn't a big deal to drive a long way just for a few hours of fishing.

I used to drive over a 100 miles just for maybe two or three hours of fishing. (incedently in those days, I did pretty well, probably fished harder).

That's pretty wasteful and, now that I think about it downright un-green. Pretty shameful actually.

The really ironic part is I work a stones throw from the Fox and the Dupe is sort of on my way home. I just like fishing the Kank mostly because I think it's prettier, cleaner and just a better experience. At 4 dollars plus a gallon, I think I'm going to have to lower my standards a notch. I'm not abandoning the Kank but I don't forsee a lot of all day marathon wades in the near future to justify the 30 bucks it will cost to get there, so I think a lot of my river smallie fishing is going to be on the way home from work. a stop for maybe an hour or two.

Probably end up fishing more ponds a even FP lakes locally too.

It's just gotten too expensive to drive any more and if I think to consider oneself environmentally responsible, you have to "walk the walk".

Might have a lot of fish pics with bridges in the background this summer.