Mark K

ICheap Trick at Soldier Field for Chicagofest back in the 80's...

HA! I was there too.

I've spent a pretty fair amount of time winter fishing for smallies. Typically I fished conventional tackle, usually tubes and other soft plastics.

I usually fished slower stretches of the Kankakee with a lot of down timber. In that time I was suprised to see insects flying around and what appeared to be fish feeding on them. Cold blooded critters buzzing around in the 30's and 40's ???? There was a LOT of slurpin' going on. I strongly believe that some of those fish were carp, others smallies.

Tim Holschlag discusses using Float and Fly techniques in his book. The thought of bringing a flyrod out at the time crossed my mind. But at the time I was not very clear on the concept of a "strike indicator", which is pretty much a glorified "bobber" or "float" if one drinks their tea with a pinky raised. Any hoo. I'm just tossing this out for discussion

As a side note, I was highly impressed with the book. It was cool to see ISA member flies listed in there.

What a cool site!

Search "Smallmouth Bass" on You Tube. Pretty cool:

I like this one:

Smallies on a Mayfly hatch. This happens on the Kank. Same Mayfly. I'm carrying around a dryfly just for the occasion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MByG-n86_UE

Scott and all you other music lovers-

Search your favorite band.

I read some of his stuff in Boundry Waters Journal. It is good. Didn't know he lives in Mauston. Maybe I need a guide.

Steve,

Hustler is a tiny little town located on the Omaha bike trail nestled right outside of Amish country. It has a very handy little convenience/general store called "the Hustle STOP". Hence it is a popular stop for cyclists.

I have not visited the Hooterbowl yet just noticed the sign passing through. I too, was intrigued by the name. However, I suspect "Hooter" refers to one who "hoots" as in "a hootin and a hollerin!" rather than mammalian protruberances. I think it is just a bowling alley/restaraunt and gathering place for the locals.

Every year Hustler holds "Hustlerfest" complete with tractor pulls and a chicken toss. I can never seem to get out there when it's going on. This years slogan was "All Jacked Up", in reference to a popular country song (I'm told) and suspension modification of a farm tractor used in competive pulling.

Talk about a slice of Americana. how could you not love such a place.

And if that isn't enough about Hustler CLICK HERE

Jack-Thanks for the feedback a few of the books echo what you said about Black earth being a very challenging fisherey. Excellent website. I like that Madonna. Gonna give it a try.

Mark

A few weeks ago we were on the way home from Wisconsin. I decided to take the scenic route. I had a book about wisconsin trout streams with and decided to check one out. Black Earth Creek, a half hour out of Madison. Looks like it has easy access and it's quite pretty I might try to hit it come spring. I've never caught a stream trout in my life, and apart from what I read in books am pretty clueless on the subject.

Anybody fish it or have any comments?

I've also read a lot about Mt Vernon Creek nearby as well as the Mecan River.

A stone's throw from the place I stay up there is Fountain Creek. Right outside of the exciting town of Hustler (Home of the Hooterbowl). I've seen fish in there, nice ones I might add but they were out of season.

I've appreciate anything anyone can throw out about these streams or any other or just the Wisconsin trout thing in general.

Gracias.

Tim,

Your last post cracked me up. I think I could count the smallies I caught on one hand this year, literally. Got one respectable fish this year up in Wisconsin. 1 and I got lucky with a good cast on the flyrod.

I have resolved to learn to use the damn thing, which only comes with practice...that you don't get if you pull out the conventional stuff. I'm gertting better at it but I have to admit numbers have dwindled.

I also have 4 year old that gives me the sad pup face whenever he sees me headed out fishing with out him. It makes me feel awfully guilty going without him.

So I spend a lot of time catching bluegills and bullheads. Which is suprisingly fun. In a few years he won't want anything to do me so might as well enjoy it while it lasts. Right?

eh...don't sweat it.

Point being, action is action, enjoy what you get. Your time will come soon enough.

Mark

Tim,

Surfactants? Any surfactant? Those in soap and shampoo?

There are some awesome tips on this site for tying deer hair bass bugs. Actually its got a lot of good info.

Check it out.

http://www.warmwaterflytyer.com/

I have the Clouser Big Nasty line on my 6 wt that previously had #7 WF line. By comparison, it seems to load the rod as easily yet it doesn't "thunk". Casting seems smoother.

Like Joseph said the best way to check it out is to try it.

Does that Bobak's have a restaruant? Their food is great, fattening...but great. Just thinkin' about afterwards. Carb loading on Pierogies.

I got the Loomis yesterday. Again, a 9ft 2 PC. Gl3. It’s a mighty stout stick and it will certainly handle any summer smallie in the current.

After my son’s soccer practice I took out and tried out in the grass. I have an old SA 78M reel loaded with some WF line.

I was surprised at how easily it casts. Though I will have to refine my technique so it does not become fatiguing. I’m finding that fly-casting is all about technique and that the better ones technique is, the easier and less fatiguing casting becomes. Not that I’ve achieved that Zen like state yet. The casting clinic held by Joseph at OMC helped immensely, but I still have to donate more time to practice.

Actually the rod is pretty light for having so much beef behind it. They say a fast action rod is not ideal for a less experienced caster, but I think that might be a myth. I cast better with a fast action rod. It probably has more to do with individual casting style and problems rather than experience level.

Anyway, I’m very pleased with the service I got from Loomis and the quality of the rod they sent me. Thanks all for the input.

Ken...

Yeah, but can I weave it into a vest to stop bullets?

You have me sold, Mr. I'll to try to stop in in the shop comming weeks.

The deed is done. 9 footer it is.

Joseph- I will be in the shop this week for some Rio Clouser line and some leather seat covers for my 944.

Thanks Steve,

I have a 6 wt. Need something with more umph for summer smallies in the Kank. I'm not big on light tackle for smallies. I want to land 'em fast and move on.

What is the prefered length for an 8wt, general duty (bass, steelhead, light salt) fly rod? It will be a Loomis GL3, fast action 2 pc. I have no option for brand.

Most of the time it will be used for smallies in the Kank with weighted flies. I intend to fill it with that Clouser line.

Should I go with a 9 footer or longer?

Kank. Put in at Davis Creek, take out just past Warner Bridge. The Mazon is nice too, but I've been told that even floating it is tresspassing.

I'm all for not releasing a carp...as long as the angler takes it home with him. Otherwise, how is it different from littering. If a butcher had 10 or 20 pounds of meat that he couldn't use and dumped it out on the bank, it sure as hell would be considered littering. Probably polluting.

I'm with Eric on this one.

Just curious how long does a fish have to be established before it loses it's "invasive" status.

Like Tim says the carp is here to stay. Maybe we should adjust our attitudes towards this fish. Face it, if they weren't butt ugly and tasted like sewer rat, we would worship them. As far as a sport fish goes they get huge, fight like hell and if you don't think they are challengening to catch try flyfishing for them in clear water.

Kind of funny too... aren't smallies in Canada technically an invasive species?

Mike, muchas gracias for the post.

I can think of a thousand things I would rather do than watch television. One of them is nothing. In the last 3 years, I bet I watched less than 10 hours of TV. A number I'm proud of. Half of that was Croc Hunter footage. Steve and his wife Terry had great shows, stuff you would be happy to have your kids watch.

Steve was a class act. And yes, RIP. Sad. very sad.

DINK = Double Income No Kids

I have the Guide 147. It has two redeeming qualities. It can take a beating and it's cheap enough that you don't feel bad about doing so. It bought it so a friend and I could do float trips on the Kank and Mazon. For that it was great. I also used it in Sylvania and it was okay for that too, but we only did day trips (no gear). It is great to fish out off. I have outfitted it with a side mount and trolling motor. That was pretty cool in Mazonia.

My freind moved away so it became too difficult to orchestrate river float trips so it resides in wisconsin where I use it on local small lakes and the Lemonweir, a small trib of the Wisconsin. It fishes okay with two people but if I put my son (4year old) in the middle it's very cramped. The big drawback is weight. It's a tank and a ballbuster if you have to hoof it around on your own. For a beater boat to fool around in local rivers it will do fine. You can probably find something used that would work too.

I have also fished out of Coleman Scanoes (square stern) they got the job done too. That said, Eric S. took me for a ride in his two man 'yak. That is the way to go in my opinion.

Great article and sorry about returning those flies. My bad. It won't happen again!

Nice fish guys! And great report.

That smallie does have long fins.

I've got a whole bunch of Tals tubes most brand new. Those that aren't could pass for brand new. I'm lookin' to get half of what they go for new.

Metal blades, but have not tried plastic. Squeeky is good. 1/8 oz. Non bulky mini buzz baits. White and chartreuse work and I've caught fish on black 'n' blue. I fish them on a medium action, 7 ft spinning rod, with no stretch line for good long distance hooksets. Most of the good fish I have caught were on really long casts. That goes for any topwater.

Oh yeah!!! Keep 'em commin' boys! The more guys that show the better. We'll get volunteers, "regular folks"...but you guys with waders and "river know-how" are the backbone of this project!

MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!