Mark K
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Posts posted by Mark K
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12 hours ago, Ryan Staudt said:
My first rod is a 4wt. I'm having a hard time gauging what size flies, leaders, tippet length to use to cast most effectively. Maybe I'm overthinking some of it (coming from the conventional tackle side) and should worry more about my actual cast... Mark- those hook recommendations you mentioned, should I be able throw flies of that size on my 4wt? Thanks!
They come sizes down to a #10. You could just make smaller flies. I would think you could probably cast a #4 or #6 clouser . One of my favorite flies is the smaller Boogle Bug #8 I think.
That thing is blast! I can cast it with my 4wt no problem.
Most of the fish I have caught were not that far away. Like 30 feet.
Generally they say a bass rod is 6-8 wt. Many people use lighter rods. especially when it's smaller water.
I have 4, 6 and 8. The 4 is my favorite but on the Kank I usually use the 6 or 8.
Someone let me try out a #5 Redington Vice- a 200 dollar rod. It had a really nice reel and that $125 SA line. while we were un the Dupe. That was one heck of a nice set up. They make a 6 wt with a wells grip. That would be sweet.
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1 hour ago, John Gillio said:
Ryan, I'd like to add Tim Flagler to the list of names of tyers doing videos. He would be my favorite of the bunch. As Mark mentioned, the Mustad 3366 hooks are good hooks at a nice price. Another reason I like them is because they have a little wider hook gap which seems to give a better hook set.
I won't answer the question you had for Mark though I will say that as you become a better caster you will be able to throw heavier flies on lower line weights. Your casting ability determines the size fly you can throw, to a great extent.
Tim Flager is the first video I posted.
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For a typical "bass hook" , Mustad sells the 3366 and come in hundred packs, for around 10 bucks. It will work for all kinds of streamers and deer hair bugs and poppers. It was the original hook in a lot of patterns. They are really cheap compared to a lot of other hooks and they are way sharper out of the pack than people give them credit for. It's not a crappy hook at all but there are others that are much nicer.
Gamakatsu B10S is another similar hook that is significantly more expensive but n my opinion probably better. Double check on the prices but I think they would be under 10 bucks a pack for 25. Which, given the cost of other materials might be worth it.
Daichi also makes nice hooks that are not crazy priced. If you go to Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters, they have every imaginable hook. Just tell them what you want to tie. Their prices are pretty good too. You are not going to save much shopping on line.
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You need to know these three techniques to get started. They are easy.
A wooly bugger is a good starter fly. I like this guy's videos. He is mostly a trout guy, but he has a few bass patterns. Olive is a good color.
Here is also a Kelly Gallup video on tying buggers and that is very good.
Keep in mind flies don't have to be perfect works of art to catch fish.
There are endless ways to tie this fly, with many variations .
A clouser is another fly that is super popular, again with endless variations.
I used to follow this site and YT channel, FlyFish Ohio. They guy in the videos is Joe Cornwall, unfortunately i don't see much of him on the web any more. He has a good book too.
Notice the Shannon Streamer. That's rich mc's pattern.
This is a tutorial for a murdich minnow. It's originally a striper fly and they are pretty big. Years ago some dude I met on the water gave me a shrunk down version that was maybe 3" . I used that fly till it disintegrated. This fly if tied right comes alive in the water. That ice fur skirt causes turbulence behind it causing the flashabou to wiggle as if it were alive.
There are again many various of this on the web, but that above version only smalle is the way I learned to tie it. . I make them with olive and brown back, yellow or red eyes. Looks like a baby bass. I also tie in one or two wraps of lead free wire, just to get it to crack the surface.
Years ago I met Dave Whitlock and asked what were his favorite smallmouth flies. I was suprised when he told me a foam beetle was one. Tim Landwere owns a fly shop way up nort (Tightlines). They guide on the Menominee River for gigantic smallmouth. Those guys typically throw big streamers (that's his shop in the murdich video). There is a suprising portion of his book talking about this foam bugs they tie. https://www.amazon.com/Smallmouth-Fly-Fishing-Methods-Tactics-Techniques-ebook/dp/B079LPCFCG
I have not experimented much with these on river smallmouth, but I have been fishing the hell out of a pattern called a chernobyl ant for pond bluegills. I can't say that this specific pattern is the best, but I have been doing well with it. It's very easy to tie. Also cheap. You can buy the foam at Hobby lobby and it's super cheap. 5 dollars will buy more than you could ever hope to use.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK167pJZF1I
here is a bass sized version of a foam fly by theTightlines guys.
Again, there are numerous foam patterns out there and once you learn a technique or two you can maybe come up with your own. Funny I was just searching YT on the Chernobyl ant found this.
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8 ft, 4wt St. Croix for 40 bucks. Rio santo- I think these are made in the factoria in Mexico. I remember them in the stores as being a heck of a nice rod. They had a 6 wt but it's gone.
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22 hours ago, Ryan Staudt said:
Off the top of mind I can't think of any other. Growing up near the Des Plaines, I can attest that there are many wadeable stretches and I know many who do well fishing it. Overall, its quite a bit tougher to fish due to the faster current but quite a great fishery overall if you can crack it!
I've been working on cracking it.
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5 hours ago, Terry Dodge said:
Reading is not always a good thing.
I'm blaming it on the new guy.
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Cook County's regs here:
https://fpdcc.com/things-to-do/fishing/
Don’t enter the water. It is illegal to enter the water for any reason, including wading or swimming, unless authorized by administrative order of the General Superintendent.
crap. I wish I never read all this stuff.
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19 hours ago, Ryan Staudt said:
Thanks! Its interesting how difficult it is to find wading regulations for Cook County with a quick internet search but easy for Dupage and Will. From what I can understand so far...
Dupage County- Wading is allowed in FPs in river and creek but not lakes and ponds
Will County- No wading allowed in FP
Cook County- No wading allow in FP
Town/City Park Districts- Fish at my own risks but probably not an issue
Off the top of my head is there any wadeable river other than the Des Plaines in Cook County? Large stretches of that are boot sucking mud, right? I wonder , if it's a navigable waterway do they have any say in the matter? Des Plaines is navagable in the whole channelized section.
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10 minutes ago, Scott Ferguson said:
I see in the regs that wading isn’t allowed in Will County forest preserves. In the 20 years I’ve been involved in the ISA, I’ve never heard of a single person who was ever asked to stop wading in the DuPage in Hammel Woods in Will County. We have held several outings there over the years and it’s always been a popular area to wade. Wading in the forest preserve lakes isn’t something I’d recommend and understand why the rules is there for those.
I have heard of people getting hassled for wading in WillCFP , but not on the Dupe.
For all the FP with a river they specify "shoreline fishing" . I think that, with no wading rule specified in the regs implies it's a no-no, but yeah does not sound like it's being enforced.
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I was just looking at Will County FP.
Fishing - Forest Preserve District of Will County (reconnectwithnature.org)
FISHING REGULATIONS
Fishing is allowed year-round, weather permitting. Ice fishing is not allowed. Only line fishing is permitted. Anglers may use a maximum of two poles, with no more than two hooks or lures attached to each. Taking frogs, turtles and mussels is prohibited.
Swimming, wading and float tubes are prohibited. Persons must be entirely secured in watercraft.
All statewide fishing regulations apply, including daily creel and size limits. Illinois fishing licenses are required for everyone age 16 years or older who fishes on a public waterway, and may be purchased at the Monee Reservoir's Visitor Center. All statewide fishing regulations apply, and may be obtained from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Additional regulations apply. For more information, download the District's General Use Ordinance No. 124 or call 815.727.8700.
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On 12/6/2020 at 2:46 PM, John Gillio said:
Another good book is,"Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass", by Harry Murry and illustrated by Dave Whitlock. It discusses tackle, casting, reading the water, flies, techniques, etc.
There is a video too.
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Well that sucks. Man was a legendary fisherman.
I got to meet him years ago. He signed my InFisherman Smallmouth handbook. I think I got pretty much everyone to sign it that had a hand in authoring it, including Al. The last one to sign it was Larry Dahlberg who is a totally cool cat. " As he was signing it he goes "look at this, now you got all the rascals".
RIP.
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27 minutes ago, Ryan Staudt said:
Hey everyone,
I know wading regulations on Illinois waterways have been discussed on here and many other online forums, but I had a specific question that I can not find through a back search. I am aware that wading on the Dupage is allowed in Dupage County forest preserves and but NOT allowed in downtown Naperville. My question is whether wading is allowed in other parts of the river particularly in other town's park district parks such as Plainfield and other towns along the river.
I try to pride myself on staying within the regulations as a sportsman, so I want to make sure I understand those regulations.
Thanks,
Ryan
I've waded there many a time. I think you are okay, but best bet is to call the police department and ask. Jeez given how many freaking float tubers there it's hard to imagine it wouldn't be.
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On 11/24/2020 at 8:21 AM, Kev-mo said:
you could also look back on past posts on this site and others
here's a book that has been mentioned before; Stream Smallmouth Fishing - Book by Tim Holschlag
On 11/24/2020 at 9:29 AM, Bart Durham said:Welcome aboard Ryan!
In addition to what Kevin mentioned, Tim Holschlag has another excellent book entitled "Smallmouth Fly Fishing, The Best Techniques, Flies and Destinations"
Another great resource is Bob Clouser's "Fly Fishing for Smallmouth in Rivers and Streams"
Lots of great reading resources to get you through this Pandemic winter and prepared for spring fishing!
Tim Landwehr's book is geared towards northern wisconsin but you could apply that here. I think Austin Adduci (Kank Guide) is mentioned in there.
You can get most of these books at your Library, they will transfer to your local library.
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On 11/7/2020 at 7:24 PM, gordon p said:
Again, understood. I fail to see how improved Federal regs would not have a positive ripple effect. Watersheds don’t have state boundaries. I’m also not advocating the ISA “get involved in national politics”. Trying to be hopeful here.
Yeah, little things, like the clean air and water act. and defining waters of the US.
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I fished out of this boat, it's a really impressive machine and 12 is a freakin steal. I would love to own it.
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Nice Tom.
The head is body fur from a deer not belly fur right?
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4 hours ago, Kev-mo said:
maybe
This smells worse than a grizzly bear farting out a rotting salmon. Thats just my imagination, I can't afford to smell a grizzly fart so why should I care?
Puzzling. Like a week or two I caught a story where the Army Corp said, "yeah it's cool...paraphrasing of course).
Like here...https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-07-24/pebble-mine-army-corps-alaska
All of a sudden, it's OK... "Holy Smoke... how did this squeek thru Jr??
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Prominent wealthy guys apparently fish there.
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The common thread (pardon the pun) here is that each of you tie way more than me and everyone is neater, more organized and aesthetically pleasing.
Story of Plastic
in Conservation & Volunteer Opportunities
Posted
Any type of paper container, think... soft drink, coffee cup, etc. Really anything paperboard that needs to contain liquids or wet stuff and and not turn to mush are generally coated and or lined with extruded polyethylene.
Not recyclable , biodegradable or compostable.