Mark K

7 hours ago, Tom L said:

Mark, all fish were caught with the fly rod.  The Foxy and CF Muddler were my go-to.

with a regular floating line?

any more reports?  Tom you caught those with a  flyrod?

On 8/7/2020 at 3:42 PM, Terry Dodge said:

Not sure if the sign was purposely destroyed (?). Could just be weathered. Those signs to become brittle after awhile and a good strong wind during winter months could snap a corner off. We’ll try to get it replaced come next Spring.

That's 100% true.  EVERYTHING breaks down when exposed to UV light. Where I work, we have outrageously expensive machines called weather-o-meters that simulate exposure to outdoor conditions.  

If it's still there, I'll put that thing in my garage.  Mike if you can grab it I would appreciate it. 

I saw this message from the Driftless Angler.  Timber Coulee.  I never fished it but I did ride my bike thru the area. It's freaking beautiful. 

https://www.driftlessangler.com/articles/view/504

On 7/8/2020 at 7:34 PM, Kev-mo said:

The whole system is jacked, we all know it, not sure how to fix it.

 

Vote.

https://www.tu.org/blog/new-nepa-rule-a-disappointment-for-anglers/

What is it?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Environmental_Policy_Act

Hello Gene.  I think you will enjoy the ISA.  I am Chris' uncle. He had nothing but good things to say about you.  Look forward to seeing you on the trip.

11 hours ago, John Loebach said:

I read some years ago that 60 to 80% of water is effluent when at summer low levels. On a dry summer the gauges would jump each night as the plants discharge when there is less public use. Still the water quality is higher there than the Fox or Kank. I wouldn't want to swim in  or eat anything from it.

It's higher than the Kank?  That would be suprising. 

5 hours ago, Scott Ferguson said:

There is a water treatment plant that discharges water into the DuPage near the confluence of the East and west branches. That’s the only one I’m aware of.

Only 12 million gallons a day.

Interesting to read. 

https://www.dupageco.org/WastewaterDivision/

Yesterday I was passing the Dupe around Shorewood/ Plainfield.  I counted 40 cars at one spot.  There were tubers everywhere.  Looked mostly to be families with a zillion kids.  as you would kids were splashing water over their heads etc.  basically swimming.  Do towns discharge into the dupe?

On 6/17/2020 at 1:54 PM, Eric said:

Oof! Ron K. rolling over in his grave. 😢

https://patch.com/illinois/plainfield/village-approves-river-tubing-electric-park
 

Fished a Dupe bass tourney a couple weeks ago. Only six kayak anglers. Anyway, floated from Black Road down to Shepley Road. Lots of tubers from Cottage Street (59) on. Bad down towards Shepley. Drunk and raucous. Saving grace was some nice curvy and rocky runs down that way. Much different than the farm fields of southern Naperville and Plainfield. Worth exploring. 

Are the bacterial levels low enough to do that safely?

I saw a bunch of them launching at the Mack Road lot. 

"Kris Most, president of the company and Plainfield resident said the operation will be start up with goals to create a family-oriented recreation opportunity,"

Translation:

Anything to make a  buck.

Here is a tutorial for his hatchling craw.

http://thefiberglassmanifesto.blogspot.com/2020/06/panther-branch-bugs-how-to-tie.html

I live near Midway.  We got 1.5" in 20 minutes.  My gutters could not handle it.  6" total from Wednesday to Monday morning according to my rain guage.  My town, Burbank and neighboring Oak Lawn got all kinds of flooding couple years ago so the state spent 20 million dollars digging out all the dirt, silt and shmutz out of Melvina Ditch (our reservoir) to bring it back to capacity. It easily filled up almost to the top. 

On the bright side it put my foundation repair - epoxy injection I did myself to a the test It performed admirably. 

1 hour ago, Bart Durham said:

This Blue Sky yak is pretty cool, a kayak you can actually fly fish from.  

It's pretty neat.  But $4000 and 170lbs. 

I don't want to rip on these guys nor do i want anyone else to, but this whole concept, when all is said and done money and effort wise, couldn't you just get a used bass boat (lets pretend we are not in illinois) 

Is it really sensible to put all this stuff $$$ in a thing you can capsize so easily?   Does such a vessel even qualify as kayak? 

Check out this guys skills.  these flies are too pretty to fish with.

https://www.instagram.com/panther_branch_bugs/?hl=en

Any opinions?  They sure look cool.  I was fondling one in BPS, felt pretty good.  Probably be fun to fish with.

https://www.fenwickfishing.com/fenwick-fly-rods-fenwick-fenglass/fenwick-fenglass-fly-rod/1371883.html#start=2

Do any of you guys use glass rods?

Everywhere I go trails are packed with people.  I drove all the way to Indiana Dunes to hike a trail that there are very few people on.  Till there is a pandemic and then the parking lot is full.   Just turned around and went home.

Closer to home they had to close parking lots on the weekends in the FPs.  People were having big picnics.

Covidiots.

I am going to guess that people back then had less clothing and that was standard attire.  They did not change clothes to go fishing.

On 4/8/2020 at 1:47 AM, Ian said:

Hi,

I need help finding good shore fishing or wading spots along the Kankakee river.

Here is a good link from DNR.  the studies are pretty interesting.

https://www.ifishillinois.org/profiles/Des_Plaines.php

On 4/13/2020 at 7:42 PM, John Gillio said:

Cool story. Not many osprey around. Finding new areas close to home are unexpected and exciting.

Actually,  from what I am seeing they are making an amazing comeback.  There is an active nest  at Saganaskee Slough visible from the parking lot at 104 ave.  (Willow springs Road) and another in the pond at the Little Red School House.  The former as been pumping out babies since 2014 I think.

I know there are active nests in Lemont.  A couple years ago if you were to pull your car over on nb I-355 (not recommended) a nest would be visible on the Desplaines.  In fact in kayaking in that vicinity, I saw 9 in one outing.   I also see them by my work in West Chicago.   

Forest Preserve Closures as of 3/30/20:

Cook:

The spring trout season opening day—originally scheduled for April 4—is postponed indefinitely. The parking lots and fishing lakes at Axehead Lake, Belleau Lake, Green Lake Woods, Horsetail Lake, and Sag Quarries are closed indefinitely, starting March 30.

DuPage:

Lakes closed to fishing until further notice:
     o Grove Lake – Wood Dale Grove
     o Pickerel Lake – Pratt's Wayne Woods
     o Silver Lake – Blackwell

Will

All Forest Preserve District preserve access area parking lots and dog parks are closed through April 7 due to the stay-at-home mandate issued Friday, March 20, by Gov. J.B. Pritzker as a result of the new coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, March 27, barricades were also placed at entrances to parking lots at Rock Run Preserve - Paul V. Nichols and Hadley Valley - Route 6 access in an effort to reduce the large number of people parking at these locations.   

Trails will remain open as long as they can be accessed safely on foot and bicycle and people continue to practice social distancing of at least 6 feet as recommended by federal health authorities. 

Shoreline fishing is also allowed as long as social distancing is practiced. Kayaking is not allowed at this time due to the closure of parking lots and limited active police patrol for safety. Boating season does not begin until April 1. However, the launching of boats will not be allowed until the preserve access areas reopen.

Wow, that is cool looking.