bob g

Bitsy's seem to work well. They make a color called cotton candy (I think that's the name) it usually works great if you fish it on a dead drift with very little or no weight with an occasional twitch or the typical green pump hopping or dragging the bottom. I'm going for the dying baitfish in current routine w/the cotton candy. They're about 2 1/2 inch and work good w/ewg worm size 1. work great in river and lake.

I just posted the flying frog sightings and it made me think what kind of really strange things have people seen while out fishing. One other amazing thing I saw was out on the Kankakee. The water was fairly clear on this day and whenever its like that I always think its really interesting just to watch the bottom while I'm walking and see if anything is going on like crayfish darting about. This one time I happened to spot a small snake I would guess about 1 1/2 - 2' long and skinny on the bottom of the river. He or she had there tail and back half lodged in the rocks and there head up facing into the current completely submerged. I watched for awhile and its head would dart from side to side and up and down. The only thing I could surmise was that it was nymphing although I wasn't able to tell for sure. I've never seen anything like that since except another time I did come across a snake on the side of the river with half a frog sticking out of its mouth. One last one from me and I'd definitely like to read others stories. One time while fishing the Apple solo I began to think about what it must have been like 100's or thousands of years ago standing where I was. The time it takes to wear down those limestone bluffs always leads me into thinking about stuff like that. Anyways immediately after thinking that I thought I should keep my eyes open while I was walking for arrow heads etc.. Not more than probably 20 seconds after I had that thought I spotted something strange looking sticking out of an eroded section of the bank. For some reason it just struck me as unusual looking. I had never seen anything that looked like it before but I went over and began to dig around it. After digging compacted dirt and stones from around it I had unearthed a bone about as thick as my wrist and about 1 1/2' long. Only the head of it had been sticking out. I'm guessing a cow bone but my imagination can run amuck and have dinosaurs or a stealthily hunted bison swirling around in it. Ended up carrying it all the way back to the truck and taking it home. Thats it for me. I'm sure there must be all types of strange stories out there. Can't wait to read some or if not keep your eyes open and add some later.

I would guess a 2 inches or so body length sounds about right. They did look to be pretty small. They would hit the water and it seemed as though they would be stunned for a few seconds and when they came to they would dive and swim to deeper water. No camera and had the baby in the back pack so a little hard to chase them but definitely one of the more interesting things I've seen.

around kankakee

The other day I was fishing a creek. It happened to be very windy. While I was standing there casting I would occasionally hear a plopping sound. I thought at first it was just branches from surrounding trees breaking off in the wind and falling into the creek but something about the sound seemed different so I decided to stop fishing and just wait and watch for a while. A few minutes later I saw something splat into the water about 10' away and it started to swim away. The "it" was a frog. In the next 20 minutes about 3-4 more splatted into the creek. They seemed to be coming from an overhanging tree about 50' tall. Has anybody else ever seen this or know anything about it. I was guessing they may be hibernating in the tree from fall and "waking up" with the warmer temps. If thats the case they were only making it into the water by a couple of feet from the dry bank. Two more feet the other way and it would have been more of a thud than a splat.

Coren's rod and reel N.W. Chicago. Ask for Eric I think the number 773-631-5202.

I have a 9' 2pc. 6 weight SAGE XP. The rod is NEW never been fished or even put together. It is a phenomenal smallmouth rod. Handles just about anything you want to throw. I believe I just read somewhere Cabela's is came back out with the XP exclusively in 5 different models. They will be carrying the 6 weight at I think $595.00. I'm asking $450.00. Call 847-501-0676 or e-mail rjggoldstandard@aol.com.

I have been messing around at the vise quite a bit of late.....of course, I have not missed more than one day of tying since I first started about 18 months ago. Pat Ehlers has been a real big help to me. Here is my version of his new fly called the Grim Reaper. I think it will be a big winner this year.

I know you like the dumbbell eyes but try a couple with med. gold tungsten cone heads also. I don't know what it is but I used to tie that style fly with dumbbell and switched to conehead and seemed to work better. I like to fish those type flies as if they were a crayfish that was knocked loose by the current or a drifting and dying baitfish. At the end of the drift when the current grabs it I'll fish it like an escaping baitfish. The nice thing about that type fly is it works almost any way you want to fish it and keeps its action. Keep it on the bottom.

 

http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/index.php?streamstalker

just came upon this at chicagotribune.com

 

Evidence of Asian carp found 7 miles from Lake Michigan

I'm rescinding my previous estimate of a few years and going with next summer. Seriously I wonder what they eat and maybe the possibility of fly patterns. If I remember correctly they grow up to 100+ lbs and 5-6' long. There jumping ability seems to also be fairly remarkable. Looks like I might have to be in the market for a 10-12 weight. It'll almost be like tarpon in the lake.

Probably only a few years until tourists will come from around the world just to walk the lakefront and see Chicago's jumping carp. I'm betting the harbors will be the best viewing. Bassbuggers get ready. Who will develop the first Asian carp fly.

I've had several different pairs. My first pair had felt bottoms. I wouldn't recommend because the felt gets gummed up with mud from the banks and doesn't give you good traction when walking the shoreline. Next pair were Simms aquastealth studded guide boots. The studs are not the screw in type instead the come built into the sole from the factory. Far and away the best sole I've used. The boot held up for about 2 seasons with great traction in a lot of different conditions. Next pair Chota with rubber sole and screw in studs. Sole and studs worked but the boot lasted me one season. The sole just came completely detached from the upper. There lacing system also leaves something to be desired. Halfway through this year I bought another pair of Simms with just a plain rubber sole. Good but not great. In my opinion for fishing around here the Simms w/rubber and factory carbide studded soles is the way to go.

Was looking to try and find some deeper water on the Fox....does anyone know if the Silver Springs area is wadeable/fishable? I'm not looking for any specifics, just want to know before I make the drive down. Also, would the Dayton USGS gauge be the best reflection of this section of river? Any info would be appreciatted...PM would be fine if you don't want to post it. Thanks, Tim

Once in awhile we used to camp on an island just down river from the bridge that crosses over the river from the state park. That was probably 20 years ago but if I remember right it was not very wadeable there. Although you might be able to do some shore fishing along the park. Just upriver, I think in Yorkville, there's a dam that you can fish below and probably wade. Also you can check out creeks. Below the dam would not be wadeable now or probably for the rest of the year.

hey norm, i fly fish the state park quite a bit. I've found over the years that one fly can do it all except for top water. It has a 5/32 tungsten bead head and action whether its fished real slow or hopped and also if its swung. I've found that the best producing for me is to cast up river and let the fly drop by mending and stripping in slack line. If your not occasionally getting hung up you're probably not deep enough. I've tried a little heavier cone head but I think it makes the fly drop to quickly and not flow in the current as life like. 9' or less leader a little flourocarbon tippet which helps with the sinking because of its density and thats it. with this i can fish deeper channels, holes, 1' deep weed lines and flats off to the sides in the slack water. in my mind i fish the fly as if its a cray that got caught up in the current or a dying minnow. and thats all she wrote. by the way my favorite is pockets in the weed lines with topwater or just subsurface with a flashdancer when the waters up a little more.

1 Scott S3 9' 5wt 4pc. 425.00, 1 sage XP 6 wt 2 pc. brand new 475.00, 1 sage XP 8 wt 4pc. 400.00, 1 Scott S3 8' 4wt. 4 pc. 425.00, 1 Sage XP 7wt 4 pc. 400.00 call Bob 847-501-0676.

I agree with Rich about the sink tips. RIO makes sinking leaders in different densities and sink rates. I personally like to use the fastest sink rate. If the water is to slow for that leader then just a weighted fly should be good enough to get down. I've fished all three of the rivers you mentioned especially the Kank. In all this time I have never used a sinking line or leader while fishing it and have usually been pretty successful. On the other hand I do know someone that likes to use a sinking line on the Kank and does well with that style of fishing.

Folks:

 

Here is the "official" deal as I have called Springfield and spoke with an attorney that represents the state's interests. The law in Illinois is thus:

 

If the stream is not listed as a navigatable stream (yes, there is a list that you can obtain from the state), then permission has to be gained to "legally" canoe or wade the said stream. No, the landowner does not own the water that flows through their property, but does supposedly own the bottom of the stream. That is the "true" law in Illinois. Do I agree with it...............hell no! But it is what it is.

 

When it comes to government agencies constructing canoe accesses, I asked the same question to the attorney in Springfield. He told me to check to see who constructed the launch? In every circumstance that I checked on it was not the state that constructed the launches but cities/park districts/ etc. NOT THE STATE. The state will not construct any canoe launches unless the launch and at least some water downstream is public.

I wonder if bassbugs would work on the lake when the bass are shallow.

for sure

does it catch fish?

Oh and by the way I'm sitting here typing this and looking out the window at the lake to see two guys in a bass boat hitting a breakwall in the harbor hard for about the last two hours It'd be nice if I had some binoculars to see how there doing.

Ronk. A net is a good idea. Even if just in case you hook a brown, steelhead coho etc.. I had to lay down and lean precariously over the wall to grab those fish yesterday and was definitely wishing for a net. And anyways a net seems to lend itself to a sense of optimism. Always nice to start with.

I've found that what seems to make a difference to me anyway is the color of flash. I fly fish mostly and over the years have found that gold flash seems to work better in off colored water and silver is sometimes better in clear water. SNot very scientific but does seem to have some merit.

I tried to research this article a little so I dont know if its been posted already or not http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/...90414153532.htm enjoy.

This article made me chuckle a little. Smallmouth I would think have the same inheritable trait. I've been out more than a few times on the Kank and have caught from one weekend to the next what I swear is the same exact fish in the same location. The chuckle was because a few years ago I got a one eyed smallie and last year I caught another one eye except that it was bigger. I have no idea if it was the same fish or not but I'm sure there are plenty of guys who would swear they also have caught the same fish over and over. I suppose I would have had a better guess if I had paid attention to which side the good eye was on. If only there was a winking icon.

about parking. If anybody thinks they would be going back to the lake to fish again I recommend going to Henry's on 32nd and canal in bridgeport and purchase a fisherman's parking pass. cost $10 good for 3 months. Their is about a 20 car lot on northerly island and a large parking area at i believe dusable harbor spcificly for the pass. great value for parking and access for lakefront fishing. I've caught nice smallies from 31st st all the way to the chicago river from shore. I think by sat the weather should clear up as well as the lake water. It's very dirty looking in the main lake and cloudy w/about 3 ft vis in harbors. with a little s-sw wind should blow some of the murky water out. fished yesterday around northerly and didn't see much activity. managed to hook I would guess a small steelhead hard to tell but 3 jumps in about 3 seconds and it was all over. don't worry about water temp too much there's usually something to fish for whether coho steelhead brown smallie there a chance for some kind of bite. Don't be afraid to try whatever you like lure wise you never know. I've been out when i thought it would be to cold and have still had a blast.

If fishing with a buddy ALWAYS remember to catch the big fish before he does.

Unless its really windy and blowing your line into you while you cast just angling your rod off to the side at an angle should keep your line and fly away from you. If the wind is to strong then go with a backhand cast on your downwind side. Another thing I like to do when I'm casting and have the current below my right side ( I'm right handed casting) I'll let the fly hit the water for a split second on my backcast into my forecast and this will help to load the rod. It takes a little timing and practice but can reduce false casting.