John Loebach

Bring your tools & thread & tie along. We are usually tying by 6:30 & there is time to tie at least 2 flies. Thanks to Jeremy for hosting. At: Dupage Fly Fishing Co. 1512 N. Naper Blvd. Suite 136 Naperville, Il. 60563 Come join us , first time this season. We'll talk about other winter events too. John

A 7 wt. is a good start, you can fish lighter depending on the size of flies. There's a wealth of starter priced rods that are really very good. TFO BVK is a great value but St Croix, Redington, Orvis, & more offer good rods under 300.00. Find a shop & test cast before you buy - everyone is different & your casting will improve with time but you must be able to feel the rod load & unload to learn. Forget fast - start with something moderate, you will improve sooner. Orvis Yorktown does free casting 101 & 102 lessons they are worthwhile. I've helped instruct some of them May June July - check it out. Look for our annual Cast & Compare event in September on the Fox river - lots of rods to try & alot of help from members, rod reps & shop owners - plus its FREE. Come to the Blowout for a chance at a bargain plus more valuable input from the members. Regardless of which rod/weight pick one & stick with it, use it & you will learn, how to cast, which flies & where to fish. Come to some of our tying outings to visit & ask questions even if you don't tie.

I'll work Friday.

Several years ago 4 or 5 members including Ed B & I built rods with help at Coren's rod & reel. We met for two sessions, first to lay out guides, attach cork, & get materials, then to epoxy the finished rod a couple weeks later. If there is interest we could do it again. At a minimum Eric is a great resource & a long time supporter of the ISA. Coren's Rod & Reel 6001 North Nina Ave. Chicago, IL. 60631 773/631-5202

Shank yes - the part that holds the fish out. I need to work on getting them to hold on for it to work.

Mike - I'll run a members swap collection as usual. If you can't come to the Blowout you can mail them to me or give them to Paul or Terry. We sort those during setup, its fun to see what turns up.

Those classic streamers will catch smallies but they work best with an active retrieve. Plus they are durable & easy to tie - that doesn't keep them out of trees or stuck in deep water rocks. Maybe I should try no bend plus no barb to correct for that.

I couldn't handle 2nd grade at this point.

Fluorocarbon main advantage is strength & no stretch. On a swing or dead drift the stretch of mono deadens the ability to detect change in direction whether stopped by a strike or hung up on the bottom. I've never tested Scott's comment on braid without leader but have heard the same & seen it work so I believe he is right. Regarding imitations effect on fish the two most important (and related) factors are location(depth) & speed. Start out with a moderate speed retrieve & slow down until you start to get bit. Trout will hold in a seam at the same point to feed. Bass will follow & take at the end of the swing when you can't get a response any other way. When fishing with someone don't pass up the opportunity to cast near a fighting fish, there are almost always followers & the struggle can make them aggressive. In clear lakes its common to see fighting bass barf up the stomach contents & the chasers taking it. I believe we fish past around or through lots of fish that don't respond. Finding the trigger is key, effective color most often subtle(olive on the Fox), black or gray & white work when chartreuse, yellow & flash are seen but ignored. If its hard to see then its like the natural food. I'll still start with a chart/white clouser fished deep & stripped to cover ground but change if its not working today. On ponds for LM bass I prefer dead slow with a finger roll strip to just keep the slack out as it sinks. Less is often more, the same as plastics on gear. Great topic, Norm.

Dates are: 1/19/17 2/16/17 3/16/17 4/20/17 Also we will do one a month this winter I think in addition to the Thursdays at DFF. These will be at the hosts choice of location. PM me if you want to plan one - probably best on the weekend & a plus if we move around the region. John

I'd come out for breakfast on the weekend. Fishing possible too.

Great outing, Ed. Thanks for this & all you do over the course of the year.

I'll tie Barr's Bouface

Another one complete! Thanks to all who helped its a group effort. Numbers soon. John

ITS TOMORROW! Be sure to stop by if you can. Lots of info even if you don't use a fly rod. John

We could use a little more help or tyers. You don't need to work the whole day... post if you can come. Thanks, John

Frank Briggs, I can't find your email. I hope you can help again. John

Ron, I hope to see you Sunday - I can't find your email. John

Thanks, Craig. 8 to 8:30am is good.

Vendors 312flyfish Tv – Chris Slywka 312flyfishtv@gmail.com Badger Tenkara – Matt Sment fishon@badgertenkara.com Coren’s Rod & Reel – Eric Heckman 773-631-5202 Driftless Angler – Matt Wagner 608/637-8779 www.driftlessangler.com Dupage Fly Fishing Co. – Jeremy Spaccapaniccia 630/857-3468 www.dupagefly.com Flies by Rich – Rich McElligott fliesbyrich@yahoo.com Great Lakes Fly Fishing – Glen Blackwood www.troutmoor.net Hawkeye Fly Tyer – Mike Jacobs 319/465-4704 Historical Fish Displays – Dan Basore ollures@aol.com Maxxon Outfitters – Norm Hartmann 708/485-0405 OBTU – Stan Zarnewecki Orvis – Zeph Micheals retail-yorktownstr042@orvis.com Rocktown Adventures – Kevin Versino www.rocktownadventures.com Streamside Furled Leaders – Mike Moline info@streamsideleaders.com Whitetail Fly Tieing – Nancy Richardson www.whitetailflytieing.com Guides: Austin Adduci – Grab Your Fly Charters www.grabyourflycharters.com Isreal Dunn – Shorebound Hero LLC shoreboundheromadison@gmail.com Abe Downs – Blackwater Fly Fishing www.blackwaterflyfishing.com Javier Guevara Ecuador Flyfishing ecuadorflyfishing@hotmail.com Bill Scherer Boulder Junction wetieit@wetieit.com Kyle Zempel – Black Earth Angling Co. www.blackearthangling.com Rod Builders Jeff Fox, Brian Smith, Dennis Higham, Ron Barch Bamboo rod building demo

Speaker Schedule for the show. Speakers: 10:00 Mike Jacobs – Iowa smallmouth bass 11:00 Israel Dunn – Kayak fishing for carp & musky 12:00 Javier Guevara - Ecuador trips, tarpon & peacock bass. 1:00 Abe Downs - Northern Wisconsin river musky & bass. 2:00 Bill Scherer – Musky on the fly 3 00 Kyle Zempel Fishing the crash – Wisconsin smallmouth bass. 4:00 Austin Aducci – Kankakee bass, Lake Michigan carp 4:30 Raffle draw Spey casting presentation by Doug Taylor, Sage pro staff at 11:30 am & 2 :30 pm Drift FFF certified casting instruction 10:30 to 12:30, 1:30 to 3:30pm