John Loebach

This event is now GOOD TO GO! Thanks to Ron G. again for the leg work & follow up. Details will go out by pm. Messages sent tues 9:55pm - any other questions let me know.

One or more of the minnow & chub species has spawning colors on the male that look like rainbow trout colors. Or if there are trout present juvenile trout are a favored forage for all fish including the trout. Can't agree more on Clousers tied sparsley with a little flash - the clearer the water the slimmer the fly. Wooley buggers should probably be declared illegal - its too easy.

So I was ready to pm all who wanted to come next Sat. 6/13 when Ron G called yesterday. Permission is on hold because his contact has left & the manager must confirm before we know that its ok. I hope to hear something on Monday and either way I will post & pm by Wed. evening, as it looks now this may be cancelled because of fear of liability.

I have used tyger wire or premade bluefish/pike leaders on the flyrod under similar cirumstances & had good results. Its worth the cost if you are fishing where at any time the next fish is likely to be a pike or even walleye. Heavy florocarbon works too, but its harder to tie. Good to hear the fish were active, Scott. Who says Wisconsin lakes are overpressured.

Tying is on, I will demo Barr's Bouface & Kip Veith's Wild Craw.

5/18-Arrive after 6 - 6:30pm start. Bassbugger tying west- Our monthly meeting for members to demonstrate fly patterns & tie along. Bring your thread & tools, materials will be provided. New to tying? Come out & learn! New location - we will meet to tie in my garage at 348 West Windsor Ave., Lombard , IL. Questions? call me 630/251-5904 All members welcome. Date moved because of Memorial day holiday. Our last tying outing till fall at this location. Summer 4th Mondays we will meet to fish. See you on the water! This is a week early - Anyone coming please post or contact me - pond fishing is a possibility or we can tie. Thanks, John

Eight members fished half & half shore & boat. AM on shore no fish, tried the dam as well as the upper lake. Beautiful day to be out, good practice casting with stiff wind. Maybe the boaters found some fish. Ron G. stayed later & got a few small ones from the shore.

Follow up - Six attended, we tied the STP frog led by Ed O. & the double bunny led by Michael T. Thanks to both. Discussed fishing outings for the summer to start in May or June for sure. Winding down on tying its time to use them now!

Thanks for setting this up, Gordan. Yes, that is a stuffed baby seal - talk about a strange thing to find. Low point was the 3/4 gallon of paint that was nearly rusted through. What are they thinking as they wing this stuff? The pile of tires was behind a business property on Roosevelt road, probably employees.

Posted by Rich M. shabbona was reported as in the 50's and bass starting to invade the shallows.good time to fish shabbona from shore . Weather looks dry(for a change) on Saturday as well.

Shabbona lake outing - meet at turn out just inside entrance (before campground turnoff) 8:00 am. Shoreline fishing for bass & panfish should be on & there is good access around the lake. Good place for your boat, canoe or Kayak as well. Bring waders & fish the upper Indian creek or below the dam as well. We will meet & provide maps & current info, Rich M. will be there or have filled me in. Crappie should be schooled up, Bass LM & smallies are prespawn but close to it. Rain should not affect this much. See you there.

4/27-Arrive after 6 - 6:30pm start. Bassbugger tying west- Our monthly meeting for members to demonstrate fly patterns & tie along. Bring your thread & tools, materials will be provided. New to tying? Come out & learn! New location - we will meet to tie in my garage at 348 West Windsor Ave., Lombard , IL. Questions? call me 630/251-5904 All members welcome. Anyone who hasn't taught a pattern yet this year want a chance? Only one more time after this for the season. Also I still have raffle items if you tied & donated flies come by or I'll have to get it to you later.

Nice report & pics Ron. I will get out eventually, despite the slow economy now the weather is coming around so is the work. Keep on educating those bass!

Stan Z just brought this to my attention. Introducing - Dan Basore Many of you know Dan Basore from his “Fishing History” column in Midwest Outdoors or see him at sports shows with his Historical Fishing Display. For the OAK BROOK TROUT UNLIMITED meeting on May 20th Dan will bring and discuss the earliest fishing items made in North America, the Oldest Orvis Fly Rod and its exciting provenance, the most complete collection of the great fly tier Helen Shaw, a complete mint fly fishing kit from Weber in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and other fly fishing items. In addition to acquiring, researching, preserving and sharing fishing history he eagerly studies fishing, and angles in public waters right in this area producing many nice fish. BRING YOUR OLD FISHING LURES, REELS, RODS, MANUFACTURERS CATALOGS, CASTING ITEMS, ETC TO OUR MEETING FOR IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION. We look to see you at this very interesting meeting. Wednesday, May 20th at 7:00 at the Oak Brook Central Park West building – this is the old Shelter building where we used to have our meetings. See www.obtu.org for information Well worth trying to attend, some of the stuff he has is recently acquired. These meetings are open to any please come if you can.

Sixteen members enjoyed the warm spring temperatures, fished the shoreline of the harbor & when I left at 12 noon didn't catch anything. Still a good time - I think it may be a couple of weeks early. Anyone have more to report? Thanks to all who came out!

Ed Buric & I had the chance today to help the DNR measure weigh & release fish from six trap nets at Shabbona Lake. Ken Klinefelter fisheries biologist from Hennepin performed the annual survey. Rich McElligott clued us in that they needed help. Short list - 20 musky most in the mid 30" or larger range with the biggest at 46" & 28 lbs. Also 5 walleye one female at 23" & 7+ lbs, 25 channel cats with 4 or 5 past 10lbs., 3 black crappie,6 bluegill & 2 large carp. Quite an education as I have always thought of Shabbona as overfished. Ten days prior they trapped walleye for spawn recruitment and took two eyes over 10lb. & most of the females in the 5lb class or bigger. Afterward Ed & I fished a little & were blanked, also didn't see anyone catching a thing. I guess there are just no fish in there! Thanks to Ken, theDNR & Rich for allowing us to help & for making Shabbona a prime gamefish producer. Ed took some pics to follow.

I can probably make time with a day or two notice. We should try soon as the picking is easier before the plants start to take off.

This will be our first outing on the lakefront of Lake Michigan. Meet at parking lot (towards the far end) of Northerly Island at 9am. Let me know if you can provide some up to date conditions. Want to give Lake Michigan a try? The next state record smallmouth may come from the shoreline of Lake Michigan. If you've been there, done that perhaps you would like to share some tips and techniques that will help others improve their catch. Whether you spin or fly fish come out to this first ever ISA lake Michigan outing. Sixteen members enjoyed the warm spring temperatures, fished the shoreline of the harbor & when I left at 12 noon didn't catch anything. Still a good time - I think it may be a couple of weeks early. Anyone have more to report? Thanks to all who came out!

4/9 Arrive 6pm - start 6:30pm A second time per month for tying flies thanks to Angler's International Resources, 1272 East Dundee Road, Palatine, IL. 60074 847/991-3200 hosted by Steve New. I hope to provide opportunity to north siders who could not join us in the west subutrbs. Bring your vice & thread we will provide the material. All members welcome. Questions pm Stuart Van Dorn or John Loebach. Stuart will tie & we will discuss the plans for summer.

Members tying -- Alan Sherman, Fred Moore, Pat Hirschtick, Dave Franklin, Steve Jordan, Cory Gayle, Ed Osowski, Matt Veselsky, Josh Borton, Stuart Van Dorn, Michael Taylor, Rich McElligott, Matt Vaccarelo, Steve Randolph, & (guest)Kurt Kopulca. Joined at event -- Gregg Taylor, Greg Rapson, Ernie Brevik, Patrick Lynch. Stopped by but did'nt tie -- Bob Davenport, Brandon The, Carl Butler, Ed Loch, Ed Buric, Stan Lowczyk, Ralph Loza, Don Rego, Steve Salinas. Host & owner of One More Cast, Joseph Meyer also taught & contributed tips throughout the day. This year was the best yet thanks to ALL! Steve Jordans assesment of needed skills is dead on- from first time tyer to veteran these are easy, EFFECTIVE flies & instruction is hands on - DON"T MISS THIS NEXT TIME!!

Short note on results from todays event: 30 attended 6 patterns tied all but 2 taught twice raffle for donors of show/blowout flies drawn signed FOUR new members to ISA 7 members taught 10 group ties Thank you to all involved. Welcome new members Patrick Lynch, Ernie Brevik, Greg Rapson, Gregg Taylor! Pictures to follow in a day or so. A grateful nod for instructing to Stuart Van Dorn, Alan Sherman, Rich McElligott, Joseph Miers, Cory Gayle, Josh Borton, and Michael Taylor. John L.

Thanks, Ron! Norm, all outings are for all members, come as you are, fish how you choose-nuff said.

Flies of the I S A 4/4/2009 10am-4pm Joins us for a day of tying selected Bass patterns presented by our members. One More Cast Fly Shop, 6525 Joliet Road, Countryside, IL.60525 NEW MEMBERS NOTE – Bring your vise, tools & thread, we will provide the rest. Don’t miss it! Schedule – (Order may change.) Stuart Van Dorn – Periodical Cicada Alan Sherman – Fuzzy Bug Joseph Myers – Eye Screw Baitfish Michael Taylor – Clouser Swimming Nymph Rich McElligott – Chenille Frog Cory Gayle – Charlie Boy Hopper Josh Borton – Spinner’d Minner We will tie at two tables all day & time permitting may do another pattern or two. Questions contact Joseph at 708/482-4990 or www.onemorecast.com Or John Loebach at 630/251-5904 or j.loebach@comcast.net Presented by The Illinois Smallmouth Alliance Just as reminder this event is for all members - drop by for awhile to visit or participate. New members who come to this event see me as I have something for your attendance.

Ron Grand has lined up one time access to a private pond for largemouth & bluegill. This outing will start at 8am ( arrive 7:30 or so) & conclude by 11 or 12, followed by lunch ( buy your own)at the owners restaurant at this site. Somewhat limited access so I need to know by pm who is coming confirmed by 6/5 so I can relay location & arrange for seating. Location northwest suburbs, pond good size, good shoreline access, catch & release but the big bluegill should be nesting by then. First 20 to respond are in. Rain date 6/14. RSVP by pm to John L.