John Loebach

Happy New Years to all. Ken is looking for member tied flies 6 of each pattern to be combined in sets of 6 different flies for the bucket auction. This is tying season & there are alot of us who tie, what better way to warm up at the vise than to tie a few of your favorite patterns and get them to Ken (details to follow) before the blowout. While you are at it take a look at your old gear you don't use and pick something to donate. This is our major fundraiser that supports the conservation efforts that continue to improve local habitat and smallies. Dues pay for the bulletin and not much more, please lend a hand to make this blowout the best ever! John

Just wanted to bring this up again and confirm that the contest will run as it did last year with imitations of the madtom as tim posted. Bring your entries to the blowout to be judged, there will be a prize in addition to bragging rights. Good luck to all. John

44 degees on the fox this am - 1 carp, 1 gill 7 dink smallies on a dead drifted fly. pm yard work still a great day all around!

Mike - We are planning to try and have at least one or two meetings more north as well as south.Don R & I should have more info soon. Thanks for the suggestion of Dick's. Anyone think a well located pizza joint might work ? John

I fish 2 at a time often enough, usually if its slow. Small fly or nymph 12-15" below a streamer like a clouser. Have tried 2 clousers at a time & it casts OK if the dropper is short. Got two at a time on the kank like that a while ago. Eventually the dropper fouls or I break off the lower fly & I go back to one.

regarding the slow bite in warm weather early mornings- I wonder if low O2 / highCO2 levels on our local algae rich or heavily overgrown waters could be the cause. after the sun rises the free oxygen levels follow and maybe the fish lose their hangover and get active. Just a thought. Great looking clousers Micheal!

I'll be there- haven't been down that way yet this year. Do we need to work on signs? john

I'll be there. How about some more Bassbuggers? John

I'm planning on going out sunday at 6am with asherman will start up by the dam, if nothing doing will try down by Glenwood f. p. to 9 or 9:30 then have to go. Anyone want to give it a try? John

They look good, have you cast them and do they catch fish? All the new things in fly design have been around a long time it seems, just new names as they are rediscovered. John

Great post Don. I have more pictures but haven't figured out how to post them or scale them so they fit.

We had a good turnout , 15 signed in. Although we all worked hard we accomplished alot. The new wing dam was a nice preveiw of the next work day on that stretch, possibly by fall. Don Labrose wants to work on both Dupage branches in the near term and this was a good foundation on which to build. I'm always impressed by how much a handful of willing voluteers can do in a short time. John