Terry Dodge

Unfortunately there was a glitch, and recording of Gordon’s seminar was not completed. We now know what the glitch was and we feel confident that the problem will not occur again. Sorry. Thanks Gordon! Job well done.

Thanks guys! I might have to give that a try.

Ready to get your Zoom on?

This just in... PLEASE help friends! Click this link now and add your voice to shutting down the wetlands permit for the back forty mine on the Menominee River. Click done and share with as many people as we can! https://jointherivercoalition.org/call-to-action-letter-2021/ ✊✊💧💧 CALL TO ACTION 💧💧✊✊ Everyone please go to the site below. Aquila is hitting with a one two punch. 1) Appealing the wetland permit. 2). Submitting their dam safety permit. Everyone jump on board the No Mine Train, follow the instructions. We have no time to waste! This is Dale Burie, President of the Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River asking for your help. Aquila Resources have submitted their application to EGLE of Michigan for their Tailings Dam Permit using the "Upstream" method for their tailings dam. The Upstream Method is the most vulnerable method to failure. Failure of this type of dam would be a sure recipe for disaster for the Menominee River. We are requesting all environmental groups and their members to go to our website: www.jointherivercoalition.org and click the "Blue" button on the home page which will open up the page for you to add your information and comment on the objection to the suggested "Upstream Method" that Aquila Resources has made in their application to EGLE. When you click on the "submit" button at the end of the page it will be forwarded to all the decision makers listed on the page. We desperately need your voice to be heard, Please Help Us ! Sincerely, Dale Burie, President Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River, Inc. https://jointherivercoalition.org/

Share it around....

Thanks for all the replies. Kinda sounds like what I have always thought, that it’s not all that necessary considering the water I fish. I just wanted to make sure. Thanks again!

This will be a good opportunity for those not familiar with Zoom to check it out and see how it works and what it’s all about. We are here to assist and answer any questions you may have. Relaxed atmosphere.

We have an official ISA YouTube Channel. This channel was created so that we may upload and store any of our Zoom meeting recordings. Please visit and subscribe. https://youtube.com/channel/UCL6Dh11Eu6CDlNCo_12ySeA

Should I have a reel spooled up with a sinking tip fly line? I’ve often wondered if there is a time and place to use the sinking tip, just not real sure if it would be useful on the Kish? Would this type of fly line be better for fishing Clouser’s?

Great job Jim. Nice casual tie. Jim took his time on the first tie explaining the tie as he went. He then took questions and then lead us on a second tie taking questions during the tie. It was a job well done. Nice event!

Don’t forget about the first ever ISA Zoom Fly Tie. It’s time to tie one on.

Yep. Really not even worth the time to discuss at this point.

This is something that I can’t stand. Why this nation even allows worms (which I have not used since 2009) to be sold in plastic and styrofoam containers is beyond me. I have thought for awhile about taking this problem on at a local level with trying to ban the sale of worms in such containers. Maybe now would be a good time to up my game. https://youtu.be/37PDwW0c1so On Tuesday, January 19, 2021, the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society will be hosting a Free Film Screening of the Story of Plastic plus optional Zoom discussion. I plan to take part in this event. Please contact me if you would to attend and I’ll hook you up to get you registered. Follow link for more info > https://www.storyofplastic.org/

Sulfide Mine Permit Denied: “A Win for Wetlands” MARQUETTE, MI – Regional environmental groups are celebrating the news that a disputed Wetlands Permit for Aquila Resources’ Back Forty sulfide mine has been denied by a Michigan Administrative Law Judge, concluding a two year review of the contested case. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (now the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) sparked controversy when it approved Aquila’s Wetlands Permit in 2018, over the objections of regulatory staff who were prepared to deny the permit. The permit was contested by multiple petitioners, including an adjacent landowner, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, represented by Earthjustice attorneys, and the grassroots Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River. According to Earthjustice attorney Janette Brimmer, Aquila “refused to provide all of the information the state needed to determine the full environmental impacts the mine will have on the Menominee River and the surrounding area.” AQUILA BACK FORTY PROJECT OVERVIEW The Back Forty project proposes to excavate an 84 acre open-pit sulfide mine, 800 foot deep, on the banks of the Menominee River, 150 feet from the water. Most of the mine site would be covered by waste rock, ore storage, milling facilities and tailings storage. Nearly all of the Back Forty rock is reactive – capable of producing Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) when exposed to air and water. AMD pollution devastates watersheds and lasts hundreds of years. Tailings and waste rock will be stored on-site during mining; tailings waste will remain on the surface forever. During closure, the open pit mine will be backfilled with waste material. Once this takes place, groundwater contaminated with AMD is predicted to seep into the river. Environmental groups claim that the Back Forty’s environmental impacts could be significantly reduced by using feasible, common-sense alternatives. BACK FORTY WETLANDS PERMIT DISPUTE The permit would have allowed Aquila Resources to destroy wetlands of the Menominee River watershed in order to construct and operate an open-pit sulfide mine, waste storage dam, and mill. Wetland impacts included direct and indirect losses due to excavation, placing of fill, or building parts of the facility on top of wetlands, removing groundwater, permanently changing hydrology, impairing wetland ecosystems, and contaminating the surrounding watershed with toxic dust from mining operations, and acid-mine drainage. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW Judge Pulter’s decision makes it clear that Aquila Resources’ application was not simply flawed, but incompetent: “In many cases addressing feasible and prudent alternatives, the applicant’s initial site plan has the most impact to the resource. During the processing of the application, it is common for the applicant to reduce the amount of wetland impacts sought in its original site plan. (...) In this case, however, the amount of wetland impacts increased with each modification of Aquila’s site plan. Aquila did not proffer evidence of how it had re-designed its site plans with a view toward reducing wetland impacts. (...) Because it considered three site plans, each of which increased in wetland impacts, the record does not contain evidence of feasible and prudent alternative locations and methods. Therefore, I find, as a Matter of Fact, that Aquila failed to demonstrate that there are no feasible and prudent alternative locations or methods.” Wetlands are strictly protected under state and federal law. Before wetlands can be destroyed, Aquila must demonstrate that the impacts are unavoidable. The applicant failed that test, and so Judge Pulter concluded that Aquila’s Wetland Permit must be denied: “Aquila failed to demonstrate that there are no feasible and prudent alternative locations and methods because it did not proffer evidence of how it had re-designed its site plans with a view toward reducing wetland impacts.” “The proposed project will have a probable negative effect on historic, cultural, scenic, and ecological values.” “The proposed project is not in the public interest.” “Aquila failed to demonstrate that the disruption to the aquatic resources caused by proposed activity will be acceptable.” “The proposed activity is not wetland dependent.” “Aquila failed to demonstrate that a feasible and prudent alternative does not exist.” “Therefore, Aquila is not entitled to a permit in this case.” MEDIA STATEMENTS Dale Burie, president of the Coalition to SAVE the Menominee River: According to Davis & Kuelthau attorney Ted A. Warpinski, who represented the Coalition, “Judge Pulter issued a thorough and thoughtful decision recognizing the many flaws with Aquila’s wetlands permit application and rejecting the attempt by EGLE to correct those flaws with improper permit conditions. We are grateful for the cooperative efforts of the Earthjustice attorneys representing the Menominee Tribe as well as the diligent efforts of Mr. Boerner who joined us in challenging this wetland permit.” We encourage Aquila to accept that this is simply not a suitable location for a mining operation. Al Gedicks, executive secretary of the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council: Judge Pulter’s careful consideration of the scientific testimony in the contested wetlands case reveals a consistent pattern of Aquila’s manipulation of scientific research to conceal significant negative impacts to wetlands from the proposed Back Forty mine. Ms. Kristi Wilson, an environmental quality specialist from EGLE’s Water Resources Division (WRD) testified that Aquila failed to provide information requested by the WRD regarding dewatering of the open pit and its effects on wetlands within the project area. Without this information the WRD could not evaluate the impact to wetlands. Mr. Eric Chatterson, a geology specialist from the WRD, testified that Aquila “predetermined what was going to happen and it just manipulated the mathematics to make that happen.” The end result was a fraudulent application that prevented the public from recognizing the full extent of the harm to wetlands from this project. Aquila’s conduct in this case is ethically reprehensible. Guy Reiter, executive director of Menikanaehkem: Menikanaehkem applauds Judge Pulter's decision, in denying this wetland permit. Menikanaehkem has always been a strong defender of our beautiful Menominee river and our vast Menominee cultural resources located around the river. Ron Henriksen, spokesperson for the Front 40 Environmental Fight: We are so appreciative of the hard work by individuals, tribes, and environmental organizations which helped the judge reach this important decision. Front 40 Environmental Fight was founded in 2003 to help defend the Menominee River and Shakey Lakes from the hazards of sulfide mining; for the past 17 years, we have informed the public about the dangers of sulfide mining through education and outreach — and the community responded overwhelmingly, rejecting Aquila’s dangerous Back Forty mine! We thank everyone who is working to protect our wetlands, and the Menominee River. Kathleen Heideman, member of the Mining Action Group: This decision is a thoughtful, clear-eyed rebuke of Aquila Resources. Aquila’s approach to permiting the Back Forty project has been hasty and incompetent, and reveals a disregard for Michigan’s natural resources. The decision demonstrates that the Wetland Permit was subject to denial for dozens of reasons — critical data was never provided to regulators, hydrological modeling was unsupported, and statutory requirements were not met. Most critically, Aquila failed to undertake any meaningful review of the feasible alternatives, in order to minimize the impacts to wetlands, or avoid wetlands altogether. Horst Schmidt, president of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition: This is great news for the people of Wisconsin and Michigan. Aquila’s inability to submit a permit without major deficiencies reinforces our concern that this company is unable to meet the minimum standards for developing a safe mining operation. It's a shame people must waste their time for years fighting to keep the State of Michigan from approving a mine that threatens one of the Great Lake’s best sports fishing habitats, even as Michigan and Wisconsin nonprofits and environmental agencies work jointly to restore sturgeon habitat in the Menominee River. I congratulate the Administrative Law Judge on this wise environmental ruling. Carl Lindquist, executive director of the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy We applaud the decision to deny this permit. We’ve worked with eight Native American tribes and other stakeholders to list the Menominee among American Rivers’ Top Ten Most Endangered Rivers in the United States. We are convinced that Aquila’s open pit mine is too risky. In addition to exposing sulfide based ore, the mining process would use cyanide and other toxins, a stone's throw from one of the largest tributaries to Lake Michigan. The risks to wetlands, groundwater, surface water, the Great Lakes and the cultural legacy of the Menominee Indian Tribe are simply too great. SUPPORT Independent review of the Aquila Back Forty Wetland permit was made possible by the generous support of groups and individuals concerned about the future health of the Menominee River. Working collaboratively, the Mining Action Group of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition and the Front 40 secured grants and donations from Freshwater Future, Superior Watershed Partnership, the Western Mining Action Network, DuPage Rivers Fly Tyers (DRiFT), Northern Illinois Fly Tyers (NIFT), Badger Fly Fishers, M&M Great Lakes Sport Fisherman, Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance, Fly Fishers International, Great Lakes Council of Fly Fishers International, the Emerick Family Fund, and from many individual fishing enthusiasts throughout the Great Lakes area. YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION! Join UPEC's upcoming Livestream Event "A WIN FOR WETLANDS" to learn more about this important environmental legal decision. "A WIN FOR WETLANDS" will offer a panel discussion featuring Al Gedicks of the Wisconsin Resources Protection Council, Dale Burie of the Coalition to Save the Menominee, Guy Reiter of Menikanaehkem, and Kathleen Heideman of the Mining Action Group. The event will take place on Thursday, January 14, 2020, at 7 pm EST, livestreamed via Facebook and Zoom. Connect using these links: Join Facebook Livetream https://www.facebook.com/Upper-Peninsula-Environmental-Coalition-195291337192049/live_videos Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83113438020?pwd=d3pZcjNyYW9uVmZUTy9vc2ZIN0UwUT09 Meeting ID: 831 1343 8020 Passcode: 2021 .

New year, new gear. Have a happy one!

Our friends with the Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance will be hosting a live tying event tonight at 7:30pm. They have tagged the ISA Facebook Page as a cohost so all our Facebook members can watch along. The event link is posted on ISA Facebook Page. I’ll post link here but may have to sign in to watch. Fly to be tied: Kelly Galloup’s Sex Dungeon https://fb.me/e/123bDqNKt

Welcome! You’re gonna go broke. But you’re gonna have a blast doing it!

Reading is not always a good thing.

All flies are welcomed but there is a shortlist on this website if you click the Flies tab. http://donateyourflies.fishing/

From the Rock River Fly Casters Club, Hey Buggers, Here's a project my friend Mike Martin, president of Rock River Fly Casters, is seeking help with. I plan to send a dozen or two in myself. Be sure to drop an ISA note in along with your flies so Mike knows. Thanks! From Mike..... "I am working on a winter project that's called “Donate Your Flies for Charity”. There are many Non-Profits that promote fly fishing for a way to help their participants recover from Cancer or other health problems, veteran groups and youth groups teaching the art of fly fishing. Rock River Fly Casters will be collecting flies to donate to these organizations, we are not soliciting any cash donations. I am asking you to share this information with any fly tyers in your group to help promote this program, my aim for this winter is to collect at least 2-3 thousand flies by the end of April, I have supplied myself with enough hooks and materials to tie 500 flies to start." Send flies to: Donate Your Flies c/o Rock River Fly Casters PO Box 5952 Rockford, Il 61125 Thanks for the help To those that tye flies and fly fish, here is a link to the ultimate dictionary on fly fishing terminology, you might like to share with your members: https://www.redington.com/experience/new-to-fly-fishing/lingo Thanks Mike Martin

Inside parks and forest preserves if there’s no signage stating that I can’t then I’m in.