Terry Dodge

I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. Just kind of seems odd to me. I live in Rockford, IL. We have no graduates.

Illinois Free Fishing Days is June 6-9 of this 2014 year. I don't know, it just seems to me like the DNR should move these days to a time after June 15th. so it does not coincide with the smallmouth catch & release season. Just seems like there's a problem there.

Winnebago County Forest Preserve District (WCFPD) is asking folks to "Get Outside!" this summer. The ISA NW Region has been invited to assist in this program and will be conducting a stream sampling clinic on July 26. The clinic is titled "A River Within" and participants will assist in some hands-on river seining to learn what kind of creatures live within the river and the kinds of creature that the smallmouth might like to snack on. We are going to need some help with this so anybody interested please pop me a PM. Sounds like the "Get Outside!" program will be some good family fun with nice prizes. Read more.... http://wcfpd.org/homepage-articles/get-outside-discover-nature-win-stuff/#more-6269

ISA/KEN-ROCK RECAP This was our second year at Ken-Rock delivering a local smallmouth bass fishing seminar to the community. Numbers were not as good as last years but all that attended (17) seemed to be serious hard-core smallmouthers. I started off the program touching base on Catch & Release a spoke a tad about the ISA. Paul followed me with his presentation on the "Hows" and "whats" of smallmouth fishing. After Paul's performance. Tim took the stage and covered kayak smallmouth fishing. Mike G. set up a table to tie some flies and discuss fly fishing for smallies for those who might be interested. Closing out the program we handed out 5 door prizes of which the lucky ticket holders got to choose two (2) items from Paul's Box of Goodies, and then again we discussed the ISA, what we do, what we have done, and benefits of being an ISA member. We signed up 4 NEW MEMBERS. All in all it was a "HAIL" of time. A BIG THANKS to Mike G and ericg for helping out. Next will have to be bigger and better. ~Terry

I'll be at Ken-Rock at 10am.

Sure does, eric. I plan to put in at Oak Ridge and paddle up stream a bit and then float back down past the put in, and then paddle back to the put in. I did it a couple time last year. Hows the shoulder?

Let's skip breakfast as I am heading off to work and know body has said yes to it. Skip it. Mike - Yes all that show will receive a membership brochure and of course we will speak on what a great origination the ISA is. Tim - Might? Make a decision, Marine.

It's this Saturday! Anybody up for breakfast beforehand, say at Ojeda's around 8:30ish? I'll probably be dropping my kayak in at Oak Ridge afterwards.

Yeah! And Paul has already been catching smallmouth this year, so now what do you have to say Mr. Scott? Maybe we'll take our little seminar on tour and and show up in your area so that you can attend and start catching smallies like Paul is. Then again....Maybe we won't. HA! Good luck this year, Mr. Scott.

Good one Scott. I got nothing. That's not to say that I won't at some point and time. We'll have to wait and see. I don't much care for those two fellows who commented with their "Zings" and "Ouches".

Just received an email John @ Ken-Rock sent out to local TV stations and local news paper...... John Guth To joan_sage@cable.comcast.comlocal@rrstar.comsports@rrstar.comcommunityrelations@wifr.comnews@wifr.comnews@wrex.comnewsdesk@wtvo.comMe Today at 10:17 AM For Immediate Release For more information contact Ken-Rock Community Center at 398-8864. NEWS RELEASE/PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT What: Smallmouth bass fishing seminar. Who: The Illinois Smallmouth Alliance. Where: Ken-Rock Com. Center, 3218 11th St, Rockford, IL 61109 (815) 398-8864 When: Saturday April 12, 2014 @ 11am. Cost: FREE The Illinois Smallmouth Alliance (ISA) in conjunction with Ken-Rock Community Center presents "Backyard Bronzeback". A free fishing seminar about tactics for smallmouth bass on local creeks and rivers in northern Illinois. Learn from some of the best local smallmouth fishermen what type of baits work best, type of gear needed, locating, methods, proper catch & release tactics, and why to practice catch & release for smallmouth bass. ISA membership info will also be available. There is great smallmouth fishing just outside your backdoor. John K. Guth Executive Director Ken-Rock Community Center 3218 11th Street Rockford, IL 61109 815-398-8864 815-494-8007 Cell “There’s a neighborhood inside” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THANKS JOHN!

Mike, bring your vise and maybe tie a couple near the end of the program during social time. We have absolutely no idea of what kind of turnout we'll have. To be honest, I wouldn't expect the kind of turnout we had last year (50). I check with John at Ken-Rock yesterday and he said about 10 people have called asking about it. It looks as if Paul, Tim and myself are going to be doing all the presenting. I'll kick off the program with whatever words fall out of my mouth and then I'll go into a thing on the whys and hows of Catch & Release. Paul and his assistant Tim will do a power point presentation again like last years, followed by Tim doing a thing on kayaks and then we will end with social time. The seminar will take as long as it takes, but at a faster pace than last years. Would like to have a strong support showing of our members. Who else can make it? Ken-Rock Seminar http://isakenrockfishing.blogspot.com

The gun has to come out of the holster at some point. The itch has been bothering many of us for some time now. If you must scratch, then scratch. Enjoy your time on the water and just look at it as a learning experience. Good luck!

The 2014 NW Region Events from April thru the end of September are all loaded up on the Calendar. Start planning for an awesome 2014 smallmouth year. http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?app=calendar&module=calendar&section=view&cal_id=1&m=04&y=2014 See you in or on the water. ~Terry

Very nice.

I can't count as good as Ed B. but I'm pretty sure this is like less than a month away. Mike the canoe is up to you. We still may need some help with this so if you can make yourself available it would be greatly appreciated. Learning from last years Ken-Rock Seminar, this years will be a bit more fast paced. We lost more than half of the crowd when we stopped to take a potty break half way through. No break this time. Click the link.... http://isakenrockfishing.blogspot.com

The place has been a family gathering spot since the beginning, November of 2013 I believe.

Pat M, Jude, Tim and a guest. and myself all met at Ojeda's Steak House & Bar for some material swapping and some really damn good food. It was great to spend some time with area smallmouthers again. The swap began after an outstanding breakfast and we all had to kind of chuckle at what other customers of Ojeda's might be thinking of us as was swapped around our pretty tying material between each other. I fear their (other customers) thoughts of us may have grown darker when Jude and Tim began talking out loud about bed pads. Not sure if Ojeda's will allow us back.

Tim - I am not tying but will swap. You got the location change did you not?