skjordan

That would make one heck of a bluegill fillet.

I think I good spend all day catching those on the long rod and it would be totally enjoyable.

I'd stick with the morels, much safer and I can't image you would find a wild mushroom that tastes better. At least someone is finding them. Mushroom hunting has been very humbling for me. I figure if I stick with it and pay my dues exploring, that it will become rewarding for me.

I try to think of mushroom hunting as good exercise and a chance to get some good photos. Then Im not as bummed out when I dont find any. Like today!

Heres some misc. fungi I saw.

I checked out 1 of my spots in Ogle County and I found nothing. It still may be too early in Northen IL for heavily wooded areas.

Fresh Morels popped up in Macon County Wednesday.

Never did find any greys this year. But thats okay yellows are bigger.

After the rain last night I will need my chest waders to hunt today.

I found a log full of these big rascals, Im trying to find out if they are edible. Anybody know?

If you are finding yellows in central IL then there should be some greys here in northern, IL. The rivers are high and muddy so I might as well go hunting.

Paul, I was amazed to find yellows since I hadnt found any greys yet. Iam still expecting to find greys when I go today. I think the yellows were isolated to that one area.

Iam sure glad that I enjoy mushroom hunting otherwise I would be pulling my hair out (whats left) with this continued wet weather pattern.

I had my morels with braised tenderloin over the weekend at an Olive Garden in Ohio, of all places.

 

To be honest, it had me wondering where I might find a bushel of my own.

Of course, I'd need a Mushroom Guide to figure out which ones won't kill me.

 

Any good ones we should know about?

Morels are very recognizable and there isnt any other mushroom that looks similar. Just take a look at Jonesy post/picture and you will beable to identify the real thing. Go find yourself a wooded park and start looking. BTW kids love to go "room" hunting. They may not find any but being out in the woods always seemed to be enough for my kids. Of course now they love hunting mushrooms with their kids.

I found eight large yellow morels Sunday in low areas near a stream and they were actualy a little old. Went out this afternoon, early, and had to walk alittle while to get to where I wanted to hunt and the rain started. Luckly I had taken my rain coat so I only got soaked from the waist down.

Jonn, nice cray imatation.

I love the Enrico Puglisi streamer brush with the micro legs, albeit it is a bit pricey.

Alan Sherman used the streamer brush material to tie his version of the Hairy Fodder at the Flies of the ISA event earlier this month.

He really likes it because its so much lighter than the wet rabbit fur to cast.

Alan ommitted the rattle in his demo so when I got home I tied some with the rattle. I like the plumper profile and the sound.

Here are the other ties that were shown.

Charlie Boy Hopper

Periodical Cicada

Eye Screw Baitfish (articulated tail on this one)

Clouser Swimming Nymph

Chenille Frog

I like the broom handle idea, cheap and it works. If you lose it you dont cry because it didnt cost ninety bucks.

I got mine at Target, $16.00, last year its actually a hiking model. I use it mostly for mushroom hunting but it works fine in the water too.

Which outing would that be?

The Kankakee outing, June 28th. More on this as it develops.

Don, thanks for the link.

Once again a great event, bravo to the presenters, organizers and the One More Cast staff for putting this on.

All seven patterns advertized were tied and I did six before having to hit the road for the long ride home. Dont take that wrong, this event was worth the drive.

All of the fly's were definetley ones I will use. They all will catch fish and for the most part are patterns I havent tied or fished before. Im still excited about the prospects of using these new flys.

Just a word about the skill level needed to attend one of these events. If you have a vise a pair of sissors and a bobbin and can spell f-l-y you are skilled enough.

With the help of others at the table, and the presenter, a beginning tier would be able to tie along with the veterans. In one of the pictures there is a young boy seated with his father and tying right along with the rest of us. I beleive his dad will be buying tying materials for him for a number of years to come.

Nicely done Dad!

One of our members is taking the Boy Scout Troop to the Boundry Waters for a week of canoeing, camping and fishing.

His question to me was "what do I take for lures for smallmouth and walleye". Remember he's going to be carrying this stuff on his back between lakes so he needs our go to lures.

I suggested rubber baits like 6" rubber worms and tubes fished on sliders as a start but I dont have a clue on the walleye. I know I have caught sauger on rubber worms rigged and fished to imitate minnows.

Outing dates have been added to the calendar, details will be added later.

There is no scheduled outing planned in April. But if the water permits call a friend and get out there and fish.

Two changes that were made are both in June. Instead of doing the Fox river on June 13th (a bad time due to recreational canoers) we will be doing the Mackinaw this will replace the June 27th trip. Also we have scheduled an outing with the Chicago group on June 28 to fish the Kankakee with them. This trip will require some coordinating so please let me know early if you plan to attend.

I anchor off the back if traveling down stream and off the front when fishing up and like Jonn I have never had a fish tangle in the anchor rope. If I really think about it, its never even been a concern.

Night crawler under a bobber thats the way I caught my first smallie on the Little Deer Creek, Carroll County, Indiana. You know I have a picture of that fish somewhere..........Don, you really dredged up some memories with that one.

I debarb for safety........mine and others, the fish can receive the other benefits.

Anyone who fishes eventually gets stuck and with todays needle sharp hooks its even easier. Believe me its much easier and way less painful to remove a hook on site than take a trip to the ER. Cheaper to.

I have also heard about two Musky lure hookups, in people, that were really ugly. Also theres the e-mail going around of the lure in the eye. Probably wouldnt want to try to remove that one on site but having the barb pinched might have saved some damage and you wouldnt lose your vision.

Dave Franklin and I are going to try and make it, unless you guys are under two or three feet of snow.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Renzetti good choice.

I bought a 2000 series in 2006 and typically tie size 2 thru 16 flys and the cam action holds them all.

And what can I say about the rotary feature "It is so nice not to have to stand on your head when doing work on the back side of the fly"

I have a Garmin handheld unit and have no issues with it. Great tool .

However be aware that the maps that come preprogramed on the GBS leave alot to to be desired. Only major streets, state highways, interstates are shown and maybe the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. So, unless they have changed, you will have to purchase the more detailed program if you want to see streams and rivers. Im using Topo 2008 and it is very detailed and is also good for streets also. Cost $99.00.

And, it is a great tool for mushroom hunting. Go out in a strange woods all day and wonder around when you get ready to leave just follow the GPS back to your truck. Dont forget the fresh batteries at the beginning of a long day. Garmin is powered by two AA's that last 18 hours.

I use the black with the red (as the picture shows) and have had some success with them.

I am looking for a 5 weight fly reel to go along with my new 5 weight rod.

So Jonn...are you taking up trout fishing now?????

I switched to barbless hooks early in my fly fishing career and eventually on my spinning tackle also.

I dont see any advantage of using barbed hooks.

The single biggest disadvantage is you hook a freind and you have to drive them to the hospital to get it removed. That makes for one long ride. Oh did I mention she was a nurse.

Congrats Don.

Another great leader for the ISA.

I myself absolutely love Kickapoo State Park near Oakwood. Losing that park, and the others, is a travesty. Absolutely ridiculous!!

Absolute bull crap! I had heard this previously but it hadnt been confirmed. We need to get this govenor out of office before he spends us dry. Oh.....he has already done that.

The only State Park in the state I use and its gone. What I really dont understand is the rationale of closing a park that is located on the only National Senic Waterway in the state. Does this make any sense???

Does this mean the campgrounds are just closed or are they locking up the entire park?? If they lock up the park will the access at Kickapoo be posted "No Trespassing"????? But I guess there wont be any one around from the state to enforce it because the Conservation Police will be stretched so thin.

What a Hoot!!!!.

Jim I showed this to my wife, explaining the Dark Side before hand, and she got a real kick out of it.

Good job.

But seriously you need to try the long rod at least once.

Anyone know why the line twisted and what I need to do to prevent it??????

Not sure what a Murrays Maurauder looks like but the only time I have had twisting problems was throwing a "76'r".

A "76'r" has two opposing feathers sticking out behind the hook and if not tied straight they cause the fly to twirl during your cast and twist the line. Some poppers will do the same thing.

This may be your problem. Check your fly, the one on your flyline, I mean.