hfdhoosier

I would also be interested in how the park and stream is. Haven't been there since opening 2 weeks. Would love to see pics of the damage. ILL Trot Bum: Doesn't seem that your pics posted.

Keep the reports and trout porn coming.

I always use a furled leader on my fly rods. I bought a DVD from Kathy Scott that had step by step instructions how to make your own furled leader. I buy the mini tippet rings for the tippet end and a shorb loop for the fly line end. I bought a service spool (3300yds) of Maxima 2 lb ultragreen and make my leaders out of that. I haven't had one fail on me yet. I grease mine up with red mucilin or Payette floatant and it becomes a clear extension of the floating line. Montauk lodge has the red mucilin but you pay more there than most other places. I bought the payette floatant from Bass Pro, it looks like vaseline, might try vaseline next time out to see if it will work. I made one up the other day and soaked it with scotchgaurd waterproofer, will try it next time out also. I have also used ultra thread 6/0 and they worked super for dry flies. If you don't like the backlash problem with the mono leaders, give the thread leaders a try....I think you will like them.

I bought SA Sharkskin line for my 6wt. It is very limp and casts better than any line I have tried. I have only tried "house" line that came on my reels, SA Mastery trout, and Rio Classic trout. The sharkskin way outperformed all of those....not even close. The line is limp as string and sailed out of the guides effortlessly. The downside is it does make noise going thru the guides which didnt bother me, and it has a rough feeling texture to it so will chaffe your fingers and hand if you strip alot and dont wear some kind of glove. I would highly recommend you try it out at Feathercraft or Hargroves, I feel it is going to be my line of choice from now on. It is $99.95 but I think it is that much better than the next line down that SA has got (Mastery Trout@ $69). If you keep lookin on E-Bay you can get it cheaper in different weights at time. I bought mine from Readings Fly shop at Bennett, he said in laboratory tests it outlasted other lines 6 to 1, he said actually more than that but SA didnt want to sound too unbelievable. He said they also gaurantee it wont wear the guides faster, he told me if it wears out quickly or wears the guides to bring it back to him and he will go to bat for me with SA. He felt it was the best line on the market. I think its worth your time to give it a try.

sent you a pm

Good games to start out in the NFL play offs. I'm a long time Charger fan, no one gave them a chance. Even without LT, they are a force to be reckoned with. Go Bolts. Who are you rooting for?

I'm in the same boat as KFF, I could not get off work. I am so bummed out about missing this get together. I was looking forward to it. Will have to shoot for next year, happy new year to all of you.

I haven't seen any Montauk posts lately...getting the urge to break away for a couple days and fish since gas prices are down. Any recent reports?

going bow hunting....can't make it. JJ did you get a new vehicle or did you put the convertible up for the winter?

Illinois' firearm season is this weekend, I have used doe estrous scent in the past but like the others, haven't had any regular success at it. It is illegal to feed or put out mineral licks here in Illinois. I'm sure it is done, but regulations state you can not feed wildlife but it also states you can hunt so many days after bait is removed. Guess one of those grey areas in the laws. I'm sure I would end up on the black and white (jail) side of the law if I did it. I usually just use vocal calls and antlers and hope for the best.

Phil. I agree, scrolling down the forum on my Motorola Q9c takes forever....but I have to get my forum fix and if that is what it takes, so be it. It sure passes the time in the deer stand when you are not seeing any deer.

So thats what them fine ladies are doing, bible study. I get it now! I wondered why they kept talking about missionary style. lol

Britts: I believe this is the number: 800-334-6946

We just called the store and they said if we put a deposit down they would open up a motel room that was usually closed for us. They stated they could call in a maid to get the room ready and clean up after we checked out. I think you are right, there was no maid service during our stay. Campground loop 1 was full, they said alot of deer hunters staying there since it coincided with deer hunting opening weekend. That was opening weekend catch and release tho not Nov 1st. The ozarkflyfishers club always has their outing at Bennett the first weekend of catch and release, that was my first and only time to Bennett during catch and release.

I was at Bennett the first day of catch and release last year. They had the gate just north of the check in hut closed to where you couldnt even get to campground loops 2-5. Call the lodge, they will tell you. Wouldnt want to get locked in by the gate. lol Last year loop 1 was full, we called the lodge and they opened a motel room for us to stay in the park.

LMW: I agree, look at the mess Illinois is in. I hear there will be no Game Wardens this year and no pheasants at Carlyle because our Governor cut the DNR budget. Good example of Chicagoland politics and thats exactly what we will get with Obama. He is definitely not a friend to the outdoorsman. I cant believe some of the beliefs that Obama will be good for our fishing future. We need pro hunting and fishing politicians in office.

Wish I could go again, but have to catch up on hours at work. Good luck.

A few pics My buddy Jeremy caught this monster Rainbow on a 14 parachute adams Lots of fish in the stream

I was real happy to see the water was clear and only up slightly when I hit the river Fri. morning. With all the rain I was concerned that it could be up and muddy. Fri morning I hit Tan Vat access on the Current and caught 2 fish right off the bat on light orange egg pattern. Then the bite quit, tried almost everything in the flybox, I only fished for about 2 hours and just the hole below Tan Vat. Both fish were Rainbows and of average size. Some fishing buddies showed up at the campsite and by 4 pm we were hitting the water at the park. Jeremy had bought some parachute adams off ebay and was quickly on some fish. Red zebra midges were good in the real deep holes and the shallows. Olive woolybuggers and olive san juans did well in the slower water, drifted under an indicator. My wife caught lots of fish on glo balls. Everyone caught plenty of fish. Saturday was about the same, fish were a little more picky but was able to catch fish fairly steady. There was a lot more people on the stream but no problem finding a spot to fish. I had bought some regular adams dry flies at the lodge and they worked real well, in sizes 14-18. Same flies as above worked well all weekend. Sunday we got out late and the fishing was slower, had to change up alot. We still managed to catch fish but the fish seemed to turn on instantly and you would catch a few and then they would turn off for awhile. We planned on going home on Sunday but the wives decided to allow us to stay another day. They headed home and we were left to fish another day. The river had more people than I expected for a Monday. We caught fish on copper johns, olive woolies, red san juans, and red zebra midges. Great outing and the weather was beautiful and no rain. On the way home, about a half an hour from home we ran into a wicked storm. It hailed on us for almost a half an hour, with some around golf ball size. Today I noticed small dents in my truck but I think they will probably pop out after some hot sun on them. The pop-up camper has alot of permanent dents in the top but none look to be compromising the operation of the camper or large enough to cause any leakage problems. All in all we were lucky with the size of the hail and the velocity they were hitting the vehicles.

Patfish: The wife and I are staying at Eagles Park, hope to hit Tan Vat in the morning. Gonna be there till Sun. evening. I wear a faded orange OAF hat, drive a silver Dodge 2500, say hello if you see me.

Thanks for the update, I'm headed there this weekend and will post a report and hopefully some pics. Tied up a bunch of big bright egg patterns and san juans.

Amen! Trophy fish are meant to be caught more than once. But they probably won't last long at Montauk, especially with Rose Holland tournament coming up in October.

Thanks for the post. sounds like they were being pretty picky. The wife and I are headed down this weekendwith a few friends, could get washed out. I hope its still fishable.

Don't have an I-phone but did get a motorola Q9C recently. I agree, the smartphones are great. Didn't think I would use most of the features but am warming up to them. Can't remember how I lived without one. Always checking the posts on this forum with the internet connection on my phone.

Here is some pics..... Nice bow on orange san juan worm close up river pic downriver wife fishing upriver another fish landed fish landed in the fog