2020 BRONZEBACK BLOWOUT ORVIS HOLIDAY FISHING PROMOS HOW TO INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF SUCCESS BEFORE YOU FISH WADE CAUTIOUSLY: FISH CAN HEAR & FEEL YOU COMING JANUARY 2020 ISSUE (WEB-ONLY EDITION) www.illinoissmallmouthalliance.net Bronzeback NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO IMPROVING ILLINOIS SMALLMOUTH FISHING THROUGH CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION JANUARY 2020 ISSUE www.illinoissmallmouthalliance.net GIVING THANKS ORVIS HOLIDAY FISHING PROMOS UPCOMING EVENTS ISA 2019 CONSERVATION WRAP-UP SHOW US YOUR CATCH JIM CROWLEY: FEATURED SPEAKER AT 2020 BLOWOUT HOW TO INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF SUCCESS WADE CAUTIOUSLY: FISH CAN HEAR & FEEL YOU COMING 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 14 Contents BRONZEBACK NEWSLETTER Published bi-monthly by The Illinois Smallmouth Alliance Inc. One year membership is $30. Scott Ferguson 1506 Roth Dr. Joliet, IL 60431 630-209-9452 isalliance@sbcglobal.net www.illinoissmallmouthalliance.net We encourage catch and release. ILLINOIS SMALLMOUTH ALLIANCE President Bart Durham durhamlaw@sbcglobal.net Treasurer, Membership Scott Ferguson isalliance@sbcglobal.net Conservation Director Terry Dodge duckdodge62@yahoo.com Fly Fishing Director John Loebach j.loebach@comcast.net Northwest Region Coordinators Paul Trybul ptrybul@rkdixon.com Chicago Region Coordinators Ed Buric ebburic@yahoo.com Mark Lutz mlutzy@gmail.com Eugene Collins efcfish@gmail.com On the cover: 2020 Bronzeback Blowout speaker Jim Crowley with a beautiful smallie 2 W W W. I L L I N O I S S M A L L M O U T H A L L I A N C E . N E T BRONZEBACK NEWSLET TER J A N U A RY 2 0 2 0 I S S U E 3 Giving Thanks BY BART DURHAM ISA President Each Thanksgiving, my mother (now deceased) had a request that before we delved into her delicious Thanksgiving spread, we go around the dinner table and one by one each family member verbally express what they were thankful for from the preceding year. In that spirit and, as President of the ISA, I share with you what I am thankful for this Thanksgiv- ing season. In this era of partisan politics, political division and cultural/racial divide the ISA is truly a unique organization. Our membership is made up of a diverse group of individuals that cover all walks of Illinois life. As part of our ISA membership we all work toward a common goal, the preservation and proliferation of the small- mouth bass. Our membership includes men and woman from around the world, those from urban and rural areas, young and old, spin fishermen and fly fishermen, Republican, Independent and Democratic members, all working toward a common goal for the conservation and preservation of the smallmouth bass. I am thankful for being part of an organization that works together toward a common goal and vision based on what unites us and not what divides us. I am thankful for the many benefits I have received through my ISA membership: the lifelong friendships I have made, the biolo- gy and science I have learned, the fishing knowledge I have gained and imparted. I am thankful for the conservation and river clean-up projects I have been able to partake in which have taught me so much and left me with the feeling of ac- complishment and joy after completing. I am thankful the new Illinois Smallmouth Bass record holder, Joe Capilupo, took the measures he did to make sure the record-breaking smallmouth he caught this fall was released safely back into Lake Michigan. Congrats on the catch and thank you, Joe! I am sure most of you have similar thanks from your ISA membership. It makes you realize how much of a bargain you get from your ISA membership. I leave you with a few tidbits on upcoming ISA events: It’s hard to beat the combination of delicious pizza and smallmouth bass discussion. On Friday, December 6th at 7:00 pm, please join the ISA for its annual Pizza Party at Papa Passero’s located at 6326 South Cass Ave. in Westmont. Come and share your smallmouth fish- ing stories from this past year and enjoy some of the best pizza in the suburbs. On January 23-26, 2020, the ISA will be operating a booth at the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel and Outdoor Expo which will be held at the Renaissance Conven- tion Center in Schaumburg. If you’re at the show, please stop by and say hello. Finally, the ISA Blowout is only a few months away and will be held on Saturday, March 7th, 2020 at Elmhurst American Legion Hall located at 310 West Butterfield Road in Elmhurst. Our featured speaker will be Jim Crowley and we’re hopeful that our honorary guest, recent Illinois Smallmouth Bass record holder, Joe Capilupo, will be able to join us and share with us the story behind his catch and release 4 W W W. I L L I N O I S S M A L L M O U T H A L L I A N C E . N E T ORVIS HOLIDAY FISHING PROMOS Mike Mladenik Guide Service Experience World Class Smallmouth Fishing! Marinette, Oconto & Florence Counties in Northeast Wisconsin, including the Menominee River Contact: Mike Mladenik N6550 S. 6th St. Crivitz, Wisconsin 54114 • (715) 854-2055 Be sure to visit the website www.BigSmallmouthBass.com Official guide of the ISA Road Trip All Fresh and Saltwater Recon Rods now on sale! $349 and $359 respectively. All Hydros Fly Lines, $29! All Clearwater Fly Lines, $19! All Clearwater and Superfine Rod Pack- ages are 20% off through Christmas! All Hydros SL Large Arbor Reels $60 off! All Pro Collection waders, boots and technical clothing now in stock BRONZEBACK NEWSLET TER J A N U A RY 2 0 2 0 I S S U E 5 n CHICAGO REGION Friday, December 6th —Annual Pizza Party at Pappa Passero’s Pizza, 6326 S. Cass Ave., Westmont, IL at 7:00 pm. One of our more popular social gatherings of the year! Meet with your fellow members to rehash the past year and make plans for the coming year. Saturday, March 7th —21st Annual Bronzeback Blowout, American Legion Hall, 310 W. Butterfield Rd, Elmhurst, IL, 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm with guest speakers, dinner, raffle, and auction. Always a popu- lar event! See page 8 for full details. We will hold a Saturday morning breakfast get together in January, Feburary and March with the time and place to be an- nounced for each month. Upcoming Events Did you catch any nice smallies (or other species) lately? How about sharing photos of your catch with other members in the Bronzeback Newsletter? Submit photos (with your name; body of water optional) to: ferguson.crystal@ sbcglobal.net, Subject Line: Show Us Your Catch. You may be featured in an upcoming issue! 6 W W W. I L L I N O I S S M A L L M O U T H A L L I A N C E . N E T ISA 2019 Conservation Wrap-Up BY TERRY DODGE ISA Conservation A big thanks to all of you who pitched in and lent a helping hand when and where needed. Your help has made a difference and that means a lot in this crazy little world we all live on. Again, thank you! Coal Ash Pits In the month of March I started a three- stage letter signing campaign for the Dynegy Midwest Generation stabilization project on the Middle Fork of the Ver- milion River. I must admit that I was not too sure about these online letter signing deals, or how much effect they have on issues. It turns out, in this case, to have been very effective, with wins in all three stages, ultimately forcing Dynegy to pull the project and return to the drawing board to rethink it their proposal. This was accomplished due to the overwhelm- ing response of the letter signing, so yes, these letters do get seen, and they do make a difference. Look for more cam- paign in 2020 as this iIssue will not be put to rest until Dynegy empties and removes the coal ash from the pits. Dupage River Sweep In the month of May, ISA President Bart Durham and ISA member Kevin Daly joined approximately 50 volunteers on a beautiful Saturday morning to assist the Bolingbrook Park District in cleaning up the DuPage River as part of the 2019 Du- Page River Sweep. The River Sweep vol- unteers helped clean up liter, refuse and flood debris (a lot of plastic) in an area along the East Branch that stretched from the Royce Road Bridge kayaklaunch to the Whalon Lake waterfall downstream of the Hidden Lakes Park District trout ponds. Bart plans to head up the 2020 sweep on behalf of the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance (ISA) so please keep an eye on the Forums beginning in April to volunteer and lend a hand. Water Willows John Loebach and Ed Buric headed up our water willow planting efforts along the DuPage and Fox rivers. Water levels for this years plantings were somewhat of a concern and forced some last minute re- scheduling but John managed to keep a close eye on the situation and scheduled the dates around the rains and made for a safe event for all involved. A big thanks to our volunteers for lending a hand and making these plantings the pride of the ISA! Out of State: Menominee River Back 40 Project Karen Prange, owner of the Tinkers Dam cabin on the Menominee River, asked if the ISA could submit a letter to the local paper in Marinette, WI, stating our op- position to the proposed “Back 40 Mine.” As Conservation Director, I did quite a bit of research on the matter and when con- sidering the fact that dozens of ISA fisher- men visit this area every year to stay in local hotels, eat in local restaurants and support the local economy because of the beauty and fishing opportunities the Menominee provides, I constructed the letter as requested. The letter was well received and very much appreciated and even read aloud during the court hearings. This is another issue which will carry over into 2020, which is a good thing. Again, keep an eye on the Forums for more info on this issue and please lend a hand in protecting one of this nation’s most pristine smallmouth fisher- ies. I SA Conservation Director; Terry Dodge? Although I may hold the title of the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance Conservation Direc- tor, I do not feel that I am the best person suited for the position. I stepped up to fill the position temporarily until a new direc- tor was found or volunteered. The ISA Leadership Team is in search of a Conser- vation Director. If you might be interested in heading up the conservation efforts of the ISA, please contact myself or any of the officers to express your interest or to find out more information. Water willow planting BRONZEBACK NEWSLET TER J A N U A RY 2 0 2 0 I S S U E 7 Show Us Your Catch! Show Us Your Catch! John Schenck (left) with a 19” K3 River beauty caught 10/30/19 on a Westin MegaTeez V-tail and sure-set biscuit jig and (below) with a 16.5” Dupage River smallie caught on a John Graham warrior swim jig and big hammer swim bait combo. 8 W W W. I L L I N O I S S M A L L M O U T H A L L I A N C E . N E T BRONZEBACK BRONZEBACK BLOWOUT BLOWOUT Saturday March 7, 2020 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Illinois Smallmouth Alliance 21st Annual American Legion Hall 310 W Butterfield Rd. Elmhurst, IL Dinner • Raffle • Auction Featuring Guest Speaker Dinner Catered by Firewater BBQ Jim Crowley Host of “Hook and Hunt TV”, Outdoor Writer and frequent event speaker. Tickets are $35 per person Seating is limited and must be purchased in advance Tickets will be waiting for you at the door. Purchase online at www.illinoissmallmouthalliance.net and click on the heading “2020 Bronzeback Blowout” If paying by check, please include a name for each person attending, Make checks payable to: Illinois Smallmouth Alliance Mail to: Bronzeback Blowout, 1506 Roth Dr, Joliet, IL 60431 BRONZEBACK NEWSLET TER J A N U A RY 2 0 2 0 I S S U E 9 Jim Crowley was born on January 16, 1967. His father started him fishing when he was just 3 years old. Jim has fished in the Caribbean, the Pacific,throughout the Midwest, and Canada. Jim has fished extensively in Canada including Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba where he holds 2 Manitoba Master Angler awards for Northern Pike! He started tournament fishing in 1991. His Tournament accom- plishments include: 1993 Midwest Bass Angler of the Year, 1993, 1998, and 1999 Bloomington Normal Classic Champion. 5 time Illinois Bass Federation Classic Quali- fier, 2000 Illinois Bass Federation Winner on Smithland Pool (Ohio River) and 2 time Wal-Mart BFL Regional Qualifier. Jim was also the (with team member Andy Wegner) 2004 Strike King Ever/Bloom Tournament Trail Classic Champion. Jim is sought after throughout the Midwest for seminar appearances. His animated presentations keep audiences informed and entertained. He is known for getting his audiences involved in his shows and this results in fun for all. Former promo- tions manager of the Bass Pro Shops, in Gurnee, Illinois stated,” Without a doubt, Jim Crowley is one of the best. He is a crowd favorite!” Crowley is the host of “ Hook and Hunt TV” and has appeared on numerous other television shows, including, CLTV’s The Great Outdoors, Adventure Sports Outdoors, (Illinois, Missouri) Illinois Outdoors (Illinois) Country Angling (Ohio) and repeated appearances on Midwest Outdoors (nation wide on Satellite and the Sportsman’s Channel) where Crowley host several episodes and “Tip of the Week” segments per year. Jim also teaches a Basics in Bass Fishing course, every year. Numerous radio interviews and monthly columns in Heartland Outdoors, Midwest Outdoors, and Fishing Facts Magazine, keep him visible to the public and the me- dia. In addition to all of this, Jim’s web site (www.jimmyfish.net) is an exciting Travel and Destinations web page that show cases awesome angling destinations, places to stay, and BIG FISH. Jim Crowley loves to fish. He is a competi- tor and promoter who take the business side of the sport and the level of competi- tion seriously. He is an articulate speaker who loves to share his knowledge and experiences with the public. Through undaunted persistence, he continues his winning ways. JIM CROWLEY: F EATURED SPEAKER AT THE 2020 BRONZEBACK BLOWOUT 10 W W W. I L L I N O I S S M A L L M O U T H A L L I A N C E . N E T How to Increase Your Odds of Success Before You Fish BY NORM MINAS Late ISA Member I have heard it asked in a variety of ways many times over, “I’ve never fished here before, what’s the magic bait and the magic spot so I can catch big fish all day long?” Well, the magic bait has never been invented and I doubt it ever will be. I have yet to find that secret spot that produces big fish all day long. If I ever do you can bet the farm that my lips will remain sealed. There are some things, however, that you can do to help yourself find success on a new river. If you are willing to do some legwork and research before you start fishing a new river you can put the odds in your favor. The best part is most of the research can be done from the comfort of your own home. It is a good way to spend some time on those days that circumstances conspire to keep you off the water. One of the best sources of information is the fisheries biologist who works on the river you want to fish. Since you probably won’t know who that person is or how to contact him you will have to get in touch with the state or province that employs him. Fear not, I have two ways for you to get that information. The first is through the National Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Directory. It can be found at www.nwf.org/conserva- tiondirectory or call 1-800-822-9919. The second is to contact the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. It can be found at www.fishwildlife.org or call 202-624-7890. Once you have the appropriate agency you will need to give them the name of the river and a specific location on the river as pos- sible. In some cases the river may flow thru that agency’s divisional lines. In other cases there may be more than one river with that name in that state. It’s a good idea to ask them if they know of any other governmental or regulatory body down to the municipal level that might be able to provide more information. While you are talking to them ask about any publications or maps they may have and if they have any websites you could access. A very important point to remember is to get in touch with the biologist well before you plan on taking the trip. Twixt Murphy’s Law and the current economy dictating smaller staffs it’s a good bet they’re busy the first time you call. It’s probably a good idea to try to contact the biologist during the winter months when it’s more likely they will be in the office than in the field. Once you do make contact do not expect to get a list of honey holes full of big fish. Most of these guys like to fish and, like most of us, aren’t going to give up their good spots. I generally try to find out what species of fish are present both game and non-gamefish. I also like to find out what types of forage are available be it fish, crustacean, insect or amphibian. It helps to know if there are good populations of clams or turtles as that can speak to the health and cleanliness of the river. I won’t even mention that this will give Don Rego something to fish for if he goes with you. I like to find out what the population levels are, how the natural reproduction and recruitment is going or if any stocking has taken place. If there has been stocking knowing what species, what size, how many and what years is very important. It doesn’t hurt to ask if you can get copies of any fish surveys they have done and don’t hesitate to offer to pay for the copies to be made. The next thing to find out are the environ- mental conditions of the river. This would include things as gradient, current speed, types of bottom content, types of water weeds, how much wood cover, any riprap. Water clarity and types of shoreline such as woodland, prairie or wetland. I would inquire about local climate conditions over the past couple years and the effects of such on the river. You should definitely inquire about any regulations that may be in effect. Do not forget to ask about any other agen- cies or if he knows of any scientific papers written about that river. If you get lucky he may even be able to recommend some local anglers or bait shops to call. After all that let him know when you plan to visit and ask if he would be available for you to buy lunch or dinner. If that isn’t pos- sible send a gift card to a local restaurant to his office. You should also write a letter to his supervisor and tell him how much you appreciated the biologist’ time and efforts. The next step is to get in touch with the local Chamber of Commerce in all the communi- ties near where you plan to fish. You should also check to see if the county or state has a chamber of commerce or tourist bureau that can provide information. They should be happy to do so as it is their job to bring you and your dollars to their area. They should be able to provide information on local baitshops marinas, boat launches, resorts, lodging and restaurants. They should also have information on access areas anything from city parks or county forest preserves to state and federal parks. I always ask for all the maps and brochures they have as you never know which one will prove most useful. Once again ask each agency you talk to if they know of other sources of informa- tion. It is worth repeating get all the maps you can even if it’s just city parks along the river, you never know which one may lead you to the honey hole you seek. The third thing to do is to go online and use the multitude of search engines that are available. Be sure to use a variety of keywords/subjects as each can bring you new leads to follow. I will chase down every reference provided as you never know what kind of information it can lead to. I have had some seemingly innocuous references lead to solid gold (well bronzebacks). If you get any references to scientific papers written on that river be sure to search that journal’s archives for more papers. I will also perform a search with the authors to see what comes of that. You should also check with that states Department of Natural History or water survey if they have one for more papers. An excellent source is the American Fisheries Society but you either need to join or go to their website and buy access to individual papers. Any fishing reports or fishing websites related to that river obviously are a great source to follow up on. It wouldn’t hurt to look for any guide books written on that river. I know there have been some excellent ones written by Bruce Ingram. (continued) FROM THE ARCHIVES... BRONZEBACK NEWSLET TER J A N U A RY 2 0 2 0 I S S U E 11 I will check out the online map services to see what information may be gleaned from them. I like to have the DELORME ATLAS and GAZETTEER to reference if one is available for that state. It’s worthwhile to see if maps are available from sources like FISHING HOT SPOTS as they can provide a wealth of information. Canoe guide books are also well worth acquiring for access points and general information on river conditions. They also speak to navigation hazards like log jams or large boulders which can also be great places to fish. There is nothing like being tipped off to a potentially good spot. When I compare the different maps that will allow me to ask questions later about possible discrepancies or hazards when I talk to lo- cal anglers. One point to remember is that rivers are in a constant state of flux so no map will be completely accurate especially when it comes to depths. Once you start reading the fishing web- sites don’t just read the fishing reports. You should take the time to check out the archives and articles feature for more infor- mation. I especially like to read articles writ- ten by those who also write fishing reports on the river I’m interested in. This can give me further insight into what type of current conditions, cover types, lures or presenta- tions are relevant to that flow. I would send a PM or email to those authors letting them know I had read and appreciated their ef- forts in writing the reports and articles. I will also write to those who have authored well written fishing reports even if they don’t write articles. I do let them know I’m a member of the ISA and am catch and release oriented. You should not ask for specific spots but seek information on what kinds of current conditions, cover, depths, weed types, lures or presentations are best for the time frame you will be there. You can ask about access areas you learned of from other sources but just general stuff like how busy it is, how much parking is there and what kind of condition it is in. This is also the time to ask about potential hazards and the accuracy of maps previously consulted. I have found that this approach is the most likely to get useful information. In some cases, you may get a whole lot more, maybe even an invita- tion to fish with them. I always let them know I will reciprocate if they come to my flow and follow up with a note of thanks. One of the benefits of being an ISA member is that you can ask for information on the ISA website. We not only have many members with a traveling jones but others that have moved from out of state. You may not only get some solid information but start a friend- ship with another like minded angler. Finally the day has come, you are at the river and you have a whole week to fish it. Instead of launching your watercraft or pulling on your waders right away, there are still a few more things you can do to up your odds of success. Pull out the maps you marked with the areas that look to have the type of water you want to fish at that time of year. You, of course, have all the access areas, bait shops, boat launches and any other points of interest marked as well. All of the notes with the information you have diligently gathered is at hand and ready to refer to. It’s time to take a tour. On this tour you should look at the lay of the land and read the water at the various access points. At each access area get out and take a hike along the river. You should note any changes in the topography, flora or substrate along the shore that could indicate transition zones that extend into the water. Take the time to read the water for visual clues and note the types of cover present. Now is the time to update your notes if necessary and to start making mental comparisons of each area. That way when the tour is over you should have an idea of the best place to start and options to go to if Plan A doesn’t work. Be sure to talk to local anglers you encoun- ter and ask general questions about depth, current conditions, cover options, lures and presentations that are presently working. If they aren’t catching anything make note of what, how and where they were not catch- ing anything. If you know what doesn’t work that will help eliminate options. Well, that is if you think the other guy has a clue as to what he’s doing. I will stop at local bait shops, ask them about the hot lures for that time of the year and buy some. Then I will ask for general information on locational patterns and presentations that are presently working. I have found that spending money in the store tends to get you better answers. If you think about it you are buying their time and knowledge just like you would a guide’s. You probably have noticed by now I keep stressing two things; always ask for more sources of information and don’t ask for specific spots. The first is just common sense, you have taken the time to consult a local expert so why not get all you can from that source. They may be able to lead you to someone who has more information you can use or even a different perspective on information you already have. After all it’s not like you know where all the resources are or could possibly be aware of all the local gov- erning or regulatory agencies for that river. The second part about not asking for spe- cific spots comes from my personal belief you should not ask for something you would not be willing to share yourself. I would not give a stranger, be it in person or in an on- line situation exact spots and it’s been my experience most fishermen feel the same way. For those that have read my fishing reports or talked to me in person know that telling someone how deep, type of current situation, climatic or flow conditions, cover type, time of day and what lures/presenta- tions is what I’m about. I believe that most good fisherman are not only capable of but willing to share that kind of information. For those reasons, I feel comfortable writing about asking for that information. Even if you would give a stranger exact locations are you willing to possibly alienate a potentially excellent source of information who prob- ably believes as I do? In closing, now that you have gathered all the information possible, analyzed it and made choices based on your experience, it’s time to fish. INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF SUCCESS (continued from page 10) 12 W W W. I L L I N O I S S M A L L M O U T H A L L I A N C E . N E T PJ’s Guide Service Specializing in Fly Fishing trips to Southwest Wisconsin Call (630) 441-3645 pjguides@sbcglobal.net Visit PJ on Facebook Andrew Ragas Northwoods Bass Fishing Adventures specializing in trophy bass on Northern Wisconsin’s inland waters. (708) 256-2201 andrew@northwoodsbass.com www.northwoodsbass.com www.northwoodsbass.com Based in Minocqua, WI, we offer unique specialty fishing trips such as trophy hunts, numbers days, technique-specific workshops, lake-learn sessions, wilderness adventures, plus more. Abe Downs abe@greatnorthernflyfishing.com 715.572.3225 Great Northern Fly Fishing • Guiding Northern Wisconsin Rivers http://www.greatnorthernflyfishing.com BRONZEBACK NEWSLET TER J A N U A RY 2 0 2 0 I S S U E 13 Join us for our annual PIZZA PARTY! Friday, December 6th • 7:00 pm Papa Passero’s Pizza, 6326 S. Cass Ave., Westmont, IL FREE for members, $5 for guests Bring your appetite! Bring your appetite! 14 W W W. I L L I N O I S S M A L L M O U T H A L L I A N C E . N E T As anglers we have all spooked fish, sometimes by plopping a fly on top of them, sometimes by casting a line over them, sometimes just by wading too closely. All too frequently I cautiously approach the best hole on my home creek only to watch every large shadow streaking both up and downstream before I’ve even made a single cast. How do fish know we’re there? First and foremost, fish see us and see us quite well. Fish are on a constant lookout for predators out of the water, including blue heron, mink, raccoon and people, and they are extremely wary of movements above the water. They are less frightened of motion in the water, as evidenced by the advances of scuba divers and snorkelers. Fish Can Hear & Feel You Coming WADE CAUTIOUSLY BY ANN MILLER, Aquatic Biologist, Michigan FISH CAN SEE BETTER ON A A BRIGHT, SUNNY DAY THAN DURING LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS... Reprinted from the Jan 2012 Bronzeback Magazine BRONZEBACK NEWSLET TER J A N U A RY 2 0 2 0 I S S U E 15 Fish can see both in front and to the side underwater, but their vision is restricted to a certain degree by material in the water column. However, fish can see quite well above the water, possessing a window or cone of vision that extends 97 degrees above their head to the water’s surface, and then extending out about 160 degrees above the water. All this can seem a bit confusing — it has to do with light. I find that it helps to think of a fish with an upside down witch’s hat on its head that represents its window of sight. When a fish is at the bottom of a stream, it can see everything within the cone of the hat as well as what the hat brim touches on the adjacent shore. (Keep in mind that the hat brim extends to 10 degrees above the water’s surface toward the shore.) As the fish moves up toward the surface, the hat moves up with it. So as the cone of the hat goes up, the fish actually has a narrower window. In addition, the brim of the hat also moves up so the fish sees less on shore. For this reason, it pays for an angler to crouch low when approaching a stream. Fish can see better on a bright, sunny day than during low-light conditions such as at dusk or dawn. Raindrops on the water distort a fish’s vision, which is an advantage to the angler fishing during a Blue-Winged Olive hatch. During a hatch fish tend to be near the surface, so again their cone of vision is reduced and they are less likely to see an angler (assuming he/she is casting from a reasonable distance). Besides sight, fish can hear. I remember my dad always hollering at us kids to be quiet in the rowboat. Scraping tackle boxes across the aluminum bottom, spilling a bottle of orange Faygo, or dropping a Zebco reel all elicited the same G-D curse. Turns out he was right, fish can hear although they do not have external ears. Fish do have internal ears, complete with otoliths for sensing sound and semicircular canals for sensing rotation. The inner ear is covered with minute cilia that sense movements, translating various signals to the brain. Since fish have no external ears, the mechanism for sound wave detection is rather interesting. Sound created underwater creates a pressure wave as it travels. Most fish possess a swim bladder that is filled with air. As sound travels from an underwater source toward the fish, the pressure waves compress and expand the air-filled swim bladder as well as vibrate surrounding tissues. The sound is pulsated throughout the bladder in all directions, including towards the inner ear. Some fish have just so-so hearing and are called hearing general- ists, i.e., the rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon. Fish that are hearing specialists have some additional hardware that aids in sound reception. Fish such as carp and catfish possess stirrup-shaped bones called Weberian ossicles. The ossicles, really modified bones of the spinal cord, connect the swim bladder directly to the otoliths in the inner ear, expanding the frequency of their hearing range. Lastly, fish possess another organ for sensing motion and that is the lateral line. The lateral line is used for sensing move- ment much closer to the body, say within one to two body lengths. The lateral line is made up of neuromasts, which are bundles of sensory cells with projecting hairs. Neuromasts are scattered around the fish’s head and jaws and are also centralized in a canal on both sides of the fish’s body. The canal is actually open to the environment through a series of pores; the neuromasts sit inside the pores and detect changes in water movement based on how the hairs bend. The lateral line system is a very important system to the fish, especially in low light situations. As a fish swims, it sets up a pressure wave that is detected by other fish as well as by itself. These pressure waves are very low frequency, which are detected by the lateral line system. A swimming fish also produces a bow wave in front of itself, which is a higher- pressure wave than the waves produced from its sides. As a fish approaches an object like a rock, the pressure waves around its body are altered and in turn detected by the lateral line, allowing the fish to reposition itself accordingly. This is why a fish in a tank does not swim into the glass. Schooling fish are able to synchronize their movements and stick together by virtue of the lateral line system. And yes, they do screw up sometimes — most anglers have had a fish crash headlong into a leg. Not sure what that’s all about — clogged pores maybe? Nocturnal fish rely heavily on their lateral line system for detecting prey, darting across the stream bottom in short, zigzag patterns, pausing to sense their next meal. So unfortunately, there are plenty of ways that a fish senses you in the water. Wading carefully is more than just a safety issue — it is also about catching more fish. Understanding piscatorial senses should help explain why it is necessary to put a fly directly in front of a fish during a night hatch or why a streamer that pushes water is highly effective. 16 W W W. I L L I N O I S S M A L L M O U T H A L L I A N C E . N E T ORVIS IS PLEASED TO PARTNER WITH T HE IL L INOIS SM A L L MOU T H A L L I A NCE in protecting and sustaining Illinois’ waterways orvis chicago | 142 east ontario st. | chicago, il 60611 | 312-440-0662 | orvis.com/chicago 4201_BRONZEBACK_MAG_AD.indd 1 11/25/14 11:05 AM www.offthedeepedge.com Now guiding for smallmouth on Mille Lacs Lake in MN Craig Riendeau ISA Member Special! 50% DISCOUNT on either a half day or full day guided trip for one or two anglers on Lake Mille Lacs, Minnesota with Off the Deep Edge Fly Fishing Guide Service. Pay for a half day and fish for a full day or pay for one day and get two. This is for either one or two anglers.