ChiCityBasser

Congrats

Good luck and hope u do wel and yes the smaller lakes should normally heat up faster and hope you can get a limit.

Fishing the BFL's as a Co for the first time myself with my first event being next weekend and had to go through both my big bags to organize my small bag for the events based on how the lake has been fishing from reports I have been reading. Fishing out of the Illini division and good luck to you guys as well.

Gonna go with #2

Great post

I didn't make it as the tournament director for my region didn't get me the info that they changed the launching ramp last minute from Eagle creek to Wilborn. I didn't have cell phone reception in the area and there was no update info from the director on the site pryor to me making the trip. I arrive at the Eagle Creek ramp and don't see any info regarding the ABA tourney but do see plenty of guys from the Illini Team Trail which was launching out of the Eagle Creek ramp.I borrow a cell phone to contact the ABA division director while at the ramp and then he tells me of the launch ramp change. The new ramp was too far away to make the launch with me not being from the area so he agreed to transfer my entrace fee to the next event which I agreed was fine. Check out the Illini Team Trail site for there event as the winning weight was 22.19 lbs. I can tell you the water is very very low for the lake and good luck

Sounds like the same type of weather I'll be dealing with over the weekend as well. Sounds like there were some pretty good bags caught for such a crappy day and glad you made the cut. What did you catch them on if u don't mind me asking? Good luck with you next outing as well.

Thanks for the info and hitting Shelbyville this weekend for my first ABA tourney launching out of Eagle Creek. Looks like rain but the info should help and thanks again for the update.

There have been a couple of the new Kinetic PT reels in both spinning and casting on ebay that have gone for less than $60. I would try to find one on ebay for a good deal

Cabelas Prodigy 7' MH/MF 1/4-1 oz. casting rod $100

I have 2 rods that hit that water with me each time I go and both are spinning rods, the first is a Cabelas XMLTi 6'8" M/F paired with a Pflueger Supreme XT. This combo is super light and sensitive and its spooled with 30# Power pro on one spool and 6# Flouro on the backup spool. The second combo is a Field & Stream Tec Spec 7' MH/F rig&jig rod paired with a Quantum Kinetic PTi-B20. This rod has really surprised me being a budget rod but it is perfect for its intended usage. I've learned to fish the fat ika and senko on this rod and can feel the lightest of bites with mono and it has plenty of backbone as well. Strong and sensitve and a great price as well.

Good Luck on your first event and sure you will be confirmed and added and I'm fishing my first BFL with FLW next month on Rend Lake. I was on a waiting list as well before being confirmed for the event. I talked with my guaranted boater and he confirmed for me that the field doesn't usually fill up or get more boaters til its closer to the event also.

Congrats on your win

I was going to mention ABA/American Bass Anglers also as the first tourny for the illinois north division is 4/29 at Lake Shelbyville and this will be my first tourny as well. There is also a Central division of the ABA and check out their site and see how close you are to some of the lakes.

I have a couple of the prodigy reels also which at the time I purchased mine they were made by Daiwa for cabelas and they have held up very well with no issues at all. Caught them both on sale for $70 and they can be had on ebay for about that as well.

I had a jersey made to promote my wifes catering business and thought it was a unique way to promote and advertise her business. Any catering event that she gets or looks to her site from people seeing on my jersey is free advertising and I get paid in that way by promoting her. The jersey is also comfortable and light weight as well.

Congrats on the Win :respect-059:

I have both the Kinetic and Accurist 501PT and both are great reels going on 3 yrs of use with no problems. I can't speak on the others but as someone said the Accurist is a great reel with a write up on TT on the regular version of the reel. They can still be had on ebay new for around $40-50 and are a better deal in my opinion at that price than some of the other reels mentioned.

Great job and nice catch!!

Basketball is the same way and I don't mind seeing them catching dinks cause it adds to the weight and in my area 6,7 & 8 lb fish are rare so any legal fish in the boat is enjoyable to see for me.

I'm using a 7' M/F Cabelas Prodigy spinning rod with a Quantum Catalyst PTi-B20 with 20# Power Pro or 6# Cabelas Flouro and have no problem launching them.

I get asked why I throw fish back or can I have it all the time at one lake me and a buddy of mine fish. He gets the same thing and we both tell them no and get either conversations on "why" or looks of disgust from the people asking. We just simply explain that they don't stock this lake with bass and enough people take them out regardless to if they are legal or not and pretty soon if everyone took what they caught the lake would be just a bowl of water filled with bluegills. So no matter how many people ask we put them back legal or not but I agree its ur right to keep a legal fish but put the 6" bass back, please.

You might want to give the Cabelas Prodigy PDC705-1 a look as its a MH/MF rod and can handle cranks from 1/4oz to 1 oz. and can handle lines from 10-17#'s. I have one but haven't put it through its paces yet as I also have a Kistler Mag/TS CRR rod.

Thanks and guess they just put me and my boater in and I'll remember the things I read here and fish my strengths also

Just received my confirmation notice in the email and looks like I'm in for my first BFL