akunk23 Posted July 15, 2014 Posted July 15, 2014 Looking to start small mouth fishing. There's a cooling lake 10 minutes from my house. Just wondering if anyone has ever fished it or had any success.I've heard good thins about the lake. Its in southern Illinois. So I know I'm targeting a very small crowd. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted July 15, 2014 Posted July 15, 2014 Its not too far from me, but I do not have a small enough motor to fish it. I've never heard anyone catching smallies there but that doesn't mean they are not in the lake. Its suppose to be a pretty good lake. I know a lot of guys hit it in feb and march since the water is in the 50's then. Quote
Inflatable Raft Bum Posted November 12, 2014 Posted November 12, 2014 Akunk, it ~may~ still be an OK smallmouth lake, make no mistake- there are absolutely still smallmouth in it. Here last year or maybe a little further back there were summer to summer back to back fish kills. It was phenominal up unto that point. We would fish it all winter. The cold side of the lake hovers at 52' so that gives you some indication just how warm the warm side is. (Downright hot, i loved it) Not only was the smallmouth fishing world class but the largemouth, white bass, and hybrids, yes hybrids.. Were all fantastic. The hybrids were just pigs. It has been a few seasons since, this winter i plan on getting back at it. The lake has a median depth of 8', its essentially a flooded field vs a lake, IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS OUT THERE... Its almost always windy, thats ok, always seemed to turn em on. Water is ugly, blows my mind that the smallmouth thrived there, but they did~ and to some extent still do i'm sure albeit in fewer numbers. If you hook up with one it will likely be quite large, as the numbers on all bass are down. We always did well on three lures: #1 medium size shad pattern crankbaits, the lake is all riprap, parallel casts ticking and yes hanging up in those boulders is the ticket, you will lose some lures #2 1/2 oz war eagle spinnerbaits in cole slaw, dual willow blades, very good lure there #3 senko senko senko.. Parallel casts dipping into the chunk rock (chartreuse/ white) When you pull up you will think man this is ugly, yep, it is... Dont short change yourself by not giving this lake a few seasons to autocorrect, regardless of re-stocking or not, it will come back There are numerous areas where water is pushed and pulled by the plant, fish them all, troll every bank and note every pipe flowing water, every point with water rushing past from the plant.. hit those spots every time you go. Its 50 hp limit. Folks run what they brung' but be cool about it. You have a 150, launch and troll until your away from the masses.. Thrn respectfully idle around. Can you get a ticket, yea.. But highly unlikely. The area right where you launch gets the worst of the white caps, launch, be patient and ease through them to the opposite side, depending on direction the wind is coming from. (It ALWAYS looks gnarly at the launch, but get 1 mile upwind and you'll find wind sheltered banks) Summer pretty well let it be, it was always best about Dec- March Ten minutes away.. Your killing me. Quote
Inflatable Raft Bum Posted November 12, 2014 Posted November 12, 2014 BTW, the smallmouth were avg 2lb, 4~5lb on the high side the winter leading up to the first fish kill. Quote
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