Lake Shelbyville IL.

[ilbassman67]

I have never fished this lake before and my club has a tourney there in July.  Any suggestions on some good locations and lures to start off with?

[bwell]

Are you fishing there for the Champaign County Bassmasters tournament?  If so I will see you there, I just joined and will be fishing that tournament.  I was told that the fish will be deeper so C-rigs and cranks will be the way to go.

I am not sure where to fish on the lake but I will talk it over with the person I am teamed up with.

[ilbassman67]

My club is out of vermilion county.  I have read that slow rolling spinners on the points is very effective too.

[bwell]

Sounds like it would, I think key would be getting your bait deep enough... 

[j-bones]

I was just there last weekend.  Couldn't get a d**n thin to bite a spinner bait for the life of me.  We got out for the morning bite on sunday and it paid off.  Shallow cranks on the edge of smart weeds.  Keep a buzz frog tied on too for the laydowns you will pass.  In the first 2 hrs, 5 fish, 13-15lb bag.  Biggest being a 20" hawg.  IVe actually done really well down there this year. 

[ilbassman67]

Thanks j-bones...I can't wait to get on some bigger water.

[Uncle Leo]

The bays across from the Lithia Spring Marina. Work the main points and gradually work into the standing timber.

[ilbassman67]

Thanks Uncle Leo...you working those points with a C-rig?

[Uncle Leo]

You can but a T-Rigged Craw mostly. You will already be setup for the standing timber. Some of the timber is in fairly deep water 24 ft. Use a 3/8 weight s the Crappie do not get a chance at them. A lot of fellas fish crappie off the timber.

[j-bones]

You can but a T-Rigged Craw mostly. You will already be setup for the standing timber. Some of the timber is in fairly deep water 24 ft. Use a 3/8 weight s the Crappie do not get a chance at them. A lot of fellas fish crappie off the timber.

Thats no lie either! best of luck fella's  you find a nice stretch of shore and you can fill your bag real quick on the morning bite itself. 

[Nice_Bass]

Nice...Got a tourney there as well in July.  Should be interesting- Deep fishing is a passion, I get bored with the spawn and post spawn!

[j-bones]

Nice...Got a tourney there as well in July. Should be interesting- Deep fishing is a passion, I get bored with the spawn and post spawn!

That's blasphemy!  In all seriousness though I am confident in my ability to find fish thru mid june and after mid august.  If you dont mind sharing a few pointers on ur deep approach there, i would appreciate it.  Im not fishin the tourny.  I dont belong to a club. ?!?!

[Nice_Bass]

Water levels have been up at my usual lakesso of course they are a bit scattered on the shoreline cover with deep water close.  If that is still the case  when you read this, start shallow and try several spots with laydowns close to deep water.   No bites, circle back and  move to that deeper water.  I will fish a t-rig worm all the way with this especially with the abundance of wood nearby.

Fishing these points parallel on the drop off has been productive.   

[ilbassman67]

Thanks for all the help....the points that uncle leo suggested were the most productive for me but I couldn't boat a keeper.  Caught several 13 - 14 in. fish and was amazed at how heavy they felt.  Looking forward to going back there soon.

[Uncle Leo]

Thanks for all the help....the points that uncle leo suggested were the most productive for me but I couldn't boat a keeper. Caught several 13 - 14 in. fish and was amazed at how heavy they felt. Looking forward to going back there soon.

The bigger ones were there. Next time you get the opportunity and start picking up small ones off the point work out to deeper water, mainly the canals in the bays. The bigger ones at times will be there just in deeper water. I experienced this exact same occurrence.