Where are all the Illinois Guys ?

[slonezp]

I don't keep my boat down here so my options are limited. I don't care fore shore fishing especially around here. Probably end of summer and fall ill see if I can snag a smallie or 2 from the Fox.

Just bustin' your balls

[MarkH024]

Just bustin' your balls

I know that. I also want you to be able to catch a few. even though you raised a packer fan...

[Jigs 4 Pigs]

Any of you guys fish at Whalon lake in Woodridge?  I know drop shotting from a boat is where it's at, but any suggestions from the shore? 

 

I always do good at this lake in the spring but seem to skunk over the summer, especially once the lake gets crowded.  Thanks!

 

I think Whalon Lake is in Bolingbrook/ Naperville but anyways I fish from shore there but I don't really catch anything over 2lbs usually, my best is around 2.5-3lbs on a 3/8 oz california swim jig off the first point that sticks out on the side with the islands. I've heard of hogs coming out of there including nice smallies, never seen any though.

[bwell]

I have a tournament this weekend coming up on Clinton, maybe I can post a picture worth posting.  

[Nice_Bass]

I have a tournament this weekend coming up on Clinton, maybe I can post a picture worth posting.  

 

See you out there!

I should be there tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday if all goes as planned.

[bwell]

What ramp are you launching out of?

[Nice_Bass]

What ramp are you launching out of?

Marina.

Paid the yearly fee so I make sure I get all I can get out of that place.

Gets pretty stupid some days with clueless people, but sometimes entertaining.

[slonezp]

Couple from today

[bwell]

Marina.

Paid the yearly fee so I make sure I get all I can get out of that place.

Gets pretty stupid some days with clueless people, but sometimes entertaining.

 

That's nice to have on that lake, I cant imagine what you have seen at the end of the day when the pleasure boater are getting out of the water!

 

Let me know how you do, I'm going to be in a green ProCraft.

 

I think he is wanting to fish deep Sunday, fishing ledges.  With this cold front I doubt they will be shallow.

[Nice_Bass]

That's nice to have on that lake, I cant imagine what you have seen at the end of the day when the pleasure boater are getting out of the water!

Bass bite was on in the afternoon limited out 2hrs. Heavy wind made it tough but stacked them up. 10in powerworms on points with wood at mouths of coves. Fish came on 3-13 fow with water temp over 90. Headed back today but may be off shore all day. Will let you know.

Let me know how you do, I'm going to be in a green ProCraft.

I think he is wanting to fish deep Sunday, fishing ledges. With this cold front I doubt they will be shallow.

[bwell]

Thanks for the help! 4am going going to come real early, that's for sure.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Got out to Rock Cut SP mostly 12"-14" bass but one nicer one at 3# caught close to the launch.

 

[bwell]

Only ended up with one in the boat, it went 2.43lbs, caught several other but they didn't measure out..  I caught most of mine around wood and cranking rock.  The people that won the tournament were throwing in the grass using a jig and frog.  I couldn't catch a fish in the grass to save my life, I was throwing jigs, shakey head, frogs, just couldn't get them to bite in the grass.

[MarkH024]

Only ended up with one in the boat, it went 2.43lbs, caught several other but they didn't measure out..  I caught most of mine around wood and cranking rock.  The people that won the tournament were throwing in the grass using a jig and frog.  I couldn't catch a fish in the grass to save my life, I was throwing jigs, shakey head, frogs, just couldn't get them to bite in the grass.

I throw 4.5" hollow belly swimbaits (SK Shadalicous) in grass a lot with great success. Maybe next time out give that a go.  Better luck next time out there BWell.

[slonezp]

Only ended up with one in the boat, it went 2.43lbs, caught several other but they didn't measure out..  I caught most of mine around wood and cranking rock.  The people that won the tournament were throwing in the grass using a jig and frog.  I couldn't catch a fish in the grass to save my life, I was throwing jigs, shakey head, frogs, just couldn't get them to bite in the grass.

We choked as well on Sunday. I've been on good fish for 2 weeks and on Friday our best 5 were 13-14lbs. Surface temps dropped 10* between Friday and Sunday with 2 fronts that passed thru. We had 2 that kept and about 30lbs in catfish. Don't know where they went. To top of a crappy day, I got pulled over by the jetski police in a no wake zone. Apparently 4mph is too fast.  

[Nice_Bass]

Only ended up with one in the boat, it went 2.43lbs, caught several other but they didn't measure out..  I caught most of mine around wood and cranking rock.  The people that won the tournament were throwing in the grass using a jig and frog.  I couldn't catch a fish in the grass to save my life, I was throwing jigs, shakey head, frogs, just couldn't get them to bite in the grass.

For the last couple weeks with water levels still up, grass has been a major holding areas there I have found as well.  Obviously grass is pretty sporadic there for the most part, and only on some parts of the lake. 

Lately I have been thinking it may be a bottom composition thing, or maybe just a high water thing. 

I have not really caught them "in the grass", but most of the time it seems like the bass bite with grass nearby.

On another note- I did not take a bass rod out on Saturday, and I got blisters catching so many wipers, white bass, drum, and catfish way off shore.

[Renesis07]

Went to Lake Geneva with my brother and old man on Weds on his boat.   Murdered them, literally caught over a dozen largemouth, 6 smallmouth, and over a dozen rock bass.  My brothers kids also caught a few perch/ sun fish on crawlers off the back of the boat.  Probably the best fishing day I've ever had.  Drop shot killed them. 

 

Went last night locally off the shore and caught 2, it's hard to be happy now after a day like Weds haha.

[slonezp]

Went to Lake Geneva with my brother and old man on Weds on his boat.   Murdered them, literally caught over a dozen largemouth, 6 smallmouth, and over a dozen rock bass.  My brothers kids also caught a few perch/ sun fish on crawlers off the back of the boat.  Probably the best fishing day I've ever had.  Drop shot killed them. 

 

Went last night locally off the shore and caught 2, it's hard to be happy now after a day like Weds haha.

Are the bass still up shallow, or are they suspending? I've heard reports they are still shallow in Delevan.

[slonezp]

Nice one

[slonezp]

Hit Lake Michigan this morning. First time with the new boat on the big pond. I'd like to thank all the weathermen who incorrectly forecasted W @ 7mph all day. Water SHOULD have been like glass on the Chicago lakefront. My son and I launched at 6am out of Diversey Harbor and winds were blowing WNW. By 8am were straight out of the north and shortly thereafter NE @ 12-15mph. That may not sound like a lot but those winds have been blowing from waaayyyy across the big pond. I couldn't guess the size of the swells but we'd go up and see the sky, and down we'd see the water with no sky. Nothing's better then riding over a crest and there is no water beneath you so the boat just drops in the air until it hits the surface. The Lund and the Merc handled well. I couldn't go faster than 20mph with 10mph being ideal. We did get wet, but it could have been worse. We even caught a few smallies. Camera died but nothing really to speak of. Biggest around 2lbs.

 

EDIT

I forgot. I got to put my graphs thru their paces today. My home lake(s) are big soup bowls void of any offshore structure aside from a few fish cribs. I really had a chance to put the SI, DI, and 2d thru their paces today. I didn't get any screenshots, but I was able to match images on the DI with the 2d. Using the SI, I was able to differentiate rocks jetting off seawalls vs seawalls void of any rocks or structure. Located baitfish, navigated to a waypoint I set (a shipwreck)with the help of Lakemaster, and with the DI saw the mechanicals of the locks as we locked thru from the lake to the Chicago River. Good stuff! Wish I had a 1198 instead of the 998.

 

[bwell]

Got a tournament this weekend at Lake Mattoon, they have some nice size fish in that lake.  I hope to post some pictures of a monster 

[Tom H.]

Finally my sons baseball season is over. Now maybe I can get a lot more fishing done!

[slonezp]

First I'd like to say my heart goes out to the family of the kid killed on Petite last year. I also expressed when this happened, the family had NO BUSINESS pulling a kid on a tube on Petite Lake in the middle of a weekend afternoon. There are plenty of other areas on the Chain they could have gone that have less traffic. Better yet, go out before 11am LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE PULLING A TUBE DOES. Water skiers are out at 6am. That should tell you something. Chances are their son would still be alive today.

 

This should be of concern to all IL boaters. In the wake of the accident last year IL legislators are going after all boaters.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/special_segments&id=9158876

http://www.ynotproject.com/home/news/news/y-not-files-complaint-against-fox-waterway-agency

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/7715

http://senatorjuliemorrison.com/index.php/component/content/article/45-features/87-morrison-introduces-several-boating-safety-measures

http://fox2now.com/2013/07/26/boat-operators-will-be-subject-to-same-drug-and-alchol-testing-as-drivers-in-illinois/

 

 

 

 

Proposed legislation

Banning boats over 26' on the Chain (more than 1/2 the accidents in IL last year involved boats UNDER 26') http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/safety/Documents/BoatingAccidentReport2012.pdf

Tying a red flag on your boat if you are pulling a tube

Requiring a boater education course to operate a boat in the state of IL if you were born after Jan. 1st 1990

40mph limit on ALL IL waterways.

BUI to go against your drivers license

 

 

How about a law that states if you have no common sense you must be confined to your home?

Personally, I hate the large boats on the Chain. If I owned one, I'd much rather be on Lake Michigan. That being said, they have every right to be there just like you or I. I do not operate my boat while intoxicated and don't advocate it. So your drivers license gets tagged with the dui, your insurance goes up or gets dropped, you risk losing employment or not finding employment because you had a few beers on the boat? Maybe they should set up BUI checkpoints at the Rt.12 bridge. I got picked a few weeks back for driving 4mph in the no wake area. I don't understand! Did something magic happen in 1990 that prevents those born after Jan.1 unable to drive a boat. Must have been the same magic that prevents a hunter born after 1980 from hunting without a safety class. Tying a red flag to a boat pulling a tube. Really? I guess it may be effective, similar to the cars with "Baby on Board" signs that no longer get into accidents. There have been accidents involving fatalities for years on the Chain and other IL waterways. Why the legislation now? If Senator Julie Morrison hadn't been related to Tony Borcia, his death would have blended in just like all the rest. I see it as just another money grab. Poor kid. Maybe his parents should learn from their own stupidity than worry about the stupidity of others.

 

Rant over

[MarkH024]

Yea. The chain can be very dangerous. Too many boats in general with too much drinking. I used to go there back in my early 20's for the party life. It gets out of hand. I feel bad for the kid who passed but people have no common sense.

I don't go there anymore. I just don't like being there with all the partiers. They have 0 respect for anyone else's well being. But like everything the place is a gold mine. Just another sad attempt of IL tick poor law decisions.

[Nice_Bass]

First I'd like to say my heart goes out to the family of the kid killed on Petite last year. I also expressed when this happened, the family had NO BUSINESS pulling a kid on a tube on Petite Lake in the middle of a weekend afternoon. There are plenty of other areas on the Chain they could have gone that have less traffic. Better yet, go out before 11am LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE PULLING A TUBE DOES. Water skiers are out at 6am. That should tell you something. Chances are their son would still be alive today.

 

This should be of concern to all IL boaters. In the wake of the accident last year IL legislators are going after all boaters.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/special_segments&id=9158876

http://www.ynotproject.com/home/news/news/y-not-files-complaint-against-fox-waterway-agency

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/7715

http://senatorjuliemorrison.com/index.php/component/content/article/45-features/87-morrison-introduces-several-boating-safety-measures

http://fox2now.com/2013/07/26/boat-operators-will-be-subject-to-same-drug-and-alchol-testing-as-drivers-in-illinois/

 

 

 

 

Proposed legislation

Banning boats over 26' on the Chain (more than 1/2 the accidents in IL last year involved boats UNDER 26') http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/safety/Documents/BoatingAccidentReport2012.pdf

Tying a red flag on your boat if you are pulling a tube

Requiring a boater education course to operate a boat in the state of IL if you were born after Jan. 1st 1990

40mph limit on ALL IL waterways.

BUI to go against your drivers license

 

 

How about a law that states if you have no common sense you must be confined to your home?

Personally, I hate the large boats on the Chain. If I owned one, I'd much rather be on Lake Michigan. That being said, they have every right to be there just like you or I. I do not operate my boat while intoxicated and don't advocate it. So your drivers license gets tagged with the dui, your insurance goes up or gets dropped, you risk losing employment or not finding employment because you had a few beers on the boat? Maybe they should set up BUI checkpoints at the Rt.12 bridge. I got picked a few weeks back for driving 4mph in the no wake area. I don't understand! Did something magic happen in 1990 that prevents those born after Jan.1 unable to drive a boat. Must have been the same magic that prevents a hunter born after 1980 from hunting without a safety class. Tying a red flag to a boat pulling a tube. Really? I guess it may be effective, similar to the cars with "Baby on Board" signs that no longer get into accidents. There have been accidents involving fatalities for years on the Chain and other IL waterways. Why the legislation now? If Senator Julie Morrison hadn't been related to Tony Borcia, his death would have blended in just like all the rest. I see it as just another money grab. Poor kid. Maybe his parents should learn from their own stupidity than worry about the stupidity of others.

 

Rant over

 

 

I will agree with most everything here as well but a couple items of note- attaching the dui stigma to the DL worries me here in IL- it seems we already get pulled over for anything now and add this incentive and they may go overboard.

 

Also, I do think that the flags actually do help  a bit on the lakes I fish- Missouri it is required, and has spread to the popular party lakes I fish mostly here in IL and MO.  Just last night, two ski boats coming straight at me on a narrowing channel, one boat had a flag, the other did not.  I assumed the one without did not have any skiers/tubers and cut closer to them then the boat with the flags.  I could not see whether either had anyone towed at the time.  Turns out they both did.   All in all, the suction cup flags work, and best yet puts the responsibility on the ski crowd.

 

On a better note- top water bite has be on fire here.  Had not picked up a frog for two years and now I don't want to put it down. Average fish size around 18 the last couple of days.

 

 

Edit- I see the boater has to be in an accident first to be under the new legislation.  I guess this is a bit better- but completely pointless as most boating accidents are fatal already and this, for lack of a better phrase, "legislates from the rear"

Edited August 12, 2013 by Nice_Bass