Where are all the Illinois Guys ?

[Jig Rookie]

This early summer dry spell is making the fishing tough around my parts.  I've gotten a few frog fish the past week--the biggest was a 19" fish I caught about midnight (it was bleeding but it wasn't gilled; both prongs of the frog were stuck in its tongue good).  Hope you guys are getting out.

[Bdnoble84]

Smallies love craws

[Bass Rutten]

Fishing has been tough no doubt, my most productive lure the last few weeks has been the z man baby goat on a 1/16 owner blockhead jighead, not fished on bottom ned rig style but swimming it slowly old school jig n grub style, great for numbers, size not so much, gets the skunk out. Lasts forever! Was using the exact same jig and body the whole time, lost it to an approximately 6lb dogfish boatside last night, just as I was lifting it out of the water it thrashed hard and broke me off, mean n nasty little buggers.

[Allen Der]

This was my first Illinois smallmouth that I am aware of.  Caught from the shore of the fox river.  landed 4 that day around 12".  I'm pretty bored of the lakes around here so I am going to be hitting the rivers more often for brown bass

[slonezp]

Gentleman and ladies. The outdoor event for kids, posted previously, has been cancelled due to lack of registration and the Highland Park shootings. 

Maybe next year. 

[MoeBass]

Late to the show, IL dude here! Northern IL, DuPage Co area

[papajoe222]

On 7/24/2022 at 9:19 AM, MoeBass said:

Late to the show, IL dude here! Northern IL, DuPage Co area

welcome

tell us a little about yourself

[Jig Rookie]

Haven't been able to buy a bite on the big baits since the heat of the summer kicked off. Woke up this morning at 5:30a to an unexpected steady drizzle, decided to run out to the pond and see if I could get lucky. Finally got one to eat the TK, hopefully it's the start of a summer big bait bite.

[MidwestBassAttack]

Any suggestions for the Chicago area? Been to Bussee, Whalon, Braidwood cooling lake as well as the surrounding lakes, Milliken, a lot of neighborhood ponds in my neighborhood (Naperville)………I need me a solid 8 pounder!!

[Skunked again]

An 8#’er?? In Illinois??!!??! Better start feeding it!!

[Eric 26]

56 minutes ago, MidwestBassAttack said:

Any suggestions for the Chicago area? Been to Bussee, Whalon, Braidwood cooling lake as well as the surrounding lakes, Milliken, a lot of neighborhood ponds in my neighborhood (Naperville)………I need me a solid 8 pounder!!

This sounds like a perfect opportunity for @Jig Rookie to reply. He posts photos of some healthy looking bass and he’s definitely targeting bigger bass with the swim baits he throws. Good luck in your quest and looking forward to seeing your results.

[MoeBass]

1 hour ago, MidwestBassAttack said:

Any suggestions for the Chicago area? Been to Bussee, Whalon, Braidwood cooling lake as well as the surrounding lakes, Milliken, a lot of neighborhood ponds in my neighborhood (Naperville)………I need me a solid 8 pounder!!

Naperville? Oh man you got a great spot in town. White Eagle Golf course in Naper. There is a Main pond off 59 and White Eagle. Big bass there. Just don't go walking in the Golf course to the other ponds or you'll get booted from Security. The Guy that runs the Security in the Neighborhood is a really cool dude. Big sportsman, Bass fishes and hunts. So he understands. But, he will boot you if your trekking across the course to get to the other ponds. Stay in the one off 59 and White Eagle and also there is a good one there off  Winberie Ave at the little over pass on the street. 

2 hours ago, MidwestBassAttack said:

Any suggestions for the Chicago area? Been to Bussee, Whalon, Braidwood cooling lake as well as the surrounding lakes, Milliken, a lot of neighborhood ponds in my neighborhood (Naperville)………I need me a solid 8 pounder!!

Here is a follow up to my prior post. This map will help. Ignore that red highlighted route. I placed a P for parking at the main pond. Circled Black. The other little black circle is the one pond off Winberire. 

[MoeBass]

2 hours ago, MidwestBassAttack said:

Any suggestions for the Chicago area? Been to Bussee, Whalon, Braidwood cooling lake as well as the surrounding lakes, Milliken, a lot of neighborhood ponds in my neighborhood (Naperville)………I need me a solid 8 pounder!!

 

[MidwestBassAttack]

14 minutes ago, MoeBass said:

Naperville? Oh man you got a great spot in town. White Eagle Golf course in Naper. There is a Main pond off 59 and White Eagle. Big bass there. Just don't go walking in the Golf course to the other ponds or you'll get booted from Security. The Guy that runs the Security in the Neighborhood is a really cool dude. Big sportsman, Bass fishes and hunts. So he understands. But, he will boot you if your trekking across the course to get to the other ponds. Stay in the one off 59 and White Eagle and also there is a good one there off  Winberie Ave at the little over pass on the street. 

Here is a follow up to my prior post. This map will help. Ignore that red highlighted route. I placed a P for parking at the main pond. Circled Black. The other little black circle is the one pond off Winberire. 

Awesome and thanks so much!! I know exactly where that is. Used to live in the townhomes just east of there off 59 and 87th.

 

We are now off Washington, just about 5 minutes outside of the downtown area.

 

Ill give the White Eagle pond off 59 a shot today. If I recall, I can access it from those one story office buildings on the north side of it

[BigAngus752]

2 hours ago, MidwestBassAttack said:

Any suggestions for the Chicago area? Been to Bussee, Whalon, Braidwood cooling lake as well as the surrounding lakes, Milliken, a lot of neighborhood ponds in my neighborhood (Naperville)………I need me a solid 8 pounder!!

It's a trip, but go here next spring:

https://ifishillinois.org/profiles/waterbody.php?waternum=00225

 

During spring tournaments the top 10-15 boats will have at least one 9 pounder in the livewell.  Friend of mine fished one this spring and was cruising to the weigh in with 26 pounds thinking he was going to place.  He did.  He placed 9th.  

[Bdnoble84]

One hell of a night. My son definitely advanced to the 200 level last night. Did awesome with the net, even on the big boy (18+ in). 

[Jig Rookie]

On 7/30/2022 at 11:01 AM, Eric 26 said:

This sounds like a perfect opportunity for @Jig Rookie to reply. He posts photos of some healthy looking bass and he’s definitely targeting bigger bass with the swim baits he throws. Good luck in your quest and looking forward to seeing your results.

@MidwestBassAttack Man, an 8lber? Geez, that's a tough order; I've never come close to that, I'm still searching for my first 6 ha. I'm a bit northwest of you so I'll give you some spots my way. 

In the Bartlett area there are Deep Quarry Lake and Bass Lake right next to each other--I'm positive there are 8 pound fish in Quarry, there *might* be one in Bass. Neither spot rents boats; Bass is better for shore fishing in my opinion, it's smaller and doesn't get as beat up by weekend traffic as does Quarry.

In Crystal Lake there's Three Oaks Rec Area (Vulcan Lake)--they rent boats but the shore fishing is pretty good. This spot is CNR only and it's big enough and has enough cover/structure/bait to support an 8lb fish. 

Those three lakes are the only "bigger" lakes I fish anymore (big to me as a shorebanger), I do most of my fishing these days in these subdivision and shopping center ponds--five kids, three still in diapers has cut my fishing to one-hour sneakaways when everyone's asleep and quick stops on the way to and from work. Neighborhood ponds fit that perfectly ha. Sounds like you've already discovered the pond gem out in Naperville though, nice. 

Good luck on finding that 8 in northern Illinois--they exist but they're hard to get. True trophy if you do catch one. Godspeed.

[Bdnoble84]

53 minutes ago, Jig Rookie said:

@MidwestBassAttack Man, an 8lber? Geez, that's a tough order; I've never come close to that, I'm still searching for my first 6 ha. I'm a bit northwest of you so I'll give you some spots my way. 

In the Bartlett area there are Deep Quarry Lake and Bass Lake right next to each other--I'm positive there are 8 pound fish in Quarry, there *might* be one in Bass. Neither spot rents boats; Bass is better for shore fishing in my opinion, it's smaller and doesn't get as beat up by weekend traffic as does Quarry.

In Crystal Lake there's Three Oaks Rec Area (Vulcan Lake)--they rent boats but the shore fishing is pretty good. This spot is CNR only and it's big enough and has enough cover/structure/bait to support an 8lb fish. 

Those three lakes are the only "bigger" lakes I fish anymore (big to me as a shorebanger), I do most of my fishing these days in these subdivision and shopping center ponds--five kids, three still in diapers has cut my fishing to one-hour sneakaways when everyone's asleep and quick stops on the way to and from work. Neighborhood ponds fit that perfectly ha. Sounds like you've already discovered the pond gem out in Naperville though, nice. 

Good luck on finding that 8 in northern Illinois--they exist but they're hard to get. True trophy if you do catch one. Godspeed.

One place I would say if you want to drive is Shabbona Lake. I know theres a good pop of 5 and 6lbers in There. It gets hit hard but if you can go during the week and focus on the weedlines, I beleive it has potential to produce one. 8lbs in LBS is a tall order unless you are lucky enough to find a private pond that holds them, you are after a true unicorn.

bout like me hunting for a 20” smallie.

[slonezp]

On 7/30/2022 at 10:37 AM, Skunked again said:

An 8#’er?? In Illinois??!!??! Better start feeding it!!

Lead weights?

[Jig Rookie]

8 hours ago, slonezp said:

Lead weights?

@slonezp You seem like one of the IL fishing OGs, what's your opinion: you think there are any 7 or 8lb bass in these northern IL forest preserve lakes/ponds?

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, Jig Rookie said:

@slonezp You seem like one of the IL fishing OGs, what's your opinion: you think there are any 7 or 8lb bass in these northern IL forest preserve lakes/ponds?

Probably some of the better managed subdivision ponds. I know a pond that gives up 5s and 6s regularly,  early season. Fox Chain might give up 1 or 2 7s annually to the tournament guys. Bangs has/had some healthy bass but haven't fished it in quite a few years. Bangs is managed by the village rather than the DNR. I don't think it's managed well. I've seen a lot of cannibalism due to lack of bait fish but the lake gives up some big bass and pike annually. 

[Jig Rookie]

21 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Probably some of the better managed subdivision ponds. I know a pond that gives up 5s and 6s regularly,  early season. Fox Chain might give up 1 or 2 7s annually to the tournament guys. Bangs has/had some healthy bass but haven't fished it in quite a few years. Bangs is managed by the village rather than the DNR. I don't think it's managed well. I've seen a lot of cannibalism due to lack of bait fish but the lake gives up some big bass and pike annually. 

I just Google Mapped Bangs--is there any way to shore fish it or you have to have a boat? It looks like all private land around it on the Maps.

Regarding the ponds: someone told me they're stocked with bass for mosquito abatement, is that true? I'm talking about those 1- or 2-acre ponds next to little league ballfields, or in front of churches, or behind the Home Depot. Random-seeming ponds with bass in them.

[slonezp]

I think Bangs has 1, possibly 2 public piers,  otherwise it's private. You can rent pontoons from Wauconda Boat. If you launch your own boat, there is a user fee in addition to the ramp fee. Lake is patrolled by the Wauconda PD and they will ticket you if you don't pay the user fee. There annual fee is more yhan the Chain. I always fished the lake from ice out until the police boat puts in for the season and then from when they pull it out until ice up.

[Jig Rookie]

Got a 4lber on a frog the other night right after moonset (set was about midnight, this fish ate at 12:15), and it had a bucketmouth on it.  I seem to do better when the moon's not out, daytime or nighttime.  Anyone else fish on a lunar schedule?

[Jig Rookie]

Picked up a couple more frog fish at a county forest preserve lake Monday during that rainstorm; they were EATING, caught these two and dumped another one in my first ten casts.  Unfortunately, right after I dumped the third one a huge lightning strike hit pretty close so I ran back to the car.  Waited a half-hour, went back out, less than five minutes later another strike hit close and I called it.  Tragic, without the lightning it was shaping up to be a banner day.