Where are all the Illinois Guys ?

[slonezp]

Took the grandson out for the last time this year. Hit up McHenry Dam. Drowned worms and minnows for a couple hours without a bite

[slonezp]

I know a lot of guys don't hit all the different forums on BR. 

This is my second year running a BR Christmas raffle for a children's charity. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Jig Rookie]

I got out again during this last thaw and got a couple more on the float-and-fly to end the season; looks like the ice is here to stay around my parts.  Hopefully some ice bass pics to show over the next few months, but honestly cabin fever is already setting in!  Cannot wait til ice-out.

[slonezp]

Saturday 

[Fat Ika]

On 11/26/2022 at 12:18 PM, Jig Rookie said:

So I actually got some hair jigs last year, didn't put much time.  I went out to the pond during the last snowstorm we had over a week ago, a couple days before the ponds locked up.  Pond's about 5ft max depth; I set up a float-and-fly at about 3-and-a-half feet, firetiger hair jig, and got a decent one!  My first hair jig bass, first float-and-fly fish, and first snowstorm fish haha, it was a good day.

Thanks for sharing man! That's awesome. I tried float n fly for the first time Dec of 2021. Didn't get a chance this past November and December. So rewarding. Hopefully late February doesn't throw us a major curve ball and we can get back to some open pond/lake water soon! 

[Jig Rookie]

7 hours ago, Fat Ika said:

Thanks for sharing man! That's awesome. I tried float n fly for the first time Dec of 2021. Didn't get a chance this past November and December. So rewarding. Hopefully late February doesn't throw us a major curve ball and we can get back to some open pond/lake water soon! 

I was just on the ice yesterday--about 4 inches in the pond I fished, and with the look-ahead weather, man, that might've been the last day of safe ice this season. 60° next Wednesday! I'm actually sad to see the ice go; I only got out once this winter and I have a buddy who's never been. I planned to take him out in a couple weeks, but sadly it looks like we'll have to hold off til next year.

[Fat Ika]

12 hours ago, Jig Rookie said:

I was just on the ice yesterday--about 4 inches in the pond I fished, and with the look-ahead weather, man, that might've been the last day of safe ice this season. 60° next Wednesday! I'm actually sad to see the ice go; I only got out once this winter and I have a buddy who's never been. I planned to take him out in a couple weeks, but sadly it looks like we'll have to hold off til next year.

Bummer. Has to be one of the worst ice fishing seasons in Chicagoland ever. Hopefully a few decent ponds open up soon. I've always wanted, but been hesitant to try those savage gear lb bluegills. How's the balance on the upright posture, hookup ratio, and does the hook stay positioned with continued use? 

[Jig Rookie]

3 hours ago, Fat Ika said:

Bummer. Has to be one of the worst ice fishing seasons in Chicagoland ever. Hopefully a few decent ponds open up soon. I've always wanted, but been hesitant to try those savage gear lb bluegills. How's the balance on the upright posture, hookup ratio, and does the hook stay positioned with continued use? 

The balance is good on them, hookup rate has been 100% for me so far. Every once in a while you'll have to reposition the hook, as it'll roll to the side a little bit and the point will catch the skin of the dorsal fin it's hidden under. That'll cause it to be off-balance. A cool thing about it is the belly-weighted hook they use is keeled on the bottom, so it'll usually sit in an upright kinda tail-up posture when you pause it and it settles on bottom; hop it along and it mimics a bottom-foraging gill. A few fish catches will start to tear the nose out; once that happens I'll redo it with a 6/0 screwlock beast hook, works about as well. 

I'd say get a few--they slayed during the fall bite, I bet they will during pre-, midspawn and postspawn too. 

[Fat Ika]

2 minutes ago, Jig Rookie said:

The balance is good on them, hookup rate has been 100% for me so far. Every once in a while you'll have to reposition the hook, as it'll roll to the side a little bit and the point will catch the skin of the dorsal fin it's hidden under. That'll cause it to be off-balance. A cool thing about it is the belly-weighted hook they use is keeled on the bottom, so it'll usually sit in an upright kinda tail-up posture when you pause it and it settles on bottom; hop it along and it mimics a bottom-foraging gill. A few fish catches will start to tear the nose out; once that happens I'll redo it with a 6/0 screwlock beast hook, works about as well. 

I'd say get a few--they slayed during the fall bite, I bet they will during pre-, midspawn and postspawn too. 

Awesome. Always looking to add other weedless wedgetails to the mix. Thanks man. 

[TheBaitMonkey]

Those Savage Gear bluegills are money - I like them more than most of the more expensive weedless gills like the Hudd Gill. Another solid one is the Hudd 68 weedless in the Perch color, I've had a some good success with it in previous springs-- not sure if you've tried that one but it has the tail from the 8" Hudd Trout on the body of 6".

 

This warm weather has me itching to get out especially after watching all of these guys down at OH Ivie in Texas catching 10+ lbers this spring

[slonezp]

Update on the IL gun ban

 

[Eric 26]

I know this is last minute and I’m sure that many if not most know already but the Tinley Park Fishing Travel & Outdoor Expo is this upcoming weekend February 17th - February 19th at the Tinley Park convention center. Formerly held at the Tinley Park High School.

[Eric 26]

Wondering if anyone went to the Tinley Park show I referenced above? If anyone did I was wondering your thoughts. I went yesterday and I was a bit disappointed, although it’s been many years since I went I felt there weren’t as many vendors as there could have been and certainly no real show specials. I did take a few business cards but didn’t purchase anything as again I felt nothing really stood out. I was also a bit disappointed to only see 1 boat vendor, although I don’t own a boat or plan on purchasing one I know in the past they were more prominently on display. Lastly with the popularity of canoe and kayak fishing I was extremely disappointed to see only one (hybrid) at that on display. I will try to post a photo of said hybrid in the boat section.

[Fat Ika]

On 2/10/2023 at 12:40 PM, TheBaitMonkey said:

Those Savage Gear bluegills are money - I like them more than most of the more expensive weedless gills like the Hudd Gill. Another solid one is the Hudd 68 weedless in the Perch color, I've had a some good success with it in previous springs-- not sure if you've tried that one but it has the tail from the 8" Hudd Trout on the body of 6".

 

This warm weather has me itching to get out especially after watching all of these guys down at OH Ivie in Texas catching 10+ lbers this spring

I've had a few hits on the weedless 68 perch last November. I love the 6" hudds, but due to some spine injuries, I can't commit to it for to long, which sucks. I'm looking forward to trying the savage gear bluegills pretty soon. How's the fall rate on those things? Hoping I can creep them on some bottom without getting grimed up. 

[Junk Fisherman]

On 2/20/2023 at 11:38 AM, Eric 26 said:

Wondering if anyone went to the Tinley Park show I referenced above? If anyone did I was wondering your thoughts. I went yesterday and I was a bit disappointed, although it’s been many years since I went I felt there weren’t as many vendors as there could have been and certainly no real show specials. I did take a few business cards but didn’t purchase anything as again I felt nothing really stood out. I was also a bit disappointed to only see 1 boat vendor, although I don’t own a boat or plan on purchasing one I know in the past they were more prominently on display. Lastly with the popularity of canoe and kayak fishing I was extremely disappointed to see only one (hybrid) at that on display. I will try to post a photo of said hybrid in the boat section.

I'm not surprised.  I know they doubled the cost of a table and it seemed like it was thrown together late in the game.  Hopefully, the get a better vendor turnout next year.  I didn't go for the simple reason that when I messaged the show asking about a vendor list, they said it would be published in Midwest Outdoors.  It never was.  When a show isn't prominently stating who will be there, it says a lot about the quality of the show.  Plus, the seminar lineup was not impressive and I believe they were asking my bass club if anyone wanted to present.  I live right down the street from the Convention Center and I think I made the right decision in not going.  

[Eric 26]

2 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

I live right down the street from the Convention Center and I think I made the right decision in not going.  

You definitely made the right decision ?.  On a different note it’s my understanding talking to a gent at the Anglers Outlet display (biggest and most well rounded vendor at the show), the original owner sold and the new owner is looking to grow/expand the business which is a total plus for us in my humble opinion.

[Junk Fisherman]

11 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

You definitely made the right decision ?.  On a different note it’s my understanding talking to a gent at the Anglers Outlet display (biggest and most well rounded vendor at the show), the original owner sold and the new owner is looking to grow/expand the business which is a total plus for us in my humble opinion.

 

I didn't know that.  I see that they are now sponsoring the Cal Sag/Lake Michigan Tournament series.  I pop in there every once in a while and their prices are fair.  Used to work part time with them as a young lad back when they were in Markham.  

[Otter17]

Here in Aurora, Illinois. I fish the Channahon, Shorewood, Joliet, Plainfield, and Aurora areas. 

[TheBaitMonkey]

Open water season is here! This little guy is ready to be slow-rolled this weekend barring tomorrow's cold temps adding a thin ice layer. 

 

 

[slonezp]

[slonezp]

Here's another one. Probably too early to post. Twin Lakes in Palatine

 

[slonezp]

First fish 2023

[slonezp]

Caught today on a private lake in Antioch. My buddy and his neighbor said they caught 60 yesterday during the afternoon rain. We ended up with 10 and probably lost 10. Fish were in 2fow and all were females.

[FordsnFishin]

7 days away, until first tournament of the year. Be on Newton lake. Water looks to be warmer than the day will 

[Bdnoble84]

First fish of the year, Walleye havent moved up quite yet. 
 

Boy also got to try out his remote control boat.