Where are all the Illinois Guys ?

[bwell]

I am up in Rockford working so that means no fishing for me untill the weekends.

[Scott C]

howdy fellas...

hittin shelbyville tomorrow!!  WOO!!  Technically my 3rd time out this season, but I don't really count the first two....got SKUNKED at Powerton in Feb, and only had about 25 sq ft of water to work with at evergreen about 2 weeks ago. 

was really just repairing the bunks on my trailer.  lol

http://www.scolba.com/bunks.html

So has anybody been out on Shelby that might be willing to give a heads up on the pattern right now?  This cold snap probably jacked it up real good, but just thought I'd check for a starting point!!

[j-bones]

howdy fellas...

hittin shelbyville tomorrow!! WOO!! Technically my 3rd time out this season, but I don't really count the first two....got SKUNKED at Powerton in Feb, and only had about 25 sq ft of water to work with at evergreen about 2 weeks ago.

was really just repairing the bunks on my trailer. lol

http://www.scolba.com/bunks.html

So has anybody been out on Shelby that might be willing to give a heads up on the pattern right now? This cold snap probably jacked it up real good, but just thought I'd check for a starting point!!

What part(s) are you planning on hitting?  If you wouldnt mind postin a lil report and some water temps.  IMa head down there in 2 weeks. 

[Scott C]

yep, sure can, no problemo.

We are putting in at Eagle and fishing the northern half of the lake...unless it really beats us, then we'll try for clearer water.  As of about a week ago it was low 40's in the southern part of the lake, and mid/high 40's in the northern part.  They just got about 1.5" of rain a night or two ago, and then of course cold last night and today...hard to say what its going to be like when we get there!

[birdman11]

Shelbyville water temps on the north end as of Tuesday were 51-56 degrees and southern end of the lake were low to mid 40's! The north end is slightly stained....around eagle where your putting in at will be perfectly fine! Enjoy the nice day tomorrow and let us know how you do!

[Scott C]

well, didn't do great....only a couple of smaller ones, and a lot of short bites. Where we did get bit was on the windblown (wind was kinda rough) secondary points...that was kind of a surprise to me. Temps were consistent all the way from east of the coal shaft bridge, north of the railroad bridge and all the way down to coon creek...right around 48-49. In the very back of some of the coves it was low 50's. I'm guessing the rain and cold nights dropped the temp a bit!

[Gale1980]

got down to sangchris today. not a bad day in all. went to get some slabs but all were short..... ended up with 10 bass in the boat in about 3 hours not too shabby!

[bwell]

Very nice Gale, where you using a spinner bait?  Thats what we caught our bass on when we went a couple weeks ago...  They wouldnt bite on anything else.

[Gale1980]

the biggest one went about 17" on a spinner the rest were smaller all on cranks

[Huntnfish]

St. Charles, hour west of chicago. Went out to Shabbona yesterday, waters still in the low 40s. fun trip but nothing to show for it

[bwell]

I hope the rain can hold off till Sunday, we are planning a trip to Powerton Saturday.

[j-bones]

Heidecke (spelling lol) tomorrow.  As long as i dont find anything wrong w/ my boat when it comes out of storage this afternoon!  Any advice?  Plan on throwin some spinners  Anyone get out there for opening day today?

[Uncle Leo]

I never had much luck for bass there except at first light working the Rip Rap. White Spinner Bait is the lure of choice. Also had some luck with a Jig. If I were you I would go to Braidwood.

[Scott C]

Hit Dawson yesterday.  Temps were in the Low 60's on the north end shallows, and high 50's in the south end near the dam.  They were starting to get a little more active on the north end in the shallows but weren't committing all the way.  had a bunch of strikes, but only one fish on spinnerbaits. 

[j-bones]

I never had much luck for bass there except at first light working the Rip Rap. White Spinner Bait is the lure of choice. Also had some luck with a Jig. If I were you I would go to Braidwood.

I was trying to avoid the crowd given the beautiful weather.  It was a miserable morning on Heidecki.  I imagine it was like that on all the cooling lakes with the 20+mph winds we had.  Waves were white capping and my boat doesn't fit under the bridge so we were stuck fishing the south side.  IT was worth it though.  Get out there finally and wet some lines and burn up some of that old gas.  Water temps were 54F +/- 1F on the south side of the tracks. 

[Uncle Leo]

I never had much luck for bass there except at first light working the Rip Rap. White Spinner Bait is the lure of choice. Also had some luck with a Jig. If I were you I would go to Braidwood.

I was trying to avoid the crowd given the beautiful weather. It was a miserable morning on Heidecki. I imagine it was like that on all the cooling lakes with the 20+mph winds we had. Waves were white capping and my boat doesn't fit under the bridge so we were stuck fishing the south side. IT was worth it though. Get out there finally and wet some lines and burn up some of that old gas. Water temps were 54F +/- 1F on the south side of the tracks.

Made it to Braidwood. Launched in driving rain at 7:00 Am blown off at 11:30. Did have a 2 and 3 lb'er to show for it though.

[j-bones]

Anyone fishing this weekend?

[Gale1980]

d**n straight!!

[j-bones]

d**n straight!!

I guess i should have phrased my question differently, where in the hell y'all fishin this weekend?

[slonezp]

I'll be on the Fox Chain. Got my first bass tourney on the 25th. Got to start looking for fish. Was out last thursday no bass 1 18" walleye

[Gale1980]

d**n straight!!

I guess i should have phrased my question differently, where in the hell y'all fishin this weekend?

lol looking to hit springfield one day to pre fish for a tourney next weekend and possibly banner marsh

[bwell]

Probably wont be going to any lakes this weekend but will do some fishing on the pond behind my house...  Already caught about 40+ bass so far out of it this year.

[BriBass]

I'll be on the Fox Chain. Got my first bass tourney on the 25th. Got to start looking for fish. Was out last thursday no bass 1 18" walleye

Does the chain have any non boater tournaments? if so please let me know, im boatless but REALLY want to fish some tourneys this summer! And if youd ever want to go out let me know, i live in the A.H. area and have some friends who have property on the chain. shoot me a pm if ur interested  8-)

[Gale1980]

well hit banner today got 10 bass in the boat. a couple decent fish 17-18". got bit off by a muskie and lost a new xr50.... my buddy caught a 28-30ish inch muskie and snapped his rod in half lol. he also caught a keeper walleye on a spinner was a good day! if the wind would have behaved we could have stayed longer and caught a few more im sure!

[slonezp]

Spent 2 hours on the Fox River in the Elgin area today Picked up the little guy on a T-rigged weightless senko type bait bumblebee colored and the momma on a natural colored jig with a grub trailer. She was FAT. I'm guessing a solid 3# maybe more.