Where are all the Illinois Guys ?

[Bdnoble84]

Homemade spinner and jig by the way, if anyone is interested

[Jig Rookie]

On 8/12/2021 at 6:11 AM, Bdnoble84 said:

Homemade spinner and jig by the way, if anyone is interested

Nice job man, so satisfying catching em on your own hard work garage-builds. 

I got out to this tiny industrial pond at sunset the other day about a half-hour before those storms rolled in and caught a monster on the big Spro Rat. She went 20" and 4.47lbs, had the biggest gut I've seen up close on a fish. This bait has been getting CHEWED all summer, my new favorite topwater ever. 

[slonezp]

She's been eating well

[slonezp]

About time

https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illinois-lowers-trailer-licensing-fees-to-36/

[Skunked again]

That happened alot quicker than I thought it would have! We already put ST plates on our boat and utility trailer. 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Out today to try for the first time my new Strike King Ned Ochos. I did dip them in JJ's Magic for a little extra color. Catches today were at bottom 20 feet down. Caught 8 using same ned.

 1st one

 

 Last one of the day at 1:45pm

 

Used 8' ML moderate st croix Avid, 8# nanofil, daiwa rg-ab 2000.

[Jig Rookie]

Finally got some cloud cover and wind today to break up this 95%+ humidity we've had for what seems like the last two weeks. Had a steady, light drizzle around sunset so I got out to the industrial pond and sent the frog for a while. I went with a smaller frog, thinking maybe a finnessier approach might be better. It worked out--caught six in the hour before sunset and they were CHOKING it. These are the biggest two; 17.5"/2.48lb and a 20"/3.54lb. Was good to finally get out, I haven't been able to drag myself out in this heat and humidity and low water lately. 

 

[slonezp]

17 hours ago, Jig Rookie said:

Finally got some cloud cover and wind today to break up this 95%+ humidity we've had for what seems like the last two weeks. Had a steady, light drizzle around sunset so I got out to the industrial pond and sent the frog for a while. I went with a smaller frog, thinking maybe a finnessier approach might be better. It worked out--caught six in the hour before sunset and they were CHOKING it. These are the biggest two; 17.5"/2.48lb and a 20"/3.54lb. Was good to finally get out, I haven't been able to drag myself out in this heat and humidity and low water lately. 

 

Fishing in pads? Slop? Open water?

[Jig Rookie]

2 hours ago, slonezp said:

Fishing in pads? Slop? Open water?

It's mainly slop with a few open spots--most of the open water is on the other side of the slop, mostly out of casting distance. This pic is from standing at the only spot you can fish, the tulies are too high everywhere else by this point in the season.

[slonezp]

Fish kill on Island Lake today(My kids lake). Apparently they shocked the lake to get control of the algae blooms. He said there were about 30 gills, 1 bass and 1 carp floating in his backyard...and that's after volunteers putted around the lake scooping up dead fish. 

[Tracker22]

IDNR has been doing a lot of grass killing all over the state. Some needed, some overkill.

 

[slonezp]

Island lake is managed thru the village, not the DNR. My next door neighbor works for a company that does weed management. They don't do the management on Island Lake but they are responsible for the "bubblers" on the lake which are in the stagnant areas on the lake. His company used to do the weed management but a new mayor was elected during the last election and he brought in his own guys. 

[Bdnoble84]

Morrison lake Carlton at Rockwood State Park is one of those lakes. I dont understand why they kill the weeds there. To my knowledge it hasnt caused a fishkill, but there is no reason for it

[slonezp]

My son said a bunch of volunteers went out to help the village clean up the dead fish. They counted 600 dead fish, mostly bluegills, but there were some bass and pike mixed in. I don't know if 600 is a lot. Mind you the lake is only 80 acres. We're going to hit the lake in the morning to do a little bass fishing. 

[slonezp]

Slow to start. Ended up with maybe 30 bass in 5 hours with only 2 caught in the first 2 hours. Kid outfished me easily 2 to 1 if not more. 90% were on wacky worms and the rest on craws. 

Saw some remnants of the fish kill. Just bluegill and bullhead. 

 

 

[HenryPF]

Sorry Facebook link, don’t see it anywhere else nor did I find a story on this yet.

 

Anyhoo, tell me this was none of you guys…

 

https://www.facebook.com/100063092115551/posts/211148924331510/?d=n
 

 

[Bass Rutten]

Relax everyone relax, it was just a Chevy ?

[Jig Rookie]

The last month has been tough up north; no rain to speak of, bluebird skies most days, not much wind, so my spots around here are pretty low and stagnant.  Still been able to find a topwater bite here and there, mostly during the sunset hour or the pre-dawn hour.  The Boogie Back and KVD Mega Dawg got me a few bites this last trip.

[JWall14]

55 minutes ago, Jig Rookie said:

The last month has been tough up north; no rain to speak of, bluebird skies most days, not much wind, so my spots around here are pretty low and stagnant.  Still been able to find a topwater bite here and there, mostly during the sunset hour or the pre-dawn hour.  The Boogie Back and KVD Mega Dawg got me a few bites this last trip.

How you like the Mega size?? Seems it has been working! Nice fish!

[Jig Rookie]

2 hours ago, JWall14 said:

How you like the Mega size?? Seems it has been working! Nice fish!

I love it, but it's big so it's situational. These were my first fish on it and I got them at first light, wind gusts up to 40mph, pressure falling rapidly, the moon had set a couple hours before and there was 94% cloud cover. In other words, PERFECT conditions. I got into big baits a few years ago and pretty much try to throw the biggest sizes of baits I can find. So I usually fish the absolute best conditions (in my opinion) I can to increase my chances of getting bit. 

[slonezp]

Hit the Fox in the Elgin/Carpentersville area. Got a late start as dad didn't get to my house until 10:30. Launched at the ramp where I90 crosses the river. Water is real low. I haven't fished this stretch by boat since I had my Mirrocraft so it's been 10 years or longer. Water was 76*. Fished until 2:30. Landed 2 dink smallies and a dink largemouth. Lost 2 keeper smallies at the boat. I ended up hitting bottom while on plane on our initial run to the first spot. Spun the hub on the prop. Fortunately I didn't do any major damage and we were still able to putt around and fish. Now to find a prop...

[slonezp]

@Jig Rookie are you mostly fishing retention ponds? 

[Jig Rookie]

8 hours ago, slonezp said:

@Jig Rookie are you mostly fishing retention ponds? 

That's exactly what I'm fishing, and some not even in neighborhoods.  This one's in a rural-ish, warehouse kinda district. A tiny pond off the side of a warehouse, you can barely see it from the main road. 

[Eric 26]

Went out today from 9:30-1:00 today, it was tough. Water was stirred up (think pea soup color) from yesterday’s storms. Tried a spinnerbait, square bill and a tube skunked. Thankfully I was close to home and went and grabbed 2 ultralights, tried Berkeley gulp alive minnows and maggots plus crappie nibbles and nothing, bluegills were more interested in my float and bobber stop strings. Heard serious commotion about 50 yards from where I was fishing walked over and saw 2-3 inch bluegill on a rock pile. Threw this boot tail out and thankfully caught a few most not worthy of a picture but a nice crappie, bluegill and this bass. Didn’t get a pic of the crappie.

[slonezp]

On 9/20/2021 at 12:25 AM, Jig Rookie said:

That's exactly what I'm fishing, and some not even in neighborhoods.  This one's in a rural-ish, warehouse kinda district. A tiny pond off the side of a warehouse, you can barely see it from the main road. 

I just saw your signature. Bass Lake IL. Off North Ave? Caught my first 5 pounder there a long long time ago. Brought it to a Dominick's or Jewel, I don't remember. Weighed it in the produce scales(those disappeared years ago.) Bought some breading and oil and had her for dinner.