Where are all the Illinois Guys ?

[Nice_Bass]

I could be convinced of that actually.  Taking off this Friday through Wednesday for fishing (and wife, daughter vaca as well).  Who is putting the tourney on?  

[bwell]

I think its a bunch of locals, it might be tough placing.  Ill find the info

[bwell]

Tired of all the open tournaments and trails around here that keep 30% or more of your money, or send big chunks away to a classic that you have to drive across the country to fish? Our local Anglers Choice tournament has been drawing 12-16 boats, 180 dollar entry fee, and paying back 2 spots, 1000 for 1st and 2nd barely getting their money back, while the other 12-15 guys go home broke after paying 4 dollars a gallon for fuel and 180 to get in, A group of us that fish Clinton on a regular basis are putting together a tournament that will be a 200 dollar entry fee, pay back 100% at the ramp, and pay good back into the field, where 20-30% of the guys who fish it make money, and even more than that get their money back, if we get 30 boats the top 3 spots will be over a grand, 1st being over 2....if we only draw 10 boats 1st will be 1000 2nd 500,3rd300,4th200.....that's 40%of the field getting a check guys! You don't need to get a calculator out to see that this is the best value around. We wanna make this work and have a whole series next season, anyone who wants to volunteer to help can, this is just a group of guys fed up with horrible payouts willing to do a little extra work to make sure we have a great tournament on one of the best lakes around, and hopefully this helps everyone get a piece of the pie at some point in the season, we want as many people as possible to get their money back. There are a lot of b/s tournaments around here, hopefully we can finally have a good one.The first one will be Saturday July 6th. Message me if interested, I will give you the contact to get signed up and/or ask questions. Thanks for your time.

[slonezp]

Tired of all the open tournaments and trails around here that keep 30% or more of your money, or send big chunks away to a classic that you have to drive across the country to fish? Our local Anglers Choice tournament has been drawing 12-16 boats, 180 dollar entry fee, and paying back 2 spots, 1000 for 1st and 2nd barely getting their money back, while the other 12-15 guys go home broke after paying 4 dollars a gallon for fuel and 180 to get in, A group of us that fish Clinton on a regular basis are putting together a tournament that will be a 200 dollar entry fee, pay back 100% at the ramp, and pay good back into the field, where 20-30% of the guys who fish it make money, and even more than that get their money back, if we get 30 boats the top 3 spots will be over a grand, 1st being over 2....if we only draw 10 boats 1st will be 1000 2nd 500,3rd300,4th200.....that's 40%of the field getting a check guys! You don't need to get a calculator out to see that this is the best value around. We wanna make this work and have a whole series next season, anyone who wants to volunteer to help can, this is just a group of guys fed up with horrible payouts willing to do a little extra work to make sure we have a great tournament on one of the best lakes around, and hopefully this helps everyone get a piece of the pie at some point in the season, we want as many people as possible to get their money back. There are a lot of b/s tournaments around here, hopefully we can finally have a good one.The first one will be Saturday July 6th. Message me if interested, I will give you the contact to get signed up and/or ask questions. Thanks for your time.

Somebody's got to pay for the 100k in boats they give away at the TOC. Not knocking or defending them. AC has a new owner this year, from IL, and more of the funds are supposed to be going back into the system rather than being sent to California. I'm fortunate I fish AC against 50+boats, so it's a little more financially feasible. I could fish multiple AC trails but don't because of what you mentioned, the low boater turnout. Anglers Dream took over the AC Southern Lake Michigan Div. this year. They couldn't get more than 9 boats and paid out 1 place. Same problem in the SE Wisconsin Div.

[Nice_Bass]

Some solid fish and a few over or at 5.   Still looking for bigger fish this year and it seems they are pretty tough.

No fish really seem stacked up on summer patterns at all with the weird spring we have had.  Really frustrating year so far.

 

[slonezp]

You've got the big fish so far. Mine was the 4 on the previous page.

[Nice_Bass]

Nice.  Hopefully you guys beat that in the near future. 

The first fish was only just a hair over 19inches yet weighed 4-7.  One of the most healthy fish I have caught and had to take a picture of it.  It has all the makings of being a very large fish in the future.  It also appeared younger without all the usual distinctions of an "old" fish.   The second fish was 22.5 but not nearly the girth or stockiness. If I could have only combined the two I would have a nice hefty fish.

[Nice_Bass]

Tired of all the open tournaments and trails around here that keep 30% or more of your money, or send big chunks away to a classic that you have to drive across the country to fish? Our local Anglers Choice tournament has been drawing 12-16 boats, 180 dollar entry fee, and paying back 2 spots, 1000 for 1st and 2nd barely getting their money back, while the other 12-15 guys go home broke after paying 4 dollars a gallon for fuel and 180 to get in, A group of us that fish Clinton on a regular basis are putting together a tournament that will be a 200 dollar entry fee, pay back 100% at the ramp, and pay good back into the field, where 20-30% of the guys who fish it make money, and even more than that get their money back, if we get 30 boats the top 3 spots will be over a grand, 1st being over 2....if we only draw 10 boats 1st will be 1000 2nd 500,3rd300,4th200.....that's 40%of the field getting a check guys! You don't need to get a calculator out to see that this is the best value around. We wanna make this work and have a whole series next season, anyone who wants to volunteer to help can, this is just a group of guys fed up with horrible payouts willing to do a little extra work to make sure we have a great tournament on one of the best lakes around, and hopefully this helps everyone get a piece of the pie at some point in the season, we want as many people as possible to get their money back. There are a lot of b/s tournaments around here, hopefully we can finally have a good one.The first one will be Saturday July 6th. Message me if interested, I will give you the contact to get signed up and/or ask questions. Thanks for your time.

You fishing this?

[bwell]

I was wanting to but I wont be able to anymore.  My mom is having troubles from her surgery and I need to be around to help my parents out.

 

Maybe we can catch another tournament out there sometime this year.

[Nice_Bass]

I was wanting to but I wont be able to anymore.  My mom is having troubles from her surgery and I need to be around to help my parents out.

 

Maybe we can catch another tournament out there sometime this year.

All my best to your family.

[bwell]

Thanks man

[slonezp]

Sorry to hear that bwell. Hope everything works out.

[slonezp]

Apologize for the man boobs. Fox chain on the 4th of July. Water temps 72-76 and water unusually calm this morning. Picked up 1 flipping and the rest on moving baits. Missed a few and got some small ones as well. Looks like the Rt.12 bridge is producing some walleyes. A bunch of boats fishing the bridge. Saw some decent size walleyes caught both early and later in the day. 

[Nice_Bass]

^{Decent weekend of fishing.  Caught a bunch of 3.5#'s to just under 4, nothing any bigger unfortunately though. Pattern was easy, Grass close to deeper water with rock or wood nearby in the shade.  You could call your shots.  Caught 40 or so. One thing I did notice was a parasite on some fish.  Had a bass with one in its mouth, and a catfish that took a plastic worm had marks by the fins on each side, size just a bit different.  Never have seen this before.  There was also a bass that was almost yellow with its skin falling off lazily swimming at the surface. Not sure what was going on with it, and did not get a picture as I really did not want to get any closer quite frankly.  It looked bad.} 

^{Still no big fish for the year-hopefully someone here in IL finds the big bite!   And yes...really stretching the arms out on these as if I am trying to make the cover of Bassmaster Mag!!!}

[Nice_Bass]

channel cat with what looks like the same, but larger leech marks found in several bass mouths as well. 

[slonezp]

You said the cat had markings like that on both sides of its tail fin? Rather than a parasite, I bet that may have gotten grabbed and dropped by a bird. I've seen herons pull 3lb bass out of the water like it's nothing and the cat looks about 5lbs 

[Nice_Bass]

You said the cat had markings like that on both sides of its tail fin? Rather than a parasite, I bet that may have gotten grabbed and dropped by a bird. I've seen herons pull 3lb bass out of the water like it's nothing and the cat looks about 5lbs 

It was about half the size on the other size, and perfectly cylindrical as well but by the spiny 1st dorsal fins, almost too perfect actually.   Really looked bad though.  Hopefully just a heron like you say.

I did not see anything live on it, but did pick them off with pliers from some of the bass.  Mouths were incredibly bloody from the different parts it had been attached to.  I was more curious on what they may be...and then realized once I got the pliers on it.

 

 

Edit- we do have a handful of bald eagles nearby as well...so that could be another option.

Edited July 8, 2013 by nice_Bass

[slonezp]

Fox Chain 7-12

Got some good bites today, and some not so good ones. In addition to the pics we got a few short keeper bass and a few more short bass. Water 78*-83* Swimjigs and soft plastics were the baits of choice. Bite completely died after 11:00.  Both the trash fish were caught on swimjigs. The walter in the mouth and the carp in the tail. The carp weighed in at 12lb. I'm guestimating 6 on the walleye. She was bleeding from the mouth and it took a few minutes to revive her but she swam away full force. My sons bass was over 4.

[Nice_Bass]

More bass at or around the 4# mark and seem to be finally settled in.  No big ones again though.  Spent most of the day limiting out on wipers and white bass who also seem to be exactly where they are supposed to be.

Had what must have been a giant wiper or  big striper about spool me on drag before coming undone.  I may have to stop bass fishing a bit for the next couple weeks and chase these guys.

[Renesis07]

Checking in from Lisle!  Nice to see some IL guys on the forums.

[slonezp]

Checking in from Lisle!  Nice to see some IL guys on the forums.

We've got a gentleman's bet on big bass for this year. You win bragging rights. nice_Bass is in the lead so far. Post your pics and reports here and welcome to BR.

[Renesis07]

We've got a gentleman's bet on big bass for this year. You win bragging rights. nice_Bass is in the lead so far. Post your pics and reports here and welcome to BR.

Nice!  What's the number to beat?  I haven't caught anything worth bragging about yet.  The one decent size I caught I didn't have a scale, but the arm scale was calling for maybe 3#.  Lots of fish caught, nothing of size yet.

[slonezp]

Nice!  What's the number to beat?  I haven't caught anything worth bragging about yet.  The one decent size I caught I didn't have a scale, but the arm scale was calling for maybe 3#.  Lots of fish caught, nothing of size yet.

He's got a couple over 5.Ive got a couple in the 4ish range. bwell hasn't posted anything yet and Mark claims he's from IL but only fishes in Wisconsin.

[Renesis07]

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!

[MarkH024]

He's got a couple over 5.Ive got a couple in the 4ish range. bwell hasn't posted anything yet and Mark claims he's from IL but only fishes in Wisconsin.

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.