Where are all the Illinois Guys ?

[Umair Faizuddin]

Hi! I just moved into the NW suburbs of Chicago and was wondering if there were any good bass ponds nearby. I don't own a boat so lakes aren't really an option for me. Thanks!

[slonezp]

Hi! I just moved into the NW suburbs of Chicago and was wondering if there were any good bass ponds nearby. I don't own a boat so lakes aren't really an option for me. Thanks!

What area?

[cubanice27]

Just joined the forums here and I live near the city of Chicago. Travel alot to the northen burbs (mt prospect, elk grove, palatine, arlington heights) to fish. If anyone wants to meet up and fish PM me!!

[Umair Faizuddin]

What area?

Hoffman Estates and/or Roselle

[stk]

Welcome to the forums.

[cadman]

Just joined the forums here and I live near the city of Chicago. Travel alot to the northen burbs (mt prospect, elk grove, palatine, arlington heights) to fish. If anyone wants to meet up and fish PM me!!

I'm originally from Chicago what area? Welcome to the IL forum.

[slonezp]

Hoffman Estates and/or Roselle

Try South Ridge lake in Hoffman, the ponds at Harper college, Busse Woods in Arlington Heights. Those are the closest. DuPage County has some decent fishing within about a 20 minute drive of you, West Branch and Bass Lake. A little further west is Blackwell

[Umair Faizuddin]

Try South Ridge lake in Hoffman, the ponds at Harper college, Busse Woods in Arlington Heights. Those are the closest. DuPage County has some decent fishing within about a 20 minute drive of you, West Branch and Bass Lake. A little further west is Blackwell

Thanks! I've tries Busse but I'm always skunked! I'll try the other ones you mentioned though.

[cubanice27]

Try South Ridge lake in Hoffman, the ponds at Harper college, Busse Woods in Arlington Heights. Those are the closest. DuPage County has some decent fishing within about a 20 minute drive of you, West Branch and Bass Lake. A little further west is Blackwell

 

Umair, also try axehead lake on toughy near park ridge, beck lake near niles illinois, Belleu lake in park ridge and oakton community college pond. All of these are relatively close to one another. These lakes and ponds have really produced for me this year. 

[cubanice27]

I'm originally from Chicago what area? Welcome to the IL forum.

 

Hey cadman!! Im originally from jefferson park and albany park. Now I live out in Arlington Heights but Im very familiar with chicago and the surrounding area. I love to fish northern-ish illinois. How about yourself?

[cadman]

Hey cadman!! Im originally from jefferson park and albany park. Now I live out in Arlington Heights but Im very familiar with chicago and the surrounding area. I love to fish northern-ish illinois. How about yourself?

 I am originally from Belmont and Central area. I believe that is the "Cragin" neighborhood. Also know a few tourney partners that live in Arlington Heights. I mainly fish S.E. Wisconsin lakes. Lake Geneva, Lake Delavan, Browns, Eagle, Como, Powers, Tichigan, Wind, Little Muskego, Beulah, Pewaukee, Okauchee, Madison Chain, Rock, Whitwater, Twin Lakes, Silver Lake, Camp Lake and a few more.

 

Local lakes,  from shore are Banana lake for trout in fall, Little bear and Big Bear, Independence Grove, Lake Carina, Butler Lake. From boat in IL are Bangs, "The Chain", Diamond Lake, East and West Loon, Lake Minear, Deep Lake and lake Zurich

 

When I lived in Chicago, I used to fish Axehead, Belleau, Riis Park, Schiller Woods, Dam #5, Big Bend, Beck, Banana lake

[slonezp]

We hit Kenosha and Racine to try and get in on some salmon action. Plenty of jumpers but no takers. It was slow for everyone we talked to including the charters. Managed one snot rocket in Racine Harbor. Absolutely beautiful day to be on the big pond.

[Umair Faizuddin]

I'm thinking of fishing Bass Lake, IL from the shore. I don't really know how and where to fish on lakes. I also don't know how deep it is or what the water clarity is. I want to try and get there before it gets cold out. Any tips?

[slonezp]

I'm thinking of fishing Bass Lake, IL from the shore. I don't really know how and where to fish on lakes. I also don't know how deep it is or what the water clarity is. I want to try and get there before it gets cold out. Any tips?

You can park next door at deep quarry lake and walk to bass lake, but you'd have to find a place to cross the creek, or park on Army Trail Rd just east of the (I think landscape company) There is a trail that starts by the guardrail that goes back to the lake. Both Deep Quarry and Bass Lake are deep with relatively clear water. I've caught more bass at deep quarry, but bigger ones at bass lake. You can get an idea from google maps satellite view. Bass lake gets a lot weedier than deep quarry. FYI no drinking alcohol in DuPage county forest preserve. The dnr and sheriff will give you a ticket, don't ask how I know. If you plan on keeping fish, check the dnr regs, these lakes have site specific regulations.

[cadman]

Fished Delavan yesterday, beautiful day to be on the water however we caught all small fish. (12 bass) in 9 hours. Biggest was 16-1/2 ", all others were 14" to 15-1/2". Fish were in shallower water on outside weed edges on 1/8 oz jigs. No particular one place, just fished long stretches of weeds.

[cadman]

Went out to Delavan yesterday 11-10-2014. Got on the water at 8:00 am and left at 2:30 pm. Started out fishing the beach, nothing. Went to the hump and worked that shoreline nothing. Went to the point by the hump, got  a largemouth  5lbs even. Went to the side by the Pagoda got a pike about 24". Fished further down got another pike about 24". Shot to the other side again, got another pike about 18". Went to fish in front of the island. Got 3 more bass. (1) was 4 lbs 15 oz, (1) was about 4 lbs and the other was 3 lbs 8 oz. All fish caught in about 11 feet of water and on black and blue jigs. Beautiful day on the water.

[slonezp]

Went out to Delavan yesterday 11-10-2014. Got on the water at 8:00 am and left at 2:30 pm. Started out fishing the beach, nothing. Went to the hump and worked that shoreline nothing. Went to the point by the hump, got  a largemouth  5lbs even. Went to the side by the Pagoda got a pike about 24". Fished further down got another pike about 24". Shot to the other side again, got another pike about 18". Went to fish in front of the island. Got 3 more bass. (1) was 4 lbs 15 oz, (1) was about 4 lbs and the other was 3 lbs 8 oz. All fish caught in about 11 feet of water and on black and blue jigs. Beautiful day on the water.

You did better than a buddy of mine. He said fishing was slow and he broke down on top of it. Did you see a black Bass Cat limping around? Not a happy camper. I'm thinking of heading up there next Sunday. I hit Lake Wisconsin and the Dells. Smallies kept us busy this morning and we only managed 1 keeper walleye for 2 days. The rest were short.

[cadman]

You did better than a buddy of mine. He said fishing was slow and he broke down on top of it. Did you see a black Bass Cat limping around? Not a happy camper. I'm thinking of heading up there next Sunday. I hit Lake Wisconsin and the Dells. Smallies kept us busy this morning and we only managed 1 keeper walleye for 2 days. The rest were short.

Fishing was very slow. First couple hours of the day we didn't get any bass. The 5lber came at around 10:15. Then as we moved around, from spot to spot we picked up the pike. Towards the end of the day when we fished in front of the island, that is when we got the remainder of the three bass in an hour. After that again nothing. We fished that island for about 2 -1/2 hours hoping they would be stacked there. No such luck.

 

I didn't see a black Bass Cat out there limping around.

 

I will probably go to Delavan again Saturday or Sunday if I don't go this Thursday. Thursday plan on going to Beulah, Powers, Delavan or Geneva. Maybe I'll see you there on Sunday.

[crankcaster100]

Hey guys

I'm heading to lake Mendota in Madison Saturday morning with a buddy of mine who has a boat

Does anyone know what the bass are hitting and what colors this time of year?

[MarkH024]

Bluegill colors are a staple all year in Wisconsin. Try some Sk Caffeine shad in smokey shad and KVD magic. Jigs are always good as well as hollow belly swimbaits. I wouldn't worry about color a whole lot. The bass are ready to feed.

[William Novota]

I knew I wasn't the only one . I'm in Canton (biggest town around me is Peoria) .

I'm new on here and live in Ipava IL.

[crankcaster100]

Thanks Mark

Hoping to get on the feeding frenzy

[crankcaster100]

Had a great morning on Mendota

2 big 4 lb smallies and a 6 lb large mouth and then I thought I was snagged until I saw my line moving and reeled in about a 12 lb northern

All 4 personal bests within an hour and all on a 1/2 ounce orange/red craw patterned red eye shad

What a morning

[slonezp]

This is what I caught today

[cadman]

^{Went to Lake Beulah yesterday. Nice day but cold and a bit breezy. Started out in a spot right before the main lake that I always catch fish and nothing. Went to the main lake and to the kids camp, got a 15-1/2" bass there. Went over to the other shore nothing. Started to fish in front of the island, a bit windy to hold the boat, got two fish on and missed both. Went to the back of the island, nice to take a break from the wind, water dead calm. Wife gets a 17-1/4" bass. Couple of casts later wife gets a 18"  bass (3.3 lbs). Still fishing same area, I pick up a couple of dinks.  Fish stop biting, shoot across lake to Mill Pond. First cast wife gets a 14-1/2" bass. Nothing after that. Shoot back to the island no hits at all. Run back to the dock, some guy screaming at me. Couldn't hear so I shut off motor. Apparently he got his rope wrapped around the prop. Towed him back to the dock. He was very grateful as there were no other boats on the lake. Did my good deed for the year. All in all not a great day on the water, but we did get some fish. Water temp was 57 degrees, air temp 47 degrees. Here are pics of my wife's fish.}