Where are all the Illinois Guys ?

[Brown Town]

2 hours ago, jfergus7 said:

New to the forums but glad to see such an active IL section!  From Buffalo Grove but have a house on a small lake just across the boarder in Bristol.  Fish year round but really excited for this season because GF and I are getting a brand new Tracker Pro 175 TXW.  Boat has arrived at Cabelas just waiting for it to be checked out and for them to tell me I can come pick it up!!  GF works at the Cabelas part-time and I actually work at BPS part-time.  Really excited because we got the boat we already have a few trips planned for this summer.  Going to Lacrosse, WI in June to camp and watch the Bass Elites compete then will be heading down to BPS Springfield, MO to check it out and fish and camp on Table Rock for a week.  Should be an awesome summer!  Looking forward to meeting, learning and contributing with everyone. Looks like a great forums!

Went to the day 3 weigh ins for the FLW event in La Crosse last year. Brutal conditions just cold and rained all day but cool to see guys flipping flooded timber and catching smallmouths. Not huge bags but the guys that could find largemouths did well. Planning on going again in June to see the Elites. 

[slonezp]

Welcome

[jfergus7]

1 hour ago, Brown Town said:

Went to the day 3 weigh ins for the FLW event in La Crosse last year. Brutal conditions just cold and rained all day but cool to see guys flipping flooded timber and catching smallmouths. Not huge bags but the guys that could find largemouths did well. Planning on going again in June to see the Elites. 

I am really looking forward to going. Gonna take the new boat and already have a campsite reserved right on the waters edge where we can beach the boat right at our site.  Should be a great weekend trip!

[slonezp]

8 hours ago, jfergus7 said:

I am really looking forward to going. Gonna take the new boat and already have a campsite reserved right on the waters edge where we can beach the boat right at our site.  Should be a great weekend trip!

How's the fishing on Shangri-La? I've been hitting new lakes in SE Wis. the past 2 years and the lake doesn't look overly exciting to me. So far Tichigan and Beaullah have been my favorite. Haven't fished Geneva in many years and skipped on Delavan last year because the bass fishing seems to be declining since the water has cleared up.

[jfergus7]

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

How's the fishing on Shangri-La? I've been hitting new lakes in SE Wis. the past 2 years and the lake doesn't look overly exciting to me. So far Tichigan and Beaullah have been my favorite. Haven't fished Geneva in many years and skipped on Delavan last year because the bass fishing seems to be declining since the water has cleared up.

Lake has been weird the last few years.  This was the worst ice fishing season I have ever had on Shangri-La.  During the summer the bite is still just as good as it has always been. 3 & 4lbs bass aren't that hard to find.  Planning on getting out to Delavan and Geneva a few times this summer.  Getting the new boat is really going to make this a fun summer!

[mbtharp1]

 

Here’s the video from Sangchris ?

[cadman]

23 hours ago, slonezp said:

How's the fishing on Shangri-La? I've been hitting new lakes in SE Wis. the past 2 years and the lake doesn't look overly exciting to me. So far Tichigan and Beaullah have been my favorite. Haven't fished Geneva in many years and skipped on Delavan last year because the bass fishing seems to be declining since the water has cleared up.

A buddy of mine and I fish Tichigan first 4 weeks of open season and almost every year we have 30 plus fish days on Tichigan. If you move around you will find schools of bass just waiting for them to hammer a jig. As summer progresses the fish scatter. Then this happens again in fall from September till ice up. I fish Tichigan quite often at these peak times. I used to fish Geneva like that, but Geneva seems to be colder in the Spring and the bass just don't congregate like they do on Tichigan. 

 

I would like to fish Shangri-la, however I thought the lake was private. I've asked around and have never found a public launch anywhere there. Paul do you know of any?

 

Beullah is probably one of the best lakes that I like to fish. Just so many good spots to try. Lot of nice sized fish along with many small fish in the 10 to 12" range. I learned how to jig fish on that lake because there are so many smaller fish, that you will definitely catch fish on a jig. My buddy and I fished it last September and he got a 6.4 lb largie out of there. Lot of good spots.

 

[cadman]

22 hours ago, jfergus7 said:

Lake has been weird the last few years.  This was the worst ice fishing season I have ever had on Shangri-La.  During the summer the bite is still just as good as it has always been. 3 & 4lbs bass aren't that hard to find.  Planning on getting out to Delavan and Geneva a few times this summer.  Getting the new boat is really going to make this a fun summer!

Welcome,

    I live in northern IL, and I fish Delavan and Geneva quite a bit. They have some good days and some really bad days. I think Delavan is better in terms of boat traffic. You can at least fish there. Lake Geneva can get very crowded and almost impossible to fish once the season gets going.

 

There is also Browns lake and Powers Lake that have boat access which are fairly good. I have fished Eagle Lake several times, and that is a lake I would never fish again. The whole lake is weed invested from the shore to the buoys. It is only 5-6 feet deep and only one spot on the whole lake that has a 11' drop. That is where you will usually find most fisherman, however, that spot is really small.

 

You have a PM. 

[slonezp]

38 minutes ago, cadman said:

I would like to fish Shangri-la, however I thought the lake was private. I've asked around and have never found a public launch anywhere there. Paul do you know of any?

 

 

You might be right. I don't see any access ramps on the Navionics webb app

[jfergus7]

yes Shangri-La is public.  

[OhheyCindy]

went to a forrest preserve pond, first time out this year a week and a half ago, stayed for 20 mins but caught one on a lipless. felt great to get back out there. super excited about this year. and LastCast i subbed to your youtube channel. i for sure want to fish central il lakes this year and also southern wisc. 2-3 hour drives are very doable for the weekend

[cadman]

11 hours ago, OhheyCindy said:

went to a forrest preserve pond, first time out this year a week and a half ago, stayed for 20 mins but caught one on a lipless. felt great to get back out there. super excited about this year. and LastCast i subbed to your youtube channel. i for sure want to fish central il lakes this year and also southern wisc. 2-3 hour drives are very doable for the weekend

Welcome, I fish a lot of South eastern WI lakes, so if you have any questions feel free to ask. I live in northern IL.

[RyneB]

anyone have a picture of the 11lber caught out of Crab Orchard this past weekend?

[slonezp]

http://thesouthern.com/sports/biggest-fish-in--year-harkins-history-caught-sunday/article_a4cd3819-63a1-530b-aa3a-31c3997bdb9b.html

[MarkH024]

Wow what a tank! 

[RyneB]

I heard the one he's holding in his right hand is a 6lber. That 11 lb tank makes that 6lber look small.

[Tom H.]

Well, haven't been on here much so a quick run down..... MOTHER NATURE SUCKS, WORK SUCKS!!! Someday I may get to fish... If you guys are catching them Great! Catch a few for me!

 

[Tracker22]

1 hour ago, Tom H. said:

Well, haven't been on here much so a quick run down..... MOTHER NATURE SUCKS, WORK SUCKS!!! Someday I may get to fish... If you guys are catching them Great! Catch a few for me!

 

I know I’m tired of dressing like an Eskimo just to go fishing!

[mbtharp1]

 

Went to Clinton last week, figured I'd share! Fished main lake banks/riprap all morning with no luck. Switched it up and pitched a craw around in the backs of coves when the sun came out and got some good bites!

[Tracker22]

I’d call that a good day! Nice vid.

[slonezp]

Fox Chain this morning. Water temp 48* Water is at summer pool already. 5 bass in 6 hours. (1) 3 pounder and 4 dinks. The 3 pounder was the first fish of the day. Caught him on cast# 3 and thought "This is gonna be a good day".....not 

[Skunked again]

Have had many of those days myself. I just got back from being "chauffered" by our daughter, recently got her learner's permit. Her first time on the interstate. I'm wondering if it was smart to put "student driver" magnets on the car. Felt like a target a few times.

[mbtharp1]

 

Took the family fishing at my Wife’s Grandpa’s pond! Ellie is 6 and caught tons of fish by herself for the first time. I’ve got her using an under spin with a left hand retrieve so I can convert her to “lefty” like me. My son Logan was my wife’s fishing assistant until he got hungry and grumpy lol.

[slonezp]

First biggun of the year. Not sure if it's a big male or spawned out female. Tail was all bloody. I'd put it at 4.5lbs. Caught it up shallow in 58* water on a blue Rage Craw. Fishing was slow otherwise.

[cadman]

18 hours ago, slonezp said:

First biggun of the year. Not sure if it's a big male or spawned out female. Tail was all bloody. I'd put it at 4.5lbs. Caught it up shallow in 58* water on a blue Rage Craw. Fishing was slow otherwise.

That's a nice healthy looking fish Paul. Congrats. You fishing on "The Chain"?