What's up my dudes - question for you. I've been out about 9 times fishing from shore this year and caught 1 fish. (I know, I know... painful to even admit that in writing...) between mid-March and yesterday, April 11th. I'm in Northwestern Illinois, and I've fished a few small lakes (around 50 acres) and a large pond (roughly 10 surface acres) from shore. I've focused around the rip rap bank in both locations, but also walked along casting a horizontal search bait and a slower presentation on any given day. 

 

I'm curious about bass movement more than presentation, and I wonder if I'm not near any fish.

 

The lake is very muddy with poor visibility - will bass still spawn up shallow in water like this? Will they spawn near the rip rap or elsewhere, depending on the bottom composition at the base of the rip rap? I have seen little bluegill flipping and flopping up super shallow, along with crayfish bodies washed up here. 

 

The pond is really clear actually, and I've seen a ton of small minnow shaped baitfish and some small bluegill up really shallow. No bass though... or bites...

 

I guess those are my first few questions... any insight so we could have a bit of a conversation regarding movement in small bodies of water would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!   

I have finally started to catch fish in my local ponds. Water is relatively clear and have been using a swim jig with a Keitech trailer.

Nice @OG Crankster thems some nice ones - man after my stretch of bad luck I would kill for a good bite... you casting out and doing a straight retrieve by chance? Just like a swimbait? 

 

Thanks for the report! Gives me hope! (And of course it's 38 degrees here today after we were in the 70s, lol...)

Yep. Cast out with a slow, steady retrieve.  If you ever feel like taking a drive out my way, let me know. There are a lot of ponds with decent fish by me. My PB 6.15lb LMB came out of a pond 1 mile from my house.

@OG Crankster I might have to do that in a few weeks! You have a Facebook or Instagram or anything I can check out? I'm over by LaSalle County. 6.15lb is nothing to shake a stick at... jeesh - good for you! 

I sent you a message  

10-4 @OG Crankster

Have you been fishing anywhere public? Just curious since all the state parks are closed. I'm not far from you in Marshall County. We've been having to drive a ways to find a place to fish. Hasn't been great for me yet either. Water temp last I fishing a week or so ago was right at 50. Just before it cooled off again. Hopefully it starts warming up soon. 

Yeah there are a few city ponds that are still open, a couple smaller lakes, several have been closed though @kdubracing. I have been out several times shore fishing and I have only made contact with one bass so far this year, and he was COLD when I handled him. The weather this week is crap and I got the itch bad and no way to scratch it! 

I'm guessing you're going to Mendota or Baker Lake? I have never fished either one, probably should sometime. Are those usually halfway decent? I've been going to Galesburg mostly. And yes, the few fish we've caught have still been pretty cold. I'm out of town working this week, but will hopefully get a line wet this weekend sometime. Not sure where, or off the bank or in a kayak yet. I haven't found much that is still open.  

What's up @kdubracing, great guess - Mendota Lake was the one but now it's got a "no fishing" construction flashing sign up because of the lock downs. I would say it ain't worth the trip unless you're up for some exploring and sightseeing in the surrounding area. Fishing isn't the greatest, but I have had a bit of luck from shore in the fall with Ned Rigs with the kiddos. Baker Lake has a few fish in it but it's pretty pressured. I'd suggest hitting that lake EARLY before any of the late morning or afternoon anglers get there and start making a ruckus. It's only about 10 acres I think and smack dab in the middle of town. Baker has signs up regarding social distancing but you can still access it.

 

Looks like Lake Storey is about 2 hours from me. Never fished there. I'm jealous, I'm looking at Google Maps and that looks way more interesting in terms of shoreline. 

Thanks. My son went to St. Bede and they took some homecoming or prom photos at Baker Lake a couple of years ago. It looked like it might get pressured just due to the location. I just fished Lake Storey for the first time a few weeks ago. It's not bad. It'll be interesting to see how it fishes when the water warms a bit. It seems like it has some good spots and is very accessible with a kayak. I hooked a good musky on a crankbait that broke off right at the shore a few weeks ago. I've caught a couple of crappie and a bass or two. My son has caught a couple of bass and hooked a decent pike that broke off as it got to the kayak too. We've started fishing a lot more the last couple of years, and just got us all (wife, son, me) kayaks. Now I'm ready to hit some more spots but they're all closed! The last couple of years have fished a lot from the bank at Mautino and Snakeden Hollow. My son is in college now, although he's home the rest of this term. Fishing is my empty nest hobby and my wife will actually go too. Gonna get a boat next year so we'll be able to hit a lot more spots.

Where do you usually go when things are open?

@kdubracing Heh, nice! Prom photos with some sweet fountains in the background sound awesome

 

So we definitely don't have muskie around here aside from Lake Shabbona, which is about an hour from me. That lake is about 320 acres I think and it's probably closed at the moment since it's a state park. Good variety of species in there, but again, reasonably pressured. That one is still worth a trip. 

 

I plan to explore LaSalle Lake a bit more this year as well, but that's a big flat cooling lake and I've heard the wind and waves can get really bad really fast. So heads up if you're in the 'yak. 

 

I think that is fantastic that you fish with your wife! I actually proposed in a boat if you can believe that... hid the ring in the bottom of a tacklebox and gave it to my gal to find... she was just mad that I didn't pack her favorite worms and tossed the tacklebox to the side, completely missing the ring. It was hilarious, I had this "smooth proposal" all figured out and it got derailed... she still said yes though after she got done being frustrated she couldn't find her go-to bait

 

You guys only fish bass or other species as well? There are some monster cats in LaSalle Lake, and I believe striper as well. 

3 hours ago, AJH said:

@kdubracing Heh, nice! Prom photos with some sweet fountains in the background sound awesome

 

So we definitely don't have muskie around here aside from Lake Shabbona, which is about an hour from me. That lake is about 320 acres I think and it's probably closed at the moment since it's a state park. Good variety of species in there, but again, reasonably pressured. That one is still worth a trip. 

 

I plan to explore LaSalle Lake a bit more this year as well, but that's a big flat cooling lake and I've heard the wind and waves can get really bad really fast. So heads up if you're in the 'yak. 

 

I think that is fantastic that you fish with your wife! I actually proposed in a boat if you can believe that... hid the ring in the bottom of a tacklebox and gave it to my gal to find... she was just mad that I didn't pack her favorite worms and tossed the tacklebox to the side, completely missing the ring. It was hilarious, I had this "smooth proposal" all figured out and it got derailed... she still said yes though after she got done being frustrated she couldn't find her go-to bait

 

You guys only fish bass or other species as well? There are some monster cats in LaSalle Lake, and I believe striper as well. 

I've been to Heidecke once maybe? The cooling lake near Morris. I have never been to LaSalle though. I'm planning on going to Shabbona sometime after it opens back up. There's quite a few places I want to go with the kayaks when everything opens. And a lot more after I get the boat.

We fish for bass only, and sometimes hook something else. My wife is the definition of casual angler. She throws whatever is on her spinning rod. Mainly t-rigs worms. Sometimes will take a fish off her hook, sometimes won't. Will take plenty of breaks. She mainly just likes being outside. 

Hey @kdubracing - Shabbona is great for kayaking even if you don't decide to fish. There are a few neat spots there, but it is wide open and gets super hot in the summer, so cover up! Maybe the two of you can make a trip and do both

Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully we can get back to fishing everywhere soon.

@AJH just FYI, Lake Storey is now closed to recreational fishing. I'm down to one place to kayak fish now.

Regarding the OP... I'm in Chicago and have been fishing everything private and public there is, urban to rural. Felt like a slow start to me as well. 2 good days. A couple days with a couple and blanked alot.

I started looking at my last year pics.. didn't start catching visible beds til mid May.

 

I was reading water temps staying over 56 deg will turn them on.

Edited April 25, 20206 yr by ChiSkunk

On 4/15/2020 at 1:31 PM, kdubracing said:

I've been to Heidecke once maybe? The cooling lake near Morris. I have never been to LaSalle though. I'm planning on going to Shabbona sometime after it opens back up. There's quite a few places I want to go with the kayaks when everything opens. And a lot more after I get the boat.

We fish for bass only, and sometimes hook something else. My wife is the definition of casual angler. She throws whatever is on her spinning rod. Mainly t-rigs worms. Sometimes will take a fish off her hook, sometimes won't. Will take plenty of breaks. She mainly just likes being outside. 

 

Keep in mind that the cooling lakes do not allow motorless boats on them, kayaks are out on LaSalle and Heidecke. Allowed on Shabbona (rentals too)

 

Heidecke is also shutdown for a power plant lake, its just a lake now with a ton of rip-rap.

Hey thanks @kdubracing - I clicked "like" but I do not "like" the fact that everywhere is closed! I went to a small park that was supposed to open up May 1st and it was closed... I was not happy... but I guess if that's the worst thing I have to deal with it's a good day all things considered, eh?

 

@ChiSkunk I appreciate the feedback from you as well - I am just starting to see a few smaller bass up shallow chasing baitfish around by me, and those baitfish are a little larger and more numerous and active as well. Things seem to be slowly coming to life. 

 

@HenryPF appreciate the heads up - Heidecke Lake is no longer a cooling lake (or power plant lake) you're saying, or it never was? 

 

Thanks guys - be well.