With Covid-19 making my local waterways even more pressured I looked in to and successfully secured a membership to Bass and Gill after visiting with a friend.

 

Their website leaves a lot to the imagination with limited info and there aren’t any recent BR posts or even in the local forums like Windy City, chi-town, lakelink, etc. 

 

I’m looking to connect with anyone here who is a member regarding everything from their overall experiences, lakes to start focusing on and tournaments, etc.

 

TIA

 

Jim

Haven't heard anything good, bad, or indifferent about the club in at least 10 years, maybe longer.

Didn't expect to see this question on here.

 

I was a member of Bass and Gill from 2012 to 2014.  The bass fishing was great at times.  I had the best sustained fishing of my life in 2012 on Strike Lake.  I caught so many 3-5 lb bass flipping all the laydowns.  It was my favorite kind of fishing and I smoked them most days I went out.  If I didn't catch a couple 4 lbers during an outing, it was a disappointment.  It was excellent until the dog days of summer but from April to mid July it was fantastic.  I actually cancelled a couple trips since I knew the fishing would not be as good.  3/8 oz blk/blue jig, a baby brush hog, a frog, and buzzbait did all the damage.  It was textbook, shallow water bass fishing.  

 

The next 2 years the fishing continually declined and I never had the success I had that first year.  We had a drought and the water levels were a concern since so much of the water is 3' or less.  I never had as much luck on the main lake or at the back launch of Strike as I did on the front part of Strike.  Fletcher's has some great looking water but I never did as well there as on Strike.

 

I sold my membership for several reasons.  The water levels were a concern, I wanted to get a bigger boat to fish other bodies of water, and there was no good way for me to get there.  Unless it was 5 AM, I had a congested 45 minute drive to get there.  And I never fished any of their tournaments but it seemed like they were run well.  

 

Let me know if you have any questions.  And shamefully, I will add that if you ever are looking for someone to fish with out there, I am your guy.  Good luck.  

 

 

Thanks JF. It was a shot and figured there was a chance to have someone local on BR with some knowledge but that exceeded my expectations. Really appreciate it and it will definitely give me a place to start. I'll pm you re getting out out there this summer.  

On 5/19/2020 at 7:10 AM, Junk Fisherman said:

Didn't expect to see this question on here.

 

I was a member of Bass and Gill from 2012 to 2014.  The bass fishing was great at times.  I had the best sustained fishing of my life in 2012 on Strike Lake.  I caught so many 3-5 lb bass flipping all the laydowns.  It was my favorite kind of fishing and I smoked them most days I went out.  If I didn't catch a couple 4 lbers during an outing, it was a disappointment.  It was excellent until the dog days of summer but from April to mid July it was fantastic.  I actually cancelled a couple trips since I knew the fishing would not be as good.  3/8 oz blk/blue jig, a baby brush hog, a frog, and buzzbait did all the damage.  It was textbook, shallow water bass fishing.  

 

The next 2 years the fishing continually declined and I never had the success I had that first year.  We had a drought and the water levels were a concern since so much of the water is 3' or less.  I never had as much luck on the main lake or at the back launch of Strike as I did on the front part of Strike.  Fletcher's has some great looking water but I never did as well there as on Strike.

 

I sold my membership for several reasons.  The water levels were a concern, I wanted to get a bigger boat to fish other bodies of water, and there was no good way for me to get there.  Unless it was 5 AM, I had a congested 45 minute drive to get there.  And I never fished any of their tournaments but it seemed like they were run well.  

 

Let me know if you have any questions.  And shamefully, I will add that if you ever are looking for someone to fish with out there, I am your guy.  Good luck.  

 

 

Time flies when you're having fun. I don't remember seeing a post from you in awhile. I remember when you were still boat hunting and your signature has the Tuffy at 2016. I got banned from the "other site" awhile ago. You been fishing the big pond? Have you been out there this year yet?

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

Time flies when you're having fun. I don't remember seeing a post from you in awhile. I remember when you were still boat hunting and your signature has the Tuffy at 2016. I got banned from the "other site" awhile ago. You been fishing the big pond? Have you been out there this year yet?

How's it going?  Yeap, my boat is 4 years old.  Seems like it was just yesterday that I spent so much time researching. 

 

In terms of my fishing, I have only been able to get out on Lake Michigan once.  I only go with south or west winds and we have gotten so many north and east wind days that I won't even attempt.  Or it will be west winds but 20 mi/hr.  I caught some nice ones the time I got out a couple weeks ago.  I have been fishing a small lake in Indiana a lot and have had good luck at times.  How about you?  Did you sell your Predator?

6 minutes ago, Junk Fisherman said:

How's it going?  Yeap, my boat is 4 years old.  Seems like it was just yesterday that I spent so much time researching. 

 

In terms of my fishing, I have only been able to get out on Lake Michigan once.  I only go with south or west winds and we have gotten so many north and east wind days that I won't even attempt.  Or it will be west winds but 20 mi/hr.  I caught some nice ones the time I got out a couple weeks ago.  I have been fishing a small lake in Indiana a lot and have had good luck at times.  How about you?  Did you sell your Predator?

Not yet. I listed it last fall and took it off the market this spring. Going to relist it in the fall again. Had 1/2 dozen inquiries after I pulled it.  Done some fishing on the Chain this year. Heading up to Sturgeon Bay next week or the week after. All weather dependent...and if my boss let's me put vacation off another week. Looks like a washout next week. I'll play it by ear.

20 hours ago, slonezp said:

Not yet. I listed it last fall and took it off the market this spring. Going to relist it in the fall again. Had 1/2 dozen inquiries after I pulled it.  Done some fishing on the Chain this year. Heading up to Sturgeon Bay next week or the week after. All weather dependent...and if my boss let's me put vacation off another week. Looks like a washout next week. I'll play it by ear.

Yeah, I was planning on going to Door Co but I found campgrounds are open in Michigan so I am going to hit my usual spots.  Had to cancel our 2 week family vacations where I terrorize the smallies every year.  Good luck when you go.  I will try to get up there in July.  

I am a member currently, for about the last 3-years and was a member for 10-years when I was a kid.  Still interested in information about the lakes and fishing?

 

John

Thanks John but I’m good. I’m there all the time so chances are we’ve crossed paths. I’ve been out nearly 100 times since I bought the membership in May. Really appreciate the solitude, fishing was pretty good for most of the year and the guys I’ve met have been great. I’m out there all the time in a tan kayak (still) if you ever see me stop and chat. Thanks.

It’s a great club, we are currently full and memberships are now going for $4500-5k. There is fishing, duck hunting and deer as well.  I have a membership for sale which includes an 18 foot johnboat with electric motor,  a 25 horsepower Merc with a trailer included for $6500. 

On 6/1/2021 at 12:42 PM, Fishhunter said:

It’s a great club, we are currently full and memberships are now going for $4500-5k. There is fishing, duck hunting and deer as well.  I have a membership for sale which includes an 18 foot johnboat with electric motor,  a 25 horsepower Merc with a trailer included for $6500. 

Hello. Is the membership and boat still available? 

There is another club, Deer Creek, just down 143rd from B&G that has open memberships available, both full memberships and yearly memberships. A yearly membership doesn’t get you camping or hunting privileges, but will give you a good idea of the fishing. 

On 11/14/2021 at 12:20 PM, papajoe222 said:

There is another club, Deer Creek, just down 143rd from B&G that has open memberships available, both full memberships and yearly memberships. A yearly membership doesn’t get you camping or hunting privileges, but will give you a good idea of the fishing. 

There's also Pure Rod and Gun Club which is right there in the area.  I think Pure Rod was about $500 per year 6-7 years ago.  It's worth it if you use the place often.  I knew someone who had a membership at both Pure Rod and Bass and Gill and he said the fishing was comparable.  I loved the fact that I could go to Bass and Gill on the weekends and see a couple boats a day.  You'd go to Braidwood and have to get in line to fish community holes.