Stopped by one of the local ponds on my way home from work Saturday night; got in the water at about midnight, it was overcast, steady winds of 10mph with gusts up to 30 and in between rain Saturday/Sunday.  Got on a pretty good topwater/subsurface bite on the Boogie Back--they were eating it on the wake and on the crankdown too, about a foot below the surface.  Sadly, the last fish somehow choked it head first, had the head and bill all the way down its gullet, both trebles stuck.  I had to use the forceps and he probably didn't make it.

My buddy gifted me a rashed up DRT Tiny Klash as he had a few newer ones; I rattlecanned it to a color I call "Pink Lemonade", a chartreuse upper body with a soft pinkish back.  I took it out to a local pond for twenty minutes before work just to swim test it and check out the color in the water and I got bit!  3:45 in the afternoon, bright, bluebird skies but there was a good chop on the water from a 15mph breeze so that helped.

Hit up a lake in the burbs about 2p, "crappy" weather of about 50 degrees with 15mph winds and off-and-on rain.  In other words, perfect fall fishing weather.  I fished for about an hour and got one to eat the Tiny Klash.

Went back to the same lake yesterday; fall bite is ON.  Caught a couple pike and these two bass on the TK again and saw a few other bass cruising.  This weather's got em riled up and eating, get out there while they've still got the feed bag on!

Chicago guys - Where do yall go for smallies?  I've only been able to catch LMB this year at Wolf Lake.

9 minutes ago, Kongming said:

Chicago guys - Where do yall go for smallies?  I've only been able to catch LMB this year at Wolf Lake.

Hit the rivers. the Fox, Kankakee, DuPage, or the Des Plaines all have good populations of smallmouth and lots of places with shoreline access.

The lakefront in Chicago also has good smallies. The state record was caught there not long ago.

On 11/1/2021 at 4:23 PM, Kongming said:

Chicago guys - Where do yall go for smallies?  I've only been able to catch LMB this year at Wolf Lake.

North ? 

 

But Scott is not wrong those rivers got em.

Fall bite's still on, but for the first time the water was COLD at one of the retention ponds.  Hopefully we've got a couple more good weeks left.

On 11/1/2021 at 3:23 PM, Kongming said:

Chicago guys - Where do yall go for smallies?  I've only been able to catch LMB this year at Wolf Lake.

 

Try the harbors.  I've never done it but I see lots of pictures of good smallies being caught from the shore in the harbors.  I do well in a boat in Cal Harbor and NW Indiana.   

Went out today to try a couple light jigs, cold as all get up but worth the hour I was out there ?.  BTW the little guy put up one hell of a fuss and I’m hoping he continues to grow and I bump into him in a few years?

Trying to do more cold-water fishing this winter; decided to get into hair jigs as I've heard they're a good deal for winter fishing.  First time throwing one and got a small pike to eat, gives me confidence in the bait and cold-water fishing.  Hopefully more to come.

List of 2022 outdoor and fishing shows

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/12/3/22812640/outdoors-shows-chicago-2021-22-expansive-list-shows-swap-meets-classes

I’m late to this IL thread. 
Anyone on here fish the Southern IL lakes & strip pits?  

3 hours ago, cottny27 said:

I’m late to this IL thread. 
Anyone on here fish the Southern IL lakes & strip pits?  

Yep, Marion area.

 

Heads up all you Chicagoans and suburbanites……warm string of weather heading our way. Highs in the 50’s and 60’s coming in the next 10 days. Can’t beat that for mid-December in the Chicago area!!

On 12/8/2021 at 10:22 PM, MidwestBassAttack said:

Heads up all you Chicagoans and suburbanites……warm string of weather heading our way. Highs in the 50’s and 60’s coming in the next 10 days. Can’t beat that for mid-December in the Chicago area!!

I became very excited when I saw that. Unfortunately I can only fish past the 17th.

The Chicagoland fishing expo which was to be held in schaumburg has been officially "postponed" until next year, bummer, was looking forward to it.

8 hours ago, Bassjam2000 said:

The Chicagoland fishing expo which was to be held in schaumburg has been officially "postponed" until next year, bummer, was looking forward to it.

That's a bummer.

Unfortunately a sign of the times!

 

As of now the Tinley Park Fishing & Outdoor show is still on I believe ?. I’ll try to find more information when it becomes available and if I get a chance I’ll stop in at my local tackle shop, they should be able to tell me something.

13 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

As of now the Tinley Park Fishing & Outdoor show is still on I believe ?. I’ll try to find more information when it becomes available and if I get a chance I’ll stop in at my local tackle shop, they should be able to tell me something.

 

 

The Tinley show has been cancelled as well.  

No boat show at McCormick either

hey whats up guys im new on here. im up in northern lake county and i just wanted to say hello and i actually know people on here like @Jig Rookie from swimbait underground and well i love throwing big baits even if illinois isnt really know for that but well im up to the challenge. I also the high school state series on the chain here in northern illinois and hopefully i can get on the podium so i can go down to state this year.

On 1/10/2022 at 11:29 AM, Bassjam2000 said:

The Chicagoland fishing expo which was to be held in schaumburg has been officially "postponed" until next year, bummer, was looking forward to it.

lees baits and tackle is doing there own mini "expo" this week end im planning to go because they are going to have some exclusive baits. its also near the the convention center in shamburg anyone else planning to go? i kinda wanna meet more IL fisherman

1 hour ago, Jp_midwest said:

hey whats up guys im new on here. im up in northern lake county and i just wanted to say hello and i actually know people on here like @Jig Rookie from swimbait underground and well i love throwing big baits even if illinois isnt really know for that but well im up to the challenge. I also the high school state series on the chain here in northern illinois and hopefully i can get on the podium so i can go down to state this year.

Yooo I’m from Chicago as well. My younger brother currently fishes the high school state series. I did them last year but am now on the collegiate circuit. Good to see another younger kid on here!