Although mine are nowhere near as big as @Jig Rookie’s I too took advantage of the warm weather on Tuesday and hooked into these 2.

10 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

@Tackleholic What makes you think he didn’t?  

Just guessing.  The fish was lying motionless on what looks like a dry paper bag.  He said he released it, I'll accept his word.  I'm also from northern Illinois  and can vouch for that being a big 'un.  Congratulations!

46 minutes ago, Tackleholic said:

Just guessing.  The fish was lying motionless on what looks like a dry paper bag.  He said he released it, I'll accept his word.  I'm also from northern Illinois  and can vouch for that being a big 'un.  Congratulations!

Ah, I get the concern, thanks!

The fish was motionless because it was a photo, not a video. And it's actually a vinyl tablecloth big board I made, and I wet it down before a fish goes on. I know, blurry picture, and some people put bass on inch-numbered paper bags for pics...I guess? Never heard of that but I'll take your word for it!

Thanks again for your concern and kind words, God bless!

59 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

Although mine are nowhere near as big as @Jig Rookie’s I too took advantage of the warm weather on Tuesday and hooked into these 2.

Way to go get em, had to take advantage of that day! No matter how big theyre all beauts!

21 hours ago, Jig Rookie said:

FINALLY DID IT!!! Cracked the 6lb mark, WOOHOOO!  Caught this one on a Tiny Klash blank I rattlecanned; Tuesday was a 79-degree high, had to get out there and give it a shot before these storms and cold weather rolled in last night and God gave me a GIFT!  She went 21.25" @ 6.26lbs, so pumped.  I've wondered whether I'd ever get to see a 6 up close and personal and the dream has come true!  Might be my last fish of the season, the water in these ponds is cooling off quickly, but what a fish to end it on!

 

 

Hell yeah, and that bait looks great!

Jig Rookie, congratulations, that is exceptional fish for northern Illinois.

On 10/31/2024 at 7:33 PM, BigAngus752 said:

The southerners won't understand this milestone in Illinois. 

 

I'm from MN and I can tell you that a 6 pounder is a very rare fish here, so the one @Jig Rookie posted over 6 is an exceptional fish.  Especially from a "neighborhood pond."

 

Don't sell yourself short on such a quality fish.

Walleye are starting to bite on the rock. This little cedar crank is doing work. Lost a couple smallies on it as well.

Couple short fish I got one night last week before the water got too cold: one on the DRT Joker and one on the Tiny Klash. I target big fish with these baits, but sometimes the short ones are so aggressive it's insane. What were these lil dudes thinking??

@Jig Rookie That PB!!!!  Congrats on an absolute tank.  Casually big baiting your way to the largest predator in that pond, and to be sure, I hope we get to see her again next year on this thread.

 

scott

9 hours ago, softwateronly said:

@Jig Rookie That PB!!!!  Congrats on an absolute tank.  Casually big baiting your way to the largest predator in that pond, and to be sure, I hope we get to see her again next year on this thread.

 

scott

Thanks! Speaking of seeing her again; I need to go back through my pics and see how many times I've caught the same fish. Last night I was watching the latest Working Class Zero vid on YouTube, Mike Gilbert was talking about how he's caught the same fish years apart. He figured it out because he went back through his pics and saw identical markings on fish catches. At this point, I've caught enough big fish outta this one-acre pond that I HAVE to be catching the same few over and over again--there just can't be that many 4+ pound fish in this tiny body of water! I'm actually looking forward to finding some re-catches, I'll definitely post here if I do!

Tag them. 

2 hours ago, Skunked again said:

Tag them. 

DUH, I didn't even consider this! I guess I wasn't even sure it was legal; just did some searching and there's a fish tagging site where you can buy some. Thanks!

You’re welcome sir! 
I’ve often been curious of this, for the reasons you stated. 

Hole punch dorsal fin?

I checked that fishtagger site; good stuff, a bit out of my price range though. I decided to go with a skinny nail (for a hole-punch) and the small-sized zip ties. At work now, I'll post a pic for reference when I get home. 

The nail is two inches long, the zip ties are about 3.5 inches. I figure a tiny hole and small zip ties won't obstruct/affect the fish's movements or hunting abilities. 

@Jig Rookie I like the concept but although I haven’t looked into one maybe you can find a leather punch or something similar to facilitate one handed hole punching. I’m going to include a picture and mind you mine is from my grandfather but I’m trying to show the concept more than anything as we’re getting colder in our state so I’m assuming the tagging is more for next season.

3 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@Jig Rookie I like the concept but although I haven’t looked into one maybe you can find a leather punch or something similar to facilitate one handed hole punching. I’m going to include a picture and mind you mine is from my grandfather but I’m trying to show the concept more than anything as we’re getting colder in our state so I’m assuming the tagging is more for next season.

I've never seen one of those, that is too cool--thanks for this! And yeah, definitely planning on next season; I'm gonna go out as many more times as I can this year before hard water (gonna slow-roll a Huddleston, a Klash9 and deadstick a jig), but not super-hopeful I'll catch anything. I'll look around and see if I can find something like it.

Any kayak anglers out there from Northern , IL that fish S.E Wisconsin waters? Friend is looking to join a small kayak club.

For all of us Northern IL guys around the Chicago Region…Happy Opening Day!!!

 

Heading on out to BWood for giggles…not expecting much though with the air temps right now, but will be nice to get out there!

 

😎

8 minutes ago, Maverick2017 said:

For all of us Northern IL guys around the Chicago Region…Happy Opening Day!!!

 

Heading on out to BWood for giggles…not expecting much though with the air temps right now, but will be nice to get out there!

 

😎

Good luck! Let’s us know how it goes 

My favorite retention pond literally just thawed completely yesterday so I’m hoping to stop next week. It was crazy yesterday seeing the Saganashkee Slough in Lemont thawed out on the west side while the east end was still completely covered in ice. If I wasn’t in my work truck I would’ve stopped for a photo.

does anyone know how to get into tournaments in central illinois as a co angler? im a poor with no boat but im tired of fishing from the bank. peoria area

23 hours ago, Maverick2017 said:

For all of us Northern IL guys around the Chicago Region…Happy Opening Day!!!

 

Heading on out to BWood for giggles…not expecting much though with the air temps right now, but will be nice to get out there!

 

😎

Good for you!  How'd you do?  As I was drinking coffee at the kitchen table at 7 AM, I was thinking of those guys zipping accross Braidwood at that time.  It was 20 degree and I could hear the wind.  Sounded brutal!  

Hi all, I'm trying to remember the name of a guy that I knew in the past that guides on the Chicago river. We were both members of the Arlington Anglers fishing club a few years back. Any help with his name and contact info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Kevin Brown.

On 3/2/2025 at 7:57 AM, Junk Fisherman said:

Good for you!  How'd you do?  As I was drinking coffee at the kitchen table at 7 AM, I was thinking of those guys zipping accross Braidwood at that time.  It was 20 degree and I could hear the wind.  Sounded brutal!  

I’m a bank banger and got out there around 1pm. Very busy, lots of boats out there. By that time it was still cold but quite comfortable. Got skunked but was really just happy to get out and get my reel settings dialed in. The banks on the main lake are super pressured so I didn’t have any expectations. I do much better at the South Units once those are thawed….Hopefully within the next week as temps hit the 60’s