I'm not saying all outboard places are this way, but all the ones I've dealt with will not give you repair advice or help. Reason being is they want to do the work. I am a do-it yourself guy, and I like to see what is done to my boat. With that said, a friend of a friend of a friend gave me this ex merc marine mechanic. He came highly recommended. I called him up, and he will come to your house to help you out. I had him replace both water pumps on my 225 and 9.9 as a preventive maintenance, and  he  was very reasonable with parts and labor and service call. He works right out of your house, or I am sure you can take your boat to his house. He does everything in front of you and shows you how everything works. that's what I like about him. Hands on and explains everything. He lives in Bloomingdale, and he drove to my house in Vernon Hills. Only issue I had which was trying to schedule him, but I had two busy weekends in a row and he was open. Great guy and I would highly recommend him to anyone. PM me for his full name and phone number if you are interested.

 

Thanks cadman! I knew that a bigger shop wouldn't work with me and show me. That is why I would prefer a guy who did work on the side or is willing to take the time to walk me through it. If you don't mind, could you pm me his contact info?

 

Thanks Slone. I will be making some calls this week and will make sure to contact them.

Thanks for the info. I'll let you know how we do. if you plan to go out there, I'll be in the white/wine/silver  619VS Ranger, and maybe we can talk some.

Did you make it out there?

Did you make it out there?

Yes, we were there on Sunday at 6:05 a.m.  Went to the hump, 2nd cast I got a northern about 23" long. About 10 minutes later my wife got a bite off. Went to the point by the hump nothing. Shot over to the east shoreline by the Pagoda. I got a 14", 10 minutes later got another 14" both on a jig and pig.  Another half hour later and my wife gets another bite off. Shot over to the extreme S.W. shoreline and fished a stretch about 200 yards. My wife picked up (5) fish fishing a swim jig. (2) 17-1/2", (2) 16-1/2" and (1) 14". See pics below.  We fished till 1:00 and didn't get anything else.

 

Thanks cadman! I knew that a bigger shop wouldn't work with me and show me. That is why I would prefer a guy who did work on the side or is willing to take the time to walk me through it. If you don't mind, could you pm me his contact info?

 

Thanks Slone. I will be making some calls this week and will make sure to contact them.

PM sent.

Slonezp,

If the rumors are true, that is one huge smallie. Looks like I'm going fishing at lunchtime.

Bloomington, IL..

Been on this great site for years and missed this post.

Look forward to corresponding and hopefully fishing with some of the good people here.

All the best,

Twitch

Bloomington here as well.

Here is the info on the 8lb smallie.  Interesting story, bad ending for the smallie...

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/outdoors/28684551-452/heres-a-fish-story-for-you.html#.U8aD07GTHXt

And the conclusion to the now 9.1lb smallie story:

http://voices.suntimes.com/sports/chicago-fishing-smallmouth-record-not-accepted/

Hey the drought is over!!!

Caught me a 2 pounder on a blue jig with a green craw trailer

Was at 3 Oaks in Crystal Lake

Felt great to finally catch one

Couple from the Wisconsin River, Ended up with 25 brownies, 1 short walleye and 2 bigazz sheepshead.

 

Action shot 

 

I was actually disappointed. Went up there looking to fill the freezer with crappie. Not one to be found

Heading to the lakefront to look for perch and smallies tomorrow. I'll post a report good or bad. Might even get an earful of lollapalooza

I was actually thinking of going there this morning until I remembered lallapalooza was going on and said forget it

Caught me some blue gills in new Lennox instead

Slonezp, I'll be out there as well but from shore.  I'll probably start by the shedd and then maybe head north towards monroe harbor.  Or that plan could go out the window and we go south on northerly island.  Good luck tomorrow!

Was a beautiful morning to be on the water. Only the gobies were cooperating. Launched at Diversey around 6:15, started at Montrose, shot down to the north side of NP and drifted the weed flats. On to Monroe and ended up at 31st street where my dad caught the only keeper of the day. Weighed about 5lbs

Had a great time yesterday morning as well.  Caught these smallie's early in the day and lost a massive drum over by the boat launch in Burnham Harbor.  I can't wait til Fall and next Spring.

 

 

I knew I wasn't the only one . I'm in Canton (biggest town around me is Peoria) .

I'm in Peoria temorarily. I actually live in Washington, but waitong for house to be built after tornado. Have fished a couple tournaments in the Canton area this year. Fulton County cons. area and Lakeland. Had never been on either of those waters before.

Kinda new to this board. I kept looking under fishing reports thread and last Illinois entry was in 2013. Thought no one was getting on here! I mostly fish the Central/Southern Illinois lakes. Clinton, Shelbyville, strip mines throughout Central IL. Been Crappie fishing for the past 6 years and got back into bass fishing this year after the November tornado took my house and all my bass gear. Got all new gear and getting back into it! Joined a local "buddy" club this year and fished many lakes I had never been on. Always fun to fish new water. If any of you have ever been on Panther Creek or Taylorville, any help would be appreciated. Have two-day tournaments on both coming up. I look forward to reading and participating on this board! Wet Lines!!! JT

Welcome to the site jtmavs

Im over by Quincy.

JT- Lakeland and the cons. area can be some tough fishing. I haven't fished Lakeland in about 4 or 5 years. Last time I did we caught a bunch of short fish. As the cons. area goes I've been there 2 times this year and the biggest was probably around 3. I bought a camper out at the Giant Goose Ranch so I've been fishing and learning those waters (when I get time from working on my add on and when my son doesn't have baseball). It's a really nice place to fish.

Went out to Delavan today. Not a bad day overall. Started at 6:00 a.m. by the hump . Got a fish first cast and missed it, second cast I got him on a jig and pig. 4 lbs 8 oz. Then my buddy picked up and 18 incher. Moved down the shoreline, we both got two 16 inchers. Further down the shoreline I got a 18-1/2 incher. Shot across to the other side and fished that shoreline, my buddy got a 4 lb 4 ounces largey on a senko wacky style fishing docks. Moved down the shoreline got another bass about 15 under the docks. Further down that shoreline my buddy got another bass 4.0 lbs. Went to the house with the clock fished that dock got a 17-1/2 incher. It was now 10: 30 A.M. next hour and a 1/2 nothing nowhere. Went back to the shore by the pagoda fished that till 1:00 P.M only got 1 more bass about 14 inches. That's it . No northerns today woohoo.  Below is a pic of the 4 largest bass. Going tomorrow to either Powers Lake or Browns.

 

Was a beautiful morning to be on the water. Only the gobies were cooperating. Launched at Diversey around 6:15, started at Montrose, shot down to the north side of NP and drifted the weed flats. On to Monroe and ended up at 31st street where my dad caught the only keeper of the day. Weighed about 5lbs

 

 

Wow nice skyline and a nice fish  

Went out to Delavan today. Not a bad day overall. Started at 6:00 a.m. by the hump . Got a fish first cast and missed it, second cast I got him on a jig and pig. 4 lbs 8 oz. Then my buddy picked up and 18 incher. Moved down the shoreline, we both got two 16 inchers. Further down the shoreline I got a 18-1/2 incher. Shot across to the other side and fished that shoreline, my buddy got a 4 lb 4 ounces largey on a senko wacky style fishing docks. Moved down the shoreline got another bass about 15 under the docks. Further down that shoreline my buddy got another bass 4.0 lbs. Went to the house with the clock fished that dock got a 17-1/2 incher. It was now 10: 30 A.M. next hour and a 1/2 nothing nowhere. Went back to the shore by the pagoda fished that till 1:00 P.M only got 1 more bass about 14 inches. That's it . No northerns today woohoo.  Below is a pic of the 4 largest bass. Going tomorrow to either Powers Lake or Browns.

 

Delavan has been producing early all year. Was like this last year as well. Nice job

Went to Browns on Sunday. Got 4 bite offs from northern, missed two fish, and only ended up with a 15-1/2 and a 16" for 6 hours of fishing. This lake is definitely not a lake Delavan. More snakey northern in here than ever.

The grandson starts school tomorrow and that means Papa can get out on the water early.  Planning on heading up to Delavan later in the week and I read the morning bite has been decent.  Anyone looking to partner up on a week-day, shoot me out a PM.  There's always room in my boat for a fellow angler, young, old, loud, or quiet, I don't care.  I just enjoy having company as long as it isn't a woman.  I told mama I like fat girls and she got the wrong idea.  I don't think she'd understand.  Sorry girls