Just wanted to say hi I hadn't seen this thread but I am from the bloomington normal area. I mostly fish bloomington and evergreen but sometimes go to other lakes a little farther away.

hi guys im from Aurora and Oswego. i am itching for the ice to thaw and go fishing again. im getting tired of organizing tackle i want to use it not organize it.

 

4 minutes ago, smallyslayer said:

hi guys im from Aurora and Oswego. i am itching for the ice to thaw and go fishing again. im getting tired of organizing tackle i want to use it not organize it.

 

Right next door in Sugar Grove. Welcome to BR

3 minutes ago, MarkH024 said:

Right next door in Sugar Grove. Welcome to BR

Ive fished ponds in Sugar Grove caught some good fish.

 

I have the luxury of a nice sized pond out my front door. I just moved out this way in September last year and the little bit of fishing I got in through November I landed some good fish.  This year I'll venture out a little more to other locations.

what are some good downstate lakes that dont have a HP restriction and would be friendly to a Lund Deep-V boat?  looking to do an early spring trip

7 minutes ago, Allen Der said:

what are some good downstate lakes that dont have a HP restriction and would be friendly to a Lund Deep-V boat?  looking to do an early spring trip

Clinton is usually worth the trip. I've caught some big fish early spring. That being said the hot arm opens up April 1st and that is when tournament season really kicks off. From late March to july there was a tournament almost every weekend. April 17th is the Illini High School Open and I'm sure the argenta tournament is around that time too.  You can hit up Rend Lake or even Shelbyville. Anything past Rend and I would just go to KY Lake. 

On February 16, 2016 at 10:56 AM, MarkH024 said:

Right next door in Sugar Grove. Welcome to BR

New member and on the Aurora/Naperville side.  Looking forward to the spring that is for sure!

Welcome.  Im anxiously awaiting ice out as well. Today should unlock some smaller ponds around here.

anyone think any ponds will be ice free this weekend in the aurora area with the 60 degree temps.

 

The one outside of my house has holes opening up already. Whether it goes wide open or not I'm unsure. I doubt it. Its about 6acres for reference 

sweet ill hopefully be fishing a pond on sunday.

7 minutes ago, MarkH024 said:

The one outside of my house has holes opening up already. Whether it goes wide open or not I'm unsure. I doubt it. Its about 6acres for reference 

 

 

 

My pond in Tinley was still locked up pretty tight yesterday.  

Two big sections unlocked and plagued by geese now. The middle still is frozen but if its 60 today it should dethaw. Tomorrow I might just need to get out there.

Fished a pond here in central illinois and got two on a drop shot with one of the zman scented leechz. Love the floating plastic on a drop shot in cold water. When you dead stick it, it just hovers in place and they hammer it.

Mbtharp I see your favorite lake is sangchris. Awesome lake.

32 minutes ago, Bear141 said:

Mbtharp I see your favorite lake is sangchris. Awesome lake.

Yeah you can have some awesome days on sangchris if you're in the right place at the right time. My buddy and I caught 60 bass on topwater there in the middle of December in only a few hours.. Most of them were small, but it's definitely a day I won't forget.

I see you're in Central IL too, where are you located?

First day out this year on sunday. 

Hit Clinton.  Water at the marina was around 45

fished in water from 45 until 49 or so. did not fish the hot water arm.

Caught a limit of bass and brought home some white bass for dinner. 

Good start.

Mbtharp I'm from Peoria area but my mom lives by Taylorville. I fish Sanchris a few times a year and lake Taylorville as well.

Hit my local pond twice today (noon and afternoon).  Got 6 and 7 bass respectively.  Nothing huge, but most were in the 15-17" (need to buy a scale).  

9 hours ago, Bear141 said:

Mbtharp I'm from Peoria area but my mom lives by Taylorville. I fish Sanchris a few times a year and lake Taylorville as well.

Ever have any luck at taylorville? If it has more cover to fish than sangchris i'll have to check it out sometime.

I live on lake Zurich(northern Illinois)

Any Northern Illinois kayak fisherman out there.  I just recently bought a fishing kayak and would love to partner up.  I've yet to get it out on the water but plan on starting when the lakes thaw.

On 2/19/2016 at 10:08 AM, smallyslayer said:

anyone think any ponds will be ice free this weekend in the aurora area with the 60 degree temps.

 

Do you fish Prairie Rd Pond?  I've been wondering how the largemouth are over there.

Mbtharp I haven't ever fished for bass on Taylorville but have caught a few nice crappie and channel cat there.