And now more snow and freezing temps   

Nothing is for sure until mid April. Lol

On September 13, 2007 at 11:21 PM, grimlin said:

Joe.S was the person that taught me the jig...he describes what to do perfectly.

Without his description i'd still be dumber than a bass on how to work a jig. ;D

I hit the Fox River Monday morning. Caught one snag. Water was cold. Average height for this time of year.   Used a Sure Set 3/16 pink jig head with a 3" white Power Grub. I didn't expect much. It was nice just to get out there. 

17 hours ago, MarkH024 said:

Nothing is for sure until mid April. Lol

Ain't that the truth. 60 degrees Sunday and in the teens today. I have Spring fever now sooooo bad.  Lakes by us in northern IL are still frozen. Maybe a couple more weeks and woohoo early Spring.

I'm only talking about subdivision ponds, but anyone else seeing low water levels? This is my first full year fishing so maybe it's just normal for this time of year and I don't know it. Or is it abnormally low because of the little snow we got this year?

43 minutes ago, beardown34 said:

I'm only talking about subdivision ponds, but anyone else seeing low water levels? This is my first full year fishing so maybe it's just normal for this time of year and I don't know it. Or is it abnormally low because of the little snow we got this year?

Very abnormal. My little pond out my door is about 9" low. Usually after ice out it, it's typical for the water level to be up or above average.  I would say that the lack of snow and a heavy ice form is the result. The two attempts I've made on my pond have resulted in nothing so I'm just going to wait until it warms up some. I'm not exactly our type of guy that sits with a t-rig and spends 10 minutes on one cast....

1 hour ago, cadman said:

Ain't that the truth. 60 degrees Sunday and in the teens today. I have Spring fever now sooooo bad.  Lakes by us in northern IL are still frozen. Maybe a couple more weeks and woohoo early Spring.

60's coming again next week. Lets hope it stays closer to that afterwards to heat things up a bit. 

2 hours ago, beardown34 said:

I'm only talking about subdivision ponds, but anyone else seeing low water levels? This is my first full year fishing so maybe it's just normal for this time of year and I don't know it. Or is it abnormally low because of the little snow we got this year?

My little acre pond is above normal. Most of the ponds I'm familiar with see at average level. Some definetly look low, but they never really recovered from the super hot summer we had 4 or 5 yrs ago. 

Looks like I'll hit Braidwood Sunday if the forecast holds.  It will be stupid-busy but I want to work on a few things and check out a couple new combos.     

 

2 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

Looks like I'll hit Braidwood Sunday if the forecast holds.  It will be stupid-busy but I want to work on a few things and check out a couple new combos.     

 Got the new rig yet?

I'll probably be pulling mine out of storage on Monday. Getting the batteries charged and what not

6 minutes ago, slonezp said:

 

 Got the new rig yet?

I'll probably be pulling mine out of storage on Monday. Getting the batteries charged and what not

Hows the chicken wing? Ready for Double Cow girls with #10s yet?

53 minutes ago, MarkH024 said:

Hows the chicken wing? Ready for Double Cow girls with #10s yet?

Not quite yet. I asked about being ready for tournaments mid April. The physical therapist recommended baby steps. Said to go out an hour, then 2 then 3 and so on. If I can't do tourneys this year then I can't. I took the week after Memorial Day off work. That's going to be the real test.  I have a tourney on the Sunday before. Planning on panfish for Monday, the holiday. Downtown smallies on Tuesday, Delavan on Wednesday, and Sturgeon Bay Thurs-Sunday. Plans aren't set in stone yet and weather or my shoulder might change things. 

6 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Not quite yet. I asked about being ready for tournaments mid April. The physical therapist recommended baby steps. Said to go out an hour, then 2 then 3 and so on. If I can't do tourneys this year then I can't. I took the week after Memorial Day off work. That's going to be the real test.  I have a tourney on the Sunday before. Planning on panfish for Monday, the holiday. Downtown smallies on Tuesday, Delavan on Wednesday, and Sturgeon Bay Thurs-Sunday. Plans aren't set in stone yet and weather or my shoulder might change things. 

Where downtown? The lake was completely muddied up last I heard.

10 minutes ago, tbone1993 said:

Where downtown? The lake was completely muddied up last I heard.

Not this week. I'm talking during my vacation in May.

And yes the lake is a mudhole right now. I get to look out my office window at it everyday. Got churned up real bad the last few days.

30 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Not this week. I'm talking during my vacation in May.

And yes the lake is a mudhole right now. I get to look out my office window at it everyday. Got churned up real bad the last few days.

The powerliners were doing pretty good up until that wind and bad weather came. I was looking forward to going after some smallmouth.    Do you know if you can fish any of the harbors with a boat? It sucks that we cannot fish it like any other lake. There's some great fishing to be hand on those docks. 

Guys I'm dying for my first fish of the year. I can't wait for La Salle to be open.

Sangchris lake was not running power Monday and water was a muddy 45.  Anyone know anything about this lake on when they pull?

11 hours ago, tbone1993 said:

The powerliners were doing pretty good up until that wind and bad weather came. I was looking forward to going after some smallmouth.    Do you know if you can fish any of the harbors with a boat? It sucks that we cannot fish it like any other lake. There's some great fishing to be hand on those docks. 

I have fished the harbors from a boat without problems. There are some decent largemouth in the harbors 

 

On 2/10/2016 at 9:13 PM, HBtheKID56 said:

How's it going everyone!  I'm new to the forum!  I'm originally from California and used to fish a bit with my uncle there.  Don't know what happened but recently been obsessed with fishing and this will be my first coming spring as a determined Illinois fisherman! 

Hi and welcome aboard from a fellow former Californian.

I lived in Pleasanton in the East Bay area and would have been outside fishing instead of inside looking out at the snow if I was still there.

19 hours ago, slonezp said:

 

 Got the new rig yet?

I'll probably be pulling mine out of storage on Monday. Getting the batteries charged and what not

No, I'll be slumming it in my old boat till the X-190 is ready in April or early May.  

First fishing trip tomorrow.  Anyone have any lure advice? Thinking about starting with red eye shad or chatter bait. Usually don't start fishing until April.

7 hours ago, Bear141 said:

First fishing trip tomorrow.  Anyone have any lure advice? Thinking about starting with red eye shad or chatter bait. Usually don't start fishing until April.

Rattlin' Baits and jigs are the two baits I'd rely on.  

10 hours ago, Bear141 said:

First fishing trip tomorrow.  Anyone have any lure advice? Thinking about starting with red eye shad or chatter bait. Usually don't start fishing until April.

Yep me as well. As soon as the waters open up here. Rattle trap and a jig fished very slowly on the bottom. I have really good luck with a red or craw rattle trap also a red/black jig no weedguard.

10 hours ago, Bear141 said:

First fishing trip tomorrow.  Anyone have any lure advice? Thinking about starting with red eye shad or chatter bait. Usually don't start fishing until April.

Let us know how you do. I still have ice on our lakes here. probably another couple of weeks.

Well guys I only had one hit today and missed it. It was cold and windy but great to be back out on the water.

I was tempted myself but still too cool for me. Hopefully next week!

We've been smacking them in southern Illinois. Water temps 45-50 Photo album so far 2016