Do you have that little boat ready for the power plant lakes?

2 hours ago, Skunked again said:

Do you have that little boat ready for the power plant lakes?

It's my winter project. I got my sons furniture moved out of my garage last weekend, he's moving in with his girlfriend. Spent this morning getting the garage straightened out., probably got it 60% done. Gonna work on it more tomorrow and hopefully get it finished. Then one of these days bring the boat down from the house in Wisconsin. I already bought a Helix 5 and both bow and transom mount trolling motors for it..

7 hours ago, slonezp said:

Looks like soft water fishing is officially over. Ponds are freezing, Fox in Elgin is freezing. I was in the dells yesterday buttoning things up in the house for the winter. Lower dells is still wide open and the upper dells is skimming over.  

My spot is iced over. now we wait... #depression 

And so it begins....

What power binoculars do you keep in your desk drawer?  You are allowed to plead the fifth!!

A little late, but these smallies are from the Illinois river, I stayed on them from early October to mid November. 

 

also caught a lot of largemouth. Most fish are in the 1-2 lb range. Occasionally id hook into 2.5s and 3, but they were few and far between.

Nice fish. How I miss those smallies! Are their any in "southern" Illinois? By southern, I'm talking south of I-72. Kincaid, Shelbyville? Both lakes are the same drive for me.

While I don't believe there are any smallies in Shelbyville, the Kaskaskia River below the Shelbyville dam has Smallmouth. They are most abundant in the tailwaters, but can be found all the way downstream to  Cowden.

I caught 1 smallmouth out of shelbyville about 15 years ago while crappie fishing, haven't caught any since. Haven't caught any from Kincaid either. Not saying they aren't there, I just haven't caught them.

a couple more

On ‎12‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 9:28 AM, Scott F said:

While I don't believe there are any smallies in Shelbyville, the Kaskaskia River below the Shelbyville dam has Smallmouth. They are most abundant in the tailwaters, but can be found all the way downstream to  Cowden.

Scott, any idea if there are smallies in the Kish out near Rockford an if it's navigable?

Absolutely there are smallies in the Kish. A good friend of mine did very well there this past October catching many fish in the 18-20 inch range. Navigable? Probably not in the boat with the prop motor you just bought. Several members of the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance call the Kishwaukee their home water and fish it out of kayaks, canoes or wading. There are a lot of parks and access points. There is a definite migration of smallies out of the Kish into the Rock River during the fall and back again before the spawn in the spring. It's a very nice river to float.

Everytime I drive up to WI i tell myself im going to stop there and fish. Scott, are there any wading areas you can suggest? (Send a pm if willing)

 

Not looking for gold but rather not wasted trips since it isnt exactly down the road. I need to put my wading gear to use next year. Didn't touch it once in 2016.

I've only fished it a couple of times over the years so I can't be much help about spots. The information I've gotten from other members of my club I've picked up from our online fishing reports. Even there, we don't allow members to post specific spots online. 

Anyone hitting up the shows? Anyone been ice fishing? Anyone else bored?

Yep, lost my mind this week. Haven't fished all week. Been watching tv shows and dreaming. Ice is gone down here but the winds have been 20mph and cold. It's so bad, I've actually started doing house work. Man, this boredom is killing me!

Went to coffeen Wednesday, couple of dinks. Stretched my string

I may hit the show in Schaumburg, IL. I am staying busy with all the jigs I have to pour and reels I have to clean for family, friends and club members. Good time to do this since I can't fish.

I will be at the schaumburg and tinley park shows.  Been doing the same as cadman, cleaning reels and going through tackle.  

Purely out of boredom I went to the All Canada Show Thursday afternoon at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles. Nothing really interested me but it was good to get out and talk fishing with a few folks on a 30 degree day.

I was at the Musky Expo on Jan 6th.  Same old, same old.  Shows and show prices are unimpressive to me these days.  I just go to see people. 

This should make you all feel better....NOT!.... http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-spiraling-of-illinois-fisheries-division-beyond-a-challenge/

 

But they keep finding money to pay the pensions

My wife is a state employee, 27 years. Hasn't had a raise in 3 years. We are scared, to say the least.

14 minutes ago, Skunked again said:

My wife is a state employee, 27 years. Hasn't had a raise in 3 years. We are scared, to say the least.

My buddies wife has been a social worker employed by the state for many years. She just entered the private sector 2 months ago and she wouldn't have it any other way. Madigan has really done a number on this state. I'll refrain from saying anything more because of forum rules.

I'm thinking I'll be able to fish the western suburb ponds by the end of this week. Hell, looks like i can summerize my snow blowers and move them to the back of the garage. 

4 hours ago, beardown34 said:

I'm thinking I'll be able to fish the western suburb ponds by the end of this week. Hell, looks like i can summerize my snow blowers and move them to the back of the garage. 

We could get 2 feet of snow dumped on us at anytime all teh way into March.  I'd slow your role.  Mother nature is just "f"ing with us.