Went out on Sangchris a little over a week ago. Got some decent fish on the jig. Check out the video I made while I was out! Anyone else in IL fishing power plant lakes this time of year?

Did this today. Going to do more tomorrow.

A very Merry Christmas to all the Illinois anglers on here. Hope you and your families all enjoy the best of the season and have safe and happy travels!

 

Todd

On 12/7/2017 at 1:11 AM, mbtharp1 said:

 

Went out on Sangchris a little over a week ago. Got some decent fish on the jig. Check out the video I made while I was out! Anyone else in IL fishing power plant lakes this time of year?

Yes. I fish Newton in the winter, have had some decent days and some not so much, but it still beats just watching it on TV. I kinda look at 40 + degree air temp for a high on any given day to be warm enough for me to go. Power plant lake the water temp is always warm enough. But if its not going to get in the 40's, I'd rather not launch the boat. My fingers just freeze off.

Merry Christmas guys!!!

Merry Christmas! I'm a Dallas angler who is spending the holidays with my in-laws in Champaign. We go up often and i do enjoy yalls fishing as I do quite a bit of it as they live on about a 60-acre impoundment. It's not so much a lake as a really big retention pond prob not more than 15' deep. They don't allow any boats so I will be beating the bank. Think of a gigantic oddly shaped cereal bowl lol. I've noticed the last week or so they've been in the 50s but this coming week is dropping down into the twenties and thirties. They don't have any ice on the lake, but I'm really just wondering what the heck should I be throwing? I mean I'm still throwing Whopper ploppers down here in Dallas LOL. I assume the water temperature will be in the mid to low 40s. Anybody with big pond, small Lake cold water fishing experience please chime in as I'm packing later this afternoon. I appreciate any help from the Brotherhood here at Bass resource!

43 minutes ago, Kyhokie said:

They don't have any ice on the lake, but I'm really just wondering what the heck should I be throwing? 

Try a t-rigged fluke bounced on the bottom, or b/b jig.

I have had some luck with jerkbaits in places like that around my way. Might think about bringing a couple of those too.

18 hours ago, Kyhokie said:

Merry Christmas! I'm a Dallas angler who is spending the holidays with my in-laws in Champaign. We go up often and i do enjoy yalls fishing as I do quite a bit of it as they live on about a 60-acre impoundment. It's not so much a lake as a really big retention pond prob not more than 15' deep. They don't allow any boats so I will be beating the bank. Think of a gigantic oddly shaped cereal bowl lol. I've noticed the last week or so they've been in the 50s but this coming week is dropping down into the twenties and thirties. They don't have any ice on the lake, but I'm really just wondering what the heck should I be throwing? I mean I'm still throwing Whopper ploppers down here in Dallas LOL. I assume the water temperature will be in the mid to low 40s. Anybody with big pond, small Lake cold water fishing experience please chime in as I'm packing later this afternoon. I appreciate any help from the Brotherhood here at Bass resource!

Are you certain that there are fish in there?  Many subdivision water retention ponds in Champaign/Urbana were initially stocked but are now devoid of all life except geese. You can choose to throw anything as long as it's big and you work it very slowly.  Don't let our recent daytime temps fool you, it has been chilly at night.  Those water retention ponds are shallow and they will already be cold.  Keep a big lure in front of the fish for a long time and you could have luck.  I have bad news for you, though, if you aren't here already.  But slow fishing lures from the bank gives you plenty of time to stand around and think about how cold the wind is...so that's pretty relaxing....

 

If you are here long enough to take a road trip just go to one of the power plant cooling lakes.  The warm side of Clinton or Sangchris will get you good fish.  And Newton is a world class bass lake but I don't know how much shore fishing you can do on the warm side.  I've not tried that.  

Anyone have any experience with Double T in Canton? Or any other public fishing areas other than Banner Marsh around Canton?

Anyone heading to the Schaumburg show this week?

http://www.sportshows.com/chicago/index.html

IL guy qualifies for the big time. Just thought I'd throw this out there. I'm a "Chain Rat" as well and I've competed against this guy in our local clubs since 2004. A helluva stick. In the money more times than not. Congrats Chris 

https://www.bassmaster.com/news/opens-profile-groh-s-bass-obsession

On 1/19/2018 at 5:37 PM, slonezp said:

Anyone heading to the Schaumburg show this week?

http://www.sportshows.com/chicago/index.html

I'll be working in the booth for my fishing club, the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance, Friday though the close on Sunday. BR members should stop and say hi! 

14 minutes ago, slonezp said:

IL guy qualifies for the big time. Just thought I'd throw this out there. I'm a "Chain Rat" as well and I've competed against this guy in our local clubs since 2004. A helluva stick. In the money more times than not. Congrats Chris 

https://www.bassmaster.com/news/opens-profile-groh-s-bass-obsession

Good for him!

On 1/21/2018 at 10:53 AM, Scott F said:

I'll be working in the booth for my fishing club, the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance, Friday though the close on Sunday. BR members should stop and say hi! 

Walked past you 3 times and you were occupied with people. Did you buy that shiny black Lund across the aisle from you?

Aww I wish you had stopped. This evening was really slow. 

I already have a brand new shiny boat in my garage that I haven't even gotten wet yet.

2 hours ago, Scott F said:

Aww I wish you had stopped. This evening was really slow. 

I didn't want to interrupt. You were talking to 2 gentlemen around 6:00. I walked around the boats, stopped and talked to my boat shop (Lake County Watersports) came back around and I believe you were still with the same 2 guys, I checked out the Lunds, they were still talking to you and I left.

1 minute ago, slonezp said:

I didn't want to interrupt. You were talking to 2 gentlemen around 6:00. I walked around the boats, stopped and talked to my boat shop (Lake County Watersports) came back around and I believe you were still with the same 2 guys, I checked out the Lunds, they were still talking to you and I left.

Ha! those were two of my fishing buddies, were weren't talking business, just telling stories.

1 minute ago, Scott F said:

Ha! those were two of my fishing buddies, were weren't talking business, just telling stories.

Such is life. Serves me right for being polite. LOL

Friday was a rare 50 plus degree day in my neck of the woods. So I headed to Newton. Fished from about 1145 to 530, never went far down the warm arm due to the excess wind/waves. My jon boat isn't big enough to really do well in any kind of chop kicked up by wind.

 

Anyway, didn't have a lot of luck until I switched over to a big square bill and then I caught a 3 1/2 and a 2 /12 in about an hour. No pictures of either, my phone was buried in layers when i caught them so I just weighed and released.

 

But I did get some pics of a Bald Eagle and their nest up there, which was pretty awesome. Water temp was like, max of 50 near the main lake and dropping to 45 back deep it a cove. Had a good time though, was really great just to be on the water.

Howdy FIB's. How's everyone been?

Good to finally see most of the snow leave...now to get the water soft!

On 2/19/2018 at 1:49 PM, MarkH024 said:

Howdy FIB's. How's everyone been?

How you been? Mama and baby good? Keeping busy at work?

 

Anyone that's looking for open water needs to get out on one of our powerplant lakes. Went to Coffeen with a friend and caught some fish last week, it was a good time!

 

 

Pooti! Busting em!