A friend and I drove out to the Hennepin Canal for a few hours of largemouth this morning from 7-10:30. The water temp was 85*. The shoreline has a dense line of coontail weeds covered  with a mat of yellow green algae. The center of the canal is only 2-3 feet deep. I tried a rubber frog but only got a few hits but no hookups. A Whopper Plopper 90 got a couple but it was plain to see that topwaters weren't going to get the job done. Nearly all the other fish I got came when I would throw an unweighted, T rigged, 4" senko up on the matted weeds then I'd drag it off and let it sink on the outside weed edge. I had 15 total with the biggest at 19 inches.

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

A friend and I drove out to the Hennepin Canal for a few hours of largemouth this morning from 7-10:30. The water temp was 85*. The shoreline has a dense line of coontail weeds covered  with a mat of yellow green algae. The center of the canal is only 2-3 feet deep. I tried a rubber frog but only got a few hits but no hookups. A Whopper Plopper 90 got a couple but it was plain to see that topwaters weren't going to get the job done. Nearly all the other fish I got came when I would throw an unweighted, T rigged, 4" senko up on the matted weeds then I'd drag it off and let it sink on the outside weed edge. I had 15 total with the biggest at 19 inches.

Very nice.

I fish the hennepin canal a lot, punch those mats. That's the best tactic this time of year. 

Nice cats! Sweaters in July?!? 

Nice cats! Sweaters in July?!? 

Has anyone fished Forbes Lake near Kinmundy IL? Going to try it out soon. Curious if anyone has any fishing reports on that lake. 

Got my PB walleye on the Fox Chain today

Hit Delavan this morning. Launched at 6:30 and there was probably already 100 trucks/trailers in the parking lot. The good news is the bass we caught were healthy and fat. Unfortunately we only caught 5 along with a couple pike and a bluegill that hit a popper. Action was shallow. No bites in anything deeper than 8fow.

Anyone on here fish the rock river around oregon/dixon?

 

Had a little tourney. Finished dead last. But caught 12 fish between 17 7/8 and 4 between 16 and 17. Biggest was 18 1/4.

Those are some healthy looking fatties

Hey y'all, got a tournament hosted by the University of Illinois guys to sponsor a scholarship for our president who passed away. If you are interested or know anyone, let's get the word out and raise some money (more people means higher payout). 

 

Also, if this needs to go to the clubs forum or the tournament talk, let me know and I'll move it. 

Fox Chain report. Last nights coldfront didn't help. Not one bass. Water temp 65*Ended up with 1 16"walleye and 1 12" crappie both on a huskyjerk. Same bait, lost a 40"+ musky that straightened out the hook. Only 2 other bites. One was a big walleye that barrel rolled on my wacky worm and came off. The other was on the huskyjerk. It was big but never made it to the surface.

 

Headed up to Racine Harbor tomorrow to try and get into some kings.

Racine didn't work out because of the wind. Headed back to IL and hit my favorite panfish lake. Caught probably 20 bass and 20 gills all on live bait. Landed 2 snot rockets on artificials.

Hi guys, I’m from the Plainfield area. I’m having a hard time finding Shiners for live bait in the area. Anyone know of any shops in the area that might sell them.

 

Thanks

 

On 9/28/2018 at 7:02 PM, Otter17 said:

Hi guys, I’m from the Plainfield area. I’m having a hard time finding Shiners for live bait in the area. Anyone know of any shops in the area that might sell them.

 

Thanks

 

Chicago Bait and Tackle (Romeoville) sells live bait but not sure if they sell shiners.  Worth a call.

my season came to an abrupt and expensive end.

Ryneb - call tri-state trolling motor in St. Louis, or Jones trolling motor (I think in Arkansas). I've dealt with both. Both where helpful.

 

 

14 hours ago, RyneB said:

my season came to an abrupt and expensive end.

What did you hit? 

 

 

Fox chain report

 

didnt hit anything. I forgot to put the trolling motor up and got on the Yamaha. bad bad bad move

On 10/29/2018 at 9:58 PM, RyneB said:

didnt hit anything. I forgot to put the trolling motor up and got on the Yamaha. bad bad bad move

Someday they will link a kill switch to the TM. I seen it happen too many times.

 

Ryneb- I recently tried to load the boat on the trailer, with the trolling motor deployed. Got extremely lucky nothing was damaged.

good news is Progressive gave me full cost of motor, plus $200 for taxes and install and waived my deductible. So I'm very very very lucky.

Thinking about putting that money towards a new Ultrex. Anyone running an Ultrex? any feedback would be appreciated.

Very nice!! If you go with Minn Kota, don't buy until after the first of the year. They normally run rebates from Jan-May, and the rebates are usually 1 pound of thrust =$1 back. So if you go with a 112lb thrust, you get $112 back..

 

I'm done for the year. Caught enough crappie last week to last until spring. Did the last bass trip today and caught the skunk. Unloaded gear from the boat when I got home and dropping it off at the shop tomorrow to get it winterized. Looking back, I caught 2 PB's this year. 6lb smallie and a 27" walleye. My dad caught his PB smallmouth as well, on the same trip, a 5+. Largemouth fishing was average at best. big fish was 4lbs in early spring. Caught more pike and walleye this year than years past, as byproducts of bass fishing. Spring can't get here soon enough.