57 minutes ago, MrFrost said:

For those who buy their licenses online, and print them, I did not print mine this year, I have it on my phone.  At the trout opener on Saturday the DNR agent that checked my bucket said that it's much easier having it on your phone, and that it is totally acceptable these days.  Some people would still rather have it on them physically, but I'm going to save the wallet space, lol.  

Good to know. Except I always though your signature mattered hence needing the print out.  I have it digitally and paper always to be safe.

No luck last weekend. Was my second time out for the year. I should be out again this weekend. My kid caught a small keeper from a subdivision pond Sunday. 

59 minutes ago, MarkH024 said:

Good to know. Except I always though your signature mattered hence needing the print out.  I have it digitally and paper always to be safe.

He asked for my fishing license and also my ID and matched the two. 

 

Side note:

 

It was only 7am when I limited out, and he said that he had already had a bunch of radio reports of people being caught dumping their limit in their trucks and heading back to the water.  I gladly let him look around the inside of my truck to see that I had no hidden trout.  

Anyone ever fish whalon lake I am going to fish there this weekend. I heard it’s a shad lake is that true? Any tips?

21 hours ago, MrFrost said:

For those who buy their licenses online, and print them, I did not print mine this year, I have it on my phone.  At the trout opener on Saturday the DNR agent that checked my bucket said that it's much easier having it on your phone, and that it is totally acceptable these days.  Some people would still rather have it on them physically, but I'm going to save the wallet space, lol.  

I have a lifetime IL license so I never have to buy one. However many of the guys I fish with take a pic of their license and keep it on their phone and have a paper copy. I got stopped in WI last year and I gave the warden my phone. He said that is fine but I also need a paper copy. I read in a WI forum that you have to have a paper copy with you at all times when fishing WI. I don't know if that is because I'm not a resident or is that for everyone. I have phone copies of all my licenses and paper copies. If they want to check my license, they can scan my number off of my phone.

Went out Sunday to do some pond fishing for an hour. Got a couple small fish on a 1/2 oz Rattle Trap. Fish aren't hitting jigs yet in this pond. Going today for about an hour later.

Hit the Fox Chain yesterday with my dad. 35* and 15mph winds made main lake fishing miserable. Water temps from 42* to 47* I was ready to call it a day at 10am with only 1 crappie in the livewell. Dad wanted to fish the channel near the ramp. We spent the next 4 hours there fishing a 50ftx50ft area. Took home 6 crappies and a keeper bass, but caught 10 crappies, a dozen bass, a dozen perch, and 100 small gills.

 

Nice mess !

My son wanted to test out his new crappie setup, so we braved the snow and cold, hoping it didn't bother the crappie too much at our local little honey hole.  It didn't slow them down a bit.  We had probably 30 between us in an hour.  I also managed to land an ok largemouth.  I only took a couple pictures, one of the first crappie I landed, and of the bass.  Even though we were cold and wet, it was still a fun time.  

 

 

Hit the Fox Chain this morning for a few hours. Caught 3 in the 2-1/2 to 3lb range and a short. Lost a few as well. Warmest water we found was 52*

16 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Hit the Fox Chain this morning for a few hours. Caught 3 in the 2-1/2 to 3lb range and a short. Lost a few as well. Warmest water we found was 52*

Nice! Glad to see someone catching numbers! What were you using?

ned rig and texas rigged rage craws

Couple pics

 

first Whopper Plopper fish of the year. 6.5 

4 hours ago, RyneB said:

first Whopper Plopper fish of the year. 6.5 

What!! On top water already!

Nice fish too! Are you from southern Illinois??

 

What time do you guys around Chicago start throwing topwater?

4 hours ago, JWall14 said:

What!! On top water already!

Nice fish too! Are you from southern Illinois??

 

What time do you guys around Chicago start throwing topwater?

When the water is 55* and climbing. not my first choice but have done it.

im in north central illinois. I start throwing topwater when I catch my first bass on a lizard. That's usually my internal clock green light. That is usually between 51-56. I dont throw them often, but i like to run a plopper or buzzbait over my productive points and flats. I dont get numbers, but I usually always get a couple good size fish. I have caught bass on spooks walking them next to ice that is still on the lake. It's not ideal, but a bass doesnt read the same articles we do. I figure I can always find a dumb one here or there.

Nice fish.

Friday afternoon at a forest preserve lake.  8 bass in about 3 hours on the jackhammer.  Biggest was nearly 18"

52 minutes ago, Allen Der said:

Friday afternoon at a forest preserve lake.  8 bass in about 3 hours on the jackhammer.  Biggest was nearly 18"

Nice

Which Preserve?

The Fox Chain was a desert this morning. 1 bass in 6 hours. water temp 50* and the entire system appears to have an algae bloom. It has to be from runoff. There are barely any weeds as of yet, and the water is almost glow in the dark green. We packed up at 11, but some buddies packed up even earlier with not one bite.

Sold my usable boat this morning. Time to get started on the project boat.

57 minutes ago, Skunked again said:

Sold my usable boat this morning. Time to get started on the project boat.

Good or not good.? Not sure how to respond.

Forgot to mention. Saw a couple bald eagles today. There used to be some resident eagles that disappeared years ago. Maybe they are back.

I wanted a project boat, sold mine to have the money to work on it. 

It's all good !