April 27, 2006

Fishing at Shabbona

19 "

Today was my first day back on Shabbona since the Slug-Fest on April 13, 2006. I launched the boat at 10 AM and fished until 5 PM. Water temp was 58 degrees, clarity about a foot. The Bass were not as hot as last time, but I'm not complaining. Best fish was 19 inches, followed by a pair of 17 inchers. Also had four 14-15 inchers and a ton of short fish. My shallow shad rap (Rapala SSR size 7, shad pattern) was the bait of choice, worked with an intermittent retrieve. Fish were all hanging around new weed growth in 3 to 4 feet of water.

17" 17"

Talked to a muskie hunter that bagged a nice 37 incher yesterday, and also heard from 3 different sources that rattle-traps are catching a lot of bass in the past 2-3 days.

The weeds haven't grown that much since my last Shabbona trip, 2 weeks ago. It'll be another 3 to 4 weeks of easy/good bass fishing before the weeds get too thick and the bass want to lay on the beds. I'll probably be out on Shabbona again in 10 days or so. Save one for me !!!!
 

Good Luck Everybody

See you on the water.

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