August 18, 2006
Fishing at Shabbona
is Legal today. (turns 18)
Happy Birthday Brad !!!
20.5 inches, 4 pounds 10 ounces
28 inches, 8 pounds 1 ounce
The water conditions were the same as August 16, 2006 and August 15, 2006, but the weather was cooler and rainy all day.
We started out bass fishing, same pattern and location in the NE Bay, thanks to the stormy weather the action was better than our last two days (bright sun). Bass were still very tight to the weeds and only wanting the thumping chatterbaits.
I started the morning with a nice 18 incher. As we made our way around the weed mat I picked up a few more 17 inchers. As we rounded the main weed mat and approached the area where the roadbed meets the shoreline, Ace (Wes) was really wanting to take the lead, and had that "Ace" look in his eye, total focus on each cast. Really working for a nice bass. Then he said "Got One", no splash or thrash, just a boil, but the fish instantly shot towards him, slack line, for a brief second we all thought the fish was gone. But as he reflexively burned the handle taking up the slack, the rod loaded up and the fish was ON !!! His rod horse-shoed and the lilypads boiled. I saw the flash of a thick green body and went for the net without even thinking about it. Huge airborne head shake. One pass at the boat, scoop with the net, he rolls, chatterbait pops out and he's sitting in the bottom of the net !!!! 20.5 inches, 4 pounds 10 ounces. Beauty of a Bass. Perfect vivid colors, flawless fish. It would hold as the "Bass of the Day".
Wes did have one punishing muskie strike on the chatterbait. Casting the outside edge, his rod just slammed towards the lake jerking him violently, then OFF!!!! That's typical muskie fishing with a bass bait for you. Pain.
Lunch break at the Lakeside Restaurant, double cheeseburgers. Now that's the way to Fish !!!!
Later in the afternoon, we decided to get out some chicken livers again. Pulled up to the "Spot" tossed out some huge hunks on circle hooks and relaxed. Few small fish messing with the baits. But then the rod off the back of the boat started screaming, bait-clicker buzzing like a saw, we all jumped up, Wes "Ace" got in position and closed the bail, and we all watched the rod tip start to load up as the circle hook rotated and dug in. Rod's bending, looks like a nice one..... rod keeps loading, looking Bigger.... drag starts slipping, it 's gonna be a Hoss !!!! I grab the net. We're all staring silently waiting for the first glimpse of the fish. The thumping line is circling out towards open water, big boils, fish shooting along in 10-15 foot surges. Finally he's up and we see the golden body and jet black tail. It IS a HOSS. Down he goes again. Nice battle all the way to the boat, fish is heading right for the anchor rope, luckily we're only fishing in 3-4 feet of water. Anchor comes up, Wes fights him away from a weed-mat, fish ducks under the first attempt with the net, got a little more fight left, next pass he's in the net !!! 28 inches, 8 pounds 1 ounce. Beauty of a channel cat. Ace is the man of the day. We're all getting tired, off the lake by 6 PM. Excellent day of fishing.
17.5"
18"
17.5"
17"
16.5"
17"
17"
Bass are active TIGHT to the weeds (IN the weeds), they want the thump of the chatterbaits, nothing else is moving them right now for us. Not the easiest fishing. Ideas ??? As the water clears, action will improve. Muskie are dying to start the Fall Bite. Rolling everywhere. Fall Fishing is just around the corner !!!!!
Good Luck Everybody.
See you on the water.
