January
Top picks: Spring Lake State Park , Sangchris
If we get a January thaw and you don't mind a 4 hour drive, (or if you live in central Illinois), then Spring Lake State Park is the place to be. Ice out muskie and bass fishing can be great. These are shallow lakes and this is winter so stick to the 5-6 foot deep areas.
Power-plant lakes like Sangchris can be good too. On Sangchris, launch on the center "hot arm" and hit the backs of coves or fish right at the discharge. Natural pattern, size 7, Rapala Shallow Shad Raps are a good bet.
| Jan 3,4 2007 MEGA BASS |
| Jan 6,7 2007 Spring Lake Bass |
| Jan 8, 2008 Spring Lake Bass |
| Jan 9, 2008 Spring Lake Bass |
| Jan 10, 2008 MUSKIES |
| Jan 11, 2007 Spring Lake Bass |
| Jan 11, 2006 Sangchris Hawg Bass |
| Jan 20, 2006 MUSKIES |
February
Top picks: Spring Lake State Park , Sangchris
Just like January, the weather will determine if the central Illinois lakes are frozen. If they are ice-free, get to the boat launch !!! Follow the January plan.
| Feb 1, 2006 7 MUSKIES |
| Feb 2, 2006 Hawg Bass |
| Feb 19, 2004 Sangchris Bass |
| Feb 28, 2004 Sangchris Bass |
March
Top picks: Spring Lake State Park , Kinkaid , Sangchris , Shabbona
Muskies will be in their prime at Kinkaid, fish the coves around the water treatment plant.
The ice came off Shabbona on March 27th. Fish the East shoreline flats with crankbaits for bass, or the NMZ and baitshop bay for muskies.
Sangchris and Spring Lake will both be in their prime for prespawn bass. At both lakes, focus on the dead lilypad stalks. The dead stalks attract and hold shad, and therefore BASS. Weedless plastic grubs, and shallow shad raps are my "go to" baits. Sangchris water levels are low and the powerplant has been off for a few weeks.
| March 12, 2008 Spring Lake Muskies |
| March 13, 2007 Spring Lake Bass |
| March 16,17 2005 Kinkaid MUSKIE |
| March 19, 2006 Shabbona |
| March20, 2007 Spring Lake Bass |
| March 20-21, 2008 Kinkaid MUSKIE |
| March 25, 2004 South Fat Bass |
| March 26, 2006 Shab Muskie |
| March 27, 2007 Shabbona |
| March 27, 2008 Kinkaid MUSKIE |
| March 29, 2006 MEGA BASS |
| March 29, 2007 Sangchris Bass |
| March 30, 2006 Muskies |
| March 30,31 2005 Sangchris Bass |
April
Top picks: Spring Lake State Park (early April only) , Sangchris , Shabbona , Shelbyville
Wild weather fluctuations, the bass are easy, muskies are prowling, it must be April !!!
If it was a warm/early Spring, this will be Bass Month. (But it has been cold, so Muskies might be a better target in 2008.)
The Kinkaid muskies will spawn in the first 2 weeks, but with the flooding and poor water clarity it might be pushed back a little in 2008. Spring Lake State Park might still be good if the weather has been unusually cold. In normal years, the lake becomes a giant bowl of weed stew by mid-April and the bite stinks.
Muskie hunters will be taking plenty of big fish on Shelbyville. Casting below the spillway, and casting in the backs of spawning bays will produce. I hope to join them this April.
If bass is your target, head to Sangchris or Shabbona. These lakes will both be in their prime for prespawn bass. At Shabbona, fish the East shoreline flats with crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps for bass, or the NMZ and baitshop bay for muskies.
At Sangchris, focus on the dead lilypad stalks. 75% of the coves in this lake have lilypads in the backs. The dead stalks attract and hold shad, and therefore BASS. Weedless plastic grubs, and shallow shad raps are my "go to" baits. Sangchris water levels have been very low. It will take a great deal of rain to bring the lake back to normal pool. I have also heard that the powerplant has been off for a few weeks so the water temps are unusually cool for this lake.
| April 1, 2004 BackYard Bass |
| April 2, 2003 BackYard Crappie |
| April 5, 2006 Shabbona Bass |
| April 8,9 2005 Sangchris Hawg Bass |
| April 8, 2006 MEGA BASS |
| April 9, 2001 Shabbona Bass |
| April 9, 2006 Spring Lake Muskies |
| April 10, 2006 Sangchris Bass |
| April 12, 2002 Busse Bass |
| April 12, 2003 Sangchris Bass |
| April 13, 2006 Shabbona Hawgs |
| April 15, 2005 Sangchris Hawg Bass |
| April 15,2004 BackYard Bass |
| April 16, 2004 Busse Bass |
| April 17,2007 Shabbona Hawgs |
| April 17, 2002 Evergreen Muskie |
| April 18, 2002 Busse Bassin' |
| April 20, 2006 Spring Lake Bass |
| April 20, 2001 Shab Muskie/Bass |
| April20-1,2007 Shabbona Bass |
| April 22, 2006 Sangchris Bass |
| April 23, 2003 Backyard Pike |
| April 24, 2004 Backyard Bass |
| April 25, 2003 Busse Bass |
| April 27, 2006 Shabbona Hawgs |
| April 27, 2005 Sangchris Bass |
| April 27, 2004 Backyard Crappie |
| April 29, 2003 Busse Bass |
| April 30, 2003 Busse BigBoy Bass |
| April 30, May1 Shab Muskie/Bass |
|
April in Tenn
Reelfoot Crappie
|
May
Top picks: Sangchris (early May only) , Shabbona, Delavan WI
If it was a cold Spring, this will be Bass Month.
If it was unusually warm then it's about to get really tough for bass. Enjoy it while it lasts, the post-spawn funk is about to set in for Illinois bass. At the 1st Saturday of the month it's time to head North to the Wisconsin bass opener.
| May 2, 2004 Busse/Mallard Bass |
| May 3, 2007 Shabbona Bass |
| May 3, 2006 Shabbona Bass |
| May 5, 2005 Sangchris Hawg Bass |
| May 5,6, 2004 Giant Carp !!!!!!! |
| May 6, 2003 Busse Bass |
| May 6,7 2006 Sangchris Bass |
| May 7, 2005 Sangchris Hawg Bass |
| May 7, 2003 Busse Woods |
| May 7, 2001 Shab Bass |
| May 8, 2007 Shabbona Bass |
| May 8, 2001 Shab Bass |
| May 9, 2003 Busse Bass on Fire |
| May 10, 2007 Shabbona Bass |
| May 10, 2006 Shabbona Bass |
| May 10, 2003 Busse Bass |
| May 11, 2004 Busse Bass |
| May 12, 2004 Shabbona Muskie |
| May 14, 2003 Shabbona Bass |
| May 15, 2003 Shabbona Fatty Bass |
| May 15, 2001 Busse Bass |
| May 15, 2000 Shabbona Fat Bass |
| May 16, 2003 Shabbona Bass |
| May 16, 2002 Busse Big Bass |
| May 16, 2001 Busse Bass |
| May 17, 2007 Shabbona Bass |
| May 17, 2001 Busse Bass |
| May 17, 2000 Shabbona Catfish |
| May 18, 2005 Shabbona Bass |
| May 19, 2004 Shabbona Muskie |
| May 20, 2005 Shabbona Bass |
| May 20, 2004 Shabbona Bass |
| May 21, 2007 Shabbona Bass |
| May 21, 2003 Busse Bass |
| May 23, 2001 Busse Bass/Walleye |
| May 23, 2003 Beck Lake Carp/Bass |
| May 25, 2006 Shabbona Bass |
| May 25, 2005 Shabbona Bass |
| May 27, 2003 Beck Lake Bass |
| May 28, 2003 Shabbona Bass |
| May 28, 2001 Busse Bass |
| May 28, 2002 Busse Bass |
| May 29, 2001 Busse Bass |
| May 29, 2002 Busse Bass |
| May 30, 2007 Delavan WI |
| May 31, 2007 Shabbona |
|
May
31, 2001
Busse Bass
|
June
Top picks: Shabbona, Delavan WI
This is the time to be flexible. Multispecies anglers will have the best success most years. The bass have spawned, and the carp are thrashing in the shallows. Bass and muskies will start relating to the weedlines at Shabbona.
| June 2, 2006 Shab Muskie/Bass |
| June 2, 2002 Busse Bass |
| June 3, 2001 Busse Bass |
| June 3, 2005 Shabbona Bass |
| June 3, 2004 Shabbona Bass |
| June 4, 2004 Shabbona Bass |
| June 5, 2002 Busse Bass |
| June 5, 2003 Secret Bassin' |
| June 6, 2007 Shabbona |
| June 7, 2006 Shab Muskie/Bass |
| June 7, 2005 Shabbona |
| June 7, 2002 Goldfish/Carp |
| June 7, 2001 Busse Bass |
| June 9, 2007 Shabbona Bass |
| June 9, 2001 Busse Bass |
| June 10, 2005 Shabbona |
| June 11, 2003 Atwood Bass |
| June 11, 2002 Busse Carp |
| June 15, 2001 Busse Giant Carp |
| June 15,16 2005 Jacksonville Bass |
| Jun 16 17, 2004 Jacksonville Bass |
| June 17, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| June 17, 2001 Joey's Bluegill |
| June 20, 2007 Shabbona Bass |
| June 20, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| June 21, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| June 21, 2002 Busse Bass |
| June 22, 2005 Shabbona |
| June 22, 2002 Busse Bass/Cats |
| June 22, 2001 Busse Bass |
| June 25, 2002 Busse Bass |
| June 26, 2004 Backyard Bass |
| June 29, 2006 Shab Muskie/Bass |
|
June 30, 2001
Busse Bass
|
July
Top picks: Shabbona, Delavan WI
Like June, this is the time to be flexible. Multispecies anglers will have the best success most years. The bass are hiding in the weedbeds, and early weekday mornings are your best shot at a nice Shabbona bass.
Channel catfish will be moving up to the shallow weeds and fattening up for the spawn. Kids will really have fun cranking in big channel cats. Chicken livers on circle hooks fished in the weedbeds will produce loads of catfish.
| July 3, 2007 Delavan WI Bass/Pike |
| July 3, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| July 3, 2002 Monster Gills |
| July 6, 2002 Secret Bass Pond |
| July 7, 2004 Evergreen Fat Bass |
| July 8, 2001 Busse Bass |
| July 9, 2001 Shabbona Muskie |
| July 10, 2002 Evergreen Bass |
| July 10, 2003 Shabbona Lake |
| July 12, 2006 Shabbona Bass |
| July 12, 2005 Shabbona Bass |
| July 13, 2004 Shab Muskie/Bass |
| July 13, 2002 Busse Bass |
| July 14, 2006 Shabbona Bass |
| July 15, 2004 Shabbona Bass |
| July 15, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| July 17, 2004 Backyard Bassin' |
| July 17, 2003 Atwood Lake Bass |
| July 18, 2007 Shabbona Bass |
| July 19, 2006 Shab Catfish |
| July 20, 2006 Shab Catfish |
| July 22, 2004 Delavan WI Pike |
| July 23, 2002 Busse Bass |
| July 25, 2003 Busse/Mallard Bass |
| July 27, 2003 Mallard Lake Bass |
| July 28, 2001 Beck Lake Bass |
| July 29, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| July 29, 2001 Busse Bass |
August
Top picks: Shabbona, Delavan WI
It's just TOO HOT most days. Wait for a break in the heat and the fishing will be much better. Stay out of the sun, or fish at a lake where you can swim. Muskie fishing when the water is over 82 degrees can kill any muskie. Stick to the bass and channel cats if the water temps are high, this will vary year to year.
| Aug 2, 2006 Shab BIG Bass |
| Aug 3, 2007 Shabbona Catfish |
| Aug 4, 2001 Busse Bass |
| Aug 5, 2005 Shabbona Bass |
| Aug 5, 2001 Busse Bass |
| Aug 13, 2002 Busse Bass |
| Aug 14, 2003 Sangchris Bass |
| Aug 15, 2006 MuskieBassHuge Cat |
| Aug 16, 2006 Shab Bass Big Cats |
| Aug 17, 2005 Joey's Shab Muskie |
| Aug 18, 2006 Shab Bass Big Cat |
| Aug 18 + 19 Big Bluegills |
| Aug 21, 2001 Busse Bass |
| Aug 22, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| Aug 22, 2001 Busse Bass |
| Aug 22, 2000 Shabbona Bass |
| Aug 23, 2001 Busse Bass |
| Aug 25, 2002 Secret Pond Bass |
| Aug 26, 2001 Busse Bass |
| Aug 28, 2004 Evergreen Muskies |
| Aug 28, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| Aug 29, 2005 Shabbona Bass |
| Aug 29, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| Aug 29, 2000 Shab Bass/Catfish |
| Aug 30, 2006 Shab Bass |
|
Aug 31,2007
Shabbona Catfish
|
September
Top picks: Shabbona, Delavan WI
Muskie Month !!! As the nights start getting cooler, the muskies take notice.
Leave the bass gear at home. The bass bite will not be good. You'll be watching guys landing muskies, kicking yourself for wasting time struggling for bass.
| Sept 2, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| Sept 3, 2002 Busse Bass |
| Sept 4, 2001 Shabbona 3 Muskies |
| Sept 6, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| Sept 6, 2001 Shabbona 2 Muskies |
| Sept 7, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| Sept 9, 2004 Evergreen Bass/Muskie |
| Sept 10, 2001 Shabbona Muskie |
| Sept 11, 2003 Shabbona Muskie Nice |
| Sept 13, 2001 Shabbona Muskie |
| Sept 13, 2006 Shab Bass |
| Sept 15, 2004 Backyard Bass |
| Sept 16, 2006 Sangchris |
| Sept 17, 2001 Shabbona Muskie |
| Sept 17, 2003 Backyard Bass |
| Sept 19,2007 Shab Muskie/Bass |
| Sept 19, 2001 Shabbona 46" Muskie |
| Sept 19, 2003 Atwood Bass |
| Sept 20, 2002 Secret Bass Pond |
| Sept 21, 2004 Secret Bass Pond |
| Sept 25, 2000 Shab Muskie/Bass |
| Sept 26, 2006 Shabbona |
| Sept 27, 2003 Atwood Lake Bass |
| Sept 28, 2007 Delavan WI Pike |
| Sept 28, 2004 Jacksonville Bass |
| Sept 29, 2006 Shab Muskie |
| Sept 30, 2006 Monster Catfish |
| Sept 30, 2005 Shabbona Muskie |
|
Sept 30,
2003
Backyard Bass
|
October
Top picks: Shabbona, Delavan WI, Lake Geneva WI, Sangchris (late October only)
Like September, it's Muskie Month. Put in your time and it will pay off.
Smallmouth bass are the species of choice on Lake Geneva, and the pike are easy on Delavan.
If it has been a cool Fall, the lilypads will die off of Sangchris and the bass fishing will be great.
By mid-late October, Spring Lake State Park closes for fishing due to the water fowl hunting season. If it has been unusually cold this Fall, there will be a narrow window of good muskie fishing before the fishing season closes.
| Oct 1, 2005 Shabbona Bass |
| Oct 2, 2002 Busse Bass |
| Oct 2, 2003 Shab Muskie !! |
| Oct 3, 2002 Busse/Mallard Trio |
| Oct 3, 2000 Shabbona Muskie |
| Oct 4, 2002 Mallard Big Pike |
| Oct 5, 2006 Fox Chain |
| Oct 5, 2004 Shabbona Muskie |
| Oct 5, 2001 Shabbona Muskie |
| Oct 6, 2002 Mallard Bass |
| Oct 8, 2003 Evergreen Bass |
| Oct 9, 2004 Shabbona Muskie |
| Oct 9, 2003 Evergreen Bass |
| Oct 9, 2002 Backyard action |
| Oct 10, 2004 Backyard Bass |
| Oct 10, 2003 Evergreen Saugeye |
| Oct 10, 2002 Secret Bass Pond |
| Oct 12, 2005 Shabbona Bass |
| Oct 12, 2004 Busse Walleye |
| Oct 13, 2005 Busse Walleye |
| Oct 13, 2004 Shabbona Bass |
| Oct 13, 2000 Shabbona Muskie |
| Oct 14, 2002 Shabbona Muskie |
| Oct 18, 2006 MUSKIE |
| Oct 19, 2001 Busse Bass |
| Oct 19, 2002 Secret Bass Pond |
| Oct 20, 2001 Busse Bass |
| Oct 21, 2001 Busse Bass |
| Oct 22, 2003 Shabbona Muskie |
| Oct 26, 2007 Delavan WI Pike |
| Oct 26, 2003 Busse Bass |
| Oct 28, 2003 Mallard Lunker Bass |
| Oct 28 29, 04 Sangchris Bass Hogs |
| Oct 30, 2003 Atwood Bass |
|
Oct 31, 2003
Mallard Bass
|
November
Top picks: Delavan WI, Lake Geneva WI, Sangchris
If the water is at normal pool on Sangchris, the bass will be schooled in the dead lilypad stalks. That's some serious fun. Delavan pike and Lake Geneva smallies are easy and abundant.
| Nov 1, 2007 Lake Geneva Smallies |
| Nov 5, 2003 Sangchris Bass Hogs |
| Nov 5, 2004 Sangchris Bass Hawg |
| Nov 6, 2003 Sangchris Hogs II |
| Nov 6, 2004 Sangchris Hawg II |
| Nov 7, 2006 Shab Bass |
| Nov 8, 2007 Lake Geneva Smallies |
| Nov 8, 2006 Shabbona |
| Nov 10, 2007 Lake Geneva Smallies |
| Nov 10,11 2005 Sangchris Bass |
| Nov 12, 2003 Mallard/Beck Bass |
| Nov 12, 2000 Shabbona Bass |
|
Nov 21, 2006
Sangchris
|
December
Are you nuts ???