January 11, 2006

Bass Fishing at Sangchris Lake, near Springfield IL

My First Bass of 2006 !!!!

My First Hawg of 2006

5 pounds 5 ounces

With the bizarre warm-up to 55 degrees, I just had to launch the boat, and Sangchris was my first choice. The water level is still 3 FEET below normal pool, but was a steaming 62 degrees in the hot arm (46 to 52 degrees on the main lake). The wind was a killer. Howling straight up the lake from the south at a steady 15 to 20 mph, with gusts into the mid-thirties, it kept us off the points, and shoved back in the bays. Water clarity was the typical 12 to 18 inches.

The action was fairly slow, maybe one bass per hour average, but my trusty shallow shad rap (Rapala SSR 7, shad pattern) came through with this super plump 20.5 incher that tipped the digital scale at 5 pounds 5 ounces. He was sitting up in a creek channel in the middle of a bay in 4 feet of water. Not too bad for JANUARY.

When this lake gets back to normal pool this Spring, the lilypad sticks will be FISH MAGNETS. If the weather gives you a chance, get out there and crank one in !!!!

Tired of checking-in looking for "Recent Catch" updates ?