June 2, 2006

Fishing at Shabbona

17"

I got out today for one last solo trip (kids are out of school for the summer starting TODAY).

Water temp was 72 degrees, clarity/visibility of 12 inches to 2.5 feet depending on location, and the weeds have really taken off since my last trip out.

Man, I really had some good shots at some big fish today, but it just didn't work out. Top 3 fish I contacted today, never made it in the boat.

 Ended the trip with a pair of 17 inchers, a 16", three or four 14 inchers, a handful of runts, and a bonus 26" muskie. All were caught in the northeast bay in about 2 to 3 feet of water on a blue/black ChatterBAIT by Rad Lures ( sorry, called it a ChatterBug by mistake), the 1st time I ever used it.  The ChatterBAIT looks like a bass jig with one flat blade on the front, casts like a bullet, has the thump of a Rat-L-Trap, but is a shallow weedless lure, Weird !!!

Attention Catfishermen: I saw 3 different boats land nice channel cats (3-5 pounders) up in the northeast bay in the 4-6 foot deep area.

And now for the painful part, the 3 Big fish that didn't get in the boat.

#1 Five minutes after I started throwing the ChatterBAIT, a HUGE bass comes flying out of 2 feet of water, goes airborne missing the bait completely. At least a 5 pounder. OUCH.

#2 Around 10 AM, I was throwing the ChatterBAIT on the outside weededge, Smash !!! Fish On !!! Nice 19-20 incher up to the boat, I got lazy and tried to horse him. OUCH. Fish OFF !!! gone. Those ChatterBAIT hooks aren't as sharp as I'd like.......ggrrrrrrr

#3 Around noon, up in the corner of the northeast bay, I just released the little 26 inch muskie, and within 30 seconds spooked a Really Big Muskie (38-40+ incher) in the super shallow water. I circled around and got upwind of the spot, put on a white Mepps Marabou bucktail, and slowly started drifting back to the spot I had seen him. First cast nothing. Second cast SWOOSH !!! He comes flying out of the weeds charges my bucktail, strikes going half airborne and COMPLETELY MISSES my lure. AGONY.

Somebody's gonna catch something big this weekend, those  muskie are getting Hot, and the bass are done with the postspawn pouting.

By the way be sure to check out this local web site (this is NOT an advertisement, this is my OPINION)

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17" 16" 26" Muskie

Good Luck Everybody

See you on the water.

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