June 7, 2006

Fishing at Shabbona

Joey and I snuck out for a few hours before the week long Disney trip which starts tomorrow. This was his first fishing trip of summer break.  We hit the water at 6AM.

Water temp was 73 degrees, clarity 6 inches to a foot. Not many strikes today, but when they hit, they were decent fish.

I went straight back to the blue/black Chatterbait. First fish was this nice 18" bass.

Next, a nice plump 18" Walleye.

Next lots of snacks and a bathroom break. Back to fishing.... then comes a feisty 27 inch Muskie

Next a nicer 32 inch Muskie (pictured above), Joey wanted to release this one

2 seconds after this photo the fish SOAKED him, then he said I could release any other muskies.

11 AM, time to hit the Lakeside Restaurant. If you haven't tried it, it's great, GET IN THERE!!!!!

For me, Fresh grilled cheeseburger, freshest toppings you'll get anywhere, perfect fries. Crispy chicken tenders for him, the REAL DEAL fresh chicken, not those McNugget stamped out pseudo-meat junk !!!! And don't forget the all important chocolate-vanilla Twist cone for dessert. If you're eating lunch out of a sack or a cooler, Man, you're missing out. Fishing doesn't have to be painful, especially at Lunchtime!!!

Back to the water just in time for the noon whistle. Now he's got Catfish Fever. Okay, out comes the Gulp brand catfish globs, liver flavor. Lose 2 cats in the weeds, then he gets one to the boat.

Time to head home and pack for the trip. On the highway by 1PM.

Sorry guys, don't have time for a fish map. The bass, walleye, catfish and 32" muskie were all caught up in the northeast bay, same area I fished last time, in 2-4 feet of water, on the Chatterbait (except the cat) with a straight retrieve. If this lake water would clear up a little bit, the soft plastic blue/black grubs and golden spinnerbaits would start producing some great bass action, but in this murky water, I'd stick to the noisy thumping Chatterbaits. If you're looking for cats, get out the Gulp brand fake "chicken livers", get out in front of a weedbed, put it 3 feet under a bobber, no weight, and just let it drift around, they'll smack it in a hurry. Channel cats are probably the easiest thing to catch in the lake right now, they'll be spawning soon, and they are eating anything and everything, but these Gulp "livers" are not messy and you couldn't cast one off in a week.

Good Luck Everybody

See you on the water.

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