May 17, 2007

Fishing at Shabbona Lake State Park, Shabbona Illinois

19 Inches

I was sitting at the table drinking my second cup of coffee and it hit me; if I don't get out today, I can't go fishing for another week. So despite a nasty May coldfront, and against my better judgment, I ran out to the garage and hooked up the boat. Got on the water about 10 AM, and the water temps were down to 60 degrees, that's a REAL coldfront !! Visibility 12-18 inches, weeds a little thicker, but still thin. On the drive out I decided that it was time for a new pattern. The Rat-L-Trap thing is getting rather old.

So up to the NE Bay, determined to crack the next pattern.

7.5 hours later, I'd thrown everything in the boat, and had a handful of runts and one 16 incher on a Minus-1 to show for it

So now it's 5:30 PM, and I can smell the SKUNK coming my way, so I sucked it up, and tied on a Rat-L-Trap.

3rd cast, the same spot I've already fished with a spinnerbait, weedless grub, crankbait, craw, and plastic worm, BANG 17 incher.

17"

Followed very closely by a nice 19 incher, and a school of 14-16 inchers.

And then, once again, I lose the Big Boy !!!!

I was ripping the Rat-L-Trap as fast as it could go without popping out of the water, rod tip slightly bent over, ZZZZZZZZ, lure hammering along, ZZZZZZZ, then SLACK LINE, huge sweeping hookset to the right (trying to take up the slack and bury a hook, I hate when fish strike straight at you), instant weight on the rod, Nice Weight. Fish is coming up fast, too fast, rod tip down, keep him in the water, works for a second, but then he's coming up again, way too fast.... Airborne 100%, rattlebait flies off to the right, fish GONE...  sub-five-pounder, but a solid 20 incher, would have been my fish of the day.. Oh well.......

16" 16" 15" 14" 16"

Fish still want the rattles, most action today in 2-4 feet of water. As soon as it warms back up, I'd highly recommend spinnerbaits and soft-plastics around the lilypads.

Good Luck Everybody !!!!

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