September 13, 2006

Fishing at Shabbona

Well, I finally made my first September Trip to Shabbona.....and it took long enough !!!

I was hoping to land a muskie, but it didn't work out today.

I launched at 6:30 AM. The water temp was 67 degrees with a visibility of less than a foot and a brown stain. The air temp was 58 degrees with a steady drizzle and a strong North wind. Perfect Fall fishing weather. The fish should have been going Wild today.

I started out trolling for muskies. Made one lap around the lake, then started casting the Firetiger Super Shad Raps. I had a strike in the East Bay in about 8 feet of water. Fish was on for about 4-5 seconds then popped free (30 incher maybe), and that was all the action I would get from the muskies today.

I got bored with the muskies, or lack thereof, and started bass fishing up in the NorthEast Bay. Kept at it for an hour. Picked up a nice 21 incher on the golden spinnerbait in about 2 feet of water between the weed mats. He had an enormous HEAD, when I first saw his head I thought he was much bigger. Probably weighed about 4.25-4.5 lbs. Not real fat, actually fairly skinny, clearly not a 5 pounder so I didn't bother with a scale. One other 17 incher on a crankbait. Off the water by 3 PM.

The muskie are biting, just not for me today. Guide Ron Fulk trolled up a 38 incher for a pair of guys today. Also heard of a 36 being caught in the NMZ. I'll be back out on Shabbona in a week or so.

Good Luck Everybody.

See you on the water.