|
1-13-2001 Illinois River - Allen Park, Ottawa, IL
|
Overcast/Light Fog - Air Temp in the low 30s
Water temp ranged from 33 to 39 degrees. |
Results
Me : 0
Partner : 2 Sauger
Techniques: Vertical Jigging
Both fish were released.
|
This was the first time I had fished a river and also
the first time I had ever tried vertical jigging. I
had two hits but lost them almost right away. My partner
for the day hooked both fish using a stinger hook. We
did see several fish caught by other boats using the
same techniques. |
|
3-2-2001 Braidwood - Braidwood, IL
|
Overcast/Light Fog - Air Temp in the low 30s. West
wind at 20mph
Water temp ranged from 54 to 62 degrees.
|
Results
9 LM Bass
1 SM Bass
1 Shad
Techniques: Diving Crank Baits
All fish were released.
|
All fish but two were caught against the shore near
steep drop offs. Casting parallel and towards shore
did equally well. |
|
3-4-2001 Braidwood - Braidwood, IL
|
Mostly Sunny - Wind chill was -5
Water temp ranged from 52 to 67 degrees.
|
Results
Me: 4 LM Bass
Partner : 2 LM Bass
Techniques: Diving Crank Baits
All fish were released.
|
With the limited amount of time we had, we concentrated
on 3 of the same spots where I caught fish 2 days earlier.
These areas were still holding fish. |
|
3-18-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Sunny - Temps in the low to mid 40s SE wind at 12
mph
Water temp ranged from 60 to 73 degrees.
|
Results
Me: 2 LM Bass
7 SM Bass
2 Catfish
1 White Bass
1 Shad
Partner : 3 LM Bass
5 SM Bass
1 Shad
Techniques: Crank Baits, Spinners
All fish were released.
|
We fished the rip rap'd shoreline with crank baits and
spinners. Both lures worked equally well and we lost
more fish than we caught. The highlight of this trip
was a LM Bass that was just short of 7 lbs.
Some of today's fish:
1
2
3
|
|
3-21-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Sunny - Temps in the low to mid 40s N wind at 15
mph
Water temp ranged from 60 to 73 degrees.
|
Results
Me: 6 SM Bass
Partner : 6 SM Bass
1 Yellow Bass
1 Blue Gill
Techniques: Crank Baits, Spinners
All fish were released.
|
We fished the rip rap'd shoreline with crank baits.
Bright sunshine and heavy boat traffic didn't help much.
Most fish were small. |
|
3-25-2001 Cook County Forest Preserve Pond
|
Cloudy - Temps in the low 20s
N wind at 16.
Flurries with a wind chill of 2 below 0.
|
Results
Me: 1 Crayfish
Techniques: Crank Baits
Crayfish was released.
|
Walked the shoreline of a forest preserve pond. Had
trouble with the line and guides freezing due to the
cold.. |
|
3-31-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Morning - Calm, light rain Temps in the upper 30s
Mid Morning to early afternoon - Light S/E breeze and
partly sunny with temps in the upper 40s
Late afternoon - Rain, strong west wind
with falling temps
Water temp ranged from 59 to 87 degrees.
|
Results
Me: 4 SM Bass
3 LM Bass
1 Striped Bass
12 Channel Catfish
Techniques: Crank Baits
All fish were released.
|
I fished the rip rap'd shoreline with crank baits. Catfish
were very active. The day started out calm with light
rain then it got nice for a few hours. When the front
came through, the lake turned ugly and became very dangerous.
I saw one boat sink and another in the rocks. Both boaters
made it out of the water unharmed. |
|
4-7-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Cloudy in the morning then turning mostly sunny.
Wind out of the Southwest at 24 gusting to 41. Temp
in the mid 80s.
|
Results
Me: 7 SM Bass
1 LM Bass
1 Striped Bass
12 Yellow Bass
1Shad
Techniques: Crank Baits
All fish were released.
|
The lake was closed to boaters due to high winds. Took
the bike instead - very difficult conditions even for
shore fishing. All fish were caught in the rough stuff
on the wind blown side except for 2 SM Bass. |
|
4-15-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Cloudy, foggy, and rainy in the morning with NE winds
around 10mph, then turning mostly cloudy with winds
out of the west at 5mph. Temps in the mid 40s rising
to the low 50s.
Water temps ranged from 70 to 95
|
Results
Me: 7 SM Bass
9 LM Bass
2 Catfish
1 Drum
3 Shad
Partner: 5 SM Bass
2 LM Bass
7 Channel Catfish
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners
All fish were released.
|
Started out fishing the rip rap'd shoreline that was
sheltered from the wind. As the wind died down, we moved
to the hot water discharge area and fished this area
for the first time. 1 SM was caught in 94 degree water
while the majority of fish came outside the discharge
area where water temps were in the mid to upper 80s.
Most of the SM Bass came from water in the mid 70s. |
|
4-29-2001 Heidecke Lake - Morris, IL
|
Bright Sunshine with South winds around 18mph. Temps
in the mid 70s.
Water temps ranged from 63 to 66
|
Results
Me: 2 SM Bass
4 Yellow Bass
1 Walleye
1 Drum
Partner: 1 SM Bass
1 Yellow Bass
Boat:1 SM Bass
Techniques: Crank Baits and Spinners
All fish were released.
|
We fished rip rap'd shore and open water structure consisting
of drop offs and uneven bottom. Most fish came from
the rip rap while my partner hooked and lost a huge
LM in some weeds on the natural shoreline. A big SM
bass came from no where and jumped into the boat. I've
never seen that happen before.
Some of today's fish:
1
2
3
|
|
5-5-2001 Braidwood - Braidwood, IL
|
Cloudy with temps in the low 60s with clearing and
warming to the upper 70s
Water temps ranged from 71 to 91
|
Results
Me: 3 LM Bass
1 Catfish
1 Drum
Techniques: Crank Baits and Spinners
All fish were released.
|
All of today's fish were small. I spent the day trying
all the spots I've never fished before, and looking
for new bottom structure. The bass came from areas where
the weeds were growing, and the other two fish were
caught around rocky structure.
Some of today's creatures:
1
2
|
|
5-11-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Cloudy with W winds around 15mph, then shifting WNW
before turning mostly calm. Temps in the upper
60s
Water temps ranged from 70 to 91
|
Results
Me: 17 SM Bass
21 LM Bass
4 Catfish
9 Drum
1 Yellow Bass
(And I photographed almost all of them!)
Techniques: Crank Baits (#5 Shad colored Risto Rap
and a #7 Silver/Black Shad Rap)
All fish were released.
|
This was the best day I've ever had at LaSalle. All
fish were caught off the same shoreline with the exception
of the biggest and last fish of the day. I lost a dozen
large fish at the boat including one monster drum. Only
3 fish were "small". 5 SM were over the 18 inch limit
and one was 22 inches.
Here are a couple of the Smallmouth:
1 2
3
|
|
5-12-2001 Cook County Forest Preserve Pond
|
Not a cloud in the sky - Temps in the low 50s
NE wind at 14.
|
Results
Me: 1 LM Bass
Partner: 4 LM Bass
1 Crappie
Techniques: My fish was caught on a Crank Bait and
my partners were caught on rooster tails.
All fish were released.
|
Walked the shoreline of a forest preserve pond.
Everything we caught was small..
|
|
5-19-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Bright Sunshine. Temps in the low 80s
Water temps ranged from 84 to 99
|
Results
Me: 8 SM Bass
7 LM Bass
4 Catfish
7 Drum
3 Yellow Bass
4 Bluegills
1 Buffalo
1 Unknown Species
Techniques: Crank Baits (#5 Shad colored Risto
Rap and a Silver/Black Rattlin Fat Rap)
All fish were released.
|
No trophy fish this trip, but I caught enough. I was
really surprised that 4 bluegills hit the #5 Risto Rap.
I also caught one fish that had the coloring of a drum
and the shape of a striped bass. I caught one like this
my fist trip to LaSalle over two years ago and I haven't
been able to identify it yet.
Some of today's fish:
1
2
|
|
5-26-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Fog, Steady Rain. Temps in the upper 40s and low
50s.
Water temps ranged from 76 to 91
Southeast wind around 10mph
|
Results
Me: 3 SM Bass
2 LM Bass
2 Catfish
3 Drum
1 Bullhead
Partner: 6 SM Bass
7 Catfish
7 Drum
3 Yellow Bass
Techniques: Crank Baits and Blade Baits
All fish were released. Totals are estimates. It
was raining so not everything was photographed.
|
It was nice the first hour (if you like fog) until it
started raining. I lost a couple nice fish due to break
offs and my partner lost more due to the fish hitting
short. He also caught a lot more fish than I did by
using blade baits.
All the fish came by casting the rocks along the
shore. We struck out fishing a flat shallow area surrounded
by deeper water.
Both of us wound up with hooks embedded in our hands
before the day was done too. It never quit raining once
it started.
|
|
6-2-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Morning Fog, Scattered showers. Temps in the upper
40s and low 50s.
Water temps ranged from 70 to 82
West wind around 20mph with gusts beyond 30.
|
Results
Me: 9 SM Bass
8 LM Bass
5 Catfish
1 Yellow Bass
Techniques: Small Crank Baits
All fish were released.
|
This was the first time I tried fishing in high winds
from the boat. It took a while, but I got the hang of
it. There were a few places I would have liked to fish
but couldn't safely do so in that kind of chop.
All fish were caught along the rip rap as I was letting
the wind take me up the shoreline.
Some of today's fish:
1 2
3
4 5
6
|
|
6-10-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Mostly Sunny. Temps in the mid 80s.
Water temps ranged from 81 to 95
Southeast wind around 15mph gusting beyond 25
|
Results
Me: 6 SM Bass
3 LM Bass
4 Catfish
3 Drum
1 Bullhead
Partner: 8 SM Bass
8 Catfish
1 Drum
1 Shad
1 Bluegill
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners.
All fish were released.
|
Another very windy day. All fish were caught in the
rocks all over the lake. We even saw a large
snake having a meal in the
rocks.
Some of today's fish:
1
2 3
4
5
|
|
6-16-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Bright Sunshine. Temps in the mid 80s to low 90s.
Water temps ranged from 81 to 89
Southeast wind around 12mph gusting to 20
|
Results
Me: 8 SM Bass
4 LM Bass
5 Catfish
3 Drum
Techniques: Crank Baits
All fish were released.
|
Another windy day. Launched at 5:55am and had 4 fish
in the boat by 6:15am. After that it was one and one
there till 1:30. Everything was caught just off the
rocks. They didn't seem to be holding as close to shore
as they usually are. |
|
6-23-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Bright Sunshine. Temps in the mid 50s rising to the
upper 70s.
Water temps ranged from 85 to 99
Northwest wind gradually shifting around to the Northeast
at 5 mph.
|
Results
Me: 20 SM Bass
1 LM Bass
9 Catfish
1 Drum
Techniques: Crank Baits
All fish were released.
|
For once there was very little wind. Early on there
was a lot of thick fog rising off the hot water. All
fish were caught in or near the shore line rip rap.
20 may sound like a lot of SM, but only half of them
were bigger than 15 inches. The largest was a hair over
20 inches.
|
|
6-24-2001 Monee Reservoir - Monee, IL
|
Bright Sunshine. Temps in the mid 80s.
South wind around 10mph.
|
Results
Me: 1 LM Bass
Partner: 3 LM Bass
1 Northern Pike
Techniques: Weedless topwaters and spinners.
All fish were released.
|
All the weeds had recently been killed off with a chemical
treatment. I caught my LM out of one of the few decent
weed patches that was still there. My partner caught
all his fish along drop offs on rooster tails. |
|
7-1-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Bright Sunshine with scattered clouds. Temps in the
low 70s. The day before was in the mid 90s.
Water temps ranged from 92 to 100+
Northeast wind around 20 gusting past 35.
|
Results
Me: 5 SM Bass
1 Shad
5 Catfish
1 Drum
Techniques: Crank Baits
All fish were released.
|
Everything except for the shad and the drum were on
the small side. I didn't fish any water that was above
95, but I did make a run through the hot side of the
lake.
|
|
7-7-2001 Heidecke Lake - Morris, IL
|
Mostly cloudy with approaching storms. Temps in the
mid 90s with a south wind around 15mph
Water temp was 78
|
Results
Me: 3 Drum
Techniques: Crank Baits
All fish were released.
|
All the fish were caught in the shoreline rip rap. I
only had two hours to fish before the storms got too
close for comfort.
|
|
7-8-2001 Heidecke Lake - Morris, IL
|
Mostly cloudy with approaching storms. Temps in the
low 90s with a south wind around 5mph
Water temp was 82 to 87
|
Results
Me: 1 Walleye
Partner: 0
Techniques: Crank Bait
All fish were released.
|
We weren't out for more than an hour before the storms
got too close again. The walleye was picked up mid lake
near where a flat area drops off. If we'd have had more
time I know my partner would have caught fish. We beat
the rush to get off the water though. |
|
7-21-2001 Heidecke Lake - Morris, IL
|
Mostly Sunny with approaching storms. Temps in the
low 90s with a south wind around 10mph Shifting to the
East
Water temp was 85 to 95
|
Results
Me: 1 SM Bass
3 White Bass
1 Drum
Techniques: Crank Baits
All fish were released.
|
Except for the high heat and humidity, it was a nice
day. The storms held off until I got home this time.
All fish but one were caught in open water away from
the shore. |
|
7-28-2001 Heidecke Lake - Morris, IL
|
Cloudy with an occasional drop of rain. Temps in
the mid 80s with a east wind around 5mph.
Water temp was 75 to 88
|
Results
Me: 3 SM Bass
1 White Bass
2 Catfish
2 Bluegills
1 Mirror Carp
Techniques: Crank Baits
All fish were released.
|
I caught my first ever Mirror Carp.
The fish were holding a little ways off shore today. |
|
7-29-2001 Heidecke Lake - Morris, IL
|
Bright Sunshine with a 15 mph southeast wind.
Water temp was 82 to 88
|
Results
Me: 3 LM Bass
Partner: 1 LM Bass
1 SM Bass
Partner: 1 Bluegill
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners
All fish were released.
|
All our fish were caught near shore. We fished both
natural and rip rap'd shorelines. |
|
8-05-2001 Cook County Forest Preserve Pond
|
Not a cloud in the sky - Temps in the low 90s and
humid.
SE wind at 2.
|
Results
Me: 1 LM Bass
Techniques: The fish was caught on a Crank Bait near
a beaver dam.
|
Walked the shoreline of a forest preserve pond. |
|
8-11-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Partly cloudy - Temps in the low 80s.
NE wind at 8.
Water temp was 72 to 81
|
Results
Me: 5 LM Bass
2 Walleye
1 Catfish
Partner: 1 Walleye
1 Northern Pike
Techniques: Crank baits and beetle spins.
|
All but one fish were caught along drop offs and weed
lines. One came from some downed timber.
Some of today's fish:
1
2
3
|
|
8-15-2001 Tampier Lake
Cook County, IL
|
Cloudy - Temps in the low 70s. Light Drizzle.
NE wind at 5.
|
Results
Me: Nothing
Techniques: Crank baits and spinners.
|
I walked part of the shoreline for an hour in the evening.
Only the mosquitoes were biting. |
|
8-19-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Mostly Sunny. Temps in the mid 70s.
Water temps ranged from 81 to 95
Northwest wind around 15mph gusting beyond 20
|
Results
Me: 5 SM Bass
3 LM Bass
2 Catfish
1 Green Sunfish
1 Shad
Partner: 1 SM Bass
2 Catfish
2 LM Bass
1 Carp
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners.
All fish were released.
|
Windy Day. Most fish were small except for the catfish
and carp.
|
|
8-23-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Cloudy - Temps in the upper 70s.
NE wind at 5.
Water temp was 69 to 76
|
Results
Me: 5 LM Bass
1 Walleye
Techniques: Crank baits, spinners, and beetle spins.
|
The water was cloudy due to yesterdays rain so I had
to work harder for the fish I caught. The walleye came
on the drop off and the bass were on the weed lines
and shallow. Hooked and lost a huge LM near shore. |
|
8-26-2001 Braidwood - Braidwood, IL
|
Sunny - Temps in the mid 80s
Water temp ranged from 89 to 101 degrees.
|
Results
Me: Nothing
Partner : 2 Green Sunfish
Techniques: Crank Baits and Spinners
All fish were released.
|
Something was up with the lake. There were no weeds
where they should have been very thick. There were also
millions of dead and dying shad everywhere. We did see
one LM Bass swimming amongst the shad in the clear water.
A month ago the water was reported to be 127 degrees.
The sunfish hit Rooster Tails. |
|
8-29-2001 Heidecke Lake - Morris, IL
|
Sunny. Temps in the mid 80s with a north wind around
5mph
Water temp was 69 to 83
|
Results
Me: 1 SM Bass
1 White Bass
1 Striped Bass
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners
All fish were released.
|
The smallmouth came from the natural shoreline while
the other two came from uneven bottom structure in open
water. None of the fish were that big. Only fished for
2 hours.
|
|
8-31-2001 LaSalle Lake - Marseilles, IL
|
Mostly Sunny. Temps in the lower 80s.
Water temps ranged from 89 to 99
Northwest wind around 10mph.
|
Results
Me: 12 LM Bass
1 SM Bass
6 Catfish
2 White Bass
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners.
All fish were released.
|
This biggest LM bass was only 4 inches. I quit using
the rooster tail because the little ones wouldn't leave
it alone.
|
|
9-5-2001 Heidecke Lake - Morris, IL
|
Sunny. Temps in the low 80s with a southeast wind
around 5mph
Water temp was 74 to 78
|
Results
Me: 2 White Bass
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners
All fish were released.
|
Both fish were caught in open water and were small.
|
|
9-9-2001 Heidecke Lake - Morris, IL
|
Cloudy. Temps in the low 70s and falling with a strong
northwest wind.
Water temp was 74 to 81
|
Results
Me: 1 SM Bass
1 Carp
Partner: 1 SM Bass
1 Drum
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners
All fish were released.
|
All fish were caught along the shore. We fished both
natural and rip rap'd shores. The weather made things
tough.
|
|
9-15-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Temps in the mid 60s. Light drizzle early then partly
cloudy.
East wind at 5.
Water temp was 68 to 70
|
Results
Me: 1 LM Bass
1 Walleye
Techniques: Crank baits, spinners, plastics, jigs,
topwaters, beetle spins, etc...
|
The fish weren't cooperating today. Both fish were very
small. One came from a weed line and the other from
the mouth of a creek. |
|
9-15-2001 Powderhorn Lake
Burnham, IL
|
Temps in the mid 70s. Mostly Sunny.
Southwest wind at 5.
Water temp was 68 to 71
|
Results
Me: 1 Bluegill
Techniques: Crank baits, spinners, plastics, jigs,
topwaters, beetle spins, etc...
|
Since I had hooked a northern and a bass within 5 minutes
of launching the boat, I figure I got there too late.
Once the sun was up over the trees the fish shut down.
The northern took the lure right off the end of my line,
but jumped and tossed it a few minutes later so I got
it back. |
|
9-28-2001 Tampier Lake
Cook County, IL
|
Cloudy - Temps in the mid 50s.
NE wind at 10.
Water temp was 60
|
Results
Me: 1 LM Bass
Partner: 1 LM Bass
Techniques: Crank baits, buzz baits and spinners.
|
Started at Powderhorn but left because of some activity
in the parking lot. Went to Tampier and caught both
fish within 50 yards of each other. We had one big northern
follow a lure to the boat at Powderhorn. |
|
9-29-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Sunny - Temps in the mid 60s.
North wind at 5.
Water temp was 60
|
Results
Me: 1 Walleye
Techniques: Crank baits, spinners, and plastics.
|
Caught the walleye between
a gravel bar and a ledge first thing in the morning,
then nothing the rest of the day. |
|
10-03-2001 Cook County Forest Preserve Pond
|
Mostly Sunny - Temps in the low 70s
W wind at 20.
|
Results
Me: Nothing
Techniques: Crank Baits
|
Walked the shoreline of a forest preserve pond for an
hour in the evening. |
|
10-5-2001 Heidecke Lake - Morris, IL
|
Cloudy with occasional rain. Temps in the low 50s
and falling with an increasing northwest wind.
Water temp was 63 to 68
|
Results
Me: 7 Striped Bass
6 Yellow Bass
4 White Bass
1 Shad
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners
All fish were released.
|
All fish were caught on crank baits. I used real-time
sonar and a standard locator to find fish in open water
and then stayed with them as they followed the bait
fish.
Some of today's fish:
1 2
3 4
5
|
|
10-11-2001 Shabbona Lake - Dekalb County, IL
|
Partly Cloudy with increasing clouds late. Temps
in the low 60s. Wind was light out of the north, shifting
to out of the east late.
Water temp was 58 to 61
|
Results
Me: 2 LM Bass
1 SM Bass
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners
All fish were released.
|
Caught the SM off of rip rap and got the two LM from
weedy areas. I Saw a big musky in the weeds near where
I caught the first LM. |
|
10-18-2001 Shabbona Lake - Dekalb County, IL
|
Partly Cloudy. Temps in the low 40s. Wind was
out of the south around 20mph with stronger gusts.
Water temp was 52 to 54
|
Results
Me: 1 Musky
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners
All fish were released.
|
Caught a nice musky before
the sun came up on a large spinner in open water. There
may have been some type of man made structure in the
area where the fish was caught. |
|
10-28-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Sunny - Temps in the mid 30s rising to the low 50s.
South wind at 15.
Water temp was 45
|
Results
Me: 0
Techniques: Crank baits
|
I hooked 2 large fish and lost them due to break offs.
I hooked one other fish that shook himself free. |
|
11-1-2001 Shabbona Lake - Dekalb County, IL
|
Cloudy. Intermittent showers. Temps in the low 60s.
Wind was out of the southwest around 20mph with
stronger gusts.
Water temp was 48 to 50
|
Results
Me: 0
Partner: 0
Techniques: Crank Baits and spinners
|
At least the temp was in the 60s Can't beat that in
November! |
|
11-4-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Sunny - Temps in the low 40s rising to the upper
50s.
North wind at 12.
Water temp was 52
|
Results
Me: 1 LM Bass
Techniques: Crank baits
|
The fish were very tight to cover and not very active.
I had several non-aggressive hits and only hooked the
one decent fish. |
|
11-9-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Sunny - Temps in the mid 40s.
Southwest wind gusting past 25.
Water temp was 48 to 50
|
Results
Me: 1 Northern Pike
Techniques: Crank Baits and Blade Baits
|
I fished for two hours and caught this fish on the bottom
in 8 feet of water. All pictures below are the same
fish.
1
2
3
|
|
11-15-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Sunny - Temps in the mid 60s.
Southwest wind gusting past 15.
Water temp was 48 to 50
|
Results
Me: 0
Partner: 1 LM Bass
Techniques: Crank Baits, spinners, and other lures
|
The bass was caught near shore where water was running
into the lake. |
|
11-23-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Cloudy with scattered light showers - Temps in the
mid 50s.
South wind gusting past 15.
Water temp was 46 to 48
|
Results
Me: 1 LM Bass
Techniques: Crank Baits
|
Hooked a 20 inch LM and lost it halfway to the boat.
Caught a slightly smaller one on the next cast. |
|
11-26-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Cloudy - Temps in the mid 40s.
Started out calm with the wind picking up out
of the east to 10mph.
Water temp was 48
|
Results
Me: 1 LM Bass
Techniques: Crank Baits
|
The fish was about 23 inches
but he hit like a feather. He was caught by casting
a deep running crank bait parallel to a drop off in
8 feet of water, and retrieving it very slowly. This
was one of the bigger bass I've caught from this lake. |
|
12-5-2001 Illinois River - Allen Park, Ottawa, IL
|
Partly Cloudy - Air Temp in the mid 60s. Wind out
of the South gusting past 35mph.
Water temp ranged from 51 to 53 degrees.
|
Results
Me: 1 Sauger
1 White Bass
Techniques: Vertical Jigging
Both fish were released.
|
Very windy day. It was almost impossible to fish vertically
in that wind. |
|
12-8-2001 Illinois River - Allen Park, Ottawa, IL
|
Partly Cloudy - Air Temp in the mid 40s. Wind out
of the Northwest at 10mph.
Water temp ranged from 50 to 52 degrees.
|
Results
Me: 1 Sauger
Techniques: Vertical Jigging and Crank Baits.
|
Even though I struck out vertical jigging, I saw a couple
small fish caught by other people using that method.
This fish was caught on a
crank bait. |
|
12-12-2001 Tampier Lake
Cook County, IL
|
Rainy - Temps in the mid 40s.
SW wind at 5.
Water temp was 43.
|
Results
Me: 2 Shad
Techniques: Crank baits.
|
The shad got themselves hung up on the crank baits.
I had two good hits but failed to hook both fish. Last
year at this time we had over 14 inches of snow on the
ground. |
|
12-15-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Cloudy - Temps in the low 40s.
Started out calm with the wind picking up out
of the south to 15mph.
Water temp was 42
|
Results
Me: 1 LM Bass
Techniques: Crank Baits and jig/minnow combo.
|
Caught 1 small LM bass. I was targeting Pike and Walleye
but went after Bass after I saw another guy catch several.
|
|
12-19-2001 Busse Lake
Elk Grove Village, IL
|
Snow, then clearing. Temp was
36.
Started out with a light breeze and intermittent light
to heavy snow with the wind picking up out of
the Northwest to 10mph.
Water temp was 42
|
Results
Me: 1 Crappie
Techniques: Crank Baits and jig/minnow combo.
|
Caught 1 very small crappie but he fell off the jig
before I got him into the boat.
(Does that Count?)
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