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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | Any one been out fishing in the central illinois area? Heard of a few good fish from lake storey but only raised a dink when i went out. Whats water temps been at other lakes? |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | Went out to Lake Storey today fished from 6:30AM to 5:00PM. The only action was around 4:00 when a mid thirty inch fish brought my 8"slammer to the surface to spit it back at me. Other than that didn't move anyother fish. |
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| Were you fishing with TK or are you TK?
Jeff |
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Posts: 106
Location: Des Plaines, IL | I've heard Shelbyville is picking up on top waters. I'll be down there the weekend of the 14th. Let ya know more after that |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | Just out fishing with the CHEF |
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Posts: 320
| Patrolboat,
Ask the chef what he was doing at 6am this morning at Evergreen. We get out of the truck to get the boat launch ready and he locks my truck up with keys in it!!!! Luckily I found my hidden key (after 15 minutes) and opened it up. Didn't see a fish in five hours. Water temps when we started were 15 degrees lower than they were Wednesday night when I was there. Good fishing.......................TC |
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| PBoat,
How about those lunches when you fish with the chef! The only place I have had a cold cut (Filet M) sandwich!!!!!!
I saw you had a post on making bucktials, ask TK, he had enough crap a couple years ago he could make ANYTHING!
One of my best spinnerbaits was made by the chef! Ask him about covering a 10" Jake with a muscrat hide and using a leather shoe lace as a tail and giving it to Pete!
Jeff |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | Anyone get out fishing this past weekend? Any fish action from Evergreen? Heading out there tomorrow. |
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Posts: 2024
| Go to www.evergreenmuskie.com |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | Went to Evergreen yesterday and the fish seemed to have turned on. Chef caught a 40", we both lost a fat mid forty inch fish an hour apart and had active from several other fish. Chef went to Banner Marsh early in the day and caught three before we went to Evergreen. The fish were all shallow in the remaining weeds. |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | Anyone been out over the weekend? Wasn't able to because work. Evergreen was hot last week has the fishin slowed with the weather? It's going to be hot to bowhunt, but a nice week to fish. Let Me Know
FISHBOWL |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | Chef went out to evergreen yesterday. Said people were catching lots of crappies, but the muskies wern't as cooperative. Had one small muskie go airborne trying to hit his top dancer and a bass on a zara spook, but that was it. Banner Marsh is closed to boats for the year, except for duck hunting purposes. Who said you can't bring a muskie rod duck hunt. Does spring lake close for the year?
FISHBOWL |
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Posts: 106
Location: Des Plaines, IL | How far from Shelbyville in Evergreen and do I need to know anything before I go there? |
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Posts: 75
| Jim, Evergreen is aobut two miles west of I39 at exit 8. Between 1 1/2 to 2 hours from Shelbyville depending on speed of travel and where you start from.
What to know:
There is a launch fee and you need a 10hp or less gas motor or electric.
water temps last week were in the 66 degree range and probally lower now with the rain this week.
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | Anyone every catch muskies through the ice around this parts? what about tip ups anyone have any experience |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | Went to the spillway yesterday it felt good to cast the rods again would have been better to catch a fish, but who is complaining. Chef Todd drove by manito and discovered open water today. Going to try to get out again friday. Anyone know if evergreen or storey are still frozen. Heard of someone ice fishing evergreen a couple days ago. |
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Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | Was out below the spillway on Jan 1. Beautiful day. Partner and I blanked but did see 3 fish caught low to upper-mid 30's. Lots of anglers being a holiday/weekend. Tales of ya shoulda been here last week heard all over the place. Saw no ice anywhere on the lake from our vantage point with only 1 trailer in the lot by the ramp near the dam. Cant wait to get out again.
Karl
Edited by KARLOUTDOORS 1/4/2006 11:41 PM
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Posts: 75
| Patrolboat, the main basin of the lake did not freeze over. It was open as far back as the pump house last week. |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | cimusky do you fish evergreen alot? |
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Posts: 75
| A couple of times a month until it gets late in the summer. |
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| Got a 36 Saturday afternoon to close out the season. Mini Tuff Shad trolling.
I had other fish up on my new Hughes River Hughey and Pro Sucker. Couldn't get them to go.
Cast the spillway after dark but nothing
I may make it back in February if this weather continues  |
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Posts: 2024
| There's muskies in IL? Sure ya'll aren't talking about dogfish? |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | I was talking about bighead carp this whole time. I am sorry i'm on the wrong site. Anyone been out to spring lake I heard it was twenty boats deep over the weekend. I've been trying to get another deer or two before season goes out.
Edited by PATROLBOAT 1/12/2006 10:27 AM
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Posts: 2024
| Ohh, well if it's Asian Carp you're after I know this real insane spot on the Illinois by Havana... |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | Went out to Spring Lake Tuesday. The action has slowed down, but did see two smaller fish caught. And my fishing partner had two follows and one upper 30" hit after chasing a figure eight about 8 times. Had the reel on free spool and wasn't able to engage it fast enough. Then i gave a guy in a different boat a lure I have caught fish on in the past. Wouldn't you know it two cast later he caught a mid thirty incher, it was his first muskie so he was freakin out. He thought he had close to a fifty inch on until it was in the net. Even though we didn't catch any turned out to be a good day on the water after all!!!
FISHBOWL |
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Posts: 106
Location: Des Plaines, IL | Where is Spring lake? How do you get on(Free lauch or pass) and is there any lodging nearby?
Jim |
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Posts: 786
Location: Minnesota | Any recent updates for Central Illinois? May be making a trip there soon.
TIA,
J |
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Posts: 208
| the water is still over 80, should cool soon |
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Posts: 106
Location: Des Plaines, IL | Going down next weekend, any word on the temps? |
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| Spring been hot. Was down there a couple days ago and boated a 41 and a 33 and saw three others. It looks like it will be good for a while with the warmer temps in the forecast. |
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| Where is Spring Lake? by what town? how big is it? trolling motor only? any info anyone??? |
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Posts: 117
Location: champaign, illinois | Spring Lake is southwest of Pekin. It's a 25hp limit lake but you can do it easy with a kicker. Very shallow and weedy but I am not what condition it's in now. I'll leave that to the guys that go there alot.
Jay |
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Posts: 208
| Very interesting????????????????????
The south end (main lake portion) is closed to fishing until the duck season ends (Dec 26th I think?)
Then it is only open to fishing until the goose season ends (Jan 31st I think?) after 1 pm each day.
We tried to go this morning to the North end which is open to fishing but the north end is still frozen as it has been for the last 10 days.
So I find your fishing report interesting...... because if you were not using tip-ups it was either impossible or illegal.
Please explain?
Edited by Trollindad 12/14/2006 2:01 PM
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| We were fishing off a friends dock and private property from shore by the springholes down by the causeway end. Thought it was open for bank fishing after 1pm. Had a flurry of activity in a 40 minute period an hour before sunset and then nothing. Two nice releases in three hours of fishing. You are right, the north end is still iced over but it won't be for long with these temps. Then it will be time to launch the boat again. |
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| Ed,
are you going to fish the musky tournament there in april? |
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| maybe it is in march |
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| Anyone know if the lake is open or still froze over? |
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Posts: 108
Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014 | ....
Edited by esoxjake 3/14/2007 4:55 PM
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| Lake is open and fish are being caught. Put the boats in at the Sky Ranch road site by the bridge. Fish are hitting small stickbaits, rattletraps, bass sized shallow cranks and jigs. White has been a good color for us. Release them quick and good luck. |
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Posts: 108
Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014 |
Edited by esoxjake 1/6/2007 7:25 AM
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Posts: 405
| dale thanks for remembering me!! LoL Im sure we will get out soon enough!
Edited by brandonschorle 1/6/2007 10:23 AM
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Posts: 108
Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014 | B.S.?
Im here man, I have the whole winter off til April 17th.
I can fish anytime,anyplace ...you name it.
Actually,Loon and Crystal have been pretty good as of late.
S.N. and N.W. are next to hit again. |
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| The report is that fishing has slowed a little here the past few days. With the cold weather on and more coming it probably won't get better. We caught a 32 and a 37 the last time I was out just over a week ago and lost a low 40ish fish at boatside. When they are biting multiple fish are the norm. This is a fantastic numbers lake. Maybe the best in the state especially early in the year. Don't be afraid to use small baits. Both fish we caught were after we downsized our offerings. We have released 14 so far for 2007 fishing from the shore and in the boat. Good luck! |
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| Ed what is the biggest so far? is the lake still open? thanks |
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Posts: 108
Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014 | hey Ed............Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. lol
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| rb - the biggest so far was a chunky 44
The lake is frozen up again which is ok because that means another "ice out" bite which is always good. |
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Posts: 2024
| I guess I fail to understand how you can fish from a boat if the lake is not open until the 31st? Are only certain portions of it closed? |
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| hey ESOXED can you ask your buddy how thick the ice is on spring? |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | I WOULD GUESS A LEAST 8 - 10 INCHES MOST LAKES AROUND HERE HAVE A FOOT OR BETTER KNOW. IT WILL BE MID-MARCH AT LEAST BEFORE ANY OPEN WATER THAT ISN'T A POWER PLANT |
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Posts: 108
Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014 | I spoke with a few guys locally down there..yikes
Spring Lake has 7-8" and doeesn't look promising to open water for quite a while.
I guess were a ways off from getting the boat out.
Chain o lakes had 17" in certain channels and inlets.
Most lakes by me are a 12-15".....i guess I'll keep tip-up fishing for these brutes. |
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| Hey guys get ready Spring Lake is going to be ice out soon! With warmer temps coming this is going to be a very hot bite with more than likely a short window of opportunity since it will heat up fast. I heard the north end has more ice but the causeway end is starting to open a little. Pray for warm evenings, sun and a little wind and she will be wide open and the fish will be snapping. The water should be gin clear so stealth will be key. The DNR will probably get nets out about two weeks after she opens. They need to net northerns on South Spring first. The IMTT has their tourney here on March 17th which should be a busy day out there. The word is when this lake slows, get over to Banner. Someone could hook up with a fifty there this year. Can't wait to get back out there. |
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Posts: 87
| how much ice is on spring now?
talking about north spring now.
Edited by thewal2 3/7/2007 9:41 PM
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Posts: 2024
| Lake is still covered, so are the ramps. Don't expect it to open up until next week at the earliest.
Edited by esox50 3/7/2007 9:55 PM
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Posts: 87
| thanks for the info I guess I will be staying home this weekend!
tim  |
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| Spring Lake North is open! The ramp at the causeway as well as Sky Ranch Road are open. No ice on the lake at all. Water conditions are slightly stained on the north end and much clearer down by the causeway. The DNR has the nets out for northern on South Spring and will be getting them on North Spring to net muskies soon. My local buddy and I hope to break 40 fish for the year in the next week. We are already over half way there. Remember the IMTT has a tourney there this Saturday the 17th. Good luck! |
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| The real report is it has been pretty slow. The fish are spawning and the nets are in. Went out saturday and only about 3 fish were caught out of about 20 boats, 45 plus people. Might I add that those 20 boats were all packed in the same general area. The weeds are getting pretty bad and will only get worse with this warm weather. |
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Posts: 284
| Thank you for a report Jmac. Your findings this year are the same as mine. By far the slowest bite I have ever experienced on Spring. I guess ice one day and 70 degree weather the next is throwing those fish right into their spawn.
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| Actually it is. We found water up to 50 degrees in one part of the lake and 42-45 in another. It is a strange lake to begin with that didn't have that much ice to begin with. I was shocked to see how much weeds it had already. |
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Posts: 87
|
From what I hear Jmac your report is correct. I have not been down there, but I heard a lot of the "Snot" weeds have not died out and where it is 6 ft deep there are weeds already that are 3 to 4 feet tall...
Tim |
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Posts: 2024
| All of the above is correct. Lake is real mossy and gin clear. |
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| jmac - the muskie nets are not out yet to my knowledge. The DNR put out nets on south spring on Sunday for northern pike. When they are done they will move them to north spring for muskies. Actually Spring had a lot of ice this year compared to others and as far as the weeds getting pretty bad, they haven't even started growing yet! The weeds are still what is left from last year and when they begin growing again it will get worse. I agree that this quicker than normal warm up may have put those fish into a funk. Everyone wanted warmer weather but warming up too quick looks like it might be a bad thing. My buddy that lives out there said there has been a lot of traffic since the warm up. He had a water temp of 47 yesterday afternoon on his dock already. I expect the pressure to really pick up this week. Good luck out there. I will be out there soon. |
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Posts: 1636
| Ed, I was out saturday with esox50, brandonshorle, and Thad H and I think we can all agree and say the weeds are pretty bad right now and should only get worse. We saw many fish sitting in the pockets in the weeds only to take off under them out of sight. Its pretty tough to use traditional muskie lures. We also found temps up to 48/50 degrees. Fish can be caught but it may be tough, but thats muskie fishing. Then again, it is pretty boring fishing that lake when the fish aren't active. |
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| Didn't the DNR treat the weeds a few years ago when they got out of control? Since it sounds like that is where it is headed again, maybe they will treat them this year. Hey Reel, I agree with you that it can get boring fishing out there when the fish aren't going but when they turn on it can be a blast. A couple years ago we had a 16 fish day there. Nothing over 40 but a lot of fun. |
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| Guys the report from Spring is the muskies have been very very slow. The water went from ice out on Saturday to a temp of 60 on Wednesday. This quick warm up has turned the fish off. It looks like the latest ice out bite isn't going to happen and soon it will be a post spawn bite. The DNR plan on having the nets in for muskies on Sunday or Monday. Bass fishing has been a little better with reports of a few bass up to five pounds this week. My buddy said there has been a lot of musky anglers out there this week and with the tourney on Saturday it will be busy. I think I'll wait a while before I make the drive downstate. Things should be heating up at Shelbyville and I hear Banner is good once it warms up too. |
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Posts: 1636
| Ed, don't you work at the bait shop down by spring lake? I think I talked to you last time in. |
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Posts: 284
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Ed,
Drive downstate .... ?? ~ don't you have to drive NORTH from MAPLETON to get to Spring Lake ??
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Posts: 108
Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014 | Hey Ed, We saw the DNR on Sunday getting the Musky Nets ready on Spring N.
In your opinion from years past, what does this do to the fishing after netting?
I was thinking on taking my son down there for a few days on Spring Break, wondering if there is a general lull after netting is complete? |
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Posts: 405
| Brandyn I totally agree with you about that lake being a boring fishing if the fish arent active. I cant stand the constant 3-4 ft depth and really only using two lures I prefer lakes with all structures not just one |
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Posts: 108
Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014 | Brandon, I can't agree more....I was drooling for breaks,edges,crests, spines.
I had fun out there for a few days but, Besides 2 baits and smaller fish,its drives ya crazy with 2-4 ft depths!
Trolling Lake Sule for a few days this week.
Bring on the thaw! |
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Posts: 1636
| Is Lake Sule open? As in, are the gates open? Thanks and good luck! |
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| Sule is open, gates and all!
I think the weather might throw plans for the next 2 days now....70-80% chance of storms and rain until friday....BUMMER!
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| Ejake - yes there is a lull after the nets are put in. Ususally it picks up after a couple weeks. If you come down and get bored take a tour of the hatchery down the road from Spring Lake if you have down time. Good luck |
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| The lull is over and the muskies are snapping. We have caught 14 in the last three days. The largest was 43. A lot of bass fishermen have been catching them and having bite offs. A lot of pressure on the water with a bass tourney this weekend. The bass have been going good too. The south end produced a documented ten pound release this week. Downsize those baits, have fun and release them quick. |
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Ed,
Please stop putting your tall tales on this message board. I live on the lake and muskie about everyday. The bite on this lake has been terrible all year. I fished Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week I have only seen 2 fish.
You are nuts !!! |
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Posts: 186
Location: West Chicago, IL | Will someone please tell me how anyone fishes that lake after April 1? I can't even keep my trolling motor from getting bogged down with weeds much less alone fish through that crap. |
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| Larry - Sorry you are having bad luck. We found that if you are fishing them with traditional musky gear it will be slow. Fish them like bass using thin leaders and certain baits in certain areas and the fish will eat.
Musky23 - Fish the edges of the weeds and find the edges of different depths and the fish will be there. If you are fishing in the shallow flats of weeds, it will be tough going. Try to find where the edges of weeds and slight dropoffs occur.
I probably won't get down there this weekend with the bass tourney on Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully these tips will help. |
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Central Illinois!!!