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| Last week at the musky show I was standing at a booth and a guy came up and was talking with the vendor and had several pics of muskies caught this year already on Spring Lake down in central IL. He said he already had over 20 in the boat!!! Later I talked to another guy from downstate and he said that the lake was open and many fish have already been caught. He said that there were several reports of guys boating 10 - 20 fish per day with fish up in the mid 40 inch range. WOW! The hot baits according to him have been rattletraps, suspending minnowbaits and small bass size baits. I have never been there before but am looking at getting down there this weekend even though it's a three hour ride from the suburbs and I think there is a horsepower limit. I know it's s shallow lake but is it safe to navigate and what are the HP limits? My buddies and I hope to CPR a few Spring Lake muskies very soon. Looking forward to getting out on the open water again. |
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Posts: 2024
| You're too late. Hot bite is done. Was there last weekend and moved 5 caught one 29.5" compared to previous reports similar to the one you heard. Could try contacting Thad Hinshaw at his website www.evergreenmuskie.com as this was probably the guy you heard talking at the show. |
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| Thanks for the reply. I went to the website and looking at the home page picture, that was not one of the guys I spoke with at the show. A friend just heard there were a couple more over 40 caught this week so it looks like the bite is NOT over and water temps were still in the mid to upper 30's. He said between six local boats they have totaled over 150 fish for the year! Can't wait to get down there. |
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Posts: 2024
| Cool. Good to hear. Post a report if you go, and pics of the ones you catch!!! |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | It was open water earlier this week, but cold weather has put a layer of ice back on the lakes. My lake is a much deeper lake than spring and we iced over again two nights ago and still have ice on it even after today. I don't live 20 miles from spring lake so i'm sure the weather is the same and ice conditions are the same if not worse. I'd call and check with a local bait shop before I made a three hour drive. |
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Posts: 2024
| Except that Spring averages 2ft, which means even a very slight temperature change will heat the lake up faster than others simply because there's less volume. I would imagine the lake is fine, but probably calling a tackle shop in Manito (closest town) couldn't hurt. |
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| Hey guys do you think the rash of cold weather will freeze the lake for this weekend? My buddy and I have been down there twice in the last couple of weeks and have boated 13 fish. Most are small but five have been over 30 inches and three over 40 with the biggest a fat 44. We caught them on suspending jerks (Rogues and huskies) and rattletraps down to the 1/2 oz size. The big one ate a clown husky jerk. Worth the drive this time of year as even the small ones are fun to catch on the lighter bass outfits. But it is really shallow out there in the middle in places. Great fishery but I wish I lived closer. |
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Posts: 70
Location: Mapleton,IL | It was wide open wednesday when we were there. The wind might be keeping it open, but if it dies down at all it's probaly going to freeze up tight. |
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| Thanks Patrolboat! Didn't make it down anyway. How did you do when you where there on Wednesday? It is a great lake to head to when others are frozen. Plus it has such a hot early season bite. People don't believe you can go there and boat sometimes 10-20 fish but we know now it's true. I just wish it were closer. |
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| Hey Patrolboat is this lake still frozen? I can't wait to get down there again. You guys are lucky to have such a great early season hotspot. It doesn't look like Banner is too far from Spring and I'm going to check that out too in the upcoming months. |
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Posts: 42
| what county is this lake in? |
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Posts: 50
Location: Park Ridge, Illinois | Tazewell |
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Posts: 405
| Went down to Spring Lake this weekend water temps were 45-50 degrees saw a few fish and my girlfriend managed a 28" musky and we got 5 bass between 14-16" thick fish one guy on the north lake caught a 9lb 6 oz bass today!! fishing was slow due to DNR netting muskies to spawn them at the hatchery and then they were going to drop them in they took over 100 the guy said and the net they emptied in front of us held 5 fish the biggest was 42" and the others were mid thirties they said most were mid to low thirties fish and then they were on there way hope this helps some of you looking to go down. |
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| Thanks for the report Brandon. I was there over the weekend too and saw the nets. We did manage two sub 30's and a 33 plus two bass one which was over 5lbs. I talked to a couple of bass guys and they catch muskies pretty often there while bass fishing. They did say the bite will really slow now that the nets are out. I asked them about Banner Marsh muskies and they gave me a glowing report. I'll post that info on the Banner thread. |
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Posts: 405
| Anyone been out there recently whats the action? Water Temps? Anyone!! |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | Brandon, the Brandyn you met at the FRV meeting last month won the IMTT last saturday down there, they caught five fish to win it, 43 was the biggest and it was a SOW! |
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Posts: 405
| Thats sweet I heard there was no purse on that tournament and it was a trophy only deal are you talking about the kid that fishes the rivers? If so I dont think ive ever met him ive talked to him through emails a few times!! Thats sweet what did they get the fish on? |
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| Excellent! The guys that won actually boated 5 muskies. Only two were over 30. Biggest was a 42!! Nice fish. Heard the DNR pulled the nets recently. I may be headed back down there this weekend. I heard a few locals already have caught over 100 muskies each from Spring this year!!! WOW!!! I may also explore Banner Marsh lakes of Johnson, Wheel and Shovel. I heard they are also fantastic lakes worth the 2-3 hour drive downstate. Some guys do well trolling there. I have to check it out. Good luck this weekend! |
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Posts: 1636
| EsoxEd... I have talked to about 8 or 9 different people that have caught over 100 muskies from Spring already this year... Are those guys netting the fish with the DNR? lol jk |
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Posts: 108
Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014 | As of March 24th, any movement on Spring Lake? I am going down on the 29th.
I would like to get down there for a few skies and understand the lake.
Any suggestions?
Im up in Northen Illinois.
McHenry Co.area.
Water temp: 39 degrees.. steady
Moved a few fish and few takers on SS SHADs.
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Posts: 405
| Was out on Spring today crappy weather strong wind and pelting rain saw fish boiling all day got one to hit on a spinner bait but didnt manage to get it in the boat not a good day weather wise after a beautiful sunday!! |
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| Managed one fish on Saturday morning a 33 which was pretty beat up. Went to Banner Marsh in the afternoon and on Sunday. Thought I died and went to heaven. I'll make a quick post under the Banner heading. |
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Spring Lake