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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | What is the best muskie lake closest to Chicagoland area. When I say closest I mean with-in a 3 hour drive. Sorry I mis-spelled some of them. Also make sure if you check (OTHER) leave the name of the lake! I know there has to be one or two I missed that you guys love..........
Edited by pgaschulz 5/13/2004 6:08 PM
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| I think this is a great poll. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | Had to go with "other" myself..hard to narrow down which exactly is my problem.. Couple notes though.. Wolf Lake on IL/IN border was stocked with Tigers until '97 i think, then in 2000 or 2001 Indiana stocked 755 Natural Musky in there, not gonna be the biggest Musky Fishery around, but only one inside the City limits of Chicago... I am hearing that some people have caught small ones in the last year or so, 18-20", very odd if i do say so myself since it has not been stocked since Indiana put the 755 in. It would be suprising, but maybe there is a little natural reproduction happening... Other note, James is part of Tippy, there is a seperate James lake in Indiana, but it is not stocked with Musky as of now. The great part is how many real good Musky lakes we have within about 3 hours of Downtown Chicago.. without even having to go to Wisconsin, including Wisconsin there is just that many more... There are even a couple private lakes with supposedly decent populations, like Lake Holiday in IL.. of course some like those you have to be a resident of the area(or fish with one) to gain access to the lake.. |
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Posts: 336
Location: Wheeling, IL. | last I drove it Shellbyvill is more than two hours. More like three ft 3 1/2. |
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| Great poll!!!!! |
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Posts: 2024
| I'm gonna go with the "Other" category. While Shelby would probably be my #1, it's more than three hours from Chi town. Don't forget Evergreen near Bloomington, Spring in Tazewell Ct., Snakeden/McMaster, and Storey in Knox Ct. |
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| I dont think any of you are giving wolf lake any credit. There are a lot of muskies in that lake.
John  |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | 755 naturals to be exact on Wolf not counting any illegal stockings.. There should still be a few Tigers and they should be pretty big but for the most part its getting to the end of a Tigers lifespan. |
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| For some reason I can vote but I would have to say James Lake in Indiana. I have caught a lot of big muskies out of that lake.
Thanks |
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Posts: 68
Location: South side | Shelbyville is 188 miles to lithia boat ramp From New Lenox . And 2 Hrs 45min. I just drove it 5/31/04. |
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| I think the best muskie lake would have to be Fox Chain. I think the next state record will come out of this chain. How about that guys and gals. FOX CHAIN!!! |
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| You left out a great muskie lake really near chicago, Lake of the four season, its private but alot of muskie...........
Thanks,
The M M 2 |
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| Muskie Man 2 are you refering to the one in Indiana?? |
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| I think Wolf could be the best IF ILLINOIS WOULD KEEP STOCKING it!!!!!! Spend some money you DNR guys in Illinois. Big lake great flats. So what if they all swim to the Indy side.
Musk |
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Posts: 167
Location: IL | Lake Wingra in Madison WI. Only about 3 fish per acre. Just a hint,lots of big muskies from Monona spawn in Wingra and cant get out. My best action lake in the state. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | "IF ILLINOIS WOULD KEEP STOCKING it" IL has never stocked PURE MUSKY in Wolf. Only Indiana and at that only 755 once. IL has stocked it with Tigers in the past but discontinued the program(last stocking was 1997 and I am sure there are some still alive). If one wanted to stock the lake legally they would have to contact BOTH IN & IL DNR'S. To do so Illegally...let me know how... I'd be willing to help.... |
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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | I WOULD LOVE TO HELP in the process.....Wolf Lake being so close to Chicago would be a great place for Muskie. I have heard of alot of bass fisherman catching them..I also heard there is a plan to dredge the Illinois Side? Any truth to that....Also with the in-let to Lake Michigan (People think the BIG EYES leave the lake that way) Some of the Muskie could get out into Lake Michigan, it would be a shame if the BIG LAKE would become a muskie haven. Heck I am putting up $1000 to start the program for wolf lake Muskie!!!! Lets take some from the Shabbona stock one year and put them in Wolf. Or get some from some where.
Pgaschulz
P.S. The poll is going great guys......... |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | I thought it was the IN side that might get some dredging... The best place for info on wolf lake(except Musky as I am the kind of the Info guy there for musky) is the http://www.wolflakefishing.com/messageboard/index.php |
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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | Do you fish wolf quite a bit for the musky??? What is the biggest you have caught or seen caught. I heard that a guy caught one threw the ice over 45 inch's.
PGA |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | I do not fish it for Musky right now.. Usually when I go there its for bass. I know of someone who "claims" he had several bass nailed by Musky while reeling them in recently, but have not heard anything of people actually catching any recently. A 45 through the ice I would think to be a Tiger since the Musky have not been there long enough to grow that length(at least I don't think they would be that length in that short a time). |
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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | So Kevin are we going to get the wolf lake muskie started or what??? Do you not agree it would be a great muskie fishery? |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | Absolutely, it has lots of weeds, just the right amount of deep water in certain areas and lots of food...plus if a dozen or a hundred accidentally swim into the calsag/lake calumet and lake michigan all the better..lol.. I have the info on which DNR guys to contact in both states if it was to be done legally. Not sure how to do it the other way.. |
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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | Hey if you can e-mail me that information, you would be surprised who I know. Let me know......
Bob |
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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | Looks like Sheblyville is the place but Webster is a close second.... |
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| Pewaukee Lake no doubt/ |
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