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Posts: 107
Location: Plainfield, IL | So I am taking my first trip to Spring Lake and was wondering if anyone has any experience there. It seems like it may be really shallow and I was wondering what the average size is. It also seems like it is stocked pretty heavily and I am guessing it may be a numbers lake before the weeds grow in. Any info on this lake is greatly appreciated. |
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| IL musky brood stock lake great action, average size 35ish, but bigger are there and catch-able. Very shallow. |
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Posts: 284
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Average sized fish is more along the lines of 28" ... If you catch 10 fish in a day MAYBE 1 of them will be mid 30". |
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Posts: 114
| It is shallow throughout. Last time there last year we caught 4 between 33 and 39 on rattle baits and twitch bait - bright colors. Also saw some much larger fish we couldn't get to go. Do you know if the ice is gone yet - hoping to head there monday. |
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Posts: 107
Location: Plainfield, IL | I heard the ice was out last Tuesday, but they questioned if it would stay that way. I am going Sunday and will post my results. |
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| Dunlap is right. Tons of 20 to 30 inch fish, with a few stocker 10 to 20 inchers mixed in as well. There are some good fish in there im sure but chances are you'll probably get a couple handfuls of sub 30 inchers before you get a mid 30 or even a 40 incher. Good luck and hopefully you make it down there on a day when the bigger ones are moving. Either way your fishing in early March and im jealous. Lol |
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| where is spring lake located and how big is the lake acre wise |
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Posts: 108
Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014 | Im down there Today through Saturday.
UMMMM...Ya better watch the weather forecast. Mother Nature is gonna dish up some T Storms it looks like.
Plenty of big fish... stix and narrows and temp changes.
Good Luck
Dale |
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Posts: 107
Location: Plainfield, IL | Dale, let me know how you do. I will be down Sunday.
Guest, the lake is near Peoria and is about 550 acres or so. |
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Posts: 108
Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014 | Sounds good!
Goin to fish it a bit differently this time.
I'll PM ed you CantCatch'em if I have a chance by Sunday.
Good Luck
Dale |
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Posts: 90
| I have fished this lake many times. It's long, narrow and shallow. It has a 25 hp maximum. Be careful, there a stumps and remnants of duck blinds not to mention very shallow water. Other than that the lake can be very productive for fishing. I plan on going there myself this weekend.
Good luck |
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| So how about some reports boys? |
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Posts: 107
Location: Plainfield, IL | My buddy caught 1 and we saw a few more. It was only like 30, but it was a fish in early March and you cant beat that! |
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Posts: 284
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The bite on Spring Lake is DEAD ... We are too far into March now and those fish are thinking spawn instead of chasing baits. DNR are also putting the nets in to collect the brood stock the end of this week. |
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| Dunlap - 3/9/2011 6:18 AM
The bite on Spring Lake is DEAD ... We are too far into March now and those fish are thinking spawn instead of chasing baits. DNR are also putting the nets in to collect the brood stock the end of this week.
Water temps r already in the mid 50's? |
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Posts: 284
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Mike,
The water temps are in the mid to upper 40's already and the DNR wants to collect the fish before they start dropping eggs. They take them to the hatchery and then bring the tank water up slowly to get them to start dropping eggs.
Spring Lake's average depth is 2-3 feet of water so the warms up fast in it. My catch records from the past 15 years shows that the best bite is when the water is 36-39 degrees in Spring Lake.
The bite just gets slower and slower as the water temp comes up. You can still catch the 20 inchers if you want .... |
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| Dunlap is dead on. The DNR will be taking the fish BEFORE they are ready and manipulate the spawn. They need to start early because of all the other species the hatchery raises to keep on schedule. |
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| right on thanks guys |
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Posts: 2361
| I doubt that bite is dead. They haven't spawned in Ky, or TN, and waters as warm or warmer than that. Just fish. Doubt they will spawn before the next full moon and that will be early. When they start swimming around in pairs, it might kill it for a week or two. I wuldn't pass up fishing. |
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Posts: 107
Location: Plainfield, IL | I 'm going back this weekend and will let you guys know which side of the debate I am on. Either way I am fishing and that is never a bad thing. |
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Posts: 2361
| You don't think someone would feed you missinformation to try and keep you off the lake, do you? |
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Posts: 284
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Not like that at alll "firstsixfeet" ... Just passing what information I have and know from years and years and years of fishing that lake.
By all means fish away ... You aren't going to bother me if you fish Spring ~ Me personally, I am done with that lake until later in the year. I wasn't trying to anger you.
You also need to re-read this thread ... The DNR takes some of the muskies out BEFORE they spawn. You can't compare Spring Lake to any other lake in the Midwest (KY, TN) as far as rising & dropping water temps. I have seen that lake jump & fall 10+ degrees in one day because of how shallow it is ...
Good luck to you all this year. I hope you catch a giant !! |
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Posts: 186
Location: West Chicago, IL | Firstsixfeet......have you ever fished Spring Lake? |
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| I can tell you from personal experience that Dunlap is right on. I was out there on Sunday and my partner and I only managed a 27incher first thing in the morning. Not even a follow after that! Water was ultra clear too so we would have been sure to see them if they were chasing. |
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| The fish are in the thicket now..short accurate casts with in the stalks and pads..don't be afraid to use bigger baits- helps weed out the little guys too..glide baits have been the ticket..any color..good luck out there |
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Posts: 108
Location: Crystal Lake,Illinois 60014 | Bite dimmed a bit since friday afternoon front. Tough bite til front settles in.
We did manage only 2 on friday 30.5" and 31.5".
Color/Glides and accurate casts were important.
In total 3 trips 12 fish, biggest 37
DaleJ.
ps gas $$$$ is brutal... killer
Edited by esoxjake 3/12/2011 8:03 AM
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Posts: 2361
| esoxjake - 3/12/2011 8:01 AM
Bite dimmed a bit since friday afternoon front. Tough bite til front settles in.
We did manage only 2 on friday 30.5" and 31.5".
Color/Glides and accurate casts were important.
In total 3 trips 12 fish, biggest 37
DaleJ.
ps gas $$$$ is brutal... killer
How could this be??
"The bite on Spring Lake is DEAD ... We are too far into March now and those fish are thinking spawn instead of chasing baits. DNR are also putting the nets in to collect the brood stock the end of this week."
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Posts: 90
| Fished Spring on Friday with my son. He caught a nice 32". The fish was caught on a chrome and blue rattletrap. I had one on but it got off and we also had one follow. There were several boats out but all the fisherman I spoke to said the fishing was slow. We didn't see any nets out from the DNR. It's possible they already pulled them out. |
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Posts: 186
Location: West Chicago, IL | Hey firstsixfeet.......did he say his three trips were this week or this year? Also, again, have you ever fished Spring Lake?
Jake......if you don't mind answering, what timeframe has your 3 trips been over?
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| Did anyone fish spring over the weekend? Any reports?....
Thanx |
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