Friday, November 4, 2011

Water Level:  Normal             Water Temp: ~ 43°

The musky are active ~ especially on suckers ~ and we have large musky suckers in now!

Come on out and enjoy the last week of our season!   Stripers, bluegills and crappies are biting!  Don't miss the fun - bring the family for some great time together and fabulous fall fishing.

Lots of Musky action using large Musky suckers. Crank baits or big blade spinners are working well also. Airport Bay and the east shoreline of Bluff Lake have been good spots lately. 

Bluegill are in the channel areas and are biting. Mike reported catching many nice sized ones in the channel between Spring and Bluff Lake on the east side at the first bend.  Wax worms are their preferred bait, but redworms or trout worms will work too.

Crappies are appearing in the channels. Try under piers along the west side of the Petite Lake channel and the golf course area.  Small to medium fathead minnows on Mini-mite jigs are working well.

Stripers are scattered, buy if you find a school, you'll do well.  Nice action reported recently at the Spring Lake channel bridge.   Chartreuse Mini-mites tipped with a grub or minnow are the secret weapons. - Also try the mouth of Bluff Lake near the beach.

Northern Pike are best in Petite Lake.  Try large roaches or rattle traps at the northwest bay of Petite Lake.

The Walleye bite is good.  The mouth of Bluff and the Lake Marie sandbar near the castle house have been  consistently good areas.  XL fathead minnows are great now that the water has cooled.  Nightcrawlers are also good choices.

Large and Smallmouth Bass are fair.  Some caught recently in the Spring Lake channels. Try nightcrawlers or crank baits for some action.

  FISH ON!  -  Honest John

  The bass were trembling when these anglers showed up!     Nicole shows her Dad, Uncle Joe and Grandpa Bill how to catch the big walleye!     Nice stringer of crappies, largemouth bass and walleye from the Spring Lake Channels.    Bill with a half cooler full of fat bluegills and crappies.    Gerry  with a huge Walleye caught on a nightcrawler.

  IL DNR fish netting resulted in numerous fish.  Huge female walleye will be taken to the hatchery in LaSalle to produce fry and then returned to the Chain.    Frank Jakubicek holds up a 40 inch, 15 lb Northern Pike that was released back into the Chain.    Tank full of 40+ inch muskie.    Sage and Natalie, students from Emmons school, observe the netting and weighing process.    Ashley holding a 13 inch crappie caught this weekend on the Chain!    These three kids sure know how to reel in the walleye - with the help of Dad of course!          Turtle Rescue - Softshell turtle crossing the road was rescued and put back into the channel.