Calling All Walleye Fishermen

Hi, I’m Paul Jones, the owner of the Fishing Forum at FoxLakeFishing.com and I’m holding up a 29″ 5.5 lb. Walleye that I recently caught on a dead end channel on the north side of Fox Lake. Actually I was fishing for some Crappie that day, casting a minnow on a split shot underneath some of the piers. All of a sudden this monster busted out from under the dock grabbing my bait and putting on a helluva fight on my ultralight setup. I must have played with this one 20 minutes before I was able to tire him out and get him to the boat.

I wanted to let everyone know that on my fishing reports section on my forum we’re writing about fishing stories like that every day, telling you where are the best fishing holes are on the Fox Chain O Lakes.  JD Spinner, the professional fishing guide from www.jdspinners.com regularly writes about what lures fish are hitting on while on his fishing charters and has a section devoted to showing the best of what fishing for a living is all about.

It’s an online Fox Lake fishing community where local fishermen can share fishing stories, fishing reports, photos and even fishing jokes. Come join in the fun by creating your own account and sharing your fishing stories and fishing photos from Fox Lake and the surrounding Fox Chain, you may just pick up a fishing tip or two along the way.

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It all started on June 2, 1932 by a man named George W. Perry on Montgomery Lake, in Georgia. Using a shared rod (because they only had one) it was his turn to cast the $1.35 lure and with some 25lbs test silk line he made his cast from the row boat built from .75 cents of scrap lumber.
The Largemouth Bass weighed in at 22 lbs 4 oz and it took Perry and his family 2 days to eat the giant. The rest is history.
Know for its explosive strikes and amazing aerial displays, largemouth bass are by far the most pursued freshwater game fish in the United States. They are located through out most of the continental United States, all over Mexico, and even in some parts of Canada.

Largemouth Bass Facts
Scientific Name - Micropterus salmoides Current World Record - 22.4 lbs Preferred water temp - 77 to 86 degrees Common names - Bass, Florida Bass, Black or Green Bass, Bucket mouth, Largemouth
Where to find Largemouth Bass
Originally found south of the great lakes and east of the Mississippi, they have spread throughout the United States, Hawaii, Southern Canada, and most of Mexico. They have also been introduced into Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia. Largemouths occupy most freshwater rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, pits & quarries, and even some drainage ditches in neighborhoods. If you know of some freshwater nearby, there is a good chance that there is a Largemouth Bass in it.

One of the hardest things about fishing for Largemouth is finding them. Everything from water temperature, air temperature, weather season, the wind, angle of the sun’s rays, time of day, and even the moon phase play important roles in the location of Largemouth. Then when you think you have located some fish getting them to bite can be another challenge.

Your best bet is to start very early in the day or late in the afternoon. Largemouth Bass tend to avoid direct bright sunlight and most fish are caught when the light is low or when the sky is overcast. Look for man-made or natural structure. Look for a dock, a tree, a branch, a rock, a point of land on a mostly straight bank. Anything that stands out as something different will usually hold fish. If you are fishing a cow pasture look for the place where the cows come down to drink or get in the water. A lot of times that area will hold a few fish. Docks are also a great place to find bass. Just look for anything that will give small baitfish a place to hide or that will provide some shade for the bass to rest in and you will be off to a good start.

If you are fishing from a boat out in the open water look for submerged structure with your fishfinder. Watch for stumps, ledges, submerged rock piles, quick drop off’s, or even schools of baitfish. Watch the surface for bass chasing minnows or shad, watch for birds diving into the water, this could mean that there is some bait around and the bass might be underneath the bait chasing them up to the surface. If you fishfinder has a temperature gauge look for changes in the normal water temp (a thermo cline). This can also produce some fish at certain times. Bridge pilings are usually a good place to check for a few bass also.

How to catch Largemouth Bass
Patterns - When you hear the term pattern used by bass fishermen they are not talking about the design of the lure that they are using. They are referring to the set of conditions that is putting fish in the boat. This is usually 2 things; the location of the bass and the technique used to get them to bite. The pattern will change from day to day and sometimes several times during a single day. If you have good luck on a stretch of bank that has lily pads and tree branches sticking up through them and the fish suddenly stop biting, chances are good that if you find some similar conditions else where you will find active fish again. This is a pattern.

When looking for feeding bass most anglers use some type of fast moving lure like a crankbait or a spinnerbait. Work the bait thoroughly but keep moving till you find some feeding fish. When you get a bass to hit slow down and keep as quiet as possible. Bass are pretty sensitive to noise and you don’t want to spook them before you have some fun catching a few.
If the bite stops after you get a few fish to the boat change lures according to the situation and give them something else to look at. If the bite is over, note the exact location and the structure conditions in that area. Then try to find another area with similar conditions and chances are good that the fish will be there also. It is not a foolproof way of finding bass, but it does work quite often. Also remember that the pattern will probably work the following day around the same time if the weather has not changed too much.

Some last minute tips
If you have more that one rod - rig up a few different baits on extra rods. That way you don’t have to keep retying when the action is on.
Keep a logbook of your fishing. Note the season, times, weather, location, bait used, water temp and height. Then repeat your successful pattern next year and see if you get the same good results…I bet you will.
Be courteous to other fishermen. If you see someone in a boat working a bank, don’t pull your boat in front of them and start fishing. Pull in where they have already been and start your fishing there and follow them at a polite distance. You would want the same done to you.
Please practice catch and release whenever possible and remember the large fish don’t taste any better than an average medium or small one. Take a picture and let the trophies live to catch and enjoy again later. Be safe and have fun!

  Source:  Scott Perry at The Fishing Fool.com

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A good bass fishing guide is the ultimate companion. No matter how experienced you are, you could always learn something from another individual that has experience in the hobby, whether he or she is a professional or simply goes to the local lake when they have a spare day.

Everyone’s bass fishing experience is different and we all learn different things that can help to improve our style and/or technique. Contributing to our individual knowledge of fishing can always help us to catch more bass!

Before looking for a good guide, you should initially determine what level of fisherman or woman you are. This does not really matter in the case of an expert, but it does matter if you are just starting out or have been fishing recreationally for less than a year because expert guides will be too complex if you do not have a mastery of the basics just yet. This will limit the range of good bass fishing guides that you can go for, but an expert can choose from any and all bass fishing guides out there today!

You should then decide where you are to get your book from. You will find many different guides on the Internet and in bookstores. The former can be regular books or ebook, whilst the latter is just limited to regular books. It largely depends on the nature of the book that you want.

If you want it in a more easy to read form then you should probably take a look at ebooks, but if you prefer having something bound to hold in your hand then a regular book it is. This choice is largely down to personal preference. However, you may want to take a look on the Internet regardless of what type of book you actually want. The Internet has a much wider range of material available because Internet stores can obviously carry much larger volumes of books than regular bookstores. (more…)

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The Pacific Fishery Management Council decided to allow limited recreational fishing of coho salmon on holiday weekends off the Oregon coast, but no recreational fishing off California after several members of the panel argued that every salmon counts.

Scientists and government officials are expecting this year’s West Coast salmon season to be one of the worst in history, because of the collapse of Sacramento River chinook, one of the West Coast’s biggest wild salmon runs.

Although commercial salmon fishing off the Washington coast is scheduled to begin May 1, fisheries managers do not predict a good season off either the north or south Pacific coasts.

“For the entire West Coast, this is the worst in history,” Don McIsaac, executive director of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, said before several close votes led to the fisheries plan for 2008.

The council’s decision still must be confirmed by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, the federal agency in charge of salmon management. (more…)

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Illinois Walleye Fishing Tips

When fishing for walleye in Illinois you will find that a number of lakes, rivers and reservoirs are available where you can find this particular species of fish. The Kankakee River is one of the most well-known for catching walleyes. There are several lakes where you can go to fish for walleye in Illinois such as Lake Clinton, Fox Lake, Lake Marie, Lake Shelbyville and Lake Michigan to name a few. The Carlyle Lake and Kinkaid Lake are also popular choices where many anglers like to try their hand at catching this elusive fish. Walleyes prefer the cold deep waters that these areas have to offer.

Since the opening of the Jake Wolf Hatchery, walleyes have become more abundant than ever in the history of Illinois. There are plenty of walleyes being found in areas where they use to be uncommon. This is great for the anglers that live in this area making it easier for them to go after this exciting and subtle species. It is also great for visitors that love to come to Illinois and fish.

The Fox Chain-O-Lakes is designed by a natural chain of fifteen lakes that are located in the northeast part of Illinois. You will find that the walleye swim in every one of these lakes, although you will have better luck fishing in some of them than with others.

You can check with the Department of Natural Resources to get a better idea of where the most walleyes are located in this area. (more…)

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Two man team tournament

Participants must comply with Big Bucks Bass Tournament rules. You do not need to be a member to participate in tournament.

Cost $230.00 per team.

Includes: Both days launch pass ($10 per day $20 total) Entry in daily big bass pots ($10.00 per day $20 total) and 2 dinner tickets.

Mandatory dinner (2 free tickets per team, additional tickets $10 each) on April 11th 2008 at 6 pm. Dinner will be held at National Athletic Club, 264 Lippincott Lane, Fox Lake, IL (847-587-5777), One member of team must attend meeting.

Tournament Format:

After first day fish weight is calculated the top 8 teams in weight, ties to be decide by big fish, will automatically qualify for a guaranteed check on Sunday. First days weight determines launch number start on Sunday. This weight will also be carried over to Sunday. Sunday’s launch schedule top 8 teams launch at 7:00 a.m. return at 3:00 p.m.

Remainder of field will draw boat numbers Sunday morning. No weight is carried over from Saturday for these teams. Top five teams in weight on Sunday will receive check. Sunday launch time 7:30 am - and return at 2:30 pm

We encourage participants to stay near their boats after each tournament day to mingle with spectators. Please help to promote our sport.

Pay out: 100% of Big Bass Pot, 80% of entry fee minus launch fee, big bass pot, plus $10 towards dinner. Limited to 50 boat field

We are working on Skeeter, Ranger, Champion, and Bass Cat money.

You can register for this tournament using the Big Bucks Bass register page

If you fished in the Fall Classic at Bauske Marine in October 2007, you are guaranteed a spot in the Spring Fling. All that is required is to have a paid entry at Action Marine by March 21, 2008. We are limiting the field to 50 entries.

Ranger Cup: If you are an up-to-date Ranger Cup member and bought your boat from either Anglers Edge (Loves Park) or Bedford Sales (Morris, IL) you are eligible to receive Ranger Cup money. If a Ranger boat owner wins, they receive $1,000. If no Ranger boat owner wins, highest placing Ranger owner receives $500

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Do you have any old hunting or fishing photos hiding in the attic, how about some old lures or tackle that was handed down from your grandparents? Bass Pro Shops would like to enshrine them to keep the history of fishing on Fox Lake and Chain Of Lakes alive. I just stumbled upon this article on Bass Pro Shops and though it would a good idea to share with our Fox lake Fishermen.

Bass Pro Seeks Antique Sporting Memorabilia and Historic Photos

You’re up in the attic digging around and find that old collection of wooden lures you started as a kid. Maybe you are going through some old photographs and find one of your grandfather with a nice 12 point buck. Another one depicts the family sitting around the campfire telling tall tales as mom fries up the catch of the day.

Bass Pro Shops feels the same way you do about these memory-evoking mementos that celebrate our nation’s wonderful outdoor heritage and would like to help preserve them for our children, our children’s children and all the future generations to enjoy and appreciate. (more…)

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The Illinois High School Association’s Board of Directors has approved a recommendation from the Executive Director to add a Bass fishing tournament as an IHSA activity beginning in the spring of 2009, provided that adequate sponsorships are secured in advance for the tournament.

This makes Illinois the first state to have a statewide bass-fishing tournament at the high school level in the spring of 2009.
A new Illinois fishing license is needed starting April 1st, 2008
They are available from DNR Direct license vendors, online through the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us and by calling 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648).April 5 - Spring Catchable Trout Season opens @ 5:00 a.m. in Illinois..April 26 -

Fishing Seminars at Gander Mountain , at 10:00am, Larry Dozard of Larry’s Fishing Hole will discuss When your best chances are to catch fish and Where, while Paul Wolf will talk about How to Catch those Big Catfish.
There will be drawing for Fishing Rod & Calendar give-a-waysJune 6-9 - Illinois Free Fishing Days

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Fishing Knots

The main purpose of a fishing knot is so obvious that many anglers hardly give it much thought….like turning the ignition key in a car. What is worth some thought is whether the knots you tie are as strong and reliable as necessary for the circumstances.

The basic component of a good fishing knot is one that retains the full breaking strength of the line as if it never had a knot in it. Some knots don’t do this because they aren’t tied properly time after time, and others don’t do it because they’re inferior or not applicable for the type of line. Ideally a knot that does retain full breaking strength when properly tied is also easy to form.

There are knots for making terminal connections (line to hook or lure), line-to-line connections (for joining two lines of similar or dissimilar diameter, including fishing line to a leader or tippet), and doubling the terminal end of fishing line.

The average angler needs perhaps no more than three or four basic knots, but the knot can make all the difference between boating a big fish, or losing it. I suggest that you select only those few knots that are of the greatest use to you, and practice, practice, practice tying them until they become second nature to you. It is most important that you use knots that can be tied in an easily remembered manner. There is little point using a knot that can only be tied by reference to a book.

Knots For Attaching Lures & Hooks

• Clinch Knot

Hangmans Knot

• Jansik Knot

Palomar Knot

• Scaffold Knot

Snelling a Hook

Fishing Knot Of The Day

Another good resource for learning to tie fishing knots

Don’t Forget To Check Out Our FISHING FORUM For More Great Fishing Info

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Here’s a few versions of our logo, what do you fisherman  think is the best version.

Don’t forget to check out our Fox Lake fishing forum.

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