IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Illinois => Ice Fishing Illinois => Topic started by: toph2o on Feb 21, 2004, 09:04 PM
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Did any one try to fish Sat the 21st. in central Ill. I havent had the time to check and want to go Sunday but with the weather I'm wondering. toph2o
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Was out this morning on a local pond, with 5in of good ice. Went to Eureka Lake this evening, & there was 3ft+ of open water around the shore. I did see one guy on the ice, who apparently found a way on, but I went home.
Paul
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The ice is makeing. Some of the back channels are or will be fishable by this weekend. Nielsens channel may be ready I will know tommorrow. Some back waters on the chain have about 2" of ice and still building.
Happy Holidays Bob
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Back channels where?
Paul
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Paul-
Chain of Lakes........
How about T channel...Think it will be ready...I have two weeks off from work so I better get some fishing in......
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Spooker there was a guy on the T channel Wed but said it wasn't quite ready so maybe by this weekend. Some of the channels on Petite are froze but the lakes them selves will be a while
Bob
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T-Channel = Ackerman channels????
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Walked on my pond this morning before work.......
Solid inch and a half of nice clear black ice............
Cant wait for Sunday.
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Kinkyfish the T channel is off Pistakee and just off Rt.12 in Fox Lake. Famous Freddies used to let some park there just have a sandwich or drik afterwards. It will be plenty strong this weekend as long as there aren't to many there at one time.
Happy Holidays
Bob
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About a 1/2-1 inch in Plainfield.Looks like mon or tuesday for the safe stuff. See ya out there. Bryan S.
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Just got a report of someone at Mautinos fishing yesterday. I have not gotten out there myself but am thinking if he wind goes down i might go and check it out just to see how thick it is. Probably only able to get on the shallower ponds right at the moment though.
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Got a solid 4 inches of ice on Kakusha here in Mendota,were gonna give it a try after the Bears game..
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Ice fishing or Da Bears game.... Hmmmm. you should have went fishing.
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Well I did have my priorities kinda out of order.The Bears and the fishing were both dissapointing.Bites were about as far apart as a Bears scoring drive.Had to give it a try.Were gonna hit it again tommorrow w/out any distractions.
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They are out on Lake Marie on the chain and the eyes are starting to hit. Some have been doing better from about 6 in the morning to early afternoon. some of the other lake will be a lot safer after this weekend.
The north end of channel lake still has some bad spots so be careful and don't walk down the center of the lake trying to get there.
Happy Holidays
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Was out on Channel Lake on the Fox Chain today and there is 7" of ice about 200 yds from shore and 5" over most of the lake. There is one spot between Channel Lake and Lake Catherine that the geese have kept open but it was crusted over today (NOT SAFE ICE ) in that area yet.
I brought home 14 nice gills and released about 50 in about3 hrs on the ice.
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Stinky sounds like you did pretty darn good. It sounds like you guys up there have better ice conditions up your way. I was at a small pond yesterday and not all of it was froze up yet. Theres a small chance that I may be up in your area next weekend. The boss I mean the better half, claims she might be up for a weekend get away. I'll let you know if I do, by IM. It sure would be nice to catch a few nice gills.
Best of luck out there, Lonzo
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got out yesterday and caught a bunch of gills. only about 30 keepers on the hennipen canal. There was about 7 inches there. Went to mautinos and had about 4 on the one little pond i wanted to try and about 5 on the duck slew. Fished the slew and had about a 4lb bass under me but couldn't get it to hit nothing. caught a few small gills thats when i went to the canal.
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hey lonzo,
Iceman here, went out yesterday-honey hole only had a couple inches of ice, so had to go to the "fished out" lakes-still caught 15-most dinks-one good crappie-best part, 6" good solid clear ice! I love the hut! Put the Mr. Buddy heater behind me and was toasty warm, just got to figure out some way to keep flaps on the ice better. BAD, BAD NEWS-you bettter get your butt on the ice quick! Check the forecasts for the next 2 weeks! Going to the honey hole Tom. morning-praying the ice doesn't melt underneath me! Sure could use a partner, if you see this before then, you're welcome to come!
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forgot to post that I was using jammingjigs and fat boys tipeed with honey worms and waxies. Am really impressed with the honey worms-though-word of advice-tear in half, just like the powerbait maggots-way too big-they need to downsize both baits. Any one use the powerbait Nymphs yet? was going to buy them, but $3-$4 for 12!!!!! No Way- One better last half a season for me!!!
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Stinky, If you can keep us posted with the warm temps and what the ice is doing up there.
really appreciated your help.
After your post of catching the gills I think I've been smacking my lips ever since I read it :P
Tight lines and good luck, Lonzo
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Was out o Crystal Lake this morning. ANywhere between 4 to about 7 inches on the west end...snowmoblies out. Hopefully the warm spell just makes for cozy ice fishing and our ice stays. I have to say, the morning bite is sweet...back to back to back to back. Once it dies down though, its dead.
Joe
"Last name withheld for fun"
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Lonzo I waited till this afternoon to go back out. Plenty of fishermen but some were haveing problems catching.
I had another 15 nice gills about 8" and gave them to 2 guys with there kids so they could have a fish fry. I will be back out tommorrow only have till thursday then I have hand surgery and won't beable to fish for at least a week. I will have more fish to clean before that happens though.......
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Bob.....
Where are you getting the gills....off Mcdermitt's??...on the south end? How deep? I went to Deep Lake last night for a couple of hours. Ice close to 8" thick. A couple of small crappie and a few missed. Drilled about 20 holes and could not find em. Only two other guys out. When I was in Triangle bait, I overheard talk of a 15# Walleye taken out of the chain.....no specifics.
Thanks,
Kinky
PS Hope all goes well with your surgery!
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Kinkyfish I have been going out of the Thirsty Turtle(used to be McDermits). I have gotten good fish both ends of the lake. You have to move around and also sort through them but I'm in the process of cleaning another 30 fish now. I took a short break for dinner then back to cleaning gills and a couple crappie.
If everything goes right I will be back out tommorrow.
Did you go to the north end of Deep Lake or were you on the west side in the bay by the apartments.
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Hey Stinky:
Was on the North end off 6th st. in 10-15ft H20. I have not fished the West bay as of yet. Was thinking of moving across the lake and around the point when the crowds show up. Have you had success on that part of the Lake? Where in proximity to the deep hole?
Kinky
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Kinkyfish I was by the lake street channel. Today the bite was slow but started about the time I had to leave. Be careful there is a pressure ridge north of Mentones(doubleD's) now that had lots of water around it. I may go fish on Lake Catherine tommorrow
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Couldn't make it today but my partner called and said he got into some nice crappies this afternoon. He didn't go out till 2:30 and called me by 4:30 and had a 3 gallon bucket of fish. Just hope the warm weather doesn't bring that much rain and we should be ok.
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bad news for the central Il. guys and gals, drove by the lakes I fish here in yates city-almost completely open.
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There is still plenty of good fishable ice on the Fox Chain. The walleye have been hitting pretty good and the catfish also. Plenty of gills being caught.
Like all frozen waters after a thaw there may be a few bad spots by shore and in the middle of the l;akes so take caution when going out.
I heard a snowmobile went through on a southern Wi. Lake with this thaw so please be careful. Don't be afraid to use a spud bar and double check the ice before you go to far.
Bob
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stinky,
you guys "up north" (from here in Yates City, anyway) sure are lucky to still have ice! I haven't fished in quite few days now. The ice barely got thick enough here to hold my fat butt, before it was all gone! I can't believe your's has held on so long, (there's something wrong with the phrasing of that sentence, just can't figure out what it is(LOL))!
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Iceman
Mine has held up for years. Oh you mean the ice. LOL We dropped to about 22 degrees last night and most of the water on top has refroze so today it looked pretty good.
I may get out tommorrow because I have been takeing care of a hand I had surgery on last Thursday. I have some friends doing the leg work for me till I can go back out. There is no snow cover and only one nite expected to be above freezeing so we will continue to make ice.
We aren't that far from you really we have folks come up from Peoria all the time it's about 3hrs for them. I had another friend get a 6# walleye on thursday Nice fish I saw the picture.
Bob
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Well It is finnally happening here in the fox chain area. we are loosing a lot of good ice >:( . most remaining is likely marginal to unsafe. All the rain yesterday afternoon and last night as well as the tempurature for the past three days made the likelyhood of getting on a lot of lakes a sketchy preposition at best. And it looks like we aint getting it back for a couple weeks unless the weather info is wrong. Yesterday there was 6" of decent ice with the bottom 3" still in great shape and the top 3" honeycombed and worthless before all the rain. This sucks cause the pike where on fire pretty much no matter where you went. The south bay on channel and most of petite lake is probably still fishable because those areas hold ice like a champ but i dont feel like tempting fate cause i've already gone through once this year. if anyone tries to get out let me know how it went.
-John
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I checked out Crystal Lake today, there was about 4-5 inches still there and about 10 people in the middle of the west end area. You could not enter the lake by regular means, the pier was the only way out for the outer rim was melted. You also had to fish in about a half inch of water. Looks like the high temps for the week will be around 32-34 and down in the teens at night for weds thurs and fri. I would think that predicting a couple weeks until safe ice might be an exaggeration. How dare you! ;D >:( >:( ;D >:( ;D >:( ;)
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Head hunter I agree that we will fish all week. May have to take a little time and be safe about it but there is still plenty of good ice. The back channels will refreeze first and the big thing to watch for is soft or thin spots with weeds comeing through the ice.
Bob
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Bob, I agree, saftey first. I was out for 30 minutes today, didnt get a nibble. Felt the wind, saw the water beneath my feet and said, "it aint worth it today!" Last thing I wanted was to float away on a 40ft piece of ice!
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I got out to check a lake in southern wisconsin and found the ice wasn't in as bad of shape as i though it was going to be. seems to be pretty tough this year. I saw some people out fishing on various lakes in the area on my way back home. Good news in that the national weather serice says that it is going to be cold enough to make ice now.http://www.crh.noaa.gov/forecasts/ILZ006.php?warncounty=ILC097&city=Lake+Villatheres the forecast for those interested. I wish the meteorologists could be a little more accurate and stop saying its going to be hot then cold.
Anyway i'm going to try to get out tommorow mourning
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JohnBZ there are a few of us that may go out in the morning. We know some back channels that have good ice and are safe so we may go there and let the lakes tighten up a little more. We will probably try a lake on wed.
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I checked the ice on fox lake today cause i live on columbia bay. its running about 4-5" out there except in the middle of the bay and in front of channels. I fished a lake in southern wisconsin with my buddy today and we caught a total of 16 northerns in about 4 hours and a couple perch on our tipups. I'm either going hunting or ice fishing tommorow during the day as i am off this week. the way its looking i'm going fishing again.
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John BZ Myself and some friends went out for about 3 hrs on a back channel. I brought home 25 nice gills and crappie. The gills were small at 7" big at 9" the crappie were 9" to 11" all in all a great day. All the fish were caught on plastic
Bob
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Just to let everyone know there is still fishable ice on the Fox Chain of Lakes.
The middles of most lakes have some open water but most of the shallows to about 8fow are ok. Just take your time go with friends and use a spud bar and don't over walk the use of the spud bar.
Bob
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I Checked a couple ponds in the Lacon IL area today and only about an inch of ice with the forcast of a couple warm days...Bummer! >:(
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Nothing safe in the peoria area, Guess I'll hit the fishing show next couple of weeks while the weather tries to straighen out. 50's next week?? toph2o
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MAN, I dont know what I would do if I lived in Central IL. WE had safe ice before xmas. Thawed a little but nevertheless, people have been out.
I keep reading these posts and I my prayers go out to you guys for some ICE!
JR
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FYI, Crystal Lake's west end has over 8 inches
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We have been right in the middle of cold and ice or warm and rain. It can't decide what it wants to do. looks like more rain comming in then turning cold again, I dont like rollercoasters. I Have new equipment that is just sitting there. toph2o :-[
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toph2o
The fox chain is only about 3 hrs north of Peoria for a good days fishing. Some of you central Il guys ought to come up and try. We had one guy get a 51" musky thru a 7" hole fishing for walleye
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Any perch in their? :tipup:
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talk about extremes....What is with the weather in the burbs?
What is the Chain looking like now. Last I heard it was 3-5 but slushy? After the recent rain I have not heard anything, but with this bitter cold we should be refreezing pretty quick.
Help aprreciated........ ???
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Yeah there are perch in the chain but they aren't ussually a primary target for most. Next chance i get i'll check the ice since i am but a stones throw from fox lake. 3-5 inches seems about right though.
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Is anyone fishing Lake Marie yet? How about Mineola Bay on the Fox? If so, are you catching anything? I have been out once this season on Pistakee Lake. We were out on the Monday after New Year's. Didn't do too bad, 3 crappie and a bunch of bluegill one over 9 inches.
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Went to Mautinos today. The main lake had about 6 on it. Though we didn't have much luck. My brother and i caught 6 little gills. Gonna try tomorrow at the hennipen canal and maybe a little private pond.
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Anyone been out in Central Il.? Gonna try and hit some local farm ponds today. If I do, I'll post ice conditions here later. According to the forecast, looks like we may make some good, lasting ice finally(of course, how many times have you heard/seen posted for that this year in Il., huh!).
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Finally... some good news! :) I check one of my favorite lakes in the Lacon area to day, there was 6" of ice thoughout the entire lake. I only had a few minutes to fish though. There were a couple of Large lakes that weren't even closed yet, but most small ones are closed and appear to be pretty safe. ;D
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Illinois
the lakes are pretty good there is still some open water on Marie where the flow is. They have been getting some nice eyes thru the ice on Marie.
The south end of Pistakee has been produceing so have fun. Even with the cold watch out for some holes that may not be very thick.
Bob
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any word of channel lake?hey ILLINOIS i to was out there that day. before sunup to about 3:00.i got 24 nice gills and 4 keeper crappies (the crappies were deeper). but my buddie who i was with stayed in the shallows kept 47 nice gills. all were on spikes andhe used a white demon and i used the ever so faithful MARMOOSKA. last time out and itching BADLY.ill be somewhere up there this weekend.
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Small lakes near peoria had 6 inches of ice this week. Caught 25 small bluegill, thew them all back. Anyone been iin Banner Marsh yet?? I may try the east side this weekend for crappie toph2o
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toph2o---
check your PM's.
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For once I do not have to work on Saturday, and I was curious if anyone wanted a fishing partner. Would love to go up to the Chain, as I have never fished it before. I have been icefishing for 2 years now, and can always use a few more tricks in my bag. I have a two man portable and a heater as well.....Thanks for any replys.
Dan
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Rangerdave and zaraspooker
There is plenty of ice on the chain about 10" or better. There are plenty of places to fish but watch out for the dark spots they aren't as thick and every lake has them usually where there is a current or spring.
Let me know what you want to fish for and I can give you ideas where to go. I am leaveing sunday for the New York Trap attack so I will be loading everything I need sat. I can possibly meet you somewhere and give you some ideas just message me and I will be glad to help.
I was on Lake Catherine yesterday and took home 12 nice gills and crappies. They were burried in the weeds and if you didn't get the jig through the weeds you didn't catch any fish. On some lakes they are getting white bass in 20' to 30fow. Crappies in about 18fow and gills 4 to 8 fow.
The evening and early morning bite in some lakes can produce some nice walleye's. Remember that the walleye's on the chain have to be 14 to 18" to keep and you can have 2 that size and 1 over 24".
Bob
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Anyone been out on Weldon Springs? I was thinking of making the drive tomorrow if there's some ice.
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KDXClark, Haven't been there this year. If you get over there Let us know how the lake is doing. I gotta work tomorrow, but plan to get out somewhere Sun. Where abouts are you located?
Good luck out there, I'll be checking back tomorrow evening.
Lonzo
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I'm on call this weekend, but if I get a chance, I'll check it out. I moved down to the Decatur area a few years back and haven't seen much ice since.
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Some open water due to the geese, but 5in on Eureka Lake Sat 22Jan'05. Few fish though. . .
Paul
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fewer today, p. fish that is....
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fewer today, p. fish that is....
Blufloyd, where are you fishing at? Here in Illinois?
Lonzo
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eureka mazonia evergreen fox chain and mostly thru the ice right now.
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Hey guys i've been in joliet (yarg !)for 2 weeks how is the ice back home in the fox chain area ? I'm iching to get back home and go fishing.
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quick report here from Central IL.-Fished farm pond with 6" of good ice! What a great day-didn't catch a whole lot-they were biting ,though(I'm just very rusty at setting the hook!)-but that wasn't the point, just nice to be out finally-spent almost entire day with the hut open-can't remember the last time I did that-I ususally like it closed, even when it's 30 degrees out. Caught a nice crappie on a shrimpo, and had a major strike on a minnow spoon with nothing on it. Still caught most my fish on fatboys and genz worms in chartreuse tipped with waxies.