New member, Rockford area, trip advice?

[CWG]

Hi all, I've had great luck in the past sharing info and meeting people on other state-specific hunting forums and was glad to find one to join this year related to ice fishing.

I'm originally from the Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates area but now living in Rockford. Pierce Lake in Rock Cut State Park is my open water home lake but I haven't tried it much through the ice.

Being a borderline state for keeping lakes frozen I could see the Illinois forum not getting as much action as Wis/Minn/Mich but it does mean the majority of fishing trips north of Madison aren't going to be day trips which might provide info or opinions more relevant to an Illini.

So this winter I'm guiding three newbies from Indiana, two being Illinois transplants, one of which is my brother, on a trip and trying to make their first ice trip skunk-free. If you had to plan a 3-4 day cabin-based trip to highlight this season and ensure fish, not necessarily trophies, where would you go?

Thanks for any advice, guys.

[Hoosier]

With having family in the Rockford area and hearing the lack of ice there and about everywhere in the "borderline" area. Id say find a hotel somewhere close to a Long John Silvers would be a nonskunk bet 

[cubanice27]

twin lakes, geneva, delavan, green bay or milwaukee.

[boscolab]

Castle Rock, Pentwell or Koshkonong in WI are good places. They are all big bodies of water. You can drive on all three if the ice is thick enough.The Madison chain ( Mendota, Monona, Wabesa, Kegansa, upper/lowerMud) is also great but you can not drive on ice unless you have floats and weigh less than XX.  Dane county rules I guess.

    In Illinois there are not too many cabin rentals on lakes. Most lakes are state parks. But, if you stay in Illinois, Shabbona is the better option. Fox chain next. If you go south a bit near Bloomington, there is Evergreen, Dawson, and lake Bloomington. Go west and you can do the Mississippi river backwaters. A small lake in northwest Illinois is Lake Le-Au-qua-na. Small state park with small lake. It has pike.

Hope this helps.

[CWG]

Thanks for the suggestions, cubanice.

I've tried Delavan on a few day trips and no one in the west bays were having much luck.

I've always had my best trips in wisconsin north of Eau Claire but that's a 5 he drive on top of my guests already driving 5 hours to Rockford. In the next few weeks I'm planning to check out some of the Madison chain.

I've spent some time on castle rock, koshkonong isn't my favorite type of ice fishing being so shallow. I was told Shabbona is closed to fishing at 5pm even if i rent a cabin. I've also heard Mississippi backwaters can be finicky with the river levels.  I hadn't considered lake Bloomington, thanks boscolab!

Obviously I'm not looking for anyone's crappie-limiting hot spots or trophies, just a favorite lake that isn't feast or famine.

Illinoisicer, Angler's edge in Rockford has bait, but it's not convenient coming from I90. There is a concession/bait building you can call after a quick google search.  Sorry I couldn't get the info to you sooner, gmail put the alert in spam. I'm always up for a day trip, later in the season I may have beta to share.

[toadhunter2]

I second petenwell or castle rock or even fox lake and if you don't want to travel that far you could make 2-3 daily trips the fox chain,Mississippi pool 13 and shabbo are only an hour away from you plus you have delevan,Geneva and lake como an hour north of the cheese curtain

[boscolab]

Mendota was my favorite lake on the madison chain. I parked at Governors point, walked the mile to the perch grounds and dropped 60-70 ft of line down the hole. Swish rod waters I am told. I use a regular medium rod with 4 lb fireline Chrystal and sweedish pimples tipped with meat. There is a health pike population too.  Monona Bay is a popular destination as well.

Good luck and hope to read a report in the coming weeks.

[boscolab]

I will throw one more out there, mainly because I will be going up there sometime this season.

Lake Poygan and the Wolf river chain.....

[toadhunter2]

You could also go to lake wi there are some nice motels there and if it is slow there Masson lake and crystel lake are close by as back up plans