Shab - what are you throwing this time of year

[billebob5]

Hello
Just a curious question. As I'm tying up rods for an outing tomorrow I'm left wondering what you guys would throw this time of year for a multi-species outing at good old Shabbona?

I'll bite first - I have two/three set ups for live bait. Two slip bobbers and one leadhead that I'll probably use for walleye (the slips for Crappie, primarily).

I'll have a rod rigged with a husky jerk.
I'll have a rod rigged with a shad rap or similar body bait.
I'll have a rod with a chatter.
I'll likely have a rod with a swim bait, more than likely a Keitech 4".

What am I missing?

Keeping in mind tomorrow will be 55 degrees and probably windy/overcast.

I'm thinking about Rattle Traps, squarebills, Mepps #4 or 5.

Anything else?

[Aux Pleins]

I've been crushing bass with a loud yellow square bill crank. With a fast retrieve too. All that while water temps have fallen fast. Water is getting more stained as the weeds die off. Give it a shot. You might have a good day.

[billebob5]

Interesting. Was thinking orange or black. Or shad color. Yellow would have been my last guess.

[Aux Pleins]

Yea I don't know why I emphasized the color on that comment.
I honestly am not a huge believer in color making the difference. But if water is really stained I can see dark colors helping a tad.

So I caught around 30 bass on Monday, water temps 58-60. It was absolutely bonkers. A few back to back cast catches. A lot of fish 14-15inches. Caught 4 over 18". A 20" and 21" were highlights. 21" was my biggest bass ever probably. That fish was pushing 6lbs. I didnt have a scale but I had a bump board. I'll get all the pictures together and post an October report as we get close to the end of the month. I think I've targeted bass 4 times in the last 2 weeks and it's been my best bite since the spring, far exceeding all my summer bass outings.

[billebob5]

Very nice

[mike son]

The kitchen sink!

[billebob5]

The kitchen sink!

dats the plan

[mike son]

Spinnerbaits, chatterbait, squarebill if its windy, anything windblown. There were not a lot of weeds relatively speaking imo over the summer so maybe try to find green weeds. You can try to find the shad with electronics and maybe run into multispecies. I'd also fish shallow expecting the bass to move up. Not sure what kinda of clarity they have now but I cant imagine it's great. I'd fish white or black, loud and fast. Maybe pitch black jigs or plastics at wood in the nmz. I fish bass fwiw. Good luck and I'd like to hear how you do out there.

[billebob5]

planning on starting out for craps or eyes on structure and then depending on the day move into the trees or nmz and cast for whatever hits. we'll see. I need to launch the boat solo for the first time so let's hope I don't sink it.

[HEDDONFROG]

Everyone else has covered what I’d throw and Mike fishes there a lot so all I can say is good luck and hope you have a good time

[Woohoodude11]

Jesus Aux, you pullin those numbers on the river?

[Aux Pleins]

Jesus Aux, you pullin those numbers on the river?

Yea, flooded portions of DPR lake, Lake Osprey backwaters of the river. My last outing I had my son come with because I knew he would be able to reel a few dink bass in. We ended up having my best day all year, quality wise.

[billebob5]

I’m man enough to admit defeat. Not one fish. I have a love hate relationship with shab. I hate it so much I might go back tomorrow. Marked So God Damn Many fish. Could not get any to commit. Chased bass and musky busting shad. Nope. Battled birds nests all morning. BEAUTIFUL day out there. I’m torn between going to da chain and going back to Shab. Hour vs 90 minutes either day. Might test my luck on channel or Marie. Decisions, decisions

[cletedius]

planning on starting out for craps or eyes on structure and then depending on the day move into the trees or nmz and cast for whatever hits.

Marked So God Damn Many fish. Could not get any to commit.

My suggestion:

20191017_220839-1.jpg

A 3" or 4" on an 1/8 head on a light spinning setup. Can bump it up to 1/4oz in deeper water or strong wind/current. Brand of plastic & specific color isnt critical, IMO. Let it swim along the bottom (or structure) on a semi-slack line& set the hook on the slightest tick!

Not sexy, but when bites become difficult to get this simple presentation quite often gets the ball rolling for me, particularly when "multi-species'ing".

[billebob5]

I actually did something similar. 4 inch gulp. Nada. It’s just a tough fishery and I’ll admit I’m not that good either. Lol. It’s ok. Better than being behind a desk all day. Oh, and good bourbon makes one forget a bad day fishing expeditiously.

[mike son]

Shabbona sucks 2019 edition! Ha, that's too bad. The chief's curse strikes again. Good luck wherever you head to today.

[Lip_Yanker]

300 acre lake with 17000000 boats per season, plus shore fishermen all year long and ice fishing in the winter. No pressure there! Are any of us really surprised the bite can be almost non existent at Shabb on occasion? lol

I haven't been to Shabb in a few years, as it seemed there were more frustrating times than not for the lack of bite. Plus there seemed to be an increasing number of idiots in rental boats that were just plain rude and obnoxious. Oh well.


.

[RonG]

This chemical softener cleaner will not disappoint you by leaving stains of coloring the water in the softener. The sinks and the tubs where you can see the rust stains, it will remove them efficiently. https://bestwatersoftenersystem.com/best-water-softener-cleaner/ Moreover, the Pro Rust out works impressively to provide the ultimate efficiency and effectiveness while cleaning the contaminants from the resin. This liquid cleaner is a great quality, environment -friendly softener cleaner, that can provide you the perfect service as promised.

no substance could ever clean the stains on your teeth or the stains in your shorts, jamsen1

[billebob5]

Missed you Ron

[Phil6]

Shabbona sucks 2019 edition! Ha, that's too bad. The chief's curse strikes again. Good luck wherever you head to today.

Went for the first time this summer, had a boat out there and managed to skunk w/ 2 other guys. There must have been 50 other boats out there and only 1 boat we talked to had caught a gill. Crazy how off the bite was.

[mike son]

Shabbona sucks 2019 edition! Ha, that's too bad. The chief's curse strikes again. Good luck wherever you head to today.

Went for the first time this summer, had a boat out there and managed to skunk w/ 2 other guys. There must have been 50 other boats out there and only 1 boat we talked to had caught a gill. Crazy how off the bite was.

Yea Dave told me. He said he'd give me your number or vice versa to give you some pointers and he never did lol. Iirc I was going out of town that weekend and into spotty cell service tho

[jamesmarkk]

Similarly, if you know that water is very important then you must use a water softener. World water is very hard which causes in the world almost 85% of peoples drinks hard water that's why we need the best water softener. Source

[jmdog2003]

^ Cool, if there's one thing that my life policy dictates, it's to take advice on water softeners from a guy on a fishing forum with one post.

[Rambler]

Similarly, if you know that water is very important then you must use a water softener. World water is very hard which causes in the world almost 85% of peoples drinks hard water that's why we need the best water softener. Source

What an asshole.

[RonG]

Shabonna is comprised of hard water and you are not going to be able to change that. Spending money to soften water is stupid. There's a reason most of the major breweries are located where they are--loads and loads of hard water.

waterboarding.jpg

[Rambler]

Shabonna is comprised of hard water and you are not going to be able to change that. Spending money to soften water is stupid. There's a reason most of the major breweries are located where they are--loads and loads of hard water.

Ron - just priceless. Thanks for the laugh.

[jamesmarkk]

If you are worried about old technology then today I give a new technology. I tell about the best hoverboard for kids because it is the latest technology and specially created for kids. You take for kids and enjoy life.

[SmalliesNEyes]

Why don't you test one out while you ride it off a cliff?

[RonG]

If you are worried about old technology then today I give a new technology. I tell about the best hoverboard for kids because it is the latest technology and specially created for kids. You take for kids and enjoy life.

Shabonna is closed. If I were to sneak in, does your hoverboard work on the water as an airboat? Any rod holders included? Is it best cleaned with hard or soft water?

[Rambler]

Stop it Ron - you're killing me.

[RonG]

Stop it Ron - you're killing me.

As I typed those words, it brought back memories of my nemesis, Big Saw. I reminded myself of him trying to be funny like him asking if baby smallmouth eyes are a good bait. If I have stumbled into channeling Big Saw, this is a sad, sad day.

[vman01]

RonG as "Big Saw" Coming to a thread near you. Like a Rocky movie- do we really need one more?