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Phil6

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Greetings all,

How's everyone doing? This heat wave is madness.

I've recently gotten back into fishing now that I'm out of school and have downtime when I'm not working. It started a couple weeks ago when my close friends and I went to Virginia and fished the Shenandoah River. Caught and fried some good sized bluegill, it was a fun experience teaching myself how to fillet them properly. I also caught my first (and only) bass (Dinky Largemouth, ~10in) which was also a great experience since that's what I was looking for. I bought a telescopic rod for the flight and a Pflueger president reel, so now I'm trying to put it to work back home.

I live very close to Lake Arlington and have fished it multiple (~7) times with no luck, not counting bluegill, on both kayak and shore.
I went to Busse twice, shore and boat with not a single bite, besides picking off some shore bluegill.
I've also fished a few other local ponds like Buffalo Creek prairie preserve with no luck.

Last week I got my first IL non-bluegill catch, what a relief; I was starting to lose hope! I caught a 6in crappie in a "stocked" private apartment complex pond. It may not be much, but its my first crappie so I cant complain.

Image


I would love to hear any and all advice. I've been reading posts and forums, watching lots of youtube videos etc. just trying to get the hang of things but I'm clearly still struggling pretty hard.

I've been trying a few different types of lures (Senkos, top waters, spinners, chatters, craw, etc) with no luck. Any good recs for this time of year? Hard to find clear water around here.
Spinning Rod recommendations for newbie? Right now I'm using a 7ft telescopic Chinese rod. It was great for flying but now I need something real.
Are there any solid ponds/lakes near by? You can DM if you don't want to blow up your spot, I'm willing to travel 30-40min need be, but local makes it a bit easier. I just really want to land something over 2lbs!

I'm excited to join the community; Its nice to find a local fishing board. Hopefully it will be a valuable asset on my dive into the fishing world,
Thanks for reading
 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
Lagoon Local said:
Hi Phi6

If you let us know what area you're located, I'm sure someone will be able to assist you :)
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Arlington Heights/Prospect/Wheeling/Buffalo Grove area. I live right across the street from Lake Arlington. Thanks!
 
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#4 ·
Late in the season to get a pass there, but I've had some decent luck Twin Lakes in Palatine near you. Like I said though, unfortunately its a pay lake. Most of my work is done in the Lake County forest preserves though.

The lakes you mentioned are TOUGH sells for shore fishermen. The only thing I had luck in Lake Arlington with was catfish in early April. I live in Schaumburg 3 miles from Busse and avoid it (though I caught a Muskie right outside of there earlier this year!).

As for gear, you're gonna hafta be a little more specific. You're gonna get ranges from Shakespeares to Daiwas. My spinning rod is a Favorite Defender. I also got the matching reel, I forget the ratios and whatnot. It gets the job done and the whole setup ran me $160 shipped. They're starting to put out more 2 piece setups as well if portability is a factor. Take a look into em, if you're watching YouTube videos you've probably seen the Googan guys, they all use Favorite rods.

Welcome to you and good luck!

http://www.favoriteusa.com/
Link to Favorite!
 
#5 ·
Welcome, Phil!

May be worth trying the Des Plaines River since you're not too far away. Great opportunity for pike and bass. Not sure what type of line you fish now, but I like to throw braid (I use 40lb) when on the river, but mono will work. Just put a short leader (steel probably the cheapest/easiest) on so you don't have your line break on some teeth. If you never handled a pike, just watch for the teeth. Can grab them by the gill plate or there are lip grippers that can be used that make it easy. Just YouTube some videos for handling fish by the gill plate if unsure (I was previously). They're a really fun, aggressive game fish that is typically in feeding frenzy mode this time of year.

I haven't fished the water by you in some time, but you can enter at multiple places. Just put a 3/8 oz spinner bait on there and throw towards laydowns, shaded spots (if super hot like it has been) and along weed lines. I'd recommend fishing it via Kayak if doing the DPR (since you said you had one). If you don't mind a little drive, you can hit the areas a little more north of you on the DPR. That's where I do a fair amount of launches when I do the DPR. Rt. 60 canoe launch, Oak Springs Rd. Canoe launch, Independence Grove, Gowe Park in Gurnee to name a few. Lots of options! Best of luck out there.

PS: You're crappie picture is massive and should be resized :shock: Looking forward to seeing it when it's smaller & fits on screen.
 
#6 ·
Can also get on the DPR easily at Allison Woods in Glenview and via Big Bend lake spillway. Nice thing is you can unload within feet of the water at Big Bend and maybe 75-100 feet at Allison.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Woohoodude11 said:
Late in the season to get a pass there, but I've had some decent luck Twin Lakes in Palatine near you. Like I said though, unfortunately its a pay lake. Most of my work is done in the Lake County forest preserves though.

As for gear, you're gonna hafta be a little more specific.
Click to expand...
Is the catching pretty good at twin? might be worth it to pay the $5 just to check it out

Rod wise, not really sure what I should be looking for. Something I can catch bass and similar sized fish, one piece/two piece doesnt really matter to me. Ideally less than $50 I would say. I was thinking maybe an ugly stik since I'm always hearing about them and they seem bombproof
 
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Discussion starter · #8 ·
Scipio24 said:
PS: You're crappie picture is massive and should be resized :shock: Looking forward to seeing it when it's smaller & fits on screen.
Click to expand...
Wish it had been that big in real life! :roll:
Not sure why that happened, should be all good now.

Thanks for the reply, I think it would be a blast to try and reel in some pike, might look into that a little more!
 
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#9 ·
For a spinning rod you should check out a Fenwick Silverhawk II at Cableas. They're still on sale for 59.95. I got 1 a month or so ago and it's really quite good. Great action, very sensitive. I have a Pflueger President XT on it & it's an excellent pairing.
 
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#10 ·
Phil6 said:
Is the catching pretty good at twin? might be worth it to pay the $5 just to check it out
Click to expand...
In 2 trips there this year I've caught 3 nice sized bass, including my weak PB (2 lbs. 11 oz.). It is a high-pressured body of water but that's not much different from any lake/pond in our area. I haven't been there in over a month so I was thinking of stopping by after work tomorrow (nice, because you don't need to leave at sunset like forest preserve lakes/ponds). There's some beasts in there, ignore the signs about Muskie and smallies because I've been told they've run their course and probably died off. Last time they shocked the lake (early June) They came up with none. I've had the best luck staying off the piers due to the fact everyone that fishes uses em and I think the fish know it.

As for the rod, to each his own. I've had an Ug stick and broke it, something you shouldn't be able to do. My buddy has one, and he's caught beasts on it. They end up being too "floppy" for me. I got my gf a Lew's "American Hero" combo at Dick's for 35 bucks and she likes it.
 
#12 ·
To Phil6, Seeing as how I have recently moved out of "ill and noise" to the beautiful state of Utah (just southwest of Mt. Nebo), and will no longer be fishing there I guess I can give some advice on fishing Lake Arlington.
I used to fish there a real lot as I too used to live just up the street, Also please be advised I haven't fished there in over a year as My work kept me quite busy, also please be advised that some of my previous posts on the lake Arlington page of this site garnered many negative responses from some people who misinterpreted my what was supposed to be advice/requests to please honor the catch and release policy at this little jewel of a lake so as to keep it the gem that it is.
Anywho, I had great luck here and actually have caught both in quantity and quality my own PB, Illinois wise anyway, by using a much maligned
UglyStick 5"6" 2 piece UL rod with a Pflueger President UL reel spooled w/4LB test mono using a white 1/8 oz. Rooster tail.
I usually started at the northwest corner of the finger past the metal gate thingy in the water where the turtles hang out, walking quietly and fan casting the whole shoreline from that point all the way around the lake in a clockwise direction, using a kind of herky-jerky retrieve just fast enough to keep the spinner blade turning, the hits always came on the stop of said herky-jerky retrieve, so be ready. Pay special attention to the boat ramp thing on the north shoreline in about the middle of said shoreline, wade out a bit (just over ankle deep w/waterproof Keens) and hit the area on either side of the built up ramp area, always got some really good ones there, the riprap farther along that area to the east was always productive also, as well as the corner where the overflow is though it is snag city there, also there is a deep hole on the east shoreline about 1/3 of the way from the southeast corner where the wipers stack up especially when the wind is blowing hard in your face as you look westward. Again, the simple white roostertail has always outfished everybody else there I ever saw, (I carry miniature binoculars in my shoulder tackle bag!). Many people asked what my bait was but I never told anybody before...........
Walk the whole shoreline, fancast thoroughly, fish according to what the fish want, (if it's cold, seek warm areas, rocks/shallows, etc., if hot seek cooler shade/quick access from cool water to the shallow water where the little baitfish hang, etc. etc.)
I know right now as I write this that some body will be quick with some wise acre retort or some such, That just seems to be the norm for illiniosians and especially on this website , whatever, I am telling you this because I fished here a real lot and it was my own little home lake and I caught a lot of nice fish, nothing super huge, but enough to make my drag sing and my wrist hurt at the end of the day in a good way...........
several LMB, 2-3 pounders (yes, actually), and a lot of wipers (Hybrid striped bass), big giant shad(10-12"), and a lot of bluegill.
I always carried my water bottle, my Walkman w/headphones, and my aforementioned shoulder carried tackle bag, only occasionally changing to a different color (Black) mister twister safety pin style 1/8 ounce just to locate if things got slow, but I always came back to the white roostertail.
I fished all over the country and I watch all the shows and stuff, but at least for this little lake, rain or shine (actually I like fishing this better when it's rainy, windy and cold, less people!) cloudy or bright sun, low pressure, high pressure, whatever, this lake isn't Lake Norfork, it doesn't seem to make a difference like that.
Good Luck, Be Patient, walk quietly, but work all the way around the lake, fan cast diligently, and please please, catch and RELEASE!
 
#13 ·
nerf, I think you're okay. I don't think anyone on this board fishes there any longer haha. Are you the one that posted the pic with the Wipers? I guess I can be not so lazy and check myself.

BTW, I'll be in your neck of the woods in a couple days (Moab, UT)
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Nerf, thank you for the in depth guide for Lake Arlington. Not sure if youre aware of this but we got a grant for the lake and there should be a fishing pier put in for next year if all goes to plan (Im sure it'll get delayed for a couple years knowing IL :lol: ) I'll take your advice next time I go, I've been pretty stationary so far.

Woohoodude11 said:
Hey Phil, hope you didnt waste your time at twin lakes. The water conditions are abysmal!
Click to expand...
Fished friday and got skunked, but I ended up having a great Saturday! Started around 7am with my good friend (equally inexperienced, but just as hungry to fish) at some nearby holes that we heard/read about and I had my best IL day so far! Caught 3 tiny (>12in) LMB and put a serious hurting on some panfish when it got slow. It was a much needed confidence boost! I'll throw a couple pics up later today
 
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#16 ·
Yeah I wouldn't go to Twin Lakes til mid/end of fall. I typed that while walking to my car from the lake so it didn't have much info. The water looks like pea soup, I'm guessing because all the weeds are dying. Also, when I pulled weeds off of my lure they were incredibly warm. Warm water doesn't hold dissolved oxygen well. I used noisy baits, black/blue baits, you name it and I didn't get a single bite in the 2 and a half hours I was there.

Good to hear you got some action in. Hope you can get some more serious stuff before the end of the season.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
What a weekend!

Ordered and received an ugly stik (7ft mh) on Sunday and I'm not a fan of it. The grip bothers me (its like holding a summer sausage), the name "ugly stick" is really fitting, and its a little stiff for my liking as well. I need another day or two with it before deciding if I'll return it and try something else. Hopefully amazon will provide me with a free return label.

Went Friday night with my buddy and caught no bass.
Went Saturday morning and caught ~7 large mouths! With a couple actually breaking 12". Biggest of the day was probably 15". Tons of panfish, too.
Went Sunday night and caught 2 small LMB at the same spot, one on the first cast, can't complain!

Been having a really hard time catching bass on anything but small plastics and live worms, most of the bass bites were while I was targeting large panfish on small hooks. Wish I could catch a toad on a hardbait already!

Really want to figure out what rod I'm going to buy but I'm starting to wonder if I should just wait till blackfriday/winter for better deals. Its killing me not having a go-to set up yet.

Might post some pics later so you guys can join me during my dive into fishing :wink:
 
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Discussion starter · #20 ·
I have been looking at the Fenwicks but they all seem to be ~$80+, do they drop in price often? The Silverhawk II looks like it could be a nice place to start but its $100 and I'd rather wait till its on sale again
 
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