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Cal Sag IHSA Tourney help

472 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  badger75
On May 4 I will be coaching/driving for our high school (Wheaton Warrenville South) for the IHSA Sectional tournament. The last 2 years we were on Busse and I was very confident on that body of water and we were fortunate to qualify for the state championship both years.

This year we got thrown a curveball being put on the Cal Sag, with the launch point being Worth. I was initially excited figuring we would lock to Lake Calumet, which I have heard great things about. Unfortunately our boundary limitations are the confluence to the west and Acme Bend to the east (just a little ways into Little Calumet River). Online information is scarce and I'm not sure if I will get a chance to prefish it.

With that said, if anyone has any starting points for us (baits, locations, patterns, etc) it would be much appreciated. There used to be a little discussion on here about that area but it has been a long time since anyone posted on it. Please feel free to send me a PM if you have any suggestions/tips.

Thanks
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Sounds tough just a long straight basin of slow moving water.
Never fished it but did take a boat ride up from the Worth launch all the way to Lake Michigan. Do remember seeing plenty of boat docks to fish where the Little Calumet merges. There are also several rainwater runoffs which dump in and may be worth checking out. There is a water aeration park in Blue Island at Western Ave. that may have promise. Man I wish there was a bass club when I was in high school back in the 70’s. Good luck.
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Heck of a fun tournament today. We limited in first hour and half. Went dark for several hours, then culled 4 fish in the last 2 hours. Last upgrade was a 130 before making a 10 mile run back to launch with 3 minutes to spare. Turned out to be the difference maker.

They made a last minute decision to let us fish all the way up to the lock. What a difference in water clarity as we could see about 5 feet down near the locks and only about 6 inches down at the Worth Launch

Another excellent year so far for the Wheaton Warrenville South bass team. Our other boat won the Conference Championship last week and my boat took 3rd. On Sunday my boat won the 33 boat Shabbona Spring Classic and today another Sectional Championship.

This year I took my favorite senior Brandon C., who is the only guy I have ever fished with that throws a jerkbait better then me. The kid can flat out fish. I also took a freshman Nathan who today was being outfished by Brandon at least 15-0 through mid day. He persevered and ended up sticking our biggest fish as well as the final difference making cull.

On to state we go!

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Never fished it but did take a boat ride up from the Worth launch all the way to Lake Michigan. Do remember seeing plenty of boat docks to fish where the Little Calumet merges. There are also several rainwater runoffs which dump in and may be worth checking out. There is a water aeration park in Blue Island at Western Ave. that may have promise. Man I wish there was a bass club when I was in high school back in the 70’s. Good luck.
Did they let the fish go there at Worth.I hope not have seen dead fish in a couple of days at Alsip after a tournery
Yes, all released at Worth launch. I believe there was 57 fish total weighed.
Could not help but to go back to Shabs after all the walleye and stripers during the bass tourny. Got out at 730 and the first hour was insane until the sun got a little too high. Wish I would have been out there at first light.

19 eyes, 5 stripers, 1 lonely bass in about 2.5 hours, all casting jerkbaits. Definelty putting spring time Shabbona back in the rotation.

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19 eyes, 5 stripers, 1 lonely bass in about 2.5 hours
Yooo, what?!?!?! Haha. Good stuff, Matt!
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Mike, it was crazy out there. Every one was only between 14-17 inches, so no legals, but lots of fun. They are just chewing in the dirty shallow water.

Wanted to hit Heidecke today, but had to stay late at work. Maybe tomorrow in the rain. The water temps should be about right for my trolling pattern to take off.
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Matt - so great of you to donate your time and talent. Way to go.
Good luck at state.
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