Been all over Turtlehead, Arrowhead, Tempier and Horsetail of late. Fishing much harder this year. Water temps seem OK, water color and levels OK. Wind difficult. Few bass at Turtlehead, bluegill and odd Crappie. Arrowhead really hard, odd bass and bluegill. Horsetail under pressure, plenty of bluegill, odd bass, two large carp 10lbs +. Tempier been the most consistent. Bluegill, white bass, plenty of cats, bullheads and channel, plenty of carp. Cats are coming out better this year; chopped worms and lobworm been awesome. Corn has been catching bluegill, big at that, and some carp. Caught largemouth and some white bass in the deeper part of the lake off the peninsular. 8-12 feet of water, stony bottom, little weed. Anybody else catching at this lakes? Have not seen many anglers this past three months.
Turtlehead, Arrowhead, Tempier, Horsetail
Wolfnight
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Been all over Turtlehead, Arrowhead, Tempier and Horsetail of late. Fishing much harder this year. Water temps seem OK, water color and levels OK. Wind difficult. Few bass at Turtlehead, bluegill and odd Crappie. Arrowhead really hard, odd bass and bluegill. Horsetail under pressure, plenty of bluegill, odd bass, two large carp 10lbs +. Tempier been the most consistent. Bluegill, white bass, plenty of cats, bullheads and channel, plenty of carp. Cats are coming out better this year; chopped worms and lobworm been awesome. Corn has been catching bluegill, big at that, and some carp. Caught largemouth and some white bass in the deeper part of the lake off the peninsular. 8-12 feet of water, stony bottom, little weed. Anybody else catching at this lakes? Have not seen many anglers this past three months.
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Good post there. Welcome to the site. Most members fish further north so we don't see barely any posts from those lakes. Glad to see they aren't fished out. Tampier has always interested me but can't say I've fished it all that much. I didn't know there were white bass in there. I've heard crappie and walleye but with the shad population it's a tough fishery. I've iced it a couple times but with no results. Anyway thanks for posting.
I've tried tamper and arrowhead a few times over the past two years and didn't have any success. I live nearby and would love for these lakes to be solid fisheries, but I typically find it worth my time to drive farther away for better waters than to spend my morning or afternoon at one of these southwest forest preserves getting skunked. I'm not sure if it's an issue of them being over fished or under stocked. Probably a little of both.
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Thank you gentleman for your replies and advice. Words of wisdom from those in the know! My problem is time; I live very close to the Southwest Forest Preserves which means a 10 minute car ride and me on the bank fishing within 30 minutes. I have fished the DPR at Columbia Woods and had some success, but river flows, color and time of year have to be right to get the best results I have found. I have tried Joe's Pond, Maple, Saganashkee, the Sag Quarries and Papoose the past 15 years. In the early days these were good. I agree over fished and under stocked is an issue. I also believe the economy meant folks took everything home. I always catch and return. 5lbs 14 oz largemouth my best fish out of Horsetail in 2014. I have seen bigger in there. I guess I will have to try harder and figure out how to make the best of a declining fish pool! Thanks again, tight lines.
I've lived and fished in the same area all my life. The worst part of preserve fishing is closing time.
Just when things are starting to get interesting, you're looking at the parking lot for the official
announcement that you're no longer welcome. Aside from the posted above reasons, those two
bad winters we had killed a lot of fish and other wildlife. Bullfrog Lake was most notable as three
to five pound bass littered the shore line after ice out. Sag Quarry East was another hit hard in 2014.
I've walked many shore lines then, and since, and the numbers will come back eventually. I'd love to
fish Tampier after sunset. There are many big fish in there from netting samples.
Just when things are starting to get interesting, you're looking at the parking lot for the official
announcement that you're no longer welcome. Aside from the posted above reasons, those two
bad winters we had killed a lot of fish and other wildlife. Bullfrog Lake was most notable as three
to five pound bass littered the shore line after ice out. Sag Quarry East was another hit hard in 2014.
I've walked many shore lines then, and since, and the numbers will come back eventually. I'd love to
fish Tampier after sunset. There are many big fish in there from netting samples.
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Fished Tempier yesterday, SSW wind, speeds up to 12mph. Water temp around 54. Fished in one place, long pole, 13m with worm and corn. Had 25 catfish, mainly channel, biggest 1lb 8oz,1 largemouth, 14 inches, three small white bass, 4 carp. Got smashed by something very big. Total fish weight 25lbs 7oz. All fish were returned alive unharmed (I always catch and release). Very interesting session. Could not catch on a single worm or two grains of corn, but when I cocktailed with both on the hook the fish responded. Gonna try the far end of the lake tomorrow. Fish are definitely moving around.
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Been trying hard at Tampier. Fish definitely moving into the deep water. Still catching cats, carp, small white bass and Crappie shore fishing at both ends of the lake. Worms and corn. Water temperature now falling away. Fish seem to be tightly shoaled, I catch a few then they disperse, then return later. Magical time of the year for me being in nature. Less people, less pressure. I will fish Tempier until it's freezes. Still hoping for a special day but that is the joy of fishing. Tight lines everyone.
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Agreed, if you are willing to stick it out into November the crowds go away and there is the chance you will land a big fat mama. Nice to see numbers on the cats I wonder if they are due to stockings? I'm just waiting on that wind from the south day pushing fish into the shallows. I just hope we see some more warm weather and not this 40s stuff the rest of Nov.
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Biggest cat me ever had was 5lb, 3 years ago, very old and scabby fish. Fished Tempier again today. All on my own, aside from Sheriff Joe. Wonderful. Wind off my back, sat down and caught 5 cats only, biggest just over 1lb. Water temp a very cold 40. Fished deeper water from the shore on the peninsular. About 13ft. Water level very high after rain. Could not believe the pull from right to left, almost like the DPR in flow. I could trot my worm and corn! Will do Tempier again on Friday.
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Fished Tempier again today. Water level down 6 inches. Water temp 41 (up 1 on Wed), no draw off, SSW wind over my left shoulder, water gin clear and loads of Comorants above. Weather reached 61. Got skunked! Never had a bite. I did hook something just before sunset, big cat I think but it smashed me. Never saw the bite! I wonder if the birds spooked the fish, forcing them to tightly shoal up in the middle of the lake. Comorants made several dives, taking some big fish. Cannot believe I caught nothing, but guess that is the fun of fishing! Will try again the weekend.
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Tried Tempier again Tuesday in the deep water off the peninsular. Weather temp 58 degrees, water temp up to 44 degrees. SW to WSW wind 11-14 mph although the wind got up mid afternoon. Overcast. No comerants. Caught two carp, one cat, one largemouth (10 inches), one Crappie. BUT I fished terrible. Missed loads of bites. Must be fatigue! Point is the fish are there, one always knew they were there. Issue came down to bait presentation. Quite a strong right to left flow, if you held the bait back, fish took an interest, running through nothing.
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Sweetcorn, chopped worms, lobworm. Sweetcorn best as water was gin clear. I have always caught even at 20 below with sweetcorn, whether at Tempier, Horsetail (at the deep end), Turtlehead or Papoose. Gonna try Tempier again the weekend, especially if water temps continue to rise.
Fished Arrowhead on the 5th last week for about 2hrs with nightcrawler and slip bobber just dropping in the weed lines. Got 4 bass from about 1 1/2 to 3lbs. Relatively new to fishing in this country but this leads me to believe that the lake may be promosing come spring.
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Fished Turtlehead today for five hours. Wind S to SW @ 9 mph. 36 air temp, overcast with some snow - water temperature 42.5, slightly up on Sunday. I have not seen TH this low for at least two years, the drains must be completely clear. Trees are out of the water again and the bank-line must be 12-15 feet below its highest. All looks really good. Now onto the fishing. Fished far end of lake, very pleasant. Fished pole and lob-worm, over chopped trout worm. Had nothing for two hours, then had three bites in as many minutes. Landed one large-mouth, 1lbs 10 oz, an immaculately conditioned fish which I returned to catch another day. Lost one other bass which was bigger. After that no more bites for the rest of the session. Still not been skunked yet! Gonna try Arrowhead later this week with worms and spikes. Great to be out again.
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