Musky Fishing Shabbona Lake, IL 2024
B A S S E R reply :
I don't expect you guys to share your biggest hot spots but I am going to try and land my first musky this year and Shabbona is going to be one of the lakes I'm going to try. I figured down by the dam would be a good spot in the summer. Are there some colors that are specifically good for this lake? Any info you guys can give me would be greatly appreciated. You can PM me if you wish.
B A S S E R reply :
1. Indian Creek
2. Mouth Of Creek
3. Standing Trees
4. Stump Field
5. Beginning Of No Motor Zone
6. Artesian Well
7. Earthen Pier With Cribs
8. Campground Cribs 9. Junction Of Drainage Ditch & Creek Bed
10. Shale Rock
11. Submerged Foundations
12. North Cove
13. Rock Pile
14. Submerged Roadway
15. Submerged Bridge
16. Submerged Standing Trees
17. Drop Off With Standing Trees
18. Weed Bed
19. Northeast Bay
20. East Shoreline
21. Beginning Of Deep Trees
22. East Bay
23. Drop Off With Standing Trees 24. End Of Deep Trees
25. Submerged Buildings & Foundations
26. Submerged Brushpile
27. Southwest Bay
28. Standing Trees
29. Standing Trees
30. Spillway
J Francho reply :
318 acres shouldn't be too hard to cover and find fish.
B A S S E R reply :
Quote318 acres shouldn't be too hard to cover and find fish.
I know. But getting some pointers wouldnt be bad for a newbie
J Francho reply :
You need to start reading and learning about seasonal muskie patterns. Their movements are different than bass. Once you know that, you should have a reasonably good idea of where to start. Considering that muskie are the king of freshwater gamefish, there's quite a bit of info out there, and way more than a single forum post can cover.
Uncle Leo reply :
I never targeted Musky at Shabbona and have only Bass fished there a handful of times. I have seen Musky cruising the weed-line at the NE Bay Area 19 and the shoreline of the E Shoreline Area 20. If you do not mind travelling a bit, day trip, you might want to consider Webster Lake or the Barbee Chain in North Webster, Indiana. These are stocked lakes and have a good program. Your odds of hooking into one will be greatly improved.
zero limit reply :
This one came out of Shabbona last fall.
http://www.lake-link.com/anglers/gallery/photo.cfm?PhotoID=8322
J Francho reply :
Shame it left the lake on a rope.
MNGeorge reply :
QuoteShame it left the lake on a rope.
My thoughts exactly! :'( :'( :'(
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
This left on a rope as well same lake.
I mentioned in another post about the lack of C&R in this area. But its legal.
J Francho reply :
Big muskies are a treasure. These are the same guys that gripe about all the axe handles. True muskie anglers put trophies back.
Uncle Leo reply :
QuoteBig muskies are a treasure. These are the same guys that gripe about all the axe handles. True muskie anglers put trophies back.
Yep that is why on the above post I suggested Webster Lake and Barbee Chain due to good management and less meat fisherman. This is where true Musky Hunters in our area fish.
Maybe I should have recommended neither.
zero limit reply :
QuoteBig muskies are a treasure. These are the same guys that gripe about all the axe handles. True muskie anglers put trophies back.
Especially in Il. those fish could have been state records in a few years( 38.2)
Lucky Craft Man reply :
Actually, I would think keeping a muskie to mount would be more of a pain then getting a replica made. For a replica, all you need is a picture and 2 measurements and that's it. To keep a muskie, you have to drag the fish around on a rope back to the dock and somehow put this thing in your car and take it to a taxidermist (which if you are night fishing, good luck finding one open). Independent of killing a rare fish, keeping a muskie is something I seriously don't understand.
B A S S E R reply :
QuoteActually, I would think keeping a muskie to mount would be more of a pain then getting a replica made. For a replica, all you need is a picture and 2 measurements and that's it. To keep a muskie, you have to drag the fish around on a rope back to the dock and somehow put this thing in your car and take it to a taxidermist (which if you are night fishing, good luck finding one open). Independent of killing a rare fish, keeping a muskie is something I seriously don't understand.
I got in an argument the other day with one of my friends about keeping trophy muskies. He said he would keep and mount a 50" when I said I would release and do a replica. I do not understand the point of keeping muskies. I would much rather eat other fish anyways
slonezp reply :
Never fished musky at Shab but it has given up 4 or 5 state records. Areas 3-14 are supposed to be prime musky spots in the spring. I know they do have issues with them going over the spillway and have organized musky rescue outings.
B A S S E R reply :
QuoteNever fished musky at Shab but it has given up 4 or 5 state records. Areas 3-14 are supposed to be prime musky spots in the spring. I know they do have issues with them going over the spillway and have organized musky rescue outings.
I have heard the same thing. it really is a shame that a 50+ could go over and die :-/
Nice_Bass reply :
Evergreen lake here in central IL every year seems to produce a state record during the shocking done. After that, it only seems to produce fish in the 40's yet I have talked to folks that will keep a 42 inch fish. Never could understand why you would keep a trophy, but i really dont understand why you would ever keep an average/above average fish.
We used to have them go over the spillway as well until the barrier was put up and a rescue operation put together every year.
I will say I catch a few around 43-44 every year here- and at 900 acres it would be at the top of my list for a trophy even if it were not 5 minutes from my house.
slonezp reply :
Fox Chain is loaded with musky. I catch plenty of them while bass fishing. Stupid fish destroy my bass lures 
. The creel limit is 1 @ 48" but I've never seen a musky leave via stringer. Lots of fish in Channel/Catherine Lake year round and early season in Spring Lake. I've seen huge fish but have only caught fish in the 24"-34"range. Best luck on topwaters and, believe it or not, senkos.
B A S S E R reply :
QuoteFox Chain is loaded with musky. I catch plenty of them while bass fishing. Stupid fish destroy my bass lures
Fox Chain is about fifteen minutes from my house and I have friends who have boats there. That could be a very option.
slonezp reply :
There is no reason you shouldn't hit the Chain. In April concentrate on the south shoreline of Channel Lake that runs along the north side of Rt 173 The musky sun themselves along the weedlines between the the (2) Rt173 bridges. In addition the weedlines around the perimeter of Cathrine produce. If the water is clear you'll have to make long casts because they will be spooky. Try Jitterbugs or other topwater when it's overcast with a small chop. I've seen them in Spring lake and seen people fishing for them but have never caught them there. I think they're in Spring Lake eating spawning bass and gills because they disappear after the spawn. In the fall guys use primarily suckers, concentrating on Channel/Catherine.
Chain muskies are all stockers. They do not naturally reproduce.
Nice_Bass reply :
As you can see i push Evergreen when it comes to big IL musky....but...it does.
This is not me, and it was taken durning surveys but released. Big fish seem to show up every year like this in this lake.
ILfisherman reply :
Quote318 acres shouldn't be too hard to cover and find fish.
LOL, fish for musky much? They don't call it the "fish of 1,000 casts" for nothing.
To the OP, check out www.spinnerbait.org. This guy has Shab dialed in.
Lucky Craft Man reply :
QuoteQuote318 acres shouldn't be too hard to cover and find fish.LOL, fish for musky much? They don't call it the "fish of 1,000 casts" for nothing.
To the OP, check out www.spinnerbait.org. This guy has Shab dialed in.
I wish it was a fish of 1,000 casts. I think the saying is, fish of 10,000 casts.
B A S S E R reply :
QuoteQuoteQuote318 acres shouldn't be too hard to cover and find fish.LOL, fish for musky much? They don't call it the "fish of 1,000 casts" for nothing.
To the OP, check out www.spinnerbait.org. This guy has Shab dialed in.
I wish it was a fish of 1,000 casts. I think the saying is, fish of 10,000 casts.
Thats what I always thought it was.
J Francho reply :
QuoteQuoteQuote318 acres shouldn't be too hard to cover and find fish.LOL, fish for musky much? They don't call it the "fish of 1,000 casts" for nothing.
To the OP, check out www.spinnerbait.org. This guy has Shab dialed in.
I wish it was a fish of 1,000 casts. I think the saying is, fish of 10,000 casts.
Just fish the north end of Chautauqua, for bass. You'll find plenty of muskies, LOL.
Lucky Craft Man reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteQuote318 acres shouldn't be too hard to cover and find fish.LOL, fish for musky much? They don't call it the "fish of 1,000 casts" for nothing.
To the OP, check out www.spinnerbait.org. This guy has Shab dialed in.
I wish it was a fish of 1,000 casts. I think the saying is, fish of 10,000 casts.
Just fish the north end of Chautauqua, for bass. You'll find plenty of muskies, LOL.
It's funny you should say that, because I catch so many more muskie bass fishing then I do muskie fishing. I guess I should stop throwing Pounders and downscale a little to decrease my casts per muskie when targeting them.
J Francho reply :
Its a numbers game, though. When you're out for a big gator, you don't want to throw baits that hammer handles like to eat. Its a lot like fishing big swimbaits. A few good bites over lots of dinks. The difference with Esox is that the bite is like a light switch.
Oh, if you aren't throwing BIG jigs for Esox in summer, you're missing out.
:-X
Nice_Bass reply :
QuoteIts a numbers game, though. When you're out for a big gator, you don't want to throw baits that hammer handles like to eat. Its a lot like fishing big swimbaits. A few good bites over lots of dinks. The difference with Esox is that the bite is like a light switch.Oh, if you aren't throwing BIG jigs for Esox in summer, you're missing out.
:-X
Agree- I always order some big saltwater jigs and paddle tails from a place down in Florida. I always wonder what they think sending that stuff to Illinois. anyhow- started to throw those about 8-10 years ago. With all the big bait fishing nowadays it does not seem like a stretch ordering those any longer.
Lucky Craft Man reply :
QuoteIts a numbers game, though. When you're out for a big gator, you don't want to throw baits that hammer handles like to eat. Its a lot like fishing big swimbaits. A few good bites over lots of dinks. The difference with Esox is that the bite is like a light switch.Oh, if you aren't throwing BIG jigs for Esox in summer, you're missing out.
:-X
I have several large jigs with paddletails and fish them like a swimjig (sometimes at high speed). I have had only moderate success with them. How do you guys normally fish them?
Sorry to the OP. I Ddn't mean to take this thread off topic, but I figure asking these questions would benefit any muskie fisherman.
J Francho reply :
Dead stick a paddletail on a mop jig. :-X
B A S S E R reply :
QuoteQuoteIts a numbers game, though. When you're out for a big gator, you don't want to throw baits that hammer handles like to eat. Its a lot like fishing big swimbaits. A few good bites over lots of dinks. The difference with Esox is that the bite is like a light switch.Oh, if you aren't throwing BIG jigs for Esox in summer, you're missing out.
:-X
I have several large jigs with paddletails and fish them like a swimjig (sometimes at high speed). I have had only moderate success with them. How do you guys normally fish them?
Sorry to the OP. I Ddn't mean to take this thread off topic, but I figure asking these questions would benefit any muskie fisherman.
have at it my man. any tips are appreciated.
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