Muskies

[Captain Ken]

Welcome to the Illinois Board! If this takes off like the one on Lake Vermilion I frequently read and sometimes contribute to, we are in for a treat!

Most of my recent Illinois time has been spent fishing on the Chain, Sliver or Loon for muskies. Have mainly been fishing suckers. Have not been able to get out for about 10 days due to too busy. Fishing suckers on a quick strike rig has been the main technique for me. Basically I have been finding well defined breaks and working back and forth along the break going shallower and then deeper. Sometimes have used a bobber and sometimes a 1.5-2 oz weight, lindy rigged. Last time out had one pick up, what I thought was a good hook set, but obviously was not since he waved bye bye upon seeing the boat. Slow and easy is the name of the game at this time of year. We probably still have time for "one more trip" but the water is getting pretty close to the magic number.

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Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com

[Captain Ken]

Check out the Lake Evergreen post on the Illinois Forum. Sounds like it is worth a trip to check out the skies there.
Ken

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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

[JAR JAR]

Capt. Ken
I grew up in Aurora and used to fish Shabbona pretty regulary and the chain .
Now i live in No. Wisc. and have lost all contact with those areas. Whats the muskies like on shabbona now and is the crappie fishing still good on the Chain.
Just wondering since I've been out of the area for 10 yrs.
thanks
JAR JAR

[Captain Ken]

Hi Jar Jar,

Shabbona is on the list of good musky lakes in the State. I have not personally fished it myself, but I always hear great things about it. In fact, I was recently interviewed on the radio by Bob Marcalis, the Outdoor Notebook editor, and he was telling me that someone caught something like 15 'skies in one day down there.

The Chain is still good for Crappies. They aren't super huge but fun to catch nevertheless. The stripers come and go in numbers depending on the year.

We are going to go out on the ice on teh Chain, when it is safe, and hunt down some crappies and bluegills.

The Chain has a decent Musky population considering the pressure and boats etc. My position is it's worth fishing on a regular basis rather than just waiting and fishing only on the once a year trip most people are able to take to WI, MN or Canada.

Drop us a line on the Forum if you are coming down to our neck of the woods!

Ken

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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota