Archive for March, 2009

It was a rare Saturday, in which I actually had some time to fish.  I had heard from others that the fishing was heating up around Northeastern Illinois, especially in our local Dupage County Forest Preserve Lakes.  My hopes were high, as the weather was going to be beautiful.  The only factors working against me were the bright sunny skies, the wind, and the recent cold spell we had. The weather varied throughout the day being as high as 60 F and as low as 40 F.  The winds were due west at 15-25 mph.  The barometer was slowly, slowly falling.

The first place I hit was Mayslake.  I arrived around 2:00 pm with three rods ready to fish.  I had success there last week at a certain brush pile, and I immediately went over there again.  I worked crankbaits, plastics, jig-n-pigs, and rattle traps.  Nothing was able to produce.  I know that spring time either requires a slowed speed, unless looking for a reaction bite.  It was difficult to do either, as the lake is very silted in with a lot of debris in the water and being very shallow.  I did not catch a fish after an hour or so of work, so I decided it was time to move on.

The next lake up was Herrick Lake, in Wheaton.  I pass by this lake all the time, but never have fished it before.  Why?  I have no idea.  When I initially arrived, there were lots of people working around the main lake, so I got back into my car and drove over to the west lagoon.  I found a lot of timber, which I worked hard with plastics and jigs, but was unable to come up with a fish.  The others around me seemed to be in the same situation, but I know from fishing sites dealing with Chicago, that fish were caught in the area at these times.  As the sun began to dip down, the number of fisherman were dropping as quickly as the temperature.  I worked around the main lake for a bit, but once again no fish.  I did not even see panfish or bass in the shallows.  Maybe it is early, maybe, its because this is only my 2nd year giving the spring a fair shot for fishing.  I still have a lot to learn, and hopefully there will be a lot of fish to come.  I can not wait to get off the shore and into my boat.  The only pictures I have for the trip are these from Herrick Lake:  

Fish Totals:
0 Fish

Year to Date:
4 Trips
15 Keeper Perch
1 Largemouth Bass