They are all on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I miss it as well, but it is what it is.
The news says that record numbers of people are existing Illinois even faster that anti-ISIS Iraqis leaving Mosul. Of the people left in Illinois, it seems nobody gives fishing reports anymore. There used to be several places to get weekly reports. They all say no reports submitted. Sure I know you guys do a great job of reporting here. What about the "old school" reports? Water temp, species bites, bait, etc. Nobody fishing or is nobody sharing?![]()
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They are all on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I miss it as well, but it is what it is.
This is just my opinion and I could be incorrect, but I think the reports have shut down because a very popular guide was busted by DNR. Said guide was very active with his reports and really spread the word and his business grew vastly. Other guides jumped on the report bandwagon and then weekend warriors did as well. Next thing you know the lakes are covered in boats and it made the locals mad and they start beating the butt (literally) of one guide and then someone turned the DNR onto him. They bust him and everyone ran scared, because I believe all guides operated exactly the way he did. None of the other guides wants to be targeted by the DNR. BTW, if he broke the law, he should be punished. I fished with him once and he was meticulous that we never went over our limit as a boat. Again, this is all speculation on my part. What do I know, I am now just a backwoods hillrod that never fishes anymore...
Does anybody know where to find the State reports? I mean the results of creel survey's and spring/fall electroshocking and netting results. I used to be able to find that info published somewhere like Heartland Outdoors or ASO. or sometimes in a newspaper. They would sometimes include how many fish they stocked and where.
I don't think many people have been out this week. Cold wind! Prior to this week I was catching a few on the north end of Shelbyville. Targeting deeper water, like mouths of coves. Most success came with jig and fixed bobber. They have been suspended above structure. A good sunny day was bringing them up pretty high in the water coloum. Catching them when the sun is high as shallow as 18" most productive depth has probably been around 4-5 deep. Color, for me has depended on sun also. Have done best with 1/16- 1/8 jig. Chartreuse and white swim bait style plastic. This pattern has worked for me, but I have no doubt others are catching south and a different method. It stinks not getting reports from the guides! I kinda don't blame them either because of what was mentioned above. I'll never give a specific cove that I'm catching in. I have seen that done, and then witnessed like twenty boats in that cove the next weekend. Way to many lurkers, and not enough sharing.