One of the best places in Illinois to fish for muskies in June is Shabbona Lake. There are good numbers of muskies between 30 and 40 inches and you also have a shot at a large fish 40-50 inches.

Here are a few ideas on how to target these elusive fish during these two months.

The muskies tend to be attracted to the weed lines, as they develop through the season. Early in May the weeds are not up high, so the Muskie are easily accessible in shallow water. Work your lures over the weed tops in 1-5 feet. There is a variety of shallow running baits that work well. Buck tails, crank baits, triple d` s, grandmas and top waters. I tend to use smaller, 6 inches in size or less, baits early in the year, that way you have a chance at numbers of catches. In May most fish species are up shallow, spawning, this in turn draws the large predator shallow also. First the crappies and bass spawn, then the bluegill. This makes your job easier in catching the musky, because they are following the bait fish..

As the season moves on, the water temperature rises to 70 degrees. Baitfish move out to deeper water. This is when you fish the deeper weed lines. Position your boat in the 12 foot range and cast towards the weeds. If it is not a busy day and there are not a lot of boats put your boat right on the weed line, which grows out to 9 feet and cast toward open water. This may give the fish a different look and may pay off for the angler. Lures that may produce are spinner baits, buck tails and deep running crank baits. You want to tick the weed tops, while reeling in your bait. Contacting just enough to make the fish react to your bait and hit it. If you get in some weeds rip your bait off the weeds and continue your retrieve. This may trigger a strike.

The other method, that you may want to give a try, is trolling. One way is to short line trolling baits close to the boat with no more that 5-10 feet of line out. Position your boat, following just off the deep weed line, and put your lines out in water depth 10-14 feet. The muskies are not afraid of the motor. They will come up and hit right next to it. Baits that work for this technique are little ernies, monster shads, super shad raps and spinner baits. With water temperatures over 70 degrees, I tend to have success going 3.8 to 5 miles per hour on my lowrance. A great tool is a good graph with global positioning on it. You will be able to mark snags and beneficial structure. Save it in your unit, so that the next time you go out, you will know right where you can work your baits without getting snagged.

One other method is open water trolling. In the mid summer months muskies suspend. They are chasing shad, perch and crappies. To target these fish you toll 3.8 to 5 miles per hour. My favorites are jakes, believers, depth raiders, super shad raps, cisco divers and grandmas. One thing to remember is that Shabbona has a lot of snags. To avoid this I run my baits shallow so that they do not get hung up in the cribs and other snags. If you plan on fishing Shabbona have a good lure retriever also.

Good Luck & Good Fishing!!!

Duane

About Duane

Duane Landmeier is a fully licensed and insured guide in Illinois. He guides on many lakes in Illinois for muskies. He will also guide occasionally for other species of fish. He has been guiding 10 years.

He also has been a very active member of Muskies Incorporated for 28 years and has been president of the Plano Chapter for 5 out of the last six years.

Duane also has had great success in pro muskie tournaments over the years. He finished 2^nd in the World Championship in 2011. With 21 top ten finishes in different tournament circuits. This has taught Duane many different techniques to successfully catch the most elusive fish that there is to catch, the Muskie.

If you would like to set up a guide trip with Duane please give him a call or email him. Also check out his website as noted below.

Duane Landmeier`s Mainly Musky Fishing Guide Service
mainlymusky.com
dlandmeier@frontier.com
815-286-7170

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Lots of reports of catches of Crappie between 50-100 each.  Crappie are just finishing up there spawning and should be very hungry and active.

Check out last year’s winners, with a whopping average of 2/3 of a pound per Crappie. That is a tremendous average no matter where you fish!!!

Also check out this 14” Crappie caught today.

Today’s report is that several limits are being caught!

Don’t forget when there is a Fishing Open, There is DOLLAR DAYS AT POKANOKA”S!!!!!

Fishing Open Rules
Saturday, May 19th, 2012 – 4th Annual Crappie Open Sponsored by Cabela’s Outdoors of Hoffman Estates – Heaviest Stringer of 10 Crappie will win a gift card from Cabela’s Outdoors. Pokanoka’s Café will have its famous dollar days as well. Please stop and sign in at Lakeside and donate $5.00 to our walleye restocking fund, to double your first place prize before going fishing.

This is a family friendly event. Immediate family members may combine their 10 heaviest fish.  Immediate family members include, mom, dad, children, grandparents, brothers and sisters.

All fish must be caught and “weighed in” at Shabbona Lake during the fishing open hours of 6AM to 7PM. You may “weigh in” fish at any time at Shabbona Lakeside.

1st Place gets $100.00 Cabela’s gift card ($200.00 Cabela’s gift card if you donate to our walleye fund. You must donate and sign in at Shabbona Lakeside before going fishing to be eligible for the extra $100.00)

2nd Place gets $50.00 Cabela’s gift card

3rd Place gets $25.00 Cabela’s gift card

How fishing open winner is decided.
Crappie Open: Heaviest stringer of up to ten Crappie

For updates – check www.shabbonalake.com

Muskie Rescue May 22 Tuesday evening if you would like to help meet at Ranger station 5 pm.  Bring nets and cooler.

The more help the better. Please pass this on to any muskie anglers that would like to help.

Thanks, Duane

Submitted by ~Once Bit