Summer peak is mid July to August 10 or so. These are the highest water temperatures of the year. The muskies metabolism is high they eat every day. However that does not mean that they are the easiest to catch. The food source in any lake is at its highest at this time of the year so the muskies have a lot to choose from to eat. The young of the year of every species of fish in the lake are at a nice size to eat for predators such as bass, walleye and muskies.
The technique that I would use is trolling. I would vary lure running depths to see what the fish tell you to do. Have say a depth raider or believer or some sort of deep diving crank bait in your back rod holders run one at say 12 feet the other at 8 feet. In the side rod holders I would run another deep diver crank bait or a mid depth runner like a grandma or super shad rap type bait down 5-10 feet deep. Trolling speeds according of a Lowrance electronics with GPS would be between 3.6 and 5 miles per hour. The fish are moving and they will hit a lure at this speed.
The biggest concern this time of the year is protecting our resource. Even though these fish are the largest in the lake they are not the hardiest of fish with high water temperatures. Leave the musky in the net after catching. Remove your lure out of the fish’s mouth quickly and safely. Get your camera ready and then remove the musky from the net a get a quick picture of the musky and get him back in the water.
Make sure that you have good tools in the boat. A knipex is an expensive tool. It will cut the biggest of hooks. You will be happy you have one if you get a hook in your hand and in a muskies mouth at the same time. Also if the hook is too deep in a fish to pull out with a long nose pliers cut is off and push the hook through the fish and get it out. A jaw spreaders is not a bad tool either. Whatever you can do to protect you and also get the fish back in the water quickly. When you are done at the end of the day please take your camera card to Clint at Shabbona Lakeside on the lake. He will post the picture of your special catch at the shop. Everyone needs to see what is available in our lake.
Shabbona is by no means an easy lake to fish. If you can figure it out you will have great success. This lake has some of the largest muskies in our state in it. Take care of the fish so the resource stays strong.
On an ending note. I have been fishing Shabbona since it opened in 1983. I guide on the lake if anyone would like to go give me a call 815-286-7170. Also I am president of the local Muskies Incorporated club in Plano. We meet at the Plano American Legion 510 E. Dearborn St. the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm. If you want to meet a great bunch of guys and learn from some of the best anglers in the area please stop in. Good Luck on Shabbona and keep a tight line.