by Duane Landmeier, Muskie Guide
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 2nd 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