ILLINOIS HOTSPOTS FISHING REPORTS
FISHING REPORTS
12-29-2021
As you can tell I don't post many reports on this site as its a pain and time consuming to do. That being said the best way to keep up with whats going on is on my facebook pages.
Illinois Hotspots Guide Service/Lake Shelbyville Guide Service
Illinois Hotspots Guide Service/Lake Shelbyville Guide Service Reports
or call for info 217-259-7621.
2022 is going to be an exciting year with the introduction of a line of crappie rods designed by me that are designed for the guys who throw slip bobbers like I do 80% of the time. These will be the HOTSPOTS MEGA EYE 10 Rods with the 1st one being a 10 ft. medium action with big eyelets all the way to the tip. You will be able to use this rod anyway you like jigging,tite lining, casting but if you throw slip bobbers this thing is AWESOME!!!! Hopefully will have them before crappie spawn is completely over this spring.
Now to let you know how we kinda run during the year.
1st we fish crappie year round, if the lakes not froze up and the weather is not to bad we are fishing. In the spring I only do crappie trips and these are full day trips and we fish for up to 8hrs OR we get our limits whichever comes 1st.
Towards the end of May we start to go after Walleye so we will do crappie and walleye on those trips. When the crappie are done spawning (end of May /early June) we will fish Walleye through the end of June and give the crappie a break and let them get out to their summer spots and recooperate from the spawn.
Starting in July we start looking for the whitebass and are still catching walleye in with them and we also go back after crappie so these are mixed bag days and we will fish this way all summer until fall when we will follow the fish back shallow as the water temps. drop.
The fall whitebass and crappie bite is some of the best fishing of the year always a good time.
Looking forward to starting my 26th season as a guide and seeing all the friends I have made over the past 26 years and looking forward to meeting new faces out there this year.
Book early and lets go rip some lips!!!!
217-259-7621 Todd
4-4-2019
I have decided to no longer guide on Mill Creek due to the crazy price increase in launch fees and stupid Crappie limits on what size fish you are allowed to keep and I will also be no longer Guiding on Lake Sara.
Lake shelbyville,Mattoon and Charleston are all great lakes and offer a variety on fish species to choose from. Book early!
3-26-2019
Tha Crappie fishing has started and looks like another great year ahead! Water temps right now are 43-47 and I am still catching fish on deep main lake brush 14'-25' deep either tite lining a jig in the brush on cloudy days or floating a jig and bobber over the top of the piles on sunny days. It's only gonna get better from here on out so dont wait too long to book your trips.
I have been on another lake early in march and did really well on some limits of 12"-141/2" fish. I will be Crappie fishing until the end of may or early june untill they are done with the spawn then it will be on to walleye/sauger and white bass for alot of the summer. I will still do some crappie fishing this summer when they move back out to the main lake brush piles so the summer fishing is a mixed bag of wallys whites and crappie. I fish anoth lake also in the summer as the crappie fishing is also good there on main lake brush during the hot months.
Follow me on facebook to keep up with the fishing reports as it is easier for me to post on there than to put the info on this site and we can message each other easier if you have any questions.
Good fishing!
5-30 -2018
The fishing on Shelbyville is great right now,I am still catching some Crappie but I am starting to go after the Walleye and Whitebass, most of the Crappie are done but there are still some shallow finishing up the spawn.the Crappie fishing this year has been really great one of the best and easiest years with lots of fish being caught.We will still do some summer Crappie fishing but we will mainly be Walleye/Whitebass fishing now. I am catching a mixed bag of fish now so if you want Crappie/Walleye/Whitebass now is the time.
5-1 -2018
The water temps on Shelbyville are starting to move into the 60's so the fishing is going to get red hot in the next few weeks.I have been catching most of my fish in 15' to 25' of water on the main lake points over brush,throwing a 1/4 oz. jig with a variety of jigs and catching 100's a day.
I did finally find some fish shallow in a pocket in the back of a cove but they had just moved in so its only getting started.The eggs are still small and it will still take a couple weeks to get into full on spawn,you might find some early fish here and there but the majority are still suspended out in deeper water waiting to move in.You just have to remember that they dont build their eggs sacks over night and if the water is 65 that is surface temp and its not that warm 4 or 5 feet down.
4-21-2018
4-22-2018
Fishing at Shelbyville is hot, we are catching fish on the south end off the drops and points over brush with jigs,going through alot of unders right now but we are catching over 100 fish a day and that keeps it fun.
4-18-2018
The Crappie are biting on Shelbyville and it's gonna get real good shortly.
I have been fishing deep on the south end over brush and drops and catching alot of fish.Don't wait to get in on the action because its good NOW!
3-4 -2018
The Crappie have been biting on Shelbyville despite the crazy weather,I have been catching them off deep brush mid lake to the south end.With the recent rains the water will be coming up and getting muddier but we will still be able to catch fish as the weather will be getting better so dont wait to book trips as I will be filled up if you wait for nice weather.
3-20-2018 LAKE SHELBYVILLE WATER TEMP 43-46
- CRAPPIE ARE BEING CAUGHT AT ALOT OF DEPTHS RIGHT NOW 2'-6'UNDER A BOBBER IN STANDING TIMBER FROM THE NORTH END THROUGH MID LAKE AREAS.
- SUNNY DAYS THE STANDING TIMBER IS GOOD,TRY DIFFERENT DEPTHS TILL YOU START HITTING FISH AND KEEP MOVING AND COVER ALOT OF WATER
- THERE IS STILL TONS OF FISH DEEP ON BRUSHPILES NEXT TO THE DROPS AND SUSPENDED IN DEEP WATER,USE YOU ELECTRONICS TO FIND THESE AREAS.
- BEEN CATCHING FISH ON THE SOUTH END 12' DEEP UNDER BOBBER OVER STUMPS AND BRUSH.
- -1-4-2017
As you can tell I dont keep the reports on this site as often as I should but I do try to put them on my ILLINOIS HOTSPOTS GUIDE SERVICE OR LAKESHELBYVILLEGUIDESERVICE.COM page on facebook so friend me at Todd Laughhunn and you will get more up to date reports.
2016 was a great year and I did add another lake in 2016 due to several requests and had a good year there in Effingham on Lake Sara and look forward to doing it again this year.
I will be at the Arthur outdoor expo Feb. 10-11th 2017 booking up for the 2017 season and also selling Ozark crappie rods so come on out and get a date booked on 1 or several central Illinois lakes this year.
I also added all new electronics in 2016 with 4 Lowrance units so the fishing has become a little easier as I can locate brushpiles and such a little quicker and with more accuracy than before,so give me a call and get your trips booked.Looking forward to another great year! 217-259-7621 Todd
4-30-2016
Been fishing Shelbyville and Mattoon lately and the crappie fishing is good to great when we have a few consecutive days of stable weather,the rain and cold fronts nock them a little and make it a little tougher for a couple days but can still manage a nice mess.
Have been fishing a slip cork and jig tipped with wax worms or throwing twister tails.The big females have not moved in yet but we are still catching nice fish and lots of smaller ones right now.The water temp. has been anywhere from 56-66 depending on what lake or where we are fishing on the lake.The temp is getting right for the spawn to start but the fish still have to have the right amount of time to build they're egg sacks and that doesn't happen overnight no matter how fast the water warms up.
Going to be hitting Lake Sara in Effingham in May so If you want a trip there to try at nice big crappie get in touch with me soon because open dates are running out.
4-20-2015
WATER TEMP. 57-64
Had trips on all the lakes that I guide on the last 2 weeks and they all are coming on,the crappie are starting to head for the bank with the water temps pushing into the 60's and we have been catching them 2 to 4 feet under a slip bobber with tube jigs and wax worms for the most part.The cold temps at night this week might back them off a little but it wont last long,just cover water till you hit pockets of them and work different depths till you find them.Get your trips booked before its over by the end of May or so and then we'll be ready to get after the walleye on Shelbyville.
4-1-2015
WATER TEMP. 40-49
1st trip to Mill Creek in 2015 and we managed 26 crappie that we kept,with 5 over 13''.
All the fish were caught in 7-10 fow fishing 4'-5' down under a slip bobber.
Using 1/8 and 1/4 oz jigheads in char or orange and purple sparkle/char or blue sparlke/char tube jigs filled with crappie nibbles and tipped with a wax worm.the fish seamed to be in the upper half of the water column near wood where the water was warmer.We were fishing the dirtiest water we could find and not the clearer deeper water since the dirty water warms quicker and the warmest water will hold fish in the early spring time.
3-16-2015
WATER TEMP. 40-43
1ST TRIP OF THE YEAR WE ENDED UP WITH 30 CRAPPIE AND A BONUS SAUGER,FISHING SLIP BOBBER AND 1/8 OZ. TUBE JIG 6'-7' DEEP ON THE 1ST DROP.SMOKE GLOW AND ORANGE SPARKLE/CHAR TUBES W/CHAR OR ORANGE HEADS.MORE REPORTS TO COME
3-21-14
HAD A QUICK LAST MINUTE TRIP TO ANOTHER LAKE TODAY AND DESPITE A HARD WIND THAT KEPT MY FOOT ON THE TROLLING MOTOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE MANAGED A NICE MESS OF CRAPPIES IN A FEW HOURS.AGAIN SLIP BOBBERS CHART. HEADS BLUE/CHART.SPARKLE TUBES TIPPED WITH WAX WORMS.ITS GONNA TURN ON HARD ONE OF THESE DAYS SOON DONT WAIT TO BOOK YOUR TRIPS
MARCH 2014
SHELBYVILLE 3-20 14
WATER TEMP.39-44
HAD 1ST TRIP OF THE SEASON AND HAD OUR LIMIT OF OVERS AND A FEW UNDERS FISHING THE NORTH END.WE WERE USING SLIP BOBBERS SET AT 2'-7' FISHING 3-10 FOW.
CHART. HEADS AND ORANGE CHART.GLOW TUBES TIPPED WITH WAX WORMS.
LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE WAITING OUT ANOTHER COLD FRONT ON THE 23-25TH THEN BACK AT IT.
SEPT 2012
(SHELBYVILLE)
THE FISHING HAS BEEN GREAT ALL SUMMER AND NOW ITS TIME FOR THE FALL CRAPPIE AND WHITEBASS BITE WHICH IS REALLY FUN,THE FISH START TO MOVE SHALLOW AND ARE EASIER TO FIND.THE CRAPPIE WILL MOVE INTO THE STANDING TIMBER AND SHALLOWER STRUCTURE CLOSER TO THE BANK ON THE MAIN LAKE AND THE WHITES WILL BE ON THE SHALLOW SAND FLATS THAT HAVE WIND ON THEM AND CATCHING 100'S IS PRETTY EASY ONCE YOU FIND THEM.
IF YOU NEED A BREAK FROM SETTING IN A TREE AND WANT TO GET IN ON SOME GREAT FALL ACTION CALL AND BOOK A TRIP.
May 2012
(SHELBYVILLE)
THE CRAPPIE ARE IN ALL STAGES AS OF MAY 7, CATCHING FISH REAL SHALLOW AND IN 15 TO 25 FEET,YOU CAN FISH MINNOWS OR JIGS DEEP OR SHALLOW AND FIND FISH ANY WAY YOU WANT TO CATCH THEM.
THE WHITEBASS CAN BE FOUND ON THE FLATS OR DROPS ON THE EDGES OF THE FLATS IF THE WIND IS BLOWING.
THE WALLEYE FISHING SHOULD START TO PICK UP ANY TIME
(THE MILL)
CRAPPIE ARE STILL GOING AND WITH THE FULL MOON THE BLUEGILL AND REDEAR ARE ON THE BEDS NOW IN THE TIME TO BOOK A TRIP IF YOU LIKE CATCHING THEM.
LATE MAR.\EARLY APRIL 2012
THE WARM SUNNY DAYS HAS THE WATER TEMP. ON THE RISE AGAIN,60-67 AND THE CRAPPIE ARE FEELING IT.BEEN FISHING ON THE OTHER LAKES (NOT SHELBYVILLE) THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS AND ITS GETTING BETTER.
SLIP BOBBERS AND TUBE JIGS HAVE BEEN THE TICKET LATELY,1/4 OZ. TO 1/16 OZ. JIG HEADS DEPENDING ON WHAT DEPTH WE ARE FISHING.
LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GETTING READY FOR SOME MORE COLD NIGHTS FOR A FEW DAYS JUST HOPE IT DOESNT DROP THE WATER TEMP TO MUCH.
MID MARCH 2012
WE HAVE BEEN FISHING SHELBYVILLE AND SEVERAL OTHER LAKES LATELY AND WAS DOING REALLY WELL UNTIL COLD NIGHTS HIT US AND DROPPED WATER TEMPS 10 DEGREES AND PUT THE DAMPER ON OUR CURRENT PATTERNS,HOPEFULLY IT WONT LAST TO LONG.
MAR.2012
FISHING HAS BEEN GOOD ON ALL THE LAKES WE HAVE BEEN GOING TO LATELY, THE CRAPPIE FISHING IS STARTING TO HEAT UP BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING CRAZY YET.WE ARE ENDING THE DAY WITH SOME REALLY NICE STRINGERS OF FISH BUT WE'RE STILL HAVING TO WORK FOR THEM.I KNOW ITS BEEN REALLY WARM FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR AND WHEN WE GET ZAPPED BY SOME COLD FRONTS,AND WE WILL,IT WILL SLOW THEM DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS BUT THATS SPRING FISHING
FEB.29 2012
GOOD DAY ON SHELBYVILLE TODAY WATER TEMP 39 TO 43,THE WIND WAS BRUTAL SO WE DIDNT MAKE A BIG RUN JUST FISHED LICK CREEK.HAD 25 KEEPERS,FISHED 1/4 OZ. JIG 7 TO 9 FT.DEEP UNDER SLIP BOBBER IN 8 TO 13 FOW IN THE STANDING TIMBER.
SHELBYVILLE IS A GREAT LAKE FOR SEVERAL SPECIES OF FISH BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER LAKES AROUND THAT ARE ALSO GREAT,WITH MORE LIBERAL LIMITS THAN SHELBYVILLE.
I'VE CAUGHT CRAPPIE UP TO 18'' BIG BLUEGILL AND REDEAR AND REALLY GOOD CATFISHING ON LAKES OTHER THAN SHELBYVILLE.
I AM NOT NOCKING SHELBYVILLE AT ALL ITS GREAT AND I DO 75% OF MY GUIDING THERE BUT IF YOU DONT WANT TO FIGHT THE TRAFFIC THAT YOU HAVE ON THE BIGGER LAKES,AND CAN ACTUALLY CATCH MORE AND BIGGER FISH ON A SMALLER BODY OF WATER,YOU NEED TO CALL AND BOOK A TRIP. MARCH AND APRIL IS WHEN THE CRAPPIE REALLY GET GOING AND I GET BOOKED UP PRETTY FAST SO CALL EARLY.
OCT.2011
THE CRAPPIE ARE STARTING TO BITE EVERYWHERE,HAD A GOOD TRIP AT THE MILL AND CAUGHT CRAPPIE 4' TO 8' WITH JIGS TIPPED WITH MINNOWS AND JIGS AND WAX WORMS,BOTH WORKED.
THE CRAPPIE ON SHELBYVILLE ARE AT ALL DEPTHS, BEEN USING JIGS TIPPED WITH MINNOWS UNDER SLIP BOBBERS,BUT SEEMS THE LAST WEEK TUBE JIGS AND WAX WORMS HAVE BEEN OUT PRODUCING MINNOWS.
BEEN FISHING 6' TO 12' FEET OF WATER WITH MOST FISH AROUND 8' DEEP UNDER A SLIP BOBBER.
WHITES HAVE BEEN BUSTING IN THE BACK OF THE BIGGER COVES AND ALSO ON FLATS THAT HAVE WIND ON THEM.THIS TIME OF YEAR EVERYTHING IS FEEDING HARD JUST COVER WATER AND YOU'LL FIND FISH
AUG,2011
TRIP TO MILL CREEK, HAD GOOD AFTERNOON CRAPPIE FISHING,FISH ARE IN 14' TO 20'.
FISHING TIGHT LINE AND MINNOW OVER BRUSH AND STUMPS, ALSO HAD LUCK WITH JIG AND MINNOW UNDER SLIP BOBBER SET 7 TO 14' DEEP,AND JUST FLIPPING JIG AND MINNOW PAST STANDING TIMBER, ANY WAY YOU LIKE TO FISH WORKS.
CATCHING LOTS OF BASS DURING THE DAY ALSO.
APRIL-MAY 2011
BEEN GETTING 2 AND 3 MAN CRAPPIE LIMITS ON SHELBYVILLE EVERY TRIP.
CATCHING FISH ON ON TWISTER TAILS BY RUNNING DOWN THE BANKS IN THE BACK OF THE BIG COVES ON THS SOUTH END .COVER WATER TILL YOU HIT POCKETS OF FISH.
NO REAL BIG FISH YET.
YOU CAN ALSO CATCH THEM WITH SLIP BOBBERS AND JIGS IN THE STANDING TIMBER,CATCHING LITTLE BIGGER FISH IN THE 8-12 FT. RANGE.
HAD A QUICK 3 HOUR TRIP FOR WALLEYE ON 5-12 AND CAUGHT 20 SOME WALLEYE ON 2 POINTS AND HAD 7 KEEPERS UP TO 17.5'',SO THEIR GETTING READY TO GET HOT.
5-11-11
HAD A TRIP ON ANOTHER LAKE TODAY,ENDED THE DAY WITH 30 CRAPPIE UP TO 15.5'',4 REDEAR UP TO 3/4 OF A POUND AND4 CATFISH.
WATER TEMP RUNNING IN LOW 70'S SO THE CRAPPIE ARE GOING TO BE DONE SHORTLY,BUT FOR THE BLUEGILL AND REDEAR GUYS IT'S GETTING HOT.
THE BLUEGILL ARE NICE IN THIS LAKE SO IF YOUR INTO THAT CALL FOR A TRIP SOON.
WE ALSO CAUGHT OVER 30 BASS JUST FISHING FOR CRAPPIE SO IF YOU WANT TO GO ON A BASS TRIP NOWS THE TIME.I WOULD'NT BE SCARED TO SAY WE COULD CATCH 50-100 BASS A DAY.
I KNOW THEIR KILLING TOP WATER BAITS RIGHT NOW.
5-24-11
CRAPPIE/BLUEGILL TRIP ON MATTOON CITY LAKE TODAY,THE CRAPPIE ARE NOT DONE WITH THE SPAWN LIKE ALOT ARE SAYING.
BLUEGILL ARE UP ON THE BEDS,CRAPPIE ARE AROUND THE DOCKS AND SHALLOW BRUSH/ROCKS/WEEDS.
THE WATER TEMP. WAS 70-73 BUT THAT IS SURFACE TEMP.SO 3 OR 4 FEET DOWN IT IS A LITTLE COOLER.
MOST OF THE CRAPPIE STILL ARE FULL OF EGGS AND SOME EVEN LOOKED LIKE THEY ARE'NT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING READY.
5-25-11
A DIFFERENT LAKE TODAY,WATER TEMP. 70-74.
CAUGHT 14 BIG REDEAR SOME NEAR A POUND,BLUEGILL AND CRAPPIE.
CRAPPIE STILL NOT DONE WITH SPAWN,BLUEGILL/REDEAR ON BEDS,FAST ACTION,COULD OF HAD BUCKETS FULL BUT THE STORMS BLEW US OFF THE LAKE.
5-31-11
TRIP TO LAKE MATTOON,SAME CONDITIONS AS THE 24TH,CRAPPIE STILL HAVE NOT SPAWNED OUT YET.CATCHING NICE FISH
6-10-11 SHELBYVILLE
BEEN CATCHING 2 AND 3 MAN LIMITS OF WALLEYE ALMOST EVERY TRIP.CRANKBAITS OR DRAGGING TWISTERS AND NIGHT CRAWLERS ON BOTTOM HAS BEEN THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN CATCHING OUR FISH.
YOU REALLY NEED WIND IF YOUR FISHING SHALLOW,WHEN THE WIND SHUTS DOWN THE FISHING GETS TOUGH.FISHING DEEPER IF THE WIND STOPS.
WHITES SHOULD START TO PICK UP ANYTIME.
6-21-11 SHELBYVILLE
- WHITEBASS ARE BUSTING SHAD AND CATCHING 100'S OF FISH IN A SHORT TIME IS COMMON.THROWING DOUBLE TWISTER TAILS OR SASSY SHAD IF THEY ARE SHALLOW OR IF THEY ARE DEEP OFF OF THE DROPS, USING 1OZ.JIGGING SPOON AND JUST RIPPING IT OFF THE BOTTOM AND LETTING IT FLUTTER BACK DOWN.SOME DAYS THEY ARE HARD TO FIND, BUT AS IT GETS HOT OUT THE FISHING WILL ALSO GET HOT.
STILL CATCHING WALLEYE,SOMEDAYS THEY ARE SHALLOW IN THE WEEDS IF THE WIND IS BLOWING AND OTHER DAYS THEY ARE DEEP AND HARD TO FIND,EACH DAY IS A DIFFERENT GAME.THROWING 3'' TWISTERS WITH NIGHTCRAWLER COVERING THE HOOK OR USING CRANKBAITS IN THE WEEDS.
WHEN THEY ARE SHALLOW t
FISHING REPORTS
4-4-2019
I have decided to no longer guide on Mill Creek due to the crazy price increase in launch fees and stupid Crappie limits on what size fish you are allowed to keep and I will also be no longer Guiding on Lake Sara.
Lake shelbyville,Mattoon and Charleston are all great lakes and offer a variety on fish species to choose from. Book early!
3-26-2019
Tha Crappie fishing has started and looks like another great year ahead! Water temps right now are 43-47 and I am still catching fish on deep main lake brush 14'-25' deep either tite lining a jig in the brush on cloudy days or floating a jig and bobber over the top of the piles on sunny days. It's only gonna get better from here on out so dont wait too long to book your trips.
I have been on another lake early in march and did really well on some limits of 12"-141/2" fish. I will be Crappie fishing until the end of may or early june untill they are done with the spawn then it will be on to walleye/sauger and white bass for alot of the summer. I will still do some crappie fishing this summer when they move back out to the main lake brush piles so the summer fishing is a mixed bag of wallys whites and crappie. I fish anoth lake also in the summer as the crappie fishing is also good there on main lake brush during the hot months.
Follow me on facebook to keep up with the fishing reports as it is easier for me to post on there than to put the info on this site and we can message each other easier if you have any questions.
Good fishing!
5-30 -2018
The fishing on Shelbyville is great right now,I am still catching some Crappie but I am starting to go after the Walleye and Whitebass, most of the Crappie are done but there are still some shallow finishing up the spawn.the Crappie fishing this year has been really great one of the best and easiest years with lots of fish being caught.We will still do some summer Crappie fishing but we will mainly be Walleye/Whitebass fishing now. I am catching a mixed bag of fish now so if you want Crappie/Walleye/Whitebass now is the time.
5-1 -2018
The water temps on Shelbyville are starting to move into the 60's so the fishing is going to get red hot in the next few weeks.I have been catching most of my fish in 15' to 25' of water on the main lake points over brush,throwing a 1/4 oz. jig with a variety of jigs and catching 100's a day.
I did finally find some fish shallow in a pocket in the back of a cove but they had just moved in so its only getting started.The eggs are still small and it will still take a couple weeks to get into full on spawn,you might find some early fish here and there but the majority are still suspended out in deeper water waiting to move in.You just have to remember that they dont build their eggs sacks over night and if the water is 65 that is surface temp and its not that warm 4 or 5 feet down.
4-21-2018
4-22-2018
Fishing at Shelbyville is hot, we are catching fish on the south end off the drops and points over brush with jigs,going through alot of unders right now but we are catching over 100 fish a day and that keeps it fun.
4-18-2018
The Crappie are biting on Shelbyville and it's gonna get real good shortly.
I have been fishing deep on the south end over brush and drops and catching alot of fish.Don't wait to get in on the action because its good NOW!
3-4 -2018
The Crappie have been biting on Shelbyville despite the crazy weather,I have been catching them off deep brush mid lake to the south end.With the recent rains the water will be coming up and getting muddier but we will still be able to catch fish as the weather will be getting better so dont wait to book trips as I will be filled up if you wait for nice weather.
3-20-2018 LAKE SHELBYVILLE WATER TEMP 43-46
- CRAPPIE ARE BEING CAUGHT AT ALOT OF DEPTHS RIGHT NOW 2'-6'UNDER A BOBBER IN STANDING TIMBER FROM THE NORTH END THROUGH MID LAKE AREAS.
- SUNNY DAYS THE STANDING TIMBER IS GOOD,TRY DIFFERENT DEPTHS TILL YOU START HITTING FISH AND KEEP MOVING AND COVER ALOT OF WATER
- THERE IS STILL TONS OF FISH DEEP ON BRUSHPILES NEXT TO THE DROPS AND SUSPENDED IN DEEP WATER,USE YOU ELECTRONICS TO FIND THESE AREAS.
- BEEN CATCHING FISH ON THE SOUTH END 12' DEEP UNDER BOBBER OVER STUMPS AND BRUSH.
- -1-4-2017
As you can tell I dont keep the reports on this site as often as I should but I do try to put them on my ILLINOIS HOTSPOTS GUIDE SERVICE OR LAKESHELBYVILLEGUIDESERVICE.COM page on facebook so friend me at Todd Laughhunn and you will get more up to date reports.
2016 was a great year and I did add another lake in 2016 due to several requests and had a good year there in Effingham on Lake Sara and look forward to doing it again this year.
I will be at the Arthur outdoor expo Feb. 10-11th 2017 booking up for the 2017 season and also selling Ozark crappie rods so come on out and get a date booked on 1 or several central Illinois lakes this year.
I also added all new electronics in 2016 with 4 Lowrance units so the fishing has become a little easier as I can locate brushpiles and such a little quicker and with more accuracy than before,so give me a call and get your trips booked.Looking forward to another great year! 217-259-7621 Todd
4-30-2016
Been fishing Shelbyville and Mattoon lately and the crappie fishing is good to great when we have a few consecutive days of stable weather,the rain and cold fronts nock them a little and make it a little tougher for a couple days but can still manage a nice mess.
Have been fishing a slip cork and jig tipped with wax worms or throwing twister tails.The big females have not moved in yet but we are still catching nice fish and lots of smaller ones right now.The water temp. has been anywhere from 56-66 depending on what lake or where we are fishing on the lake.The temp is getting right for the spawn to start but the fish still have to have the right amount of time to build they're egg sacks and that doesn't happen overnight no matter how fast the water warms up.
Going to be hitting Lake Sara in Effingham in May so If you want a trip there to try at nice big crappie get in touch with me soon because open dates are running out.
4-20-2015
WATER TEMP. 57-64
Had trips on all the lakes that I guide on the last 2 weeks and they all are coming on,the crappie are starting to head for the bank with the water temps pushing into the 60's and we have been catching them 2 to 4 feet under a slip bobber with tube jigs and wax worms for the most part.The cold temps at night this week might back them off a little but it wont last long,just cover water till you hit pockets of them and work different depths till you find them.Get your trips booked before its over by the end of May or so and then we'll be ready to get after the walleye on Shelbyville.
4-1-2015
WATER TEMP. 40-49
1st trip to Mill Creek in 2015 and we managed 26 crappie that we kept,with 5 over 13''.
All the fish were caught in 7-10 fow fishing 4'-5' down under a slip bobber.
Using 1/8 and 1/4 oz jigheads in char or orange and purple sparkle/char or blue sparlke/char tube jigs filled with crappie nibbles and tipped with a wax worm.the fish seamed to be in the upper half of the water column near wood where the water was warmer.We were fishing the dirtiest water we could find and not the clearer deeper water since the dirty water warms quicker and the warmest water will hold fish in the early spring time.
3-16-2015
WATER TEMP. 40-43
1ST TRIP OF THE YEAR WE ENDED UP WITH 30 CRAPPIE AND A BONUS SAUGER,FISHING SLIP BOBBER AND 1/8 OZ. TUBE JIG 6'-7' DEEP ON THE 1ST DROP.SMOKE GLOW AND ORANGE SPARKLE/CHAR TUBES W/CHAR OR ORANGE HEADS.MORE REPORTS TO COME
3-21-14
HAD A QUICK LAST MINUTE TRIP TO ANOTHER LAKE TODAY AND DESPITE A HARD WIND THAT KEPT MY FOOT ON THE TROLLING MOTOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE MANAGED A NICE MESS OF CRAPPIES IN A FEW HOURS.AGAIN SLIP BOBBERS CHART. HEADS BLUE/CHART.SPARKLE TUBES TIPPED WITH WAX WORMS.ITS GONNA TURN ON HARD ONE OF THESE DAYS SOON DONT WAIT TO BOOK YOUR TRIPS
MARCH 2014
SHELBYVILLE 3-20 14
WATER TEMP.39-44
HAD 1ST TRIP OF THE SEASON AND HAD OUR LIMIT OF OVERS AND A FEW UNDERS FISHING THE NORTH END.WE WERE USING SLIP BOBBERS SET AT 2'-7' FISHING 3-10 FOW.
CHART. HEADS AND ORANGE CHART.GLOW TUBES TIPPED WITH WAX WORMS.
LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE WAITING OUT ANOTHER COLD FRONT ON THE 23-25TH THEN BACK AT IT.
SEPT 2012
(SHELBYVILLE)
THE FISHING HAS BEEN GREAT ALL SUMMER AND NOW ITS TIME FOR THE FALL CRAPPIE AND WHITEBASS BITE WHICH IS REALLY FUN,THE FISH START TO MOVE SHALLOW AND ARE EASIER TO FIND.THE CRAPPIE WILL MOVE INTO THE STANDING TIMBER AND SHALLOWER STRUCTURE CLOSER TO THE BANK ON THE MAIN LAKE AND THE WHITES WILL BE ON THE SHALLOW SAND FLATS THAT HAVE WIND ON THEM AND CATCHING 100'S IS PRETTY EASY ONCE YOU FIND THEM.
IF YOU NEED A BREAK FROM SETTING IN A TREE AND WANT TO GET IN ON SOME GREAT FALL ACTION CALL AND BOOK A TRIP.
May 2012
(SHELBYVILLE)
THE CRAPPIE ARE IN ALL STAGES AS OF MAY 7, CATCHING FISH REAL SHALLOW AND IN 15 TO 25 FEET,YOU CAN FISH MINNOWS OR JIGS DEEP OR SHALLOW AND FIND FISH ANY WAY YOU WANT TO CATCH THEM.
THE WHITEBASS CAN BE FOUND ON THE FLATS OR DROPS ON THE EDGES OF THE FLATS IF THE WIND IS BLOWING.
THE WALLEYE FISHING SHOULD START TO PICK UP ANY TIME
(THE MILL)
CRAPPIE ARE STILL GOING AND WITH THE FULL MOON THE BLUEGILL AND REDEAR ARE ON THE BEDS NOW IN THE TIME TO BOOK A TRIP IF YOU LIKE CATCHING THEM.
LATE MAR.\EARLY APRIL 2012
THE WARM SUNNY DAYS HAS THE WATER TEMP. ON THE RISE AGAIN,60-67 AND THE CRAPPIE ARE FEELING IT.BEEN FISHING ON THE OTHER LAKES (NOT SHELBYVILLE) THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS AND ITS GETTING BETTER.
SLIP BOBBERS AND TUBE JIGS HAVE BEEN THE TICKET LATELY,1/4 OZ. TO 1/16 OZ. JIG HEADS DEPENDING ON WHAT DEPTH WE ARE FISHING.
LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GETTING READY FOR SOME MORE COLD NIGHTS FOR A FEW DAYS JUST HOPE IT DOESNT DROP THE WATER TEMP TO MUCH.
MID MARCH 2012
WE HAVE BEEN FISHING SHELBYVILLE AND SEVERAL OTHER LAKES LATELY AND WAS DOING REALLY WELL UNTIL COLD NIGHTS HIT US AND DROPPED WATER TEMPS 10 DEGREES AND PUT THE DAMPER ON OUR CURRENT PATTERNS,HOPEFULLY IT WONT LAST TO LONG.
MAR.2012
FISHING HAS BEEN GOOD ON ALL THE LAKES WE HAVE BEEN GOING TO LATELY, THE CRAPPIE FISHING IS STARTING TO HEAT UP BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING CRAZY YET.WE ARE ENDING THE DAY WITH SOME REALLY NICE STRINGERS OF FISH BUT WE'RE STILL HAVING TO WORK FOR THEM.I KNOW ITS BEEN REALLY WARM FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR AND WHEN WE GET ZAPPED BY SOME COLD FRONTS,AND WE WILL,IT WILL SLOW THEM DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS BUT THATS SPRING FISHING
FEB.29 2012
GOOD DAY ON SHELBYVILLE TODAY WATER TEMP 39 TO 43,THE WIND WAS BRUTAL SO WE DIDNT MAKE A BIG RUN JUST FISHED LICK CREEK.HAD 25 KEEPERS,FISHED 1/4 OZ. JIG 7 TO 9 FT.DEEP UNDER SLIP BOBBER IN 8 TO 13 FOW IN THE STANDING TIMBER.
SHELBYVILLE IS A GREAT LAKE FOR SEVERAL SPECIES OF FISH BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER LAKES AROUND THAT ARE ALSO GREAT,WITH MORE LIBERAL LIMITS THAN SHELBYVILLE.
I'VE CAUGHT CRAPPIE UP TO 18'' BIG BLUEGILL AND REDEAR AND REALLY GOOD CATFISHING ON LAKES OTHER THAN SHELBYVILLE.
I AM NOT NOCKING SHELBYVILLE AT ALL ITS GREAT AND I DO 75% OF MY GUIDING THERE BUT IF YOU DONT WANT TO FIGHT THE TRAFFIC THAT YOU HAVE ON THE BIGGER LAKES,AND CAN ACTUALLY CATCH MORE AND BIGGER FISH ON A SMALLER BODY OF WATER,YOU NEED TO CALL AND BOOK A TRIP. MARCH AND APRIL IS WHEN THE CRAPPIE REALLY GET GOING AND I GET BOOKED UP PRETTY FAST SO CALL EARLY.
OCT.2011
THE CRAPPIE ARE STARTING TO BITE EVERYWHERE,HAD A GOOD TRIP AT THE MILL AND CAUGHT CRAPPIE 4' TO 8' WITH JIGS TIPPED WITH MINNOWS AND JIGS AND WAX WORMS,BOTH WORKED.
THE CRAPPIE ON SHELBYVILLE ARE AT ALL DEPTHS, BEEN USING JIGS TIPPED WITH MINNOWS UNDER SLIP BOBBERS,BUT SEEMS THE LAST WEEK TUBE JIGS AND WAX WORMS HAVE BEEN OUT PRODUCING MINNOWS.
BEEN FISHING 6' TO 12' FEET OF WATER WITH MOST FISH AROUND 8' DEEP UNDER A SLIP BOBBER.
WHITES HAVE BEEN BUSTING IN THE BACK OF THE BIGGER COVES AND ALSO ON FLATS THAT HAVE WIND ON THEM.THIS TIME OF YEAR EVERYTHING IS FEEDING HARD JUST COVER WATER AND YOU'LL FIND FISH
AUG,2011
TRIP TO MILL CREEK, HAD GOOD AFTERNOON CRAPPIE FISHING,FISH ARE IN 14' TO 20'.
FISHING TIGHT LINE AND MINNOW OVER BRUSH AND STUMPS, ALSO HAD LUCK WITH JIG AND MINNOW UNDER SLIP BOBBER SET 7 TO 14' DEEP,AND JUST FLIPPING JIG AND MINNOW PAST STANDING TIMBER, ANY WAY YOU LIKE TO FISH WORKS.
CATCHING LOTS OF BASS DURING THE DAY ALSO.
APRIL-MAY 2011
BEEN GETTING 2 AND 3 MAN CRAPPIE LIMITS ON SHELBYVILLE EVERY TRIP.
CATCHING FISH ON ON TWISTER TAILS BY RUNNING DOWN THE BANKS IN THE BACK OF THE BIG COVES ON THS SOUTH END .COVER WATER TILL YOU HIT POCKETS OF FISH.
NO REAL BIG FISH YET.
YOU CAN ALSO CATCH THEM WITH SLIP BOBBERS AND JIGS IN THE STANDING TIMBER,CATCHING LITTLE BIGGER FISH IN THE 8-12 FT. RANGE.
HAD A QUICK 3 HOUR TRIP FOR WALLEYE ON 5-12 AND CAUGHT 20 SOME WALLEYE ON 2 POINTS AND HAD 7 KEEPERS UP TO 17.5'',SO THEIR GETTING READY TO GET HOT.
5-11-11
HAD A TRIP ON ANOTHER LAKE TODAY,ENDED THE DAY WITH 30 CRAPPIE UP TO 15.5'',4 REDEAR UP TO 3/4 OF A POUND AND4 CATFISH.
WATER TEMP RUNNING IN LOW 70'S SO THE CRAPPIE ARE GOING TO BE DONE SHORTLY,BUT FOR THE BLUEGILL AND REDEAR GUYS IT'S GETTING HOT.
THE BLUEGILL ARE NICE IN THIS LAKE SO IF YOUR INTO THAT CALL FOR A TRIP SOON.
WE ALSO CAUGHT OVER 30 BASS JUST FISHING FOR CRAPPIE SO IF YOU WANT TO GO ON A BASS TRIP NOWS THE TIME.I WOULD'NT BE SCARED TO SAY WE COULD CATCH 50-100 BASS A DAY.
I KNOW THEIR KILLING TOP WATER BAITS RIGHT NOW.
5-24-11
CRAPPIE/BLUEGILL TRIP ON MATTOON CITY LAKE TODAY,THE CRAPPIE ARE NOT DONE WITH THE SPAWN LIKE ALOT ARE SAYING.
BLUEGILL ARE UP ON THE BEDS,CRAPPIE ARE AROUND THE DOCKS AND SHALLOW BRUSH/ROCKS/WEEDS.
THE WATER TEMP. WAS 70-73 BUT THAT IS SURFACE TEMP.SO 3 OR 4 FEET DOWN IT IS A LITTLE COOLER.
MOST OF THE CRAPPIE STILL ARE FULL OF EGGS AND SOME EVEN LOOKED LIKE THEY ARE'NT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING READY.
5-25-11
A DIFFERENT LAKE TODAY,WATER TEMP. 70-74.
CAUGHT 14 BIG REDEAR SOME NEAR A POUND,BLUEGILL AND CRAPPIE.
CRAPPIE STILL NOT DONE WITH SPAWN,BLUEGILL/REDEAR ON BEDS,FAST ACTION,COULD OF HAD BUCKETS FULL BUT THE STORMS BLEW US OFF THE LAKE.
5-31-11
TRIP TO LAKE MATTOON,SAME CONDITIONS AS THE 24TH,CRAPPIE STILL HAVE NOT SPAWNED OUT YET.CATCHING NICE FISH
6-10-11 SHELBYVILLE
BEEN CATCHING 2 AND 3 MAN LIMITS OF WALLEYE ALMOST EVERY TRIP.CRANKBAITS OR DRAGGING TWISTERS AND NIGHT CRAWLERS ON BOTTOM HAS BEEN THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN CATCHING OUR FISH.
YOU REALLY NEED WIND IF YOUR FISHING SHALLOW,WHEN THE WIND SHUTS DOWN THE FISHING GETS TOUGH.FISHING DEEPER IF THE WIND STOPS.
WHITES SHOULD START TO PICK UP ANYTIME.
6-21-11 SHELBYVILLE
- WHITEBASS ARE BUSTING SHAD AND CATCHING 100'S OF FISH IN A SHORT TIME IS COMMON.THROWING DOUBLE TWISTER TAILS OR SASSY SHAD IF THEY ARE SHALLOW OR IF THEY ARE DEEP OFF OF THE DROPS, USING 1OZ.JIGGING SPOON AND JUST RIPPING IT OFF THE BOTTOM AND LETTING IT FLUTTER BACK DOWN.SOME DAYS THEY ARE HARD TO FIND, BUT AS IT GETS HOT OUT THE FISHING WILL ALSO GET HOT.
STILL CATCHING WALLEYE,SOMEDAYS THEY ARE SHALLOW IN THE WEEDS IF THE WIND IS BLOWING AND OTHER DAYS THEY ARE DEEP AND HARD TO FIND,EACH DAY IS A DIFFERENT GAME.THROWING 3'' TWISTERS WITH NIGHTCRAWLER COVERING THE HOOK OR USING CRANKBAITS IN THE WEEDS.
WHEN THEY ARE SHALLOW
FISHING REPORTS
12 4-4-2019
I have decided to no longer guide on Mill Creek due to the crazy price increase in launch fees and stupid Crappie limits on what size fish you are allowed to keep and I will also be no longer Guiding on Lake Sara.
Lake shelbyville,Mattoon and Charleston are all great lakes and offer a variety on fish species to choose from. Book early!
3-26-2019
Tha Crappie fishing has started and looks like another great year ahead! Water temps right now are 43-47 and I am still catching fish on deep main lake brush 14'-25' deep either tite lining a jig in the brush on cloudy days or floating a jig and bobber over the top of the piles on sunny days. It's only gonna get better from here on out so dont wait too long to book your trips.
I have been on another lake early in march and did really well on some limits of 12"-141/2" fish. I will be Crappie fishing until the end of may or early june untill they are done with the spawn then it will be on to walleye/sauger and white bass for alot of the summer. I will still do some crappie fishing this summer when they move back out to the main lake brush piles so the summer fishing is a mixed bag of wallys whites and crappie. I fish anoth lake also in the summer as the crappie fishing is also good there on main lake brush during the hot months.
Follow me on facebook to keep up with the fishing reports as it is easier for me to post on there than to put the info on this site and we can message each other easier if you have any questions.
Good fishing!
5-30 -2018
The fishing on Shelbyville is great right now,I am still catching some Crappie but I am starting to go after the Walleye and Whitebass, most of the Crappie are done but there are still some shallow finishing up the spawn.the Crappie fishing this year has been really great one of the best and easiest years with lots of fish being caught.We will still do some summer Crappie fishing but we will mainly be Walleye/Whitebass fishing now. I am catching a mixed bag of fish now so if you want Crappie/Walleye/Whitebass now is the time.
5-1 -2018
The water temps on Shelbyville are starting to move into the 60's so the fishing is going to get red hot in the next few weeks.I have been catching most of my fish in 15' to 25' of water on the main lake points over brush,throwing a 1/4 oz. jig with a variety of jigs and catching 100's a day.
I did finally find some fish shallow in a pocket in the back of a cove but they had just moved in so its only getting started.The eggs are still small and it will still take a couple weeks to get into full on spawn,you might find some early fish here and there but the majority are still suspended out in deeper water waiting to move in.You just have to remember that they dont build their eggs sacks over night and if the water is 65 that is surface temp and its not that warm 4 or 5 feet down.
4-21-2018
4-22-2018
Fishing at Shelbyville is hot, we are catching fish on the south end off the drops and points over brush with jigs,going through alot of unders right now but we are catching over 100 fish a day and that keeps it fun.
4-18-2018
The Crappie are biting on Shelbyville and it's gonna get real good shortly.
I have been fishing deep on the south end over brush and drops and catching alot of fish.Don't wait to get in on the action because its good NOW!
3-4 -2018
The Crappie have been biting on Shelbyville despite the crazy weather,I have been catching them off deep brush mid lake to the south end.With the recent rains the water will be coming up and getting muddier but we will still be able to catch fish as the weather will be getting better so dont wait to book trips as I will be filled up if you wait for nice weather.
3-20-2018 LAKE SHELBYVILLE WATER TEMP 43-46
- CRAPPIE ARE BEING CAUGHT AT ALOT OF DEPTHS RIGHT NOW 2'-6'UNDER A BOBBER IN STANDING TIMBER FROM THE NORTH END THROUGH MID LAKE AREAS.
- SUNNY DAYS THE STANDING TIMBER IS GOOD,TRY DIFFERENT DEPTHS TILL YOU START HITTING FISH AND KEEP MOVING AND COVER ALOT OF WATER
- THERE IS STILL TONS OF FISH DEEP ON BRUSHPILES NEXT TO THE DROPS AND SUSPENDED IN DEEP WATER,USE YOU ELECTRONICS TO FIND THESE AREAS.
- BEEN CATCHING FISH ON THE SOUTH END 12' DEEP UNDER BOBBER OVER STUMPS AND BRUSH.
- -1-4-2017
As you can tell I dont keep the reports on this site as often as I should but I do try to put them on my ILLINOIS HOTSPOTS GUIDE SERVICE OR LAKESHELBYVILLEGUIDESERVICE.COM page on facebook so friend me at Todd Laughhunn and you will get more up to date reports.
2016 was a great year and I did add another lake in 2016 due to several requests and had a good year there in Effingham on Lake Sara and look forward to doing it again this year.
I will be at the Arthur outdoor expo Feb. 10-11th 2017 booking up for the 2017 season and also selling Ozark crappie rods so come on out and get a date booked on 1 or several central Illinois lakes this year.
I also added all new electronics in 2016 with 4 Lowrance units so the fishing has become a little easier as I can locate brushpiles and such a little quicker and with more accuracy than before,so give me a call and get your trips booked.Looking forward to another great year! 217-259-7621 Todd
4-30-2016
Been fishing Shelbyville and Mattoon lately and the crappie fishing is good to great when we have a few consecutive days of stable weather,the rain and cold fronts nock them a little and make it a little tougher for a couple days but can still manage a nice mess.
Have been fishing a slip cork and jig tipped with wax worms or throwing twister tails.The big females have not moved in yet but we are still catching nice fish and lots of smaller ones right now.The water temp. has been anywhere from 56-66 depending on what lake or where we are fishing on the lake.The temp is getting right for the spawn to start but the fish still have to have the right amount of time to build they're egg sacks and that doesn't happen overnight no matter how fast the water warms up.
Going to be hitting Lake Sara in Effingham in May so If you want a trip there to try at nice big crappie get in touch with me soon because open dates are running out.
4-20-2015
WATER TEMP. 57-64
Had trips on all the lakes that I guide on the last 2 weeks and they all are coming on,the crappie are starting to head for the bank with the water temps pushing into the 60's and we have been catching them 2 to 4 feet under a slip bobber with tube jigs and wax worms for the most part.The cold temps at night this week might back them off a little but it wont last long,just cover water till you hit pockets of them and work different depths till you find them.Get your trips booked before its over by the end of May or so and then we'll be ready to get after the walleye on Shelbyville.
4-1-2015
WATER TEMP. 40-49
1st trip to Mill Creek in 2015 and we managed 26 crappie that we kept,with 5 over 13''.
All the fish were caught in 7-10 fow fishing 4'-5' down under a slip bobber.
Using 1/8 and 1/4 oz jigheads in char or orange and purple sparkle/char or blue sparlke/char tube jigs filled with crappie nibbles and tipped with a wax worm.the fish seamed to be in the upper half of the water column near wood where the water was warmer.We were fishing the dirtiest water we could find and not the clearer deeper water since the dirty water warms quicker and the warmest water will hold fish in the early spring time.
3-16-2015
WATER TEMP. 40-43
1ST TRIP OF THE YEAR WE ENDED UP WITH 30 CRAPPIE AND A BONUS SAUGER,FISHING SLIP BOBBER AND 1/8 OZ. TUBE JIG 6'-7' DEEP ON THE 1ST DROP.SMOKE GLOW AND ORANGE SPARKLE/CHAR TUBES W/CHAR OR ORANGE HEADS.MORE REPORTS TO COME
3-21-14
HAD A QUICK LAST MINUTE TRIP TO ANOTHER LAKE TODAY AND DESPITE A HARD WIND THAT KEPT MY FOOT ON THE TROLLING MOTOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE MANAGED A NICE MESS OF CRAPPIES IN A FEW HOURS.AGAIN SLIP BOBBERS CHART. HEADS BLUE/CHART.SPARKLE TUBES TIPPED WITH WAX WORMS.ITS GONNA TURN ON HARD ONE OF THESE DAYS SOON DONT WAIT TO BOOK YOUR TRIPS
MARCH 2014
SHELBYVILLE 3-20 14
WATER TEMP.39-44
HAD 1ST TRIP OF THE SEASON AND HAD OUR LIMIT OF OVERS AND A FEW UNDERS FISHING THE NORTH END.WE WERE USING SLIP BOBBERS SET AT 2'-7' FISHING 3-10 FOW.
CHART. HEADS AND ORANGE CHART.GLOW TUBES TIPPED WITH WAX WORMS.
LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE WAITING OUT ANOTHER COLD FRONT ON THE 23-25TH THEN BACK AT IT.
SEPT 2012
(SHELBYVILLE)
THE FISHING HAS BEEN GREAT ALL SUMMER AND NOW ITS TIME FOR THE FALL CRAPPIE AND WHITEBASS BITE WHICH IS REALLY FUN,THE FISH START TO MOVE SHALLOW AND ARE EASIER TO FIND.THE CRAPPIE WILL MOVE INTO THE STANDING TIMBER AND SHALLOWER STRUCTURE CLOSER TO THE BANK ON THE MAIN LAKE AND THE WHITES WILL BE ON THE SHALLOW SAND FLATS THAT HAVE WIND ON THEM AND CATCHING 100'S IS PRETTY EASY ONCE YOU FIND THEM.
IF YOU NEED A BREAK FROM SETTING IN A TREE AND WANT TO GET IN ON SOME GREAT FALL ACTION CALL AND BOOK A TRIP.
May 2012
(SHELBYVILLE)
THE CRAPPIE ARE IN ALL STAGES AS OF MAY 7, CATCHING FISH REAL SHALLOW AND IN 15 TO 25 FEET,YOU CAN FISH MINNOWS OR JIGS DEEP OR SHALLOW AND FIND FISH ANY WAY YOU WANT TO CATCH THEM.
THE WHITEBASS CAN BE FOUND ON THE FLATS OR DROPS ON THE EDGES OF THE FLATS IF THE WIND IS BLOWING.
THE WALLEYE FISHING SHOULD START TO PICK UP ANY TIME
(THE MILL)
CRAPPIE ARE STILL GOING AND WITH THE FULL MOON THE BLUEGILL AND REDEAR ARE ON THE BEDS NOW IN THE TIME TO BOOK A TRIP IF YOU LIKE CATCHING THEM.
LATE MAR.\EARLY APRIL 2012
THE WARM SUNNY DAYS HAS THE WATER TEMP. ON THE RISE AGAIN,60-67 AND THE CRAPPIE ARE FEELING IT.BEEN FISHING ON THE OTHER LAKES (NOT SHELBYVILLE) THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS AND ITS GETTING BETTER.
SLIP BOBBERS AND TUBE JIGS HAVE BEEN THE TICKET LATELY,1/4 OZ. TO 1/16 OZ. JIG HEADS DEPENDING ON WHAT DEPTH WE ARE FISHING.
LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GETTING READY FOR SOME MORE COLD NIGHTS FOR A FEW DAYS JUST HOPE IT DOESNT DROP THE WATER TEMP TO MUCH.
MID MARCH 2012
WE HAVE BEEN FISHING SHELBYVILLE AND SEVERAL OTHER LAKES LATELY AND WAS DOING REALLY WELL UNTIL COLD NIGHTS HIT US AND DROPPED WATER TEMPS 10 DEGREES AND PUT THE DAMPER ON OUR CURRENT PATTERNS,HOPEFULLY IT WONT LAST TO LONG.
MAR.2012
FISHING HAS BEEN GOOD ON ALL THE LAKES WE HAVE BEEN GOING TO LATELY, THE CRAPPIE FISHING IS STARTING TO HEAT UP BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING CRAZY YET.WE ARE ENDING THE DAY WITH SOME REALLY NICE STRINGERS OF FISH BUT WE'RE STILL HAVING TO WORK FOR THEM.I KNOW ITS BEEN REALLY WARM FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR AND WHEN WE GET ZAPPED BY SOME COLD FRONTS,AND WE WILL,IT WILL SLOW THEM DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS BUT THATS SPRING FISHING
FEB.29 2012
GOOD DAY ON SHELBYVILLE TODAY WATER TEMP 39 TO 43,THE WIND WAS BRUTAL SO WE DIDNT MAKE A BIG RUN JUST FISHED LICK CREEK.HAD 25 KEEPERS,FISHED 1/4 OZ. JIG 7 TO 9 FT.DEEP UNDER SLIP BOBBER IN 8 TO 13 FOW IN THE STANDING TIMBER.
SHELBYVILLE IS A GREAT LAKE FOR SEVERAL SPECIES OF FISH BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER LAKES AROUND THAT ARE ALSO GREAT,WITH MORE LIBERAL LIMITS THAN SHELBYVILLE.
I'VE CAUGHT CRAPPIE UP TO 18'' BIG BLUEGILL AND REDEAR AND REALLY GOOD CATFISHING ON LAKES OTHER THAN SHELBYVILLE.
I AM NOT NOCKING SHELBYVILLE AT ALL ITS GREAT AND I DO 75% OF MY GUIDING THERE BUT IF YOU DONT WANT TO FIGHT THE TRAFFIC THAT YOU HAVE ON THE BIGGER LAKES,AND CAN ACTUALLY CATCH MORE AND BIGGER FISH ON A SMALLER BODY OF WATER,YOU NEED TO CALL AND BOOK A TRIP. MARCH AND APRIL IS WHEN THE CRAPPIE REALLY GET GOING AND I GET BOOKED UP PRETTY FAST SO CALL EARLY.
OCT.2011
THE CRAPPIE ARE STARTING TO BITE EVERYWHERE,HAD A GOOD TRIP AT THE MILL AND CAUGHT CRAPPIE 4' TO 8' WITH JIGS TIPPED WITH MINNOWS AND JIGS AND WAX WORMS,BOTH WORKED.
THE CRAPPIE ON SHELBYVILLE ARE AT ALL DEPTHS, BEEN USING JIGS TIPPED WITH MINNOWS UNDER SLIP BOBBERS,BUT SEEMS THE LAST WEEK TUBE JIGS AND WAX WORMS HAVE BEEN OUT PRODUCING MINNOWS.
BEEN FISHING 6' TO 12' FEET OF WATER WITH MOST FISH AROUND 8' DEEP UNDER A SLIP BOBBER.
WHITES HAVE BEEN BUSTING IN THE BACK OF THE BIGGER COVES AND ALSO ON FLATS THAT HAVE WIND ON THEM.THIS TIME OF YEAR EVERYTHING IS FEEDING HARD JUST COVER WATER AND YOU'LL FIND FISH
AUG,2011
TRIP TO MILL CREEK, HAD GOOD AFTERNOON CRAPPIE FISHING,FISH ARE IN 14' TO 20'.
FISHING TIGHT LINE AND MINNOW OVER BRUSH AND STUMPS, ALSO HAD LUCK WITH JIG AND MINNOW UNDER SLIP BOBBER SET 7 TO 14' DEEP,AND JUST FLIPPING JIG AND MINNOW PAST STANDING TIMBER, ANY WAY YOU LIKE TO FISH WORKS.
CATCHING LOTS OF BASS DURING THE DAY ALSO.
APRIL-MAY 2011
BEEN GETTING 2 AND 3 MAN CRAPPIE LIMITS ON SHELBYVILLE EVERY TRIP.
CATCHING FISH ON ON TWISTER TAILS BY RUNNING DOWN THE BANKS IN THE BACK OF THE BIG COVES ON THS SOUTH END .COVER WATER TILL YOU HIT POCKETS OF FISH.
NO REAL BIG FISH YET.
YOU CAN ALSO CATCH THEM WITH SLIP BOBBERS AND JIGS IN THE STANDING TIMBER,CATCHING LITTLE BIGGER FISH IN THE 8-12 FT. RANGE.
HAD A QUICK 3 HOUR TRIP FOR WALLEYE ON 5-12 AND CAUGHT 20 SOME WALLEYE ON 2 POINTS AND HAD 7 KEEPERS UP TO 17.5'',SO THEIR GETTING READY TO GET HOT.
5-11-11
HAD A TRIP ON ANOTHER LAKE TODAY,ENDED THE DAY WITH 30 CRAPPIE UP TO 15.5'',4 REDEAR UP TO 3/4 OF A POUND AND4 CATFISH.
WATER TEMP RUNNING IN LOW 70'S SO THE CRAPPIE ARE GOING TO BE DONE SHORTLY,BUT FOR THE BLUEGILL AND REDEAR GUYS IT'S GETTING HOT.
THE BLUEGILL ARE NICE IN THIS LAKE SO IF YOUR INTO THAT CALL FOR A TRIP SOON.
WE ALSO CAUGHT OVER 30 BASS JUST FISHING FOR CRAPPIE SO IF YOU WANT TO GO ON A BASS TRIP NOWS THE TIME.I WOULD'NT BE SCARED TO SAY WE COULD CATCH 50-100 BASS A DAY.
I KNOW THEIR KILLING TOP WATER BAITS RIGHT NOW.
5-24-11
CRAPPIE/BLUEGILL TRIP ON MATTOON CITY LAKE TODAY,THE CRAPPIE ARE NOT DONE WITH THE SPAWN LIKE ALOT ARE SAYING.
BLUEGILL ARE UP ON THE BEDS,CRAPPIE ARE AROUND THE DOCKS AND SHALLOW BRUSH/ROCKS/WEEDS.
THE WATER TEMP. WAS 70-73 BUT THAT IS SURFACE TEMP.SO 3 OR 4 FEET DOWN IT IS A LITTLE COOLER.
MOST OF THE CRAPPIE STILL ARE FULL OF EGGS AND SOME EVEN LOOKED LIKE THEY ARE'NT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING READY.
5-25-11
A DIFFERENT LAKE TODAY,WATER TEMP. 70-74.
CAUGHT 14 BIG REDEAR SOME NEAR A POUND,BLUEGILL AND CRAPPIE.
CRAPPIE STILL NOT DONE WITH SPAWN,BLUEGILL/REDEAR ON BEDS,FAST ACTION,COULD OF HAD BUCKETS FULL BUT THE STORMS BLEW US OFF THE LAKE.
5-31-11
TRIP TO LAKE MATTOON,SAME CONDITIONS AS THE 24TH,CRAPPIE STILL HAVE NOT SPAWNED OUT YET.CATCHING NICE FISH
6-10-11 SHELBYVILLE
BEEN CATCHING 2 AND 3 MAN LIMITS OF WALLEYE ALMOST EVERY TRIP.CRANKBAITS OR DRAGGING TWISTERS AND NIGHT CRAWLERS ON BOTTOM HAS BEEN THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN CATCHING OUR FISH.
YOU REALLY NEED WIND IF YOUR FISHING SHALLOW,WHEN THE WIND SHUTS DOWN THE FISHING GETS TOUGH.FISHING DEEPER IF THE WIND STOPS.
WHITES SHOULD START TO PICK UP ANYTIME.
6-21-11 SHELBYVILLE
- WHITEBASS ARE BUSTING SHAD AND CATCHING 100'S OF FISH IN A SHORT TIME IS COMMON.THROWING DOUBLE TWISTER TAILS OR SASSY SHAD IF THEY ARE SHALLOW OR IF THEY ARE DEEP OFF OF THE DROPS, USING 1OZ.JIGGING SPOON AND JUST RIPPING IT OFF THE BOTTOM AND LETTING IT FLUTTER BACK DOWN.SOME DAYS THEY ARE HARD TO FIND, BUT AS IT GETS HOT OUT THE FISHING WILL ALSO GET HOT.
STILL CATCHING WALLEYE,SOMEDAYS THEY ARE SHALLOW IN THE WEEDS IF THE WIND IS BLOWING AND OTHER DAYS THEY ARE DEEP AND HARD TO FIND,EACH DAY IS A DIFFERENT GAME.THROWING 3'' TWISTERS WITH NIGHTCRAWLER COVERING THE HOOK OR USING CRANKBAITS IN THE WEEDS.
WHEN THEY ARE SHALLOW t