About 12 inches still. Been a slow year compared to the last few. Tons of fish marking in 18 fow but tough to get them to bite. Caught some nice Crappie this year, had a night where we pulled in about 13, couple over 11 inches. Thats about it. No flags for the 2nd straight year. No matter where we set them they never go up. Love getting out there still, just wish the fishing was a little better this year.
Bangs Lake, Lake County

I hope everyone had a great time this weekend for the fishing tournament, I would like to hear what the biggest fish was.
Unfortunately I couldn't make it up there this year because money is tight and with the possible chance of catching covid, I'm unfortunately in the high risk category. I hope they had a big turnout for the derby because the proceeds go to a great cause.
10 inches
Partly Sunny
Below 40° F
26° - 30° F
Yesterday I fished in front of Lindy's again from 2 - 7. Only caught one dink gill from 2 - 5:30. Ended up with several 9 1/2" - 9 3/4" crappie between 5:30 and 6;30. The crappie all hit a #8 gold tru turn hook with a tail hooked minnow under a slip bobber fished within 2' of the bottom. Was marking fish all day but just couldn't get them to go. The snow on the ice sure makes it a lot tougher to drag the gear around.
So it looks like we're going to have cold weather till the fishing derby starting on the 28th and hopefully the ice will over 15 inches thick by then.
Them 3 crappie's would of made a great meal, but I'm glad you through them back if you didn't have the time to clean them that night and I hope you catch them again the next time you are out fishing and have the time to make them into a nice meal.
8 inches
Fun day on Bang's. Fished in front of Lindy's in 8 FOW. Started at 2:00 and fished till 7:00. During the afternoon all I could find were dink gills...I'm talking 2" - 4". Then came the magic hour. At 5:00 I hooked up with an 11+" crappie. He hit a small Kastmaster with 3 spikes dressing the treble. At 5:30 I got a 10" crappie on a glow rat finke and a small minnow. at 5:45, the third crappie ("10") also hit the rat finke/minnow. All fish were caught within 2 foot from the bottom. Today was a catch and release day.
The last info I have says the derby will be held on January 28-29th starting at 1 PM on Friday thru 3 PM saturday. $25 to enter. Website is: waucondaicefishingderby.com. Telephone info is: (224) 634-0029.
Bobo...not against the rules to my knowledge. In MN I know they are not allowed. I scanned the IL regs and cannot find anything prohibiting them.