Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.

Ice conditions are fading fast. There is six inches of frozen slush on top of a base layer of 3-4 inches of clear ice. There is a pocket of water between the two layers. By the time I came off the ice after a morning of fishing, I busted through the top layer of slush a few times and the shorelines were getting soft. With the weeks forecast, the season will be coming to an end.

Bass have been very good during early morning hours on Northland buck shot rattle spoons. Flats with remaining green weeds adjacent to deep water have produced the best bite.

Bluegill have been decent on Vexan tungsten jigs tipped with multiple spikes. Weed flats have been good during early morning hours and work out along the outside weed lines  as the morning goes on to keep up with the active biters.

Fishing was slower on Saturday. Caught about 10 12-14” LMB and 1 13” crappie. Ice was about 8” can see the top 4” was starting to soften a little. Doubt ice will be safe much longer. 

Fished subdivision pond. Slow go. Caught one crappie 10” and a few gills is about 2 hours. Still lots of lookers and not many takers. fishing BRC this weekend and will post results. Watch for slush and shorelines!

Fished local subdivision pond last night.  Same story as previous outings.  Fish were tight lipped until an hour after dark and then the feedbag was turned on.  Nailed crappies and gills non stop for 2 hours.  Kept a few for the pan most are still swimming.  Time for the rubber boots as the melt off made it really sloppy out there. 

Ice was 6-8”

And found the crappie in 20’ suspending from bottom to about 14’. 

Arthur your 10" gill is not a gill, it is a redeared sunfish sometimes called shellcracker.  Great catch nevertheless.

Fished a private pond in Lindenhurst area this afternoon from 3 til 530 . I caught lots of nice gills on jig and plastic . When I was packing up my tip up went off  right as I was walking to pick it up. I got this nice 14inch crappie on a small roach minnow. Walking out sucked but the action made it worth it. 

Fished a private pond in Henry Country today from 8-2:30. Caught fish consistently all day. Threw back many gills under 7”. Two of us kept 30 or so, plus one crappie and other guy kept two bass. I caught 10” gill, a personal best. Wax worm, mousies, minnow, various color jigs. Didn’t seem to matter. 

I went out on a small 3-4 acre pond near Mokena.  Ice was a solid 4".  Fished about 12:30pm-5pm or so and caught 6 nice bass within the first two hours on tipups, very slow after that.  I did catch a handful of bluegills, but couldn't get anything with decent size.  Overall it was just nice to get on the ice.

My wife did not want  to watch the bears loose so I grab my radio and went fishing from 3 til 5 on a little subdivision pond . Glad  I did.   I got rewarded with some very cooperative  fish I got 13 crappies and 12 or so gills all fish caught on white plastic.  Most gills where around 8 inches most of the crappies where 10 to 11 inches but 3 where over 13 inches .  All fish caught in 6 foot of water.