Do you love big bluegill?
Cooling Lakes About To Open !
On March 1st, the first cooling lake in Illinois will open to fishing. All Winter I have been thinking about an article I read here (but can't find anymore) about spoon fishing for bluegills. I'm ready to go out and buy some (spoons) but I need to know if it is worth the trouble since I mainly fish from shore. Can anyone with bluegill spoon fishing expertise give any helpful advice ?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Josh Milczski (Omaha) on -
Curious as to what the heck a cooling lake was I did a search and found this - http://www.illinoisgameandfish.com/fishing/IL_0106_02/. Not sure if it's the article you're looking for, but pretty informative for your location. Pretty neat.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Hinton on -
Hey Josh
Thanks for the reply and the link. I was aware of that article and Braidwood is the cooling lake of my choice. I fish there often. Best of luck on your next outing.
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Permalink Reply by Johnny wilkins on -
I am wondering if because the water in the cooling lakes is heated if this heat is enough to keep the shore a little warmer?
Also, are either of the lakes still warmed by an active power plant? Just wondering and getting cabin fever.
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Permalink Reply by Johnny wilkins on
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Thank you for the cooling lake link. I will do some reading and Googling locations from that information. My car may be headed out there to answer some of these questions- ROAD trip! First I need some fresh bait...
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Permalink Reply by Chris Salmon on -
all i know about them is i know they work, i seen them used on videos and any new articles about them. But as for using them i've never used them so i don't have an answer other than that they work.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Hinton on
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Thanks Christopher,
I'll do a posting after I try them for the first time.
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Permalink Reply by Jim Gronaw on -
The man to talk to is Bill 'Musky' Modica... he is the spoondaddy of bluegilling and has numerous blogs, discussions and a group called North American Spoon Chuckers on this very site. He got me started last year spoonin for gills and it is very well worth your effort. And yes, you can do this from the shore.
Check him out, Joe, and I'll try to get back on here with the success that I have had with spoons after Bill get's it started!
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Permalink Reply by Joe Hinton on
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Thanks Jim,
I'll go to Bill's page right after I'm through here. Hope I can have the same kind of fortune that you've had at spooning.
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Permalink Reply by Johnny wilkins on
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Does the cooling lake have gills big enough for spoon fishing? Most of our gills in my region are very tiny near Chicago. i am curious as I would head there with only about a :30 minute drive for me to get to the cooling lake.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Hinton on
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Thanks John,
Braidwood Lake is about an hours drive from where I live, I don't know just how big the bluegills have to be in order to catch with a spoon, I do know that there some pretty big gills in that cooling lake 6 to 10 inches easy.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Hinton on
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Thanks 2lbgill,
Would I be correct in assuming that you catch 2 pounders pretty regular or is catching one your goal ?
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