Hey everyone, I'm From Rock Falls, IL and was looking for good large mouth bass fishing locations close to home and some techniques you use to catch them. I don't own a boat so please keep it on the shore.

Also you can include and good ponds or lakes for panfish if you know any because all my fishing holes are getting to popular.

Thanks
-Dave A.

I live in Morrison, IL and maily fish Lake Carlton at the state park. I've been catching some baas the past few days. Been using shallow diving crankbaits, spinerbaits and a snag-proof mouse. With the mouse, I caught a 15"er hiding under the weeds. I've only had my boat out once this year so far. But I am looking for a canoe to use on a private lake I have access to from another NAFC member.

Other than Lake Carlton, I would say your best bets would be going to Shabbona Lake or the Mississippi River in Clinton area.

Lifetime member since 1999

Thanks for the reply, me and a friend are going fishing this weekend and we will probably be going to the lake in Morrison to test it out since Shabbona is about an hour away compared to 20 minutes for Morrison, and then maybe to Clinton. So thanks for the insight on lures and fishing spots it was greatly appreciated since I'm just now starting to be more serious about fishing then when I was when I was younger.

So thanks again
Dave A.

Well I recently fished lake Carlton and caught a nice size bass on a drop shot with a watermelon colored worm. I'm quite happy about the location i only caught one fishj but only fished 3 hours and the weather was not all that great that day either. I suggest to anyone in the area to try fishing there i plan to go back and use my scum frog on the lilly pads. Also while i was there i seen a truck that looked like it was camo color with a NAFC sticker on the window not sure if that person is on these forums but i thought i was cool to acctually see another member from my area.

7 Words you will never want to hear in your life. "Hi im Chris Hanson with dateline NBC"

Dave: Glad to hear that you are catching close to home. I live in the NW suburban Chi. area near the Fox Chain. The problem with the chain is the recreational traffic, after 11 AM on a weekend, you take your life in hand to fish these waters. I mostly fish local Park District and County Cons. Dist. lakes with an occasional trip(midweek, when I can get time off) up to the chain. I also get out on Lk. Michigan on my buddy's 30' Trojan for Salmon when opportunity permits. Tight lines. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

Thanks for the reply Tom, It's always good to hear from other members and how they are doing. And I have always wanted to go salmon fishing but have never had the chance hopefully i will get a chance before to long.

_______________________________
~7 Words you will never want to hear in your life. "Hi im Chris Hanson with dateline NBC"~

Dave,

Glad to hear you at least caught something. I went out last weekend for a bout 5 hours and cught 5 bass. Biggest was 16 inces and right at 1 pound. Caught on a Snag-Proof mouse again.

It wasn't me with the sticker. I drive a Maroon 1993 S-10.

Lifetime member since 1999

I have never really used them snag proof frogs/mouse before but i recently used one out at a quarry I have permission to fish and right on the weeds about 3 feet from the shore I caught a good 6 pound bass and i have carried snag proof frog and other snag proof lures like the frog with me where ever I go fishing just because its the perfect solution to fishing the places nothing else would really work.

__________________________________________ 7 Words you will never want to hear in your life. "Hi im Chris Hanson with dateline NBC"

The SnagProof frogs are less expensive than some other frogs and I think they work better. I don't have prbolems with legs making it track offline or hanging up on weeds.
Lifetime member since 1999

crank baits while bank fihsing lake shelbyville are hittng big and crappies off pink lures if u need a hole down hear u can stay at eagle creek get in touch with me and i can take u to a lot of bank fishing spots