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[bassin butch]

New to the board folks!  Question are there any Smallies to be caught in and around Waukegan Harbor?  I fish Sturgeon Bay every spring and have a blast. Seems like a few might be had a little close to home.

Bassin
Butch

[skeeterman190]

  Firstly welcome to the board.Theres alot of great guys and gals here and some really good fisherman. Now to your question the smallie population is booming on Lake Michigan all over. Its gonna take a few years to rival some of the others but there here. I live on Lake Michigan myself and fish it quite a bit on the southern end.(Michigan City,Portage,East Chicago) The smallies are definately hot early in the year around the begining of April with numerous 4 and 5 lb fish.But you can definately catch them all year. Find some steel walls and rocks and go to town. You should check out Extreme Bass Tackle here on the site,Wayne Carpenter makes some great tubes that work on these smallies(great lakes craw) my fav, but the new color hes got out (St.Clair Crayfish) is gonna put alot of great lakes smallies in the boat this year. Hope i could help, if you got anymore question email me (skeeterman190@yahoo.com) or send me a message on here.-skeeterman-

[UAWBigDog]

Hi Butch,
Welcome to the board.  I have some limited experience in the Chicagoland area for fishing.  I have fished around Wilmette, Waukegan, and the downtown area where Woo Daves won the classic.  My sister and her family lives in Wilmette and my sister-in-law and her family live in Lake-In-The-Hills which is real close to Algonquin. 

I agree with Skeeterman.  The smallmouth population is definitely on the upswing in the Chicago area and actually all over Lake Michigan.  It has a ways to go before it catches up to St. Clair and Erie.  But it is on the upswing.  I have done well around the Waukegan area in the spring and fall.  Haven't experience that much during the dog days of summer.  There are a lot of 3 and 4 lb fish that are catchable during those times.  And it is consistant for the most part.  I usually make a trip there in the spring and another in the fall.  I usually take my boat so that I can go fishing.

I have also been on the Fox Chain as well as other inland waters around Lake-In-The-Hills.  Perhaps on my next trip we can hook up and go fishing.  I am really interested in going out near the downtown area and fish for the fish that Woo Daves won on.  I have some knowledge of the area thanks to my sister's husband who is an avid bass fisherman himself.

BD             

[bassin butch]

Skeeterman and big dog thank you for the replies! I knew there must be some smallies down my way and I intend to give the harbor a try. Big dog I see you have Champion and Dodge on the bottom of your post. We have something in common partner: I own a Champ and pull it with a Dodge. Would like to fish with you in the Harbor. Ping me with an e-mail and maybe we can hit the water this spring.

 Bassin Butch

[UAWBigDog]

I work for Chrysler, LLC and wouldn't tow my boat with anything other than a Chrysler product.  I love my Champion and Angler's Marine is owned by a good friend of mine.  He sells Champions.  He services my boat and I would recommend his service to anyone.  He has a couple of good mechanics there and they take the time to make sure it is done right the first time.

At any rate, I would with you driving a Dodge and owning a Champ is a good excuse for us to hook up and go fishing.

BD           

[bassin butch]

Big Dog anyone that has not: owned, driven, or riden in a Champ does'nt know what they're missing.
The link below is a Champ video hope it works?

http://www.myoutdoortv.com/pdk/web/showroomplayer.html?autoPlay=true&videoURL=b7T3XrxtR1Nv5X8edLlV2DbORbF6d6dH



Bassin Butch