Snake Den Eyes

[pjwatson05]

Hi my name is Paul I am a new member
Have any of you ever fished for the walleyes in Mc Masters I know they are there I have seen pictures and a couple guys who have caught them when I was crappie fishing. Thinking of taking my boat out there next week sometime. I only live about 10 minutes away from there.

[Schoe]

I have never fished that area down there but we have a couple members on here that do.

That's a nice looking Trout in your avitar. Schoe

[pjwatson05]

32 1/2 inch Steelhead I caught in Washington State when I was stationed there in the Army she was a beauty and full of eggs

[Rainman4u2]

Hi PJ!!! I live not far from Snakeden, and have only seen one eye come out of that lake. We were using dip worms one evening, and one hit the worm on the retrieve back to shore. He was little, but at least we knew they were there. As much gravel, drop offs, and humps that lake has, I'm pretty sure there has to be some big ones in there.

To be honest, I mostly wish the west side lakes for red ear, and channels. PM me some time, and I'll meet you for some fishing.

Ray

[pjwatson05]

I live in between Laura and Williamsfeild Actually just outside of Elmore if you know where thats at
Anyways I have seen a few come out of there in the 6 to 8 pound range a few years ago on lindy rigs in the early summer
I always mark them suspended in the summer on my depth finder
As fas as structure and bottom content it's a walleyes dream lake and I think I got a pretty good idea were they will be (all those rocks close to shore are perfect for spawanning) especially since its a rocky flat that has a ledge drops to like 68 ft
I will pm you sometime next week ready to get the boat out but I am in Nebraska with wifes family this weekend

[cambridgefisherman]

I go there quite often, but have never caught an eye there. I fish the lakes by parking lot B for bluegill, crappie, redear, and channels. Although i am going for a musky this year. Let me know if you guys want to meet up there sometime.

[pjwatson05]

I can really only acess Mc Masters because my jon boat is a 1470 Landau so it's a little heavy to be dragging around to all the other lakes without a boat ramp
I will be on the water later this week got to install a new electrical panel and install my onboard charger tomarrow
Other than that I'm a full-time student at ICC and I'm off and home by noon or 1 most days and I can be to Snake Den in about 10 minutes from my house

[Rainman4u2]

Thursday night or Fridays work for me. It's suppost to be foul weather again this weekend. I don't plan on fishing until next weekend at the earliest.

Ray

[pjwatson05]

Friday is like a high of around 50 slight chance of rain but I'm planning on going anyway it might be a little windy but I have a drift sock so I'm not so worried about that and I have rain gear to keep the wind from comming through
Just ready to get out and ya know they got to be hungry thursday nd friday we have a new front moving in so that might make it worth a shot

[Rainman4u2]

I'd love to go, but the wife might get mad if i don't pick her up from work on time. We'll have to shoot for a weekday after 4pm.

Ray

[pjwatson05]

Sure sounds good just let me know I know what yea mean my wife expects me to drop everything and pick her up from work to lol (If your ever out there and see a silver F-150 sxtg cab with a 14 ft Landau jon thas me will pm you my cell # tonight) I'm getting ready to hook up the boat and leave now so much for the partly cloudy day I was hoping for they are probably gonna be deep will post my findings later tonight

[Rainman4u2]

Hope you do well.

Ray

[pjwatson05]

Aww well I ended up not going after I put in my last post I realized that my furnace wasn't kicking off come to find out we were out of gas so I had to wait for the butane guy and then checkthe lines for leaks and light all the pilots it was kind of a bummer
Rainman PM sent

[Rainman4u2]

And replied as soon as I got it. LOL!!!

Ray

[pjwatson05]

Well my wife and I were out for 5 hours this afternoon (The wind was ridicolus) and I found several fish on the finder finnaly got into a spot were I could control the boat and got my wifes pole out for her she had just got it in the water and I had just cast when I heard her drag start going nuts I looked over and her pole (Med Action Diawa) was almost doubled over was definetly a nice eye seen a flash of it before she lost it (she tried to reel em in as fast as sh could) I was trying to explain to her not to horse em and that was the only almost fish of the day the rest of the day involved alot of casts and me tring to control the boat

[pjwatson05]

Oh and the water was only 40 degrees needs to go up about 5 more degrees I'd even take 10 more
Seen 3 other boats they were all unsucessfully muskie fishin

[Rainman4u2]

Sure beats sitting at home.

Ray

[pjwatson05]

yea I'll take a day like that on the water anytime (there are no bad fishing days or bowhuntin days)

[pjwatson05]

I am probably going to go out Wed around 3pm for a few hours and see how it goes
Not real sure how well it's going to be after all this crazy weather but who knows all you can do is give it a try

[Rainman4u2]

Good luck. I hope the fish cooperate.

Ray

[pjwatson05]

So much for them wanting to cooperate a few crappies but noting to brag about I'm just ready to get out this weekend I just bought a new 15hp 4stk Merc and need to get out and put the break in time on it
I'm sure I'll make it out to Snake Den atleast one day this weekend
The crappies are starting to come up shallow for spawn though most of the ones I caught were in 5 to 8 feet of water
Most of the eyes aren't even comming up to spawn yet shoud be soon though

[pjwatson05]

Saturday I think I am going to go to Banner Marsh (They have a 25 hp limit) just to get in some break in time on the motor. I know a couple crappie spots to check out and the wifey wants to get out for a few hours.

[Schoe]

Is that Banner Marsh above or below the I 74 Bridge.

I had a good friend that fished Banner for Crappies and did quite well. Schoe

[pjwatson05]

Its on the Peoria side of the river Actually if you take 474 to Bartonville exit and take Il 29 towards Canton its about 15 minute drive on the left hand side
Yes it has some good crappies and it's a little known secret for Walleyes (alot in the 2lb range good eating size) lots of bass I have caught several over 5lbs some muskie and pike to and pretty good channel cats
I've been fishing there since I was a kid but I haven't fished there very much in the last 5 years I just got back from the military about a year ago

[pjwatson05]

Crappies have to be 9 inches (there isn't much to anything smaller any way) and the limit is 25

[Rainman4u2]

Road Trip Schoe!!! I know how to get there. LOL!!!!

Ray

[pjwatson05]

Well the wife and I got 2 crappies a peice talk about slow (Was pretty sunny out though) there were 4 other boats in the area we were fishin and I only seen 2 other crappies caught
It was a great day to bo on the water though and I got about 2 hours of break in time on the new merc believe it's gonna be a perfect motor for my boat
its super quiet at idle and trolls at a crawl if I want it to

[pjwatson05]

Gonna try my luck at Mc Masters on Mon probably be there from about 1 r 2 till dark

[pjwatson05]

well i just got home no crappies though caught a couple bass though they seemed to like the minnows on the 1st cast I was rigging up another pole with a hair jig and a bobber I looked over and my bobber was gone. I reeled in the slack and set the hook and my drag started gonig a little I was like wow if this is a crappie it's huge
Turned out to be a bass 2 1/2 to 3 pounds was fun on light tackle though and then i caught another one about a pound about an hour after that one no crappies (bummer I'm hungry) there were 3 other boats out and when I pulled out they were talking about how dead it was (so I guess i'll take a couple bass they went back in the water) This weather I think has really screwed things up hopefully be decent thursday gonna give it another try then

[heath19]

The weather is really suppose to warm up so hopefully that will head things in the right direction finally:icon_biggrin:

[pjwatson05]

To bad I'll be in Wisconsin for my national guard drill all weekend aw well can't win them all
I got food plots to plant to (man there needs to be more time in the day)
Suposed to rain thursday but I'm still going

[cambridgefisherman]

I wont be able to get to snakeden until the week of the 12th of May :(. Got a little trip to southern Iowa ponds planned 11th and 12th. Should be a pretty good trip.

[Rainman4u2]

I'm gonna try for some channels next Friday night, hope it's not to early for the little suckers.

Ray

[pjwatson05]

Sorry I haven't been on lately guys but I've been busy with school finals and fishing at Snake Den.
I decided to buy and try some of CrappieKeith's T.H.E. Jigs and I have not been disapointed. I'll let the pics show you.
I already have 2 jig heads with the paint off of them.
1st day out I caught 70 gills coupple crappies and a couple bass
The last 2 trips have caught lots of big gills and some crappies
I also had one very intresting catch??

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/pjwatson05/IMG_0011.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/pjwatson05/IMG_0003.jpg

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http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/pjwatson05/IMG_0412-1.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/pjwatson05/IMG_0001.jpg

He was a blast on 4lb test. I just wanted my jig back.

Checkout CrappieKeiths T.H.E. Jig and his website
www.ckoutdoors.com (http://www.ckoutdoors.com)

[troutrageous1]

T.H.E. Jig strikes again! Looks like a nice day, and even better haul. Don't think Keith advertises them for Carp - I guess all fish like T.H.E. Jig.

[gofish]

looks like ya been havin a ball.nice mix of fish there,bet ya got a work out on the carp lol

[pjwatson05]

Yea took me about 10 minutes or so to get him in. Fortunately I was using my 7ft Cabelas XML Med Light rod. I think the longer rod really helped me play him.

Trout your right Keith doesn't exactly avertise that but he does say that if there's fish there T.H.E. Jig will catch it.

I going to get back out early this week and try for some more of those papermouths on McMasters

[Rainman4u2]

Good job on the fish. We are going to try for some cats later this week.

Ray

[Illinoisgiller]

Thank you Paul, It's good to see a plump bull gill come out of McMasters. Can't tell for sure but the bottom two look to be Red Ear.
I had all but give up on that particular lake producing decent gills. I fished it once with the float tube before the drawdown and all of the hundreds I caught were of the same small size.
Thanks to your report, I may give it another go if I am in the area.
Is the water comming up any? Mike

[pjwatson05]

Mike I whish :fighting0025: that boat ramp is a bear to back down.
They do however have a new boat dock ready to go about 10ft above the water level rite now so I'm sure this fall when it's closed off to fishing they will maybe work on that.
Or maybe they are just going to let it fill back in naturally that will only take the next decade who knows??
As for the gills they were mostly in the tall willows and grass. I think the average size of the gills all depends on how the muskies are doing that paticular year.
Everybody I know goes out there for the muskies not realizing that there is other fish there.

[Illinoisgiller]

Interesting that one of the workers at the lake told me it would probably fill the following spring, and possibly take the summer. That was how many years ago?? lol I'm told it will be quite a bit larger if it does reach full pool. In fact 5' above the old pool.
I have a love-hate relationship with those Tiger Muskies. I'm sure it would be a fight I would not soon forget to bring one to the boat:icon_cool:, but feel strongly that they just plain don't belong there.
I'd like to see detailed studies that prove they are any benifit besides income generators from very expensive baits. From the size baits they prefer, I get the idea that they would prefer lunching on a half pound gill rather than a small one.:confused0024::confused0024:
I hear lots of talk about trying to keep weeds out of our lakes that don't belong there ,but my ole mind drifts over to the FISH that don't belong there. :confused0024:
If we need some new fish "made by man" lets cross a bluegill with a flathead. lol HANG ON !!!!lol Mike

[pjwatson05]

My nephew caught a nice pig of a gill that was bigger than the others but I didn't get a pic. To many variables dealing with a 6yr old & controling the boat in 30mph winds.
Mike hit the coves and the tall grass in the back of the lake don't waste your time in the timber if your up that way.

[pjwatson05]

I would say closer to 8 to 10 foot above where it is now. When I fished it before the level was down the deepest spot was 68ft on my depth finder. Now it is around 55ft I believe.
I would love to see the level go back up sooner than later Walleyes would be alot easier to target with all that rock on the back side, for spawning.
As far as the muskies go I'm on the same level of thinking as you are Mike
Paul

[Illinoisgiller]

A relative of the son's wife done the work on the new overflow and he says it will be 5' over the old pool, but may have changed since.:confused0024:
I sure apperciate the information.:icon_cool::icon_cool:
When I tried it in the float tube I started at the ramp, Fished across into the trees, crossed the main lake and fished the entire far bank around to the ramp again. With that in mind, I didn't fish any from there to the end. I knew I was missing a very large part of the lake, but since every gill was the same small size, I gave it up as a lost cause.:confused0024: My experiance ice fishing the cut along the parking lot was the same.
I'll drop the canoe in and do it right if I am in the area.
I have other options so won't drive the 55 mi. for 10 gills.
Some of the Snake Den walk in lakes have treated me very well, but goes back to fuel prices for me.:confused0024: On the other hand, Id make the trip to take the grandkids there .Some things are just important. Thanks again, Mike

[pjwatson05]

I'm on my way out the door to there rite now let me know if you want to go out sometime I'll take you out on my boat save ya some gas money not having to bring a boad or canoe. I live about 10 minutes from there
I will be out today, tomarrow afternoon and all day thursday
pm me if you want my ph#
Paul

[Illinoisgiller]

Nice of you to offer Paul:icon_cool:, but hard to tell when I'll get out that way.:confused0024:
I keep hearing those Iowa gills calling me. Gee, it's deafning. lol Mike

[pjwatson05]

I hear ya Mike. We got out for a couple hours today caught about 20 or so had alot of short bites which Keith told me to open my hooks and set the hook as soon as the start hittihg it instead of waiting for the float to go down. Anyways it was funny watching my wife try to reel the fish in before setting the hook she was geeting frustrated and I was trying not to fall out of the boat from my laughing antics it was a riot an a great evening to be out.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/pjwatson05/IMG_0014.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/pjwatson05/IMG_0013.jpg

[pjwatson05]

Hey mike were you out there a few weeks ago in a float tube
I seen someone going back in to the ramp when me and my wife were just launching probably would have been last month I believe

[Illinoisgiller]

I haven't been on that lake since a couple years before the draw down.
I noticed back then there was quite a Chicago following fishing there. A bunch of them had float tubes and kick toons.
You might try some big red worms if you can get them. I use the hair jigs w/wax worms most all the time but Schoe gets to whipping on me pretty good once in a while with #8 long shank with a couple red worms hooked randomly so they can flail the ends. He pulls this off best when the red ear come into the picture. Red Ear simply love the red worms.
Schoe knows a place where he can order them through the mail. Mike

[Mrmuskie5]

Me and my buddy have caught many "eyes" out of the den. Most have come on wooly hawgs while bass fishing. Check the mouths of all the coves thats where we have gotten most of them. My buddy actully got a 30"er last year on a mepps giant killer! Good luck!

[Mrmuskie5]

heres nice one from the den.http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=376221240&albumID=649496&imageID=2478069

[cambridgefisherman]

Hey Mrmuskie did you catch that muskie here in Illinois?

[Mrmuskie5]

Yeah the one in my avitar is from Morrison IL, Lake carlton. but we catch em at the den alot.