Lessons from My Rookie Year of Illinois Tournament Bass Fishing

Scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed, posts are popping up already about tournament fishing for the 2018 Illinois Tournament Season.  It's hunting season and ice fishing is right around the corner and people are already talking tournaments in 2018.  That's cool though, I have too!  It inspired me to drop a few lines about my rookie year of fishing tournaments and what I learned along the way.

Mike Iaconelli would tell you "never give up"!  This is a picture from the Lincoln Bass Club's two day tournament out at Jim Edgar Panther Creek.  Two days  and we only weighed in one fish. Within the final hour of the tournament I reeled in my biggest tournament fish at 5 pounds 13 ounces.  Never overlook a small victory.

6 Tips to Catch more Crappie across Illinois

 Tips and Tactics - Catching Crappie in Illinois

Illinois is well known for their abundance of large crappie. You can find them in lakes such as, Shelbyville and Sangchris to name a few. There's nothing quite like catching crappie on a spring or fall morning. You can see some of our previous Illinois Crappie Fishing adventures in Illinois by checking out our You Tube Channel.

Crappie Fishing is a great way to teach beginners how to fish.

Illinois Fall Trout Season Opens October 17

Illinois Fall Trout Season Opens October 17

Not sure about you, but here at Capitol Outdoors our favorite season is fall. There is so much to do, from leaf peeping to catching rainbow trout. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced October 17, 2015 as the fall opener as well as locations.   

Watch our Trout Fishing  Show

You can read what we use and our setup here - Illinois Trout Fishing Tips

The 53 locations that will be open for Fall Trout Fishing Season are listed below:

Illinois Hunting Season is Underway

Illinois Hunting Season Underway

If you had to put a date on when hunting season begins, what would you say?  For many, September begins the hunting season,  and Capitol Outdoors is among those people.  Yesterday, we tried our luck at dove hunting.

Illinois Hunters possibly affected by El Niño

Illinois Hunters possibly affected by El Niño

As waterfowl hunters, we are always watching the weather.  Will there be a cold front? When will the birds push?  What will the wind direction be? All of this effects the hunting season.

In the tropical Pacific Ocean, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates a network of buoys that measure temperature, currents and winds in the equatorial band. The collected data are evaluated by complex computer models designed to predict an El Niño.

Illinois Bait Shops - B & S Bait Tackle

Illinois Bait Shops - B & S Bait Tackle

About a month ago we swung by our local bait shop to pick up some last minute items. Eureka... the idea about writing reviews and a series on Illinois bait shops starting flooding to our mind.

Our local bait shop is B & S Bait and Tackle located outside Ashland, Illinois about one mile east of Jim Edgar Panther Creek's entrance.  Owned by Roy and Sue, a friendly and outgoing married couple of over 50 years, this shop has a real sense of community charm to it.

Illinois Trout Fishing Tips

Illinois Trout Fishing Tips

The 2014 Trout season was a spectacular one.  Capitol Outdoors went and recorded our adventure at South Wind Park.  You can check it out here (Trout Fishing at Southwind Park Springfield, S2E3) With 46 different sites to choose from in Illinois:  we've decided to go to Gridley Lake in Cass County this year. Below you can see what we use.

Before we show you how to trout fish. Check out the Illinois Fishing Information booklet 2016. This will tell you what you need to stay legal in the field.

Now, lets talk some fishing.  This is all what we recommend.  If you fish for the inland trout what do you use.  Share you knowledge and help people enjoy the great outdoors.  

Rod & Reel:

• We recommend that you use a light or a ultra light rod with six pound test.

Bait:

• For every person who fishes there is another who says that their bait works the best. We use the Berkley Power Bait already in the pellet form.  At the store there is a wide variety of colors to pick from, but we use the redish/pink and the neon green ones. We have found that it's not so much about the color as it is the pellet form. 
• The stores will also sell it in a paste where you are able to make the pellet yourself. But, let us tell you it's really messy and the size never seems to get right. 

Hooks & Weights:

• Size 16 treble hook. These hooks are hard to find so look early. They fit perfectly into the nugget and conceal the hook entirely. This size hook also allows your bait to float. As for your weights we recommend a size 3 or 4. Place the weight 12 - 18 inches from your hook. 

Once you cast into the water elevate your rod onto something and tighten the string, leaving no slack. Sit back and wait for the bites.  Watch for slack in your lines and your rod tip for movement.