Hey all, have a few days off end of February and am clearly desperate to get the new boat on the water. Not opposed to trolling around Newton, but I know it can be hit or miss that time of year. Anyone go anywhere like Kentucky lake or a bit further south than Newton? Worth it in Feb? If any southern Illinois lakes can hit in Feb, let me know!
Lake Egypt may have open water. They only generate a small amount of power now with natural gas so the lake does not stay open when it gets extremely cold.
baldwin lake still produces power. Has a 50 hp limit put you can idle with a big motor. It gets very rough with any wind as it is a flat bowl lined with rip rap.
Enjoying life in Southern Illinois
Not opposed to making the trip to Egypt, although I've never been. However, if the weather permits, it may just make more sense to hit Newton. Then again, not sure it's going to be worth the hassel. Cabin fever will be particularly bad this year with a new boat in the garage.
Dale Hollow smallmouth mmmmmm
Depending on the wind forecast, Kentucky has been lights out the past few winters. There's not much that is more fun than two smallies on the same arig.
Sangchris can be good, but very dependent on the plant running. You can idle with a big motor, too.
Never been to Sangchris but am wanting to make the drive up, do the fish there get less dependent on plant generation in the late winter/early spring?Originally Posted by bkirch
Kentucky can be great that time of year. Tournament this weekend took just under 26 pounds to win.
Tempting to make a Kentucky trip one of these years, but after some thought, it'd probably too risky hauling a rig down there in dealing with the potential of crappy weather between here and Indy and again on the return trip. I went the other way and chose to embrace the suck of winter with a new shuttle and some ice fishing gear, haha.
I don't really fish there that often, but I think the fishing becomes more predictable once the non-plant generated temps get close to 50.
In the past, the plant ran very sporadically, so you always run the risk of being there when it was 55 two days ago and 43 when you get there.
Up until February 1st, you are pretty much restricted to the warm water arm, which is most affected by the plant being on or off.
Based on the weather forecast, it looks like I won't be going anywhere for a while.
Time for an ice auger and a snowmobile
The Kitchen. Shhh.
If a normal February from a weather standpoint does lake Sarah freeze over? I fish Egypt in march but wondering if any other options closer to Chicago would be open water.
On the average year Sara will not be frozen in February, but it can still be brutal fishing. I would much rather troll around on Newton, from a fishing and cost standpoint as you have to buy the EWA tags and pay the day to fee to launch your boat.
Good intel thanks.
The portage ditch rarely freezes over, can catch steelhead there in the winter. If the weather is good you can go out to Lake Michigan and start catching coho, browns, and smallies in February and March. I usually start getting the itch about now and pick a day to go to newton. Braidwood opener is March 1st.
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I may just be getting old, but I can't justify a day trip to Newton. It's a solid 9hrs round trip. Put any fowl weather on top of that, and I'll just be regretting the decision. At this point I'm probably better off doing any remaining ice fishing and will just hit Braidwood on Fridays after the opener to dodge the crowds.
Why not Clinton?
Not opposed to Clinton. Have never heard of anyone doing any good there in February.
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