The Crappie are still running strong the bite throughout the day has been nothing short of fantastic!

Large Mouth Bass action has been very good as well Rattle traps or Golden Roaches have been effective presentations.

The Channel Cats have finally figured out that it is 80 degrees outside and they are starting to bite.

Gills and Pumpkin Seeds are being caught everywhere with relative ease on Live Bait and Pan fish sized plastics RED is the best color.

Our Rental Boats are here and will be going out starting April 1st !!!!!!

We tried to get them going sooner but the State has not sent our licensing yet! talked with DNR today and they Guaranteed me it would be here by the 1st.

We are starting with a limited fleet and will grow it as needed. We have 2 levels of Boats one is just a basic Motor Boat no Frills, and the other has a Humming Bird Seats Nav lights Etc etc..

The rentals will be for full day and we will offer Night Rentals as well which can start at 6PM and End at 11:30 PM. The night bite on Bangs as you all know can be pretty good. (Talking with Brad earlier on Facebook he mentioned to me that Spence Petros is talking about the night I took him for Crappie on Bangs in his classes.) The only boat available for the night bite currently is the Deluxe.

Today is going to be amazing I really hope you are all going fishing!

Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Pan Fish, and Northern Pike are all very active!

Here is the weather for the next few days, See you all on the Lake, Bait Shop Opens at 5AM

Today Sunny. Warm. High around 75F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 57F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday March 18

Day Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. Warm. High 76F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.

Night Clear to partly cloudy. Low 58F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Monday March 19

Clouds giving way to sun . Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the upper 50s.

Ice will be out soon, and it will be time to get out fishing.  Re-string your rods now and start cleaning out your boat. Don't be afraid of a little cold weather. We all have cabin fever and are hungry to go out fishing. What makes it even better is that fish will be biting! You just need to apply the right early spring tactics to be successful.
           Jerk baits, and slash baits, small plastic stick baits like fry worms or Slugos, and even slow rolling a spinner bait all will work. Fish them slow and try to work in those pauses into your retrieve. If you happen to get lucky and catch an extremely warm and sunny day look for them in the flats on the North End. They are out there, and as the water climbs into the 60's later in April they will get more lively! The Northern part of the lake will heat up quicker than the southern side. It’s all about the warmest water temperatures when it comes to ice out / early spring fishing. Also if a cold front comes through it can cause the fish to be even less aggressive

        For largemouth bass, they can be found in a number of areas at this time of year and sometimes this can make it quite difficult to locate them. Look for them in staging areas outside of flats. They will relate to any cover as always, but there are not much weeds at this point of the season so you need to find some patches in deeper water which don’t die off every winter.  Here's  to Spring 2012 -Mike

Just came in from the lake all Hardsides are pulled, There is 6" of ice with 2" of water on top. and it's 37 degrees out and raining. Not looking good.

We had a decent day out there however there was a grim look of defeat in all the Hardsiders eyes. We cooked up a few burgers, and brats but all heads were hung low. I must of caught about 30 pumpkin seeds, We were in perfect position. But now we are on the Beach of Shame!!!

Anyone that was planning on coming up tomorrow I would say to skip it. I have no idea what this rain and above freezing weather is going to do to the ice. But better safe than sorry. Please stay home until we can get a better read on it. If we maintain through tomorrow and refreeze at night I will advise. BUT FOR NOW CANCEL TOMORROW

This a report from John D. who was up this weekend on Bangs Lake! Thanks for the report John!!!

Fishing report.

I just wanted you to know I hade the Best Ice fishing Weekend Ever, and it was on Bang's this weekend.

Limit of Crappie and Bluegills on Saturday - I didn't keep a Crappie under 10" - Largest was 12+ - Bluegills all were 8 - 9" inch that I kept.

My brother also caught His limit on Saturday of both Crappie and Bluegills. He didn't fish with me on Sunday.

Limit of Bluegill's, but Only 5 Crappie on Sunday, But left at noon. Crappie again were all over 10" and the Limit of Bluegills were all 8 - 9"

The Bonus was the Largemouth Bass we were catching on our Ice rods while Jigging for the Panfish. Largemouth Bass up to 2 1/2#

I HAD TO WORK THEM HARD AND CHANGE RODS AND BAIT OFTEN. All the fish were caught about 3" ft. + off the Bottom in 11 -12 ft of water.

Drill some holes and Fish the ones that the weeds are low to the btm.

Saturday I fished 1 hole all day once I found them. Even Saturday I left at 3:15 because I had both my limits of each. Fished only 2 holes.

What a Weekend.

John.

Hayley 13 of Wauconda had a Great Day on Bangs yesterday! She was fihing with local guides Ryan Jacobsen and Mike Rodgers who helped her get on this huge Pike! (you may need to click more at bottom to view image)

If you would like a guided trip on the ice call Ryan, and Mike 224-634-0029 or 847-812-4361

Safety Reminder for tomorrow:

#1 No Ice is Ever 100% Safe

#2 Bring some Friends if you are going out

#3 The Ice is between 5-6" right now in the areas we checked on the south end earlier today these are only the areas we checked, and not the entire lake! Please check as you go for yourself!!!

#4 There are bad spots the further east you go there will be NEW THIN ICE you may not be able to see it, Stay close to the areas behind Lindy's and the Bait Shop DO NOT TRAVEL EAST OR ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE LAKE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE LAKE BEHIND WAUCONDA BOAT or DOCKS RESTAURANT This was all open water as of this morning it will probably freeze over tonight BUT IT WILL NOT BE SAFE.

#5 Let's Walk On Water Only keep the Machines at home tomorrow.

#6 Don't forget the safety gear!!!!!

#7 If you are new to Ice Fishing this is not your year to learn. Ask me to pair your group up with some experienced guys we have a few on hand that will be more than happy to get you on and off the ice tomorrow. FREE OF CHARGE

#8 Dress Warm It will be 6 degrees out when you get here. Drinking Alcohol will not warm you up out there. Hot Sugary Liquid such as Hot Chocolate will.

#9 If you do not know ask someone Ice Fisherman are almost always willing to help!!! If you can't find an answer on the Ice call me 847-487-0000 I am not to busy to help you ever.

#10 Have a good time, make new friends, Do Not Be Alone Out There!!

Do not forget to Grab a lunch coupon from me in the morning, or anytime during the day tomorrow for 50% off at Lindy's on Burgers!! I am the only one that has these they will not be available at the restaurant when you get there

We broke another record on Bangs Lake today!!! Check out the fish in our video here www.facebook.com/bangslakebait

Congratulation Chris Ladd!!!

LOOK AT THIS FORCAST! It is looking like this weekend may be in PLAY!!! I will monitor the situation and let you all know what it looks like.

Now

Light Snow

Temperature

31.3 °F

Feels Like 25 °F

Wind(mph)

7.0

Sunrise / Set

6:59 AM

5:14 PM

Moon

Full

More Astronomy

Today

32 °F

Chance of Snow

50% chance of precipitation

Tonight

22 °F

Mostly Cloudy

10% chance of precipitation

Tomorrow

32 | 20 °F

Partly Cloudy

Thursday

34 | 23 °F

Clear

Friday

29 | 14 °F

Mostly Cloudy

Saturday

25 | 14 °F

Partly Cloudy

BANGS LAKE ICE UPDATE...... We are still below freezing in Wauconda as of 11:47AM! I would still not recommend heading out though We are supposed to remain cold through out the week. I would give it a day or two and then we can do a check. I walked down earlier but didn't feel comfortable heading out. The shoreline is still sloppy from the warm up. This weekend is looking very promising. I will continue to watch it daily.

We are still under off season hours untill further notice....

The Boys from www.onshorefisherman.com made a trip up to Bangs Lake today to sample our huge Pumkinseeds! They were able to make it on, and off the ice safely before we called it unsafe. Thanks for coming up to Stan, and his crew we had a great time talking with you guys. Hopefully the cold weather over the next few days will lock her back up and we can hit it again next weekend!Some email users may have to click the more button at the end of this email to view pictures.

UNSAFE ICE WARNING--------The Ice has been taking a beating all day in the sun. I would not recommend being out there. Go Home and watch the game.

Shoreline is breaking up. I think we got all we are going to get out of it guys. Stay Off the Ice the open water areas are growing as well.

We are supposed to get a cold snap later in the week. Untill then we are returning to our off season hours. STAY OFF THE ICE.

Ok we did not get rain in Wauconda last night. I went to the North End near LVVA and the shoreline is sloppy and you have to step onto the ice. It receded about a foot from the shoreline. The ice there was a bit slushy on top. Brent that runs wow is out and fishing shallow 4-6 feet of water and is catching fish.

The Ice on the south end behind us looks to be better than the north side.

This is the pattern shallow. And with late ice conditions shallow is good for all! The ice is holding up at 4" in most spots however if you do not have experience and a buddy to go with stay home. Ice thickness can vary with every step. And 4" is not that much ice to start with.

If you do decide to go out SPUD BAR, PICKS, CLEATS, and ROPE.

I am probably a little gun shy after last nights news from pistakee lake. But if you are not familiar with late ice conditions you can get into trouble even out here.

There is open water still along Docks Restaurant, as well as between the 2 points. The mouth of the Channel at LVVA is another bad spot.

Safety reminder guys I am sure you all heard about the incident on Pistakee Lake today. If you are going out do not go it alone. Buddy system is a must. Remember to bring your spud bars, picks,rope, and cleats when heading out anytime NO ICE IS EVER SAFE. I love the sport of fishing, especially on the ice, so much that I have made it my life. But there is no fish worth dying over.

Ice safety is very simple, but rarely practiced. I myself have been guilty of heading out alone. I did it this morning.

Had this poor soul not been alone he would probably be home with his family tonight.

Our thoughts, and prayers are with the friends and family of this lost angler.

Finally a report came in Mike R. from LVVA's floating shanty crew just sent me this pic. 21 Seeds, 4 Crappie, 1 Northern.

Ice in the area he was fishing is between 4-5 inches.

They have been fishing in under 6 feet of water on the weedbeds.

Waxies and spikes for the gills/seeds.

Small fatheads for the crappie.

The northern came on a tip up with smelt sitting on the bottom.

Behind Our Store / Lindy's is solid ice as of 02/03/12 4:31pm.

Ice is Solid at North End near LVVA as of 02/03/12 4:31pm.

Stay away from the points that connect bays thin ice / open water

East of Docks Restaurant is open water too many endangered waterfowl there.

The mouth of the circle channel behind LVVA is a problem area as well.

Bring a spud bar, Ice Cleats, Picks, and a friend with you. Same rules of safety as always guys!

The Temperature here is currently 34.4 Degrees On The Lake with no rain in the forecast. We will be dipping down below freezing again tonight as well. We have had a NE wind all day that has been helping.

We took some more video today on the South Side of the lake behind Lindy's and I am hapy to report the ice has improved tremendously.

Take a look at the Video here http://www.facebook.com/bangslakebait

We have resaumed our regular hours of 6AM till 8PM

There are still areas to avoid such as near Docks and Between the 2 Points.

Ice Cleats are neccesary as it is a bit slick out there.

Hopefully we will get some fishing reports shortly.

I have been getting calls for the last few days almost 20 an hour asking about the condition of the ice. Since we dipped below freezing last night we decided to take a walk out at the North End earlier today.

I put a video up here http://www.facebook.com/bangslakebait of what we saw.

There were a few of the die hards out there including our own Ryan Jacobsen, and Mike Rodgers. Please note that the quad Mike is on in the Video is not full sized, and it is not recomended to take an ATV on the Ice now.

The 10 day has improved a bit, but not by much. We will see what happens.

Thanks, and I hope the Video answers your questions on the current ice conditions.

Cancellation of Ice Derby's

There will be no Ice Derby's this year Both Anglers Unlimited, and Walk On Water have been canceled due to the early thaw.

Walk on Water is the one that really bothers me, as it benefits cancer patients. Brent has put this event on yearly, and they do allot of good. In addition to helping cancer victims, they also collect food for the wauconda food pantry.

If anyone is in the position to bring in some canned goods on Feb 11th 2012 to the Bait Shop it would really help out. We would like to at least get the food over to the food pantry.

Anyone interested in making a cash donation to this worthy cause can do so here http://www.icebenefit.com/donate.html

I have also been talking with Brent about the possibility of holding a raffle and some other event's that day as well. i will advise once a decision is reached.

Thank You All
-Mike

And here is the next cancellation

*****UPDATE 1/31/12 10:00 AM*****
Due to unsafe conditions on the ice we have decided to cancel the ice derby this weekend. We will still be holding the meat raffle as well as raffles for other prizes Saturday.  The raffles willl be starting at Noon Saturday Feb. 4 at Lindy's Landing.
We look forward to seeing you Saturday.
Thanks, A-U

 
 
***Coming Up***
Meat Raffle
February 4th
Don't forget to visit our sponsors.

Next Meeting
***Wednesday***
February 1st

From Brent at Walk On Water

On Saturday February 11, 2012 the Andrea Lynn Cancer Fund (ALCF) is scheduled to host the 8th Annual WALK ON WATER Charity Ice Fishing Derby on Bangs Lake in Wauconda, Illinois.
Our number one priority for this event is safety. Given the current ice conditions and unfavorable weather forecast, we have decided to cancel the 2012 event. We have considered the possibility of rescheduling, but unfortunately the long range forecast and the available dates for resources and facilities don’t work out in our favor.
Online registration is still open. If you would like to register/donate to the Andrea Lynn Cancer Fund, there are still many families in our local community that are in need of your support.



Thank you for your ongoing support.

Brent

Bait Shop is going back to off season Hours as of today we will be closing at 4pm

We will resume our regular hours once we have good ice, or open water whichever comes first.

Time to get the boats out I guess.

Lot's of open, and soft areas out there today, 1" of Water on top of the ice, and the wind has been moving it across the top all night. NOT SAFE! I would skip it guys. We will advise when it is a go again. No fish is worth it.

Got out after we closed the bait shop relocated again further out me and navy Ryan punched about 10 holes before settling on a spot, the fish have moved out to 16 feet.

We were showing fish everywhere and getting a hit every minute for awhile there. My best rod had a Moon Glow double tipped with waxies.

Ran the crappies, and a few gills from 9-11 and then headed in.

The lake was making ice the whole time we were out, a couple of big zippers ran right under us, and they were loud!!! Ice was a solid 8" when I left at 11pm, and the search holes we drilled froze over hard. Tomorrow should be a great day on the ice we will have cloud cover, and there is snow on the lake so it should hold no problem.

We will monitor it daily and pray it holds for the upcoming tournament on Saturday the 4th anyone interested in fishing it can get details here http://www.anglers-unlimited.com/

Winning fish for today's derby are as follows 34" Pike, 18"Bass, 12 1/2" Crappie, 9 1/4" Gill, and 8"Perch

It was a tough day out there with the high winds! But we had a successful Derby!

Thank you all again for stopping in our store! It means the world to us.

I am beat we had a busy day :) Thank You again!!!

It's almost here the first of three tournament weekends on Bangs Lake start's this Saturday January 28th, our bait wells are jam packed and we are ready to go! There are some great prizes Such as a Grandt Rods XLH70 Paired up with a Pflueger Supreme XT! That's a $450.00 Custom Rod and Reel Guys! There is also a Power Auger, Vexilar, and many other supercharged prizes!! We will be open at 4:00 am on Saturday so you can get your bait, and registration in one convenient stop, and then get out on the lake especially if you plan on fishing the South Side! There will be plenty of parking for the event as well! You can park at the LVVA Beach, Cook Park, and in our lot if need be! We will also have some coupons here that morning from Lindy's Landing, for a special lunch deal after the tournament!

For more tournament info see www.lvvaicefishingderby.com This is a great tournament for a great cause all proceeds go to help Wounded War Veterans. See you all there!

Hey all the Ice is holding great and the Crappie bite is on in 30 Minutes I am on my out now!

We did a quick video earlier to show everyone how the ice is holding up! you can catch it on our FB Page http://www.facebook.com/bangslakebait

See you all tomorrow!

The ice is at 6" at all check points there are some bad areas that you should avoid see below.

Mouth of Circle Channel do not travel here on Quads there is running water there!! (Northeast End Of Lake)

Still open water near Docks Stay Away from that area as well.

Crappies are hitting well on Moon Glows tipped with Waxies, Spikes, and Minnows. The evening bite was good from an hour before sunset till 2 hours after dark 12 FOW. over weed beds.

Walleye still being taken on gold jigging spoons and minnow heads at the drop offs near the saddle (2 points between the big and small bay)

Northern's on tip ups in 6 fow or less along the weeds all day long. bite slows after dark.

ICE CLEATS are still a must very slippery conditions exist.

By all reports the ice is holding it's own! There is still a good 5-7" out there depending on your location.

The area east of Dock's is still being reported as open water from Geese be careful over there.

We get cold again tonight which will take care of the top coat of the ice! If you are heading out be sure to wear your Ice Cleats the lake is very slippery right now.

Thanks, and Please be careful out there!

We had a great day again on Bangs Lake! the most prodominent catches wrre of BIG Pumpkin Seeds!!

Some nice Crappies were taken as well as a few northerns on tip ups!

We have set up base camp on the south end of the lake outside of Lindy's and will begin harrasing the fish tonight!

Come out and drill a few holes, and say HI! We will be the half asleep crew ! We have been working our butts off this weekend THANK GOD!!

I am so happy with the wonderful response we had this weekend! I know how tough times are for everyone, and it means the world to me that you all came in to our store to support us!

The ice is looking good so far and is between 5 and 8 inches in most spots.

Linda Starkey you made my day with that amazing sandwich, and blueberry muffins!!

See you all tomorrow!

Just got the first report of the day at 4 pm lot's of big seeds on waxies!

One customer was nice enough to show us some camera footage he recorded to his phone from the screen of the underwater showing the fish moving in on his bait. (South end of the lake behind our store.)

A couple of good guys came in last night, and fished the North End of the Lake near LVVA and Berger's when they left they lost a bag of jigging rods. If anyone finds the bag & rods and returns it to the bait shop 106 N Main we would greatly appreciate it. These were 2 real nice guys who drove all the way here from shorewood to fish. The bait shop will give a reward of somesort for their return. These 2 guys were super cool older guys.

Hard to believe it is finally here! This will be a great weekend on the Lake.

Don't forget the first tourney is next Saturday the 28th here is the website http://www.lvvaicefishingderby.com/

Once we get the blue and orange hardside out on this side of the lake (probably tomorrow night after it settles down around here) we are thinking of setting up a turkey fryer for all to use. It would be a blast to get some fish frys going out there! We will supply the gas and grease you bring the fish! I will post once we have the base camp set up. We will probably strategically place it between our store and lindy's Which will also be good for WOW and the other tourneys coming up the next 3 weekends out here. i will also keep a few garbage cans next to it so we can get the trash put where it belongs.

I will also keep some rope and a rescue ring out there just in case anyone needs it! LETS HOPE NOT.

I did some Ice checks around the lake and it is a good 5-7 in most spots.

There were some birds over by Docks so if you are going that way be careful.

Also the ice by the floating piers behind Lindy's was thinner than the rest so watch it there.

Everyone in LVVA has there permanents out already and the Quads have been running around the lake all day with no mishaps so I believe it is a GO!!!

I won't be fishing tonight as I haven't slept in 2 days and need a break If I hear of any changes in conditions I will post otherwise see you all tomorrow.

The Crappie bite has been steady today with the snow covering on the ice making the daytime bite a little better than it has been the last few days.

Gold banana jigs tipped with waxies and spikes have been doing well for Big Gills and Crappies.

Moxy jigs tipped with Minnows have also been a good producer for the Crappies the jig color doesn't seem to matter as it is the blades on the jigs that make these so hot. Rosies or Fat Heads have had equal success.

Roaches on tip ups for Northern have been a good producer we saw a few nice Pike come in today. 1 of them is being pickled

The only 2 walleye I saw were less than 15" but came in on Jigging Spoons tipped with minnow Heads in 17FOW

The ice is doing great! And so are the fish.

We are getting lots of Crappies, and Gills

There have not been as many Northerns as I would like, but it's early and trying to set tip ups on foot is no fun. With the ice thickening up we will have some machines out there on the weekend, and that will make for easier tip up fishing in multiple areas.

Mike from the N.C.P.D. caught a nice Bowfin (DogFish) on a tip up yesterday! If you get one of these hang on cause they will run! Please Note that THEY ARE NOT SNAKEHEADS!!! :)

We have not heard much on the walleyes yet but with the new ice everyones been hugging the shoreline. I am sure we will see a few by the weekend.

I can't remeber if I already posted this but, Kent Hill caught a Musky through the Ice last week! The fish was of course released.

We will keep you all posted as it goes buy so far so good this season!

The Ice has formed up pretty good on the lake. I just came in from fishing with Navy Ryan, and Golf Cart Mike for a short trip. We did not do to bad Ryan definitly whipped every one with a couple of nice slabs!

We had alot of laughs tonight as well with the addition of satalite radio in the G&N Lodge, Ice fishing anywhere else will never hold a candle to hanging out there. The guys are a laugh a minute.

The best part of the night was when Mike took a walk outside of the shanty, and a few minute later Ryans rod started to SCREAM. Mike had reached under the shanty and grabbed his line, and the game was on. Ryan fought Mike with great enthusiasm while all the while screaming to him to "get in here he's got something big!"

We finished off the night listening to Howard Stern, and catching a few more fish. It was Great to finally be on the Ice of Bangs Lake!

The weather is definitly cooperating for the next few days, and it looks like we will have good ice for the 3 upcoming tournaments!

If you have not been out yet this year it's time! The lake has had zero pressure for month's, and the fish are ready.

See you all at 6AM!

If you are interested in doing some of the most comfortable ice fishing you will ever do, give Ryan, and Mike a call! 224-634-0029. They started a Hard Water guide service this year on Bangs Lake, and believe me they catch some fish! The amenities they offer on the water are second to none, and the guys will have you laughing all day long! It was really nice to jig a few last night, while relaxing in a recliner, and laughing with friends!

The Ice has formed up pretty good on the lake. I just came in from fishing with Navy Ryan, and Golf Cart Mike for a short trip. We did not do to bad Ryan definitly whipped every one with a couple of nice slabs!

We had alot of laughs tonight as well with the addition of satalite radio in the G&N Lodge, Ice fishing anywhere else will never hold a candle to hanging out there. The guys are a laugh a minute.

The best part of the night was when Mike took a walk outside of the shanty, and a few minute later Ryans rod started to SCREAM. Mike had reached under the shanty and grabbed his line, and the game was on. Ryan fought Mike with great enthusiasm while all the while screaming to him to "get in here he's got something big!"

We finished off the night listening to Howard Stern, and catching a few more fish. It was Great to finally be on the Ice of Bangs Lake!

The weather is definitly cooperating for the next few days, and it looks like we will have good ice for the 3 upcoming tournaments!

If you have not been out yet this year it's time! The lake has had zero pressure for month's, and the fish are ready.

See you all at 6AM!

If you are interested in doing some of the most comfortable ice fishing you will ever do, give Ryan, and Mike a call! 224-634-0029. They started a Hard Water guide service this year on Bangs Lake, and believe me they catch some fish! The amenities they offer on the water are second to none, and the guys will have you laughing all day long! It was really nice to jig a few last night, while relaxing in a recliner, and laughing with friends!

.

The ice firmed up nicely overnight i walked out this morning and drilled some holes behind the park District Boat Launch. I put a video up of one of the holes on our facebook account here http://www.facebook.com/bangslakebait

As I said we only had a chance to go to one spot so if you are heading out today check as you go.

Please be careful out there!

We will be open till 8pm tonight and from 6am till 8pm daily for ice fishing!

The ice firmed up nicely overnight i walked out this morning and drilled some holes behind the park District Boat Launch. I put a video up of one of the holes on our facebook account here http://www.facebook.com/bangslakebait

As I said we only had a chance to go to one spot so if you are heading out today check as you go.

Please be careful out there!

We will be open till 8pm tonight and from 6am till 8pm daily for ice fishing!

Went out and checked again did not go very far still a bit spongy on top for me.

I will check again tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone that came out for our "jig Is up" sale!

We picked up some new inventory today seeing as how everyone wanted Tungsten Jigs for the Ice. We also picked up some pretty cool little jig rods, and some light florocarbon as well.

In addition we added some more Jigging Spoons.

By this weekend we should also have the Swish Rods in these are super cool its a jigging rod that can also be used as a tip up. But that's not the nest part IT IS MADE IN AMERICA. These are going to sell for right around $50 I was only able to get a few of these so if you see it here, and you want it, then get it! This late in the season not sure how many more they will be able to get me.

I will hit the lake for some Ice Samples at first light talk to you all then.

OK Let's See who is Paying Attention! I have 5 hand selected TUNGSTEN Jig kits For FREE Who wants them??? All you have to do is stop into the store tonight and say "The Jig Is Up" I only have 5 of these so hurry up and get in here!

I will post as they go! We are here till 8pm and are having a sale on Ice Gear as well 15% off rods and tip ups and 10% off everything else!!

I went down to check the lake at 11AM, and there is slush on top from the rain and melting snow. The air temp in wauconda right now is 28 Degress and dropping steadily.

With temps well below freezing for the next 5 Days things are looking up.

I am going to give the lake till 6pm, and then drill a few holes. I will advise of the conditions I find, as of now I would say stay off the ice, untill the cold remedies the effect of the brief warm up, and rain we had.

Anyone interested in a new ice fishing rod, or tip up? Today only we are giving 15% off all Ice Rods, and Tip Ups!! Print this post, and bring it with you to get the discount.

Tempatures above freezing, and raining outside please stay off the lake today. No Fish Is Worth Your Life.

I would stay off the Ice tonight with the warmup today, and coming rains it is not safe!!

The good news is we will get rid of the snow pack thats out there, and we have another big cold snap coming!!

The store is now closed and will reopen tommorow morning.

We had a busy weekend here at the store Thank You all for your support!

I finally made it out for myself last night at about 8:30PM, I headed over to LVVA and the ice was around 3" closer in as you got further out it did seem to thin a bit.

The ice on the south side of the lake has been better than the North by all reports we have received.

Myself, and Bill did pretty good with the Crappies! We fished from the Floating Shanty (Thanks Ryan and Mike) which was very comfortable and well placed! Glenn and Linda Starkey walked out with some great Brats, and Beer for us as well.

If you are interested in doing some of the most comfortable ice fishing you will ever do, give Ryan, and Mike a call! 224-634-0029. They started a Hard Water guide service this year on Bangs Lake, and believe me they catch some fish! The amenities they offer on the water are second to none, and the guys will have you laughing all day long! It was really nice to jig a few last night, while relaxing in a recliner! Oh and Ryan thanks for the tip the Stella hole was Killer!!!! You guys will have to book with Ryan to know what I am talking about :)

We started with Waxies, and Spikes and got a few, but when we switched to minnows they really seemed to turn on! Glow Jigs were a must have also.

Safety Reminder

3" and Even 4" of ice will not support a quad!!!!!!! Please be careful out there we had one quad go through the ice yesterday! It is not good enough ice for motorsports just yet! A quad is considered a "Single Passenger Automobile"

Here is a helpful chart of ice thickness and what it will hold!(This is from the Army Corps of Engineers)

Thickness is not the only factor to consider! Remeber to look at the color of the ice as well! Blue to Clear Ice is ideal!

Thanks again to everyone that came out this week! We really do appreciate your support.

The first decent ice of the 2012 season was very productive! I am glad you all had a safe and enjoyable time out there. Tomorrow looks to be even better! We had many a report of good numbers throughout the day, and the ice reports seemed to improve as the day went on. I unfortunatly did not get to drill any holes, you all kept me way too busy for that :). Thank You all for being our customers!

There was a 5 pound Walleye caught and released today as well!!

I want to remind you all that we have three great tournaments coming up starting with the LVVA tourny on the 28th, then Anglers Unlimited Feb 4th, and Finally W.O.W. on Feb 11th! Looks like I am tied up for the next few weekends. If anyone needs info on these events please come by the store we have flyers for each event.

It is currently 10 degrees on Bangs Lake so we are hoping for some even better Ice by first light.

We stopped in at Lindy's after we closed the shop today for a much needed beverage, and to say hi to all our new friends at Anglers Unlimited. What a great group! We look forward to seeing all of them at the next meeting on Feb 1st.

It was also great to see the crew at Lindy's, as well as the Starkey's this was a much needed break from what has been a stressful wait for first Ice. Or should I say 3rd???

Well I hope to see you all at 6 bells or shortly there after till then have a great night!

Been talking with a few groups that are out on the Lake today and the fish seem equally happy to see some ice cover on the lake!

So far the tally for the day is Lot's of Gills and Pumpkin Seeds, 6 LargeMouth Bass, 1 Walleye, 19 Crappies, and 1 small pike!

Golf Cart Mike yanked a nice 4 pound bass up near Bergers!

Everyone we talked to today has said the ice is between 3 and 5 inches. Check for yourself before going out use a spud bar and have safety picks with you!

Good Luck!!

Tommorow is Black Friday at Bangs Lake Bait Co. Print this post and Bring it in for 10% off your purchase of Ice Tackle!

Want to order online? Go to www.bangslakebait.com and Use the Promo Code BASS and get 10% off your order!

Offer good 01/13/2012 Only *Excludes Live Bait

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In a few short days you will see Bangs Lake in Wauconda IL transform into a winter Outdoor World !

From the shoreline of Bangs Lake at LVVA you will be able to look upon a winter Shanty Town that will make you think you are in Northern Minnesota. All the locals will be out with Ice Augers searching for Crappies and Northern Pike.

There will be an ice skating rink set up at the beach near LVVA where the Kids will be playing Hockey. Four Wheelers, and Snowmobiles will be running from point A to Point B!

Soon there will be Ice Fisherman as far as the eye can see on Bangs Lake in Wauconda Illinois for one of the many Ice Tournaments this year! The anglers will be setting their Tip Ups in anticipation of a prize winning catch! 

Bangs Lake Bait Company will once again be a daily meeting place for friends, and family before heading out on the lake. The store will be filled with the smell of FREE Hot Chocolate, and soft plastic lures!

How sweet it is to know that this is all only a few days away! It has been a long wait but Winter 2012 is finally upon us! I can not wait to see each and everyone of you in the store, and on the ice. Here's to a long cold remainder of the season !

See you all real soon!

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS

Our Kids Fishing Club is Back In Session for ICE Fishing

We will start back up at noon today! Can't wait to see all of our yopung friends, and their parents! If you have a child that wants to learn to fish bring them by the store at Noon on Sundays It's FREE!

For the 2012 Ice fishing season we will be teaching the kids many topics such as Safety, Conservation, Jigging, Tip Up fishing, Preperation and cooking of Panfish, and we may even play some hockey!!

We ended our fall session with the kids by building an Ice fishing shelter here at the store. the kids, and Dad's did a great job and it is ready to go.

Speaking of Shanty's

Don't forget that if you are leaving a permanent shanty on the Ice this year it needs to be registered with the Wauconda Police Department. This is only for permanent shelters that are left unattended on the lake. Day use portable shelters need not be registered as long as you take them off the ice when you leave.

Clean up on the ice

Let's all remember to keep the Lake clean this season! Last year we picked up trash left by others on a pretty regular basis. Bring a bag out with you so you can take your trash back when done on the ice.

Report Poachers

If you see someone taking undersized fish or more than their limit speak up call 911 and report it!

See you all real soon!

Bangs Lake Bait Company Records Board!

If you get a nice fish on Bangs Lake let us know about it! Bring in a picture and weight and measurement you may just make our record board! On January 1st 2013 and award will be given to teh annual record holder of each species! Please practice Catch and Release !

Jigging Walleye's Through the Ice.

Probably, one of the most popular methods to ice-fish for walleye would be jigging. The objective of jigging is to have your bait imitate an injured baitfish, which will hopefully be investigated by a predator walleye. There are numerous types of ice fishing jigs available for walleye on the market, My favorite is the Vertiglo.

Most ice fisherman like to tip their jigs with whole or pieces of minnow for added attraction and natural scent. Walleyes are usually caught when jigged close to the bottom. tie your Jigs directly to the main line of the rod and no additional weight is necessary as they should be heavy enough on their own. A six inch diameter hole in the ice should accommodate the girth of a fairly large walleye..

To Start jigging, the jig can be lowered to touch bottom then reeled in a turn or two to keep the jig just off bottom although a walleye will have no issue in taking a jig which would be resting on the lake bottom. One way to work a jig is with a quick lift then snapping motion of the rod using both your arm and wrist at the same time after which quickly bring the rod back down to allow the jig to fall on its own.

Before working the jig again, give allow three or four seconds of pause time to let the jig finish its fall, and allow time for the walleye to hit. Experiment with a few different jigging cadences till you find the one that works. Remember, you're trying to imitate a wounded minnow.

Here's how Mike Scorn gets his share of Big Gills:

First off, through his many fishing friends he keeps tabs on developing ice conditions on Bangs Lake. That's where the best bluegill fishing occurs in Lake County Illinois, although there are some other really good lakes in the area also. Some early trips have been dry runs, though, because ice is not strong enough to support anglers. Mike wears chest waders during early and late ice conditions and wears them if the ice might be unsafe, most of the early ice gills are taken out of less than 5 feet of water so if he goes through he stays dry.

Jumbo bluegills move in and out of shallows at these times, looking for food and favorable water temperatures. At the right times ice anglers can pick these slabs off in water as shallow as three feet. It's pretty hard to drown in Bangs Lake, at least up to a 100 feet offshore where Mike fishes.

As the ice thickens on Bangs Lake, hundreds of other anglers invade Bangs Lake  to build a shanty town that grows bigger every weekend. Tip - Up fishing for northern pike is a big sport here in January and February producing really good results, although the old-timers claim it used to be even better. Perch fishing remains good throughout the winter.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS PRODUCT?

BAITFLAIR IN STOCK AT BANGS LAKE BAIT

One of the best Ice Fishing primers for all species. From panfish to pike the "original" BAITFLARE  can bring fish to you and get them to start feeding.  BlueGills and Bass will move to you almost immediately from the vibrations given off.  Crappies, Perch, and Walleye will move in as the scent cloud  expands out distances. And  Pike and even Muskee will move in as Baitfish collect in the area .

Have a service or something to sell?

Check out our new classifieds section! http://bangslakebait.com/classifieds/

Check for your self before heading out Channels had the best ice so far. Conditions have varied throughout the lake we will take a first light measurement and advise

Remeber no ice is safe!

Store is open if you need us.

No one is more excited about the recent freeze than Bangs Lake Bait Company!!!

We want it more than anyone I promise, however not at the risk of one of our customers safety! I know allot of you are planning on going out tomorrow. We have been checking the ice periodically throughout the day in some spots we have as little as an inch, and in other parts of the lake nearly 2 inches. This is new ice and we want everyone to be careful! if you are heading out please, please, please be careful.

We will do several checks in the morning to get an idea of the density of the ice. Please do not venture out without first checking for yourself!!! Conditions change really fast you cannot rely on dated information even it is only a few hours old. You must check constantly for yourself.

  Remember this Saying: "Thick and blue, tried and true; Thin and crispy, way too risky."

Know your ice color meanings. Although a useful indicator, color alone should not be relied upon. For instance, ice of any color subjected to a running water force underneath will be weaker than ice not subject to that pressure. In general, you can surmise the following from ice colors:

• Light gray to dark black - Melting ice, occurs even if air temperature is below 32°F (0°C). Not safe, its weak density can’t hold a load, stay off.
• White to Opaque - Water-saturated snow freezes on top of ice forming another thin ice layer. Most times it’s weak due to being porous from air pockets.
• Blue to Clear - High density, very strong, safest ice to be on if thick enough, stay off if less than 4 inches (10 cm) thick.
• Mottled and slushy or "rotten" ice - not so much its color but its texture. This ice is thawing and slushy. It is deceptive - it may seem thick at the top but it is rotting away at the center and base. Most prevalent in spring, may be showing signs of browns from plant tannins, dirt and other natural materials that are resurfacing from thawing. Not suitable for even a footstep.

Test the thickness of the ice. If you have already made your observations and you still feel confident, you will need to back this up by checking the thickness of the ice.

• Test with at least one other person (the buddy system). Wear a flotation suit or device and use ropes that your buddy can pull on if something goes wrong.
• Only go on the ice if the edge of the water body is firm. If it is slushy or cracking, it is unlikely to be safe to proceed as shoreline ice is the weakest.
• Chip the ice with an axe or hatchet to create a small hole in the ice, or use an ice auger (a special tool which drills into the ice), for measuring the thickness through. Use a measuring device to determine the thickness.
• Learn the thickness safety margins of ice. There are recommended thickness measurements for the safety of ice that you will need to establish to for each activity being undertaken. (N.B. These are recommended, not guaranteed.) Ice begins to be "safe" at around 4 - 6 inches thickness. Do not even walk on ice 3" or less in thickness. However, even at a 4" - 6" thickness, there may be unforeseen hazards such as a flowing current underneath that is ceaselessly weakening the underside of the ice. In this instance, even the thickness is not a good indicator of safety, as the ice could collapse at any time.
• In general, the rules for ice thickness measurements are:
  • 3" (7 cm) (new ice) - KEEP OFF
  • 4" (10 cm) - suitable for ice fishing, cross-country skiing and walking (approx. 200 pounds)
  • 5" (12 cm) - suitable for a single snowmobile or ATV (approx. 800 pounds)
  • 8" - 12" (20 - 30 cm) - suitable for one car, group of people (approx. 1500 - 2000 pounds)
  • 12" - 15" (30 - 38 cm) - suitable for a light pickup truck or a van
• These are commonly cited measurements.

Hey all we just poked a hole in the lake and took a measurement the ice is just under 2" thick, This is not safe ice!!! Please stay off the lake till it gets thicker.

With the rest of the day and tonight for Making ice we just may have 4" tomorrow!!

I will be taking a few samples from different areas of the lake tomorrow morning and will post the ice depths early.

Here is how she looks now (If your email client doesnt let you see images click the more link at the bottom of the email)

This Weeks weather for Bangs Lake Wauconda IL 60084

This Afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 24. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to around 29 by 3am. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. West wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. West northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. West southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 45.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 33.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37.

2011 was a strange year in fishing, with an incredibly warm summer and winter to match. Hopefully 2012 will bring us some proper fishing conditions!

We have seen alot of insanity amongst the Ice Fishing crowd so far this winter. Most of us have been pulling our hair out waiting for useable ice, and others have even retrofitted their shanty's to float. See Image Below!

The forecast looks a little better this week, and I predict we will have useable ice by the 16th of January.

This Weeks Weather for Bangs Lake Wauconda IL 60084

This Afternoon: Scattered flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 23. Blustery, with a northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 9. Wind chill values as low as -3. Northwest wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 24. Wind chill values as low as -2. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. West northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 33.

See you all real soon!

It's no secret that everyone has been stressing on the lack of ICE this year. Well finally someone did something about it!

Navy Ryan, Golf Cart Mike, and the rest of the Billie Crew of LVVA went over the top! They retrofitted the Golf Cart Navy Lodge with a floating apparatus that would make Wiley Coyote gleem with envy!!!

When they told me they were doing this I thought they were kidding. When I went down to the boat launch this morning and saw it with my own eyes in motion, I said hang on let me get my camera!!!

A few hydraulic jacks, The guys from the Neighborhood, and case of Miller High Life was all it took to get this leviathon 1200 pound Ice Shack Afloat!

more

All of us at Bangs Lake Bait Company would like to wish you a Happy New Year!

Good Luck to Navy Ryan and Golf Cart Mike tomorrow!!! If you pull this off it will be history (More to come on this!)

The new classified section is up on our website if you have any used gear, a boat, or anything else for that matter please feel FREE to list it here http://bangslakebait.com/classifieds/  there are also personals and help wanted ads available all at no Charge!!!!

This has been a wild ride this winter and the first December I can rember that I haven't drilled a hole in the lake!

See You All In 2012!

This Weeks Weather for Bangs Lake Wauconda IL 60084

Overnight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. West northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a west wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south between 15 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of rain before midnight, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between midnight and 2am, then a chance of snow showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Breezy, with a south wind 20 to 25 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

New Year's Day: Scattered flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Windy, with a west northwest wind between 25 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

Sunday Night: Scattered flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Blustery, with a northwest wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Monday: Scattered flurries. Partly sunny and blustery, with a high near 20.

Monday Night: Mostly clear and blustery, with a low around 11.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 24.

Tuesday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Earlier I saw an  ice fishing cartoon in an old magazine. It showed a guy all bundled up sitting on a bucket on a lake, ice fishing.

In the sky behind was a UFO with 2 aliens looking out at the ice fisherman. The one alien says to the other, "Well, there goes all hope of finding intelligent life on this planet."

Sometimes I think my non-ice-fishing clients look at us the same way.

However,  If you like catching fish, then go ice fishing. Studies have shown that hard water fishing is far more productive than open water fishing when it comes to the amount of fish caught per hour of fishing.

For years, I believed ice fishing should be illegalized.

Well, not for real. But ice fishing is can really produce some numbers.

I guess that's the reasons we fish the hard water.

There's no safe ice in Illinois just yet, but it won't be long before Bangs Lake has safe ice, and the other lakes as well.

The question is, are you be ready?

To be sure that you are, there are several things you should be doing today to ensure a successful first ice outing.

If you have a power ice auger, put in fresh gas, and oil then make sure it starts. Replace the spark plug. Sharpen or replace the blades. If the ice it carved up last winter looked like it would make a good slurpee, you need new blades. If you use a spud, sharpen the blade with a grinder.

Check your ice fishing shelter. Put it up and air it out. Make sure critters haven't gotten into it, and repair all holes or tears in the fabric.

Inspect your flasher and make sure it is working. Charge up the battery. Do the same with your aquaview camera,

I carry most of my ice fishing supplies in a duffle bag. I'll get it out and make sure my creepers are inside and in good shape. I carry three bait containers. I'll check them, and clean them with warm water. A line clipper and hemostat for removing hooks are attached to a lanyard, and I'll make sure are not rusty. I usually keep four ice-fishing depth finders attached to the cord, and I'll make sure they are there.. Make sure your ice scoop is there also.

Most of my ice fishing lures are in two small plano boxes. One is holds tear drops, flu flu's, ratso's, mini mites, fairy jigs, bare hooks, split shots, and the other box has some jigging spoons, jigging plugs and any other large baits as well as slip bobbers and bobber stops.

I inspect all lures and other equipment for damage .

I keep four rods on the lake with me. Each one rigged with different lures. The gill / crappie rods will be rigged with 4-pound test line, and at least one rod will be spooled with 2 pound test.

I respool these every year. I also make sure all the reels are working, and oil them lightly,

If you have a propane heater get it fired up! The shanty is not a good place to find out it is not working.

Also be sure to check in with Bangs Lake Bait Co. before you go out, Local Bait Shops are the best source of information on ice conditions, and fishing spots.  

You can stock up on anything you need for the ice here http://bangslakebait.com/categorywise.php?CID=38

The lake currently has 1" of ice on it. Please do not venture out yet.

10 Day Forecast Bangs Lake Wauconda IL 60084

Tonight Mainly cloudy. Low 28F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday December 29

Day Partly cloudy. High 44F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.

Night A mixture of rain and snow showers. Low 33F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 50%.

Friday December 30

Rain and snow tapering off in the morning. Decreasing cloudiness in the afternoon. High near 40F. SSW winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Saturday December 31

Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 30s.

Sunday January 1

More clouds than sun, windy. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the upper teens.

Monday January 2

More clouds than sun, windy. Highs in the mid 20s and lows in the low teens.

Tuesday January 3

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low 20s.

Wednesday January 4

Mostly cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Thursday January 5

Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Friday January 6

Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Are you insane????

There is a very common, and highly contagious disorder that afflicts the majority of fisherman out there Commonly referred to  as "Old Guy Syndrome" but it is not reserved to any particular age group, and can sneak up on the youngest buck! First ask yourself these questions, answer them honestly and you may recognize some of the symptoms:
Do you fish the same spots every time you go out?
Do you use the same bait presentations all the time?
Do you only fish your favorite lakes?
Do you never fish out of your comfort zone?
Do you fish from old memories?

Albert Einstein’s definition of INSANITY: Doing the same things over & over again & expecting a different result!

What are the cures for this disorder or how can you prevent falling victim to it?
Know before you go, recognizing the problem is the first step!
Always look for new sources of information! (like BangsLakeBait.com)
Use your newly found information & knowledge!
Be open to new things!
Add a new presentation each time you go out!
Be more observant of conditions while on the water!
Be honest with yourself!
Challenge yourself! Don’t settle for the same old fish!
Learn to take chances & gamble with a new bait or technique!

Bait is in wheres the ice?

We got our first bait shipment today, I was holding off but decided to pull the trigger today! Yesterdays temporary ice over of the Lake probably did it. So if we ever get ice, We have bait ready to go!!!

Bass Reaper Hooded Sweatshirts Check these Out http://bangslakebait.com/Bass-Reaper-Reaper-Hoodie.html

Coming Soon To BangsLakeBait.com

FREE Clasifieds need to sell that old boat? Want to rent or buy a Lakeside home? How about a Babe with a Bass Boat? you will be able to find it all at BangsLakeBait.com's new classified section best of all ads will be free to post. We will deliver this feature in 2012.

10 DAY WEATHER FORECAST BANGS LAKE WAUCONDA IL 60084

Today Cloudy with gusty winds. A few flurries are possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph.

Tonight Mainly clear. Low 18F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph.

Wednesday December 28

Day Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 33F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Night Cloudy. Low 27F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday December 29

Cloudy. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 30s.

Friday December 30

Morning clouds followed by afternoon sun. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the upper 20s.

Saturday December 31

Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 40s and lows in the mid 30s.

Sunday January 1

Scattered snow showers. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the upper 20s.

Monday January 2

Morning clouds followed by afternoon sun. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Tuesday January 3

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Wednesday January 4

More clouds than sun. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Thursday January 5

Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.

From our family to Yours Merry Christmas from Bangs Lake Bait Company!

Our hours for the 2012 Ice Fishing Season will be 6am till 8pm Seven Days a week once we have safe ice.

Ice Fishing Safety Tips For First Ice

- Always fish with a buddy.

-Test the ice before venturing out.

-Remember wind and currents break ice.

-Don't gather in large groups.

-Bring blankets and a first aid kit.

-Alcohol will not warm you up if you fall through the ice. Warm sugary liquids will.

-Reach for solid ice if you fall in, kick and roll to safety.  

IF YOU FALL IN:

Move to the edge of the ice where you fell in (that's where the ice is strongest) and use a sharp object to pull yourself from the water.

Most deaths while ice fishing are not caused by drowning, but rather, by hypothermia.

After you fall in, you'll only have a few minutes to get yourself out before your body becomes too stiff and affected by cold water temperatures to move.

Once out, roll at least 6-feet from the hole before you attempt to stand.

WHEN SOMEONE ELSE FALLS THROUGH THE ICE WHAT DO YOU DO?

Never run toward them. You won't be any help if you're both in the hole.

Lie on your stomach, extend a branch, pole, your auger, belt, jacket rope, ladder or line to the victim, and then pull them to safety.

10 DAY FORECAST FOR BANGS LAKE WAUCONDA IL 60084

Today Sunny. High 36F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 28F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.

Sunday December 25

Day Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 39F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.

Night A few clouds. Low around 25F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.

Monday December 26

More clouds than sun. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 30s.

Tuesday December 27

Clouds giving way to sun . Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Wednesday December 28

Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the upper 20s.

Thursday December 29

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the upper 20s.

Friday December 30

More clouds than sun. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Saturday December 31

Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Sunday January 1

Considerable cloudiness. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Monday January 2

Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

When will Bangs Lake Freeze?

So many of you have come by or called the shop this week with that exact question.

This past week, I noticed that some small ponds, and the channels have a thin layer of ice on them. This drove me insane and caused illusions of tip up flags and slab crappies to dance in my head. I also started to research how our lakes freeze over in this area.

As you all know, water freezes at 32 degrees. That doesn't mean, however, when the air temp reaches 32 Bangs Lake will freeze. Water is a good insulator and really good at holding heat, which is why the lake temperature doesn't fluctuate much day to day like the air temperature does. So, below freezing temperatures are needed for a week or more to form ice on a large lake like Bangs.

As I mentioned earlier, water is a unique substance in that the solid form ice is lighter than the liquid form water. This is the opposite of most other substances where the solid form is heavier. It would be much different if ice sank instead of floated. If the ice sank, Bangs Lake would freeze from the bottom up and the fish we all seek wouldn't survive the winter!

Since water is good at holding heat, the more water there is, the more heat it will hold. This is why Bangs Lake takes longer to freeze and melt than say the ponds at Lakewood or the Channels.

Water freezes from the shoreline of the lake to the center. This happens this way because the water is shallower at the lake's shoreline so it cools faster. Water is most dense at 39 degrees, so as it gets colder than that, the cold, lighter water floats on top of the lakes surface. This top layer of water interfaces with the cold air, which cools the top of Bangs Lake even further until it freezes. Windy days help to cool the lake surface off faster because the cold air moving over the water cools Bangs Lake faster.

Since First Ice does not occur in one day like ice-out usually does, and it is hard to keep accurate records. The ice can form around the edge of the lake, and then a warm sunny day can come along and melt it again. There are no historical records for Bangs Lake of ice-in and ice-out dates (Other Than the Scribbling on the walls of Ryan and Mikes Ice Shanty) "The Golf Cart Navy Lodge"  Which makes it really tough to predict the exact date we will have ice.

Until it freezes, enjoy Bangs Lake. Enjoy looking at it anyway, since the only way you can actually use it right now is for boating!

Catch More Northern Pike This Year

The ferocious fighting Northern Pike of Bangs Lake is a greatly under-rated sport fish...and extremely delicious in the pan too!  Catching these leviathans through the ice by using a good tip-up rig is a sure way to get the adrenaline pumping. Here are a few tips to put you on these monsters this winter!

Location, Location, Location! (always the most important factor in ice fishing Bangs Lake or any Lake for that matter) ..find a good shoreline with a weed flat that has lots of cabbage/coontail weeds  and  a 5-10 ft depth), as well as nice medium  break down to deep water (18 ft or more) , locate the main weed edge (somewhere around 12-20 ft deep) and you're in the Northern Pike catching business.  Set the line 2-3 ft off the bottom, and hook a good strong Large Golden Roach minnow IN FRONT of the dorsal fin and place the split shot a good 12 inches from your offering.  This allows the minnow to swim in a panicked motion, and attract the fish to you!  Stay away from weighted hooks--they will wear your roach out fast  A good hook size to use is a number 2 in either red or glow  For a tip up I recommend-

HT plastic style for under $20 is a sure bet.  The HT's are bullet proof and have a more sensitive flag tripping system than the older wooden style.  Even the strike of a walleye hitting the bait is detected by these  new tip-ups.  Load the spool  with 20-30 lb test braided line. Black line is easy to see on the ice and handles well.  Use a 17Lb Mono line for the leader (which should be 3 ft long.)

With the mono leader the minnow can swim much longer and with a  more natural motion than being attached to a steel leader. You may lose one or two with the mono but the number of hits you will get far outweigh the fish lost..  Quick strike rigs do work but a a single hook will do the job--and it's much easier to release the fish when you are out in sub freezing conditions. A "mouth spreader" and a good "forceps" are must haves when tip up fishing.

Follow these simple tips and you will be hearing "FLAG" on your next trip on the Hard Water.

Check Out Our Tip Ups Here

10 Day Weather Forecast Bangs Lake

Today Overcast with showers at times. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Tonight A few rain showers this evening mixing with snow showers overnight. Low 34F. Winds light and variable. Chance of precip 40%.

Wednesday December 21

Day A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. High near 40F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Night Partly cloudy skies. Low 29F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday December 22

Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the upper 20s.

Friday December 23

Considerable cloudiness. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Saturday December 24

A few snow showers. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Sunday December 25

Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Monday December 26

Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Tuesday December 27

Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the upper 20s.

Wednesday December 28

Rain and snow. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Thursday December 29

Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Dave Daciolas is our winner of a once in lifetime ice trip on Bangs Lake with Hard Water Guide Services Ryan Jacobsen and Mike Rodgers.

Dave and his friends will be fishing from an enormous ice shanty of 9' x 17' that is fully equipped and heated. In the unlikely event that the fish are not biting Dave can watch the Bears game in HD!

Mike and Ryan our newest pro staff members are offering an all inclusive ice fishing package rates as low as $75.00 includes equipment, meals, and non achoholic drinks. BYOB welcome. These two have been mastering their craft on the hardwater of Bangs Lake for several years, and beleive me they know how to catch fish. You will be fishing from the "Golf Cart Navy Lodge" which is an enormous 9' x17' fishing shanty complete with heat, and HD TV. Give the guys a calll at 224-634-0029 or 847-812-4381 tell em Scorn sent you! 

Book a trip today hurry slots are filling fast!!

Congratulations Dave

BANGS LAKE CURRENT ICE CONDITIONS

Bangs Lake is currently open water.

TIPS TO CATCH MORE FISH THROUGH THE ICE

Everyone wants to catch a few more panfish through the ice on Bangs Lake. However, ice anglers typically fall into a routine when they head out onto the hard water. They catch a few fish and then the action slows down or stops completely. Perhaps they changed depths, colors, or holes a few times but that is about all. Once they stop catching fish based upon this unsuccessful routine, they quit and blame it on the fishes attitude - "they just stopped biting I guess." Before falling into this trap, try the following tips and techniques.

1. Fish Vertical to Horizontal. The style of one's ice jigging technique is just as important as its color. Most anglers are accustomed to using a tear-dropped shaped jig that hangs vertically in the water. When fish stop biting vertical jigs, switch to a jig that hangs horizontally. I have found that crappies and bluegill generally hit better on a horizontal jig. To observe a wide selection of both horizontal and vertical ice jigs on the internet, check out our online selection or come by the store.

2. Line Twist. Most fisherman only move their jig in an up and down jigging motion. Fish become accustomed to this presentation and stop taking it. For a change of technique, try holding the line between your index finger and thumb. Next roll and twist the line between your fingers. Making the jig to spin in the water while remaining at the same depth. Also try moving the jig in a circular motion around the perimeter of the hole without imparting any up and down motion on the jig. Fish respond well to this system in shallow water.

3. Bait to Plastic. Sometimes we need to give the live bait a break and go exclusively to finesse plastic lures. As hard to believe as it is, bluegills and crappies will eventually tire of live bait. When this happens, switch to a tiny 1/80 round head jig with a small plastic body on it. The finesse plastic tails of these tiny jigs jitter about with even the slightest movement of the rod tip. Finesse plastic jigs are also excellent search jigs and perform great in clear water conditions.

4. Bounce the Bottom. An excellent way to add a few more panfish to the bucket is to allow the jig to bounce off the bottom. Perch will especially feed predominantly within a few inches of the bottom structure. By allowing the jig to bounce off the bottom, the small cloud of bottom debris and sound created by this action will drive perch insane. This trick also works for bluegills and the occasional. When using this approach, a spring bobber is helpful. The jig should just barely rest on the bottom, with enough of the jig's weight on the spring bobber to hold it half way down. When a fish hits, it will typically rise with the jig and cause the spring bobber to rise.

5.Try Looking Down the Hole. For a stiff neck and a few more fish, try staring down the hole and watching as fish take the bait. It is also an excellent way to take larger bluegill, perch and suspended crappie. Big bluegills have a way of hanging in front of a bait for several seconds before inhaling it and then quickly spitting it out. Since this happens so quickly and barely moves the line, a fixed float or even a spring bobber will often not detect this type of strike. Sometimes the only hope of catching these shy fish is to be looking down the hole and setting the hook once the fish inhales the jig.

6. Chum. To get an added advantage over other ice anglers, try chumming with the Bait Flare. This trick will not only attract more fish to one's area but will also get fish feeding more actively.

7. Change Sizes. When action slows, instead of changing colors, try changing the size of your jig. This goes both ways - switching from a smaller to a larger jig and from a larger to a smaller jig.

8. Set the Rod Down. When fishing with a spring bobber rod, a simple way to catch more fish is to set the rod down and allow the bait to sit totally motionless.

9. Cover the Hole. In shallower water, try covering the hole with ice shavings to block out light penetration into the water, the use of a glow in the dark jig also works well with this approach.

10. Braided Line. For deep water panfish, do not use ultra light mono. Two pound test or lighter mono line has so much stretch that it is difficult to detect light bites or to set the hook in depths greater than 20 foot. The key to fish in deep water is to use a braided line. There are lines with the diameter of one pound test monofilament but with the strength of eight pound test. In addition, Braided line has nearly no stretch and is extremely abrasion resistant. This lack of stretch means you will feel more bites and hook more fish in deep water.

ICE FISHING SAFETY TIPS

General Safety Tips

• Watch for weak spots. Weaker ice often looks different than strong ice.
• Carry a spud and test, test, test.
• Watch out for weedy areas. Weeds produce heat and the ice is weaker around them.
• Watch the bottom. If it moves, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY!
• Use your brain when evaluating the conditions and decisions. Never let a desire for fishing incite you to do something hazardous.
• Keep your eye on what direction the wind is from, the speed, the topography of the area, and the condition of any cracks you cross.
• Keep in mind that no number or size fish is worth your life.
• Learn when you make a mistake so you don’t repeat them.
• Wear wool clothes a few layers out from your body. It retains it’s insulating properties when wet and, after your body warms up the water soaked in between your body and the wool, the water will also insulate you from the cold.
• Watch the temperature. While it may not be warm enough to melt the ice, it may very well weaken it substantially because soft ice is much weaker than hard.

When the ice is questionable:

• Go only in waters you or somebody you’re fishing with know.
• Remember to go out only as far as you can make it back if you’re wet.
• Exercise extreme care if you go onto frozen water over your head or in a current.

PRODUCT OF THE DAY

FRABIL FRONTIER 2 MAN HUB SHELTER "BLOW OUT PRICING"

CLICK HERE FOR SPECIAL PRICING

• Fishes 2 anglers plus gear
• 300 Denier tent
• Corner door with heavy duty zipper
• 4 Clear View removable windows
• MaxVent^TM system adjusts for optimal venting
• Eight 2" x 2" safety reflectors
• Additional polyurethane coatings to keep light and water out
• Includes zippered transport bag
• Includes anchor kit

Image of the Day

10 Day Weather Forecast for Bangs Lake Wauconda IL 60084

Today Overcast. High 46F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight Cloudy. Low around 30F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday December 20

Day A light wintry mix in the morning will transition to a few showers in the afternoon. High 36F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 60%.

Night Rain and snow showers mixed after midnight. Low 34F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 40%.

Wednesday December 21

Mix of rain and snow showers. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the upper 20s.

Thursday December 22

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the upper 20s.

Friday December 23

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Saturday December 24

Snow showers at times. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Sunday December 25

Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Monday December 26

Plenty of sun. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low 20s.

Tuesday December 27

Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Wednesday December 28

Cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

We were off to a good start with a nice ice sheet forming along the shore going 35ft out, but with todays warmer tempatures all progress was lost!

We are looking at cooler temps later in the week that will hopefully finish the job.

Are you new to Ice Fishing????

Check out the Hard Water Guide Service NEW FOR 2011 - 2012

Mike and Ryan our newest pro staff members are offering an all inclusive ice fishing package rates as low as $75.00 includes equipment, meals, and non achoholic drinks. BYOB welcome. These two have been mastering their craft on the hardwater of Bangs Lake for several years, and beleive me they know how to catch fish. You will be fishing from the "Golf Cart Navy Lodge" which is an enormous 9' x17' fishing shanty complete with heat, and HD TV. Give the guys a calll at 224-634-0029 or 847-812-4381 tell em Scorn sent you!

10 Day Forecast for Bangs Lake

Tonight Mostly clear. Low 23F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Monday December 12

Day Sunshine in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 39F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Night Cloudy. Low near 30F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday December 13

Cloudy. High 38F. Winds light and variable.

Wednesday December 14

Showers possible. Highs in the low 40s with temperatures nearly steady overnite.

Thursday December 15

A few showers possible, windy. Highs in the mid 40s and lows in the upper 20s.

Friday December 16

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Saturday December 17

A few clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Sunday December 18

Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Monday December 19

Snow showers possible. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Tuesday December 20

A few snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Bangs Lake is still open water with some ice forming along the shorelines.

10 Day Forecast for Bangs Lake

Tonight Generally clear. Low 19F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.

Sunday December 11

Day Mainly sunny. High 39F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.

Night Clear skies. Low 26F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.

Monday December 12

Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. High 39F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday December 13

Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 30s.

Wednesday December 14

Chance of showers. Highs in the low 40s with temperatures nearly steady overnite.

Thursday December 15

Showers possible. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the upper 20s.

Friday December 16

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Saturday December 17

Considerable cloudiness. Highs in the mid 20s and lows in the low 20s.

Sunday December 18

A few clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Monday December 19

Snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Richard Lomas of West Salem bagged a rare and very odd whitetail deer on Friday. What Lomas killed was a 30 point deer near Mount Erie and Later discovered it was a doe - "Female".DNR  biologist say that finding antlers on a doe is fairly uncommon. 30 of them is unbelieveable. The deer is thought to be about 4 1/2 years old.

The Bangs Lake Bait Crew will be taking some much needed rest this weekend in the wilds of Green Lake Wisconsin.

The Store will be closed This Weekend Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday the 18th - 21st of November.

We will reopen on Tuesdaqy the 22nd and will begin preparing for the upcoming ice fishing season. The last two mornings there has been a thin covering on the circle channel!! This usually indicates we are 3 weeks away from fishable ice on the main lake.

Have you been ice fishing before?

If not let Bangs Lake Bait Company point you in the right direction for a successful start. We have it all from A-Z and our prices cant be beat!!

New in stock BAITFLARE if you have not tried this product yet you are missing out on some amazing action.

Hard Water Guide Service

Mike and Ryan our newest pro staff members are offering an all inclusive ice fishing package rates as low as $75.00 includes equipment, meals, and non achoholic drinks. BYOB welcome. These two have been mastering their craft on the hardwater of Bangs Lake for several years, and beleive me they know how to catch fish. You will be fishing from the "Golf Cart Navy Lodge" which is an enormous 9' x17' fishing shanty complete with heat, and HD TV. Give the guys a calll at 224-634-0029 or 847-812-4381 tell em Scorn sent you!

2011-11-16 19:25:34

400 Catchable Walleyes Were Released Into Bangs Lake This Week

Richmond Fisheries released 400 Walleyes into Bangs Lake this week in conjunction with the Village of Wauconda, and the Bangs Lake Management Commitee. Northern Pike were scheduled to be delivered as well however they were not available. The Northern Pike will most likely be planted just after the ice melts.

Bangs Lake Bait Company Welcomes Ryan Jacobson and Mike Rodgers to Our Pro Staff

Ryan and Mike have been cathching fish through the ice on Bangs Lake for the last few years that has had many a neighbor look upon them with an envious eye. These two take ice fishing very seriously, and have alot of fun doing it. Their Shanty named the "Golf Cart Navy Lodge" is always the talk of the lake, and this year has brought some phenominal additions to include HD Television. The Shanty boasts an impressive 9' X 17' foot print giving these anglers, and their guests ample space to stretch out, and enjoy a days fishing.  

This season Ryan and Mike have decided to offer a one of a kind experience here in Wauconda Illinois by starting  the Hard Water Guide Service the duo plan to offer an all inclusive plan that will include meals, non alchoholic beverages, and all the neccesary equipment! Guests are welcome to BYOB. If you are interested in booking an adventure with our newest pro staff additions you can call Ryan at 224-634-0029 or Mike 847-812-4361 Rates as low as $75.00.

It’s getting to be that time of year again on Bangs Lake.  Pretty soon when you wake up in the morning you will have to scrape your windows before you drive to work in the dark and you will be lucky to see daylight when you get home from work. However there is one good thing about this time of year. It is going to start forming ice on Bangs Lake soon. Once the ice starts it will be time to break out the ice fishing equipment .

Before the upcoming 2011-2012 ice fishing season be sure to go through all your equipment and test it before venturing out on Bangs Lake. This will save you time when you get out on that first day. I start with a check my ice fishing clothes and re wash them before the season starts. I make sure my long underwear are in good condition as well as all my coveralls. Be sure to patch any holes or replace the item before the ice fishing season starts. There are few things worse than  wind blowing through you outerwear right onto your long johns to put a chill somewhere unpleasant. A must have is a fishing towel. I prefer to use a golf towel so I can hang it up in my ice shack the heater keeps it nice and warm and dries it fast. This is actually a necessity on the ice so you can dry your hand after handling  a fish or live minnows. This will keep your hands a whole lot warmer also. Purchase some quality socks. High Quality boots and gloves are a must also. I prefer Rocky and La Crosse boots,  pick up a pair of ice cleats especially for first ice when there isn’t any snow on Bangs Lake yet.

After you get your clothes ready, and make sure everything is in trip ready condition including a check of the zippers and any tie downs it is time to check your fishing equipment.

I check all the workings of my rod and reels. Make sure the rod seat is securely attached to the reel. Then replace all the line on the reels. Make sure the reels are lubricated and all fittings are tight.

Tip-up line should be changed at least every other year. Use one that won’t freeze up or bind. Then tie some new mono leaders. I use a 2-3 foot leader. Also have some steel leaders for northern fishing as well using braided wire. Keep some extra leaders set up ahead of time so you don’t have to tie on hooks out on the ice and you can just unclip it and place a new leader on. Make sure to use a good ball bearing swivel for you tip-ups as well. Check the lubricant in the tip-ups to save it from freezing up on the ice as well. Also check the operation of the flags. If the flags are torn or loose replace them.

Now that your rods and tip-ups are ready let's check the ice shack. If you have a portable shack set it up in the garage or your driveway and be certain the sled is in good condition make sure to patch any holes you find. Check the canvas for holes and tears. After patching holes and tears in the canvas spray it down with a water repellant spray. Check all the pivot points and tubing as well for signs of damage.

On a permanent shack you must check the runners and make sure they are solid and not cracked. Check the walls and make sure they are not damaged as well as the windows. Check the floor to make sure there are rotten spots. Replace all broken or week parts of the structure.

Ice augers are one of the most important items in an ice fisherman's arsenal. There are several styles to choose from. I usually use a spud bar early in the season to check ice conditions every few feet. Ice can for very unevenly and safety is my number one concern. I like to use a hand Lazer auger early in the year or when fishing in large groups of pan fisherman it is very quiet and wont spook fish..  I do use a power auger most of the year because I drill many holes per day to find and follow fish as they migrate around Bangs Lake. The main thing to check on the augers and spud bar is to make sure they are always sharp. Any blades should be replaced or sharpened before the season begins. Power augers should have fresh gas and a new spark plug. Always carry an extra spark plug just in case.

Once your augers are ready it is time for the rest of your ice fishing arsenal. Make sure to have your tackle ready to go. Sharpen hooks or replace them with new ones. On new jigs pre punch the eyes out before putting them in you tackle box.

Next up is your heater. Check all fittings and start your heater. Make sure the heater is in good working order. If it flames up get it serviced so it will run properly.

Set up a lanyard. I put a jaw spreader, depth finder, clippers, jig eye cleaner, and forceps on it for easy access. Some more useful tools are a 5 gallon bucket lined with a garbage bag so you can remove the fish quickly after fishing and it won't make a mess in your bucket.

If you have a Hummingbird, Vexilar, or Aqua View make sure to charge the batteries and test them before taking them out on the ice.

After you have everything ready to go and head out for Bangs Lake  make sure that the ice is safe. I don’t like to go onto ice thinner than 4 inches. Make sure to test the ice every couple of feet to insure safety, and always tell someone where you will be.

Remember think safety first, be considerate to others, and keep Bangs Lake beautiful don’t leave any trash on the ice.

Don't forget to register your permanent shelters with Wauconda village hall this year.

The weather is going to be beautiful Saturday and Sunday! Here are some November tips for Bangs Lake!

By the time November rolls around on Bangs Lake, most bass anglers have winterized their boats and, for the time being, forgotten about fishing. These fishermen believe the bass bite is done for the season, and choose to hunt, or watch some football. Well here is some news November can be a good month to target bass.

Crankbaits Can Be Killer

Crankbaits that are natural-colored and that are shallow-running can be especially effective when the bass are feeding on baitfish in November. Fish the crankbaits around shallow cover, and make sure to run the crankbait so it hits the cover. The crankbaits will bounce off the cover and bass will hit, believing the crankbait is a wounded baitfish. When fishing crankbaits around shallow cover, make sure to use at least a medium heavy rod with 10-12lb test, and throw the baits as far into the cover as you can. Your lure will get caught up sometimes, but that's where the big bass are.

Swim a Jig

Crankbaits can be pretty noisy, especially when they crash through heavy cover. Sometimes, that will spook the bass instead of making them hit. The best way to avoid this is to fish with a swim jig. Use it in the same shallow heavy cover areas as more of a finesse bait. Cast the swim jig past the shallow cover, then bring it in so that it swims about 6-8 inches under the surface of the water. An erratic style retrieve mimics a real baitfish. Allowing the jig to make contact with the cover could cause a big bass to hit.

Throw a 3/16 oz Spinnerbait

Spinnerbaits are amazing baitfish-imitating baits, but if you plan to use one in November, keep in mind the size of the baitfish. Because many Bangs Lake fisherman do not, they use spinnerbaits that do not match the hatch. Small spinnerbaits that weigh about 3/16 of an ounce are best at imitating the 3 to 4-inch baitfish that are most common in Bangs Lake at this time of year. As with other styles of lures,  be sure to make contact with, shallow cover.

Buzzbaits are a good choice

Buzzbaits are used during the summer months when the water is warm. Many anglers don't even think of trying a buzzbait during November. In forgetting the bait, they are probably giving up what can be a day making lure in November. Use buzzbaits along shorelines with riprap and cattails. The best method is to throw so you retrieve the buzzbait parallel to the shoreline structure. This will keep your buzzbait in the strike zone throughout the whole retrieve. Reel it just fast enough to keep the lure on the surface and the blades turning. Don't fish the entire trip with a buzzbait, but try a few casts every now and again to see if the bass are willing to take a top water buzzbait.

Ice fishing is right around the corner, let Bangs Lake Bait Company outfit you right! check out our great sale items here www.bangslakebait.com !

The Holidays are fast approaching come into Bangs Lake Bait Company for the perfect gift!

A Grandt Custom Fishing Rod. We will at no extra charge have your personal message placed on the Rod. This will be a gift that is forever remembered and appreciated.

Grandt Rods are made in the USA and come with a 100 Percent Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee.

Hurry in while supplies last.

Gift Certificates are also available.

Bangs Lake Bait Company will be offering fishing boat rental for the 2012 Season. Our fleet will include 5 Fishing set ups fully equipped with Livewells, Locators, and Trolling Motors.

In addition we will have one pontoon that will be fully set up for fishing as well.

We plan on having our fleeet ready to go by April 1st 2012.

On Saturday some 600+ Crappies and Redear Sunfish were stocked into Bangs Lake the fish were placed into the lake at the far end of the LVVA boat launch pier.

There is a planned stocking of Walleye and Northern Pike later in the month as the water gets cooler.

Anyone interested in helping out with future stockings can do so here http://bangslakebait.com/fishstocking.php

Sunset:
18:08 CST

Moon Set:
09:03:00 CST

Peak Lunar Fishing Times:
00:49 - 02:49 CST
13:07 - 15:07 CST

This weekend presents us with some great fishing!

Lakewood forest preserve on 176 has been stocked with Rainbow Trout and opems tommorow at 6:30 AM. Night Crawlers are the best bait fished under a bobber. These fish will be very close to shore and easy to catch.

Bangs Lake Walleye action is hot this week don't miss out on the fall run.

Bass are still hitting nicely as well as Bluegills in the channel.

Northern Pike are also doing very well.

It is time to get out and take advantage of some of the best fishing of the year!

Bass have been hitting really well on little action macs and golden roaches.

The circle channel is loaded with large bluegills best bait has been half crawlers.

Walleye are being taken just outside the weedlines drifting crawlers and extral large fatheads and medium roaches.

Northern Pike are coming in on bucktails as well as Large Roaches and suckers.

The evening bite has been fantastic with steady action all day long.

Today is looking great already.

Bass are taking little action macs and other plastics as well as large golden roaches. The bes depth seems to be 8 feet of water.

Northern are hitting on bucktails and Large Roaches and Suckers all fish have been caught in under 8 feet of water.

Crappie are all over the boat docks and taking minnows.

BIG Bluegills are feeding in the channels and can easily be caught on live bait.

Longnose Gar have been in the mix all week long for added excitement.

The fishing is really good this week with many bass and northern pike being taken.

Most fish are coming in on large golden roach minnows, However wacky worms and little action mac's have been catching as well as spinner baits.

Some BIG bluegill action is going on in the channels right now.

The crappie bite is doing great on minnows the fish are in the shallows now with most being taken in less than 6 feet of water.

If you can make it out between rain showers you are in for a real treat. The Walleye and Pike action is HOT on Bangs right now. These fish definitly got the news that winter is coming and they are on the eat.

Bass have also been hitting pretty well unfortunatly the Fall Classic didn't see that many fish on Sunday of any size but there was a boat that limited out pretty nice. The key to the lake would of been Large Golden Roaches that day.

Crappie are eager to bite especially with the perfect overcast conditions we have now. You can find these fish in 8-12 feet of water now.

Big Gills have made their way into the circle channel and are feeding.

For all fishing the Fall Classic on Bangs Lake this Sunday the 25th good luck!

The three fish that count for the tournament are Northern Pike, Bass, and Walleye. We have been tracking these three species all week here are our recomendations for baits.

For Northern Pike Large Golden Roaches and Suckers will bring the best live bait results. While Harraser or Bucher Bucktails and Radtke Pike Minnows will do the Trick for artificials. These fish are in the weed beds and are there in numbers. Try along Bergers Peninsula and in front of Honey Hill first.

For Bass Large and Medium Golden Roaches are a great choice for live bait. For artificials get some Little Action Macs. I recomend either a Purple White Tail or Blue Purple Firetail. Bass are being seen close to shore try along piers and near weed edges.

For Walleye we recomend in live bait XL Fatheads, Medium Roaches, and Night Crawlers fished on a Lindy Rig. For Artificial Baits on the Walleye try drop shotting a Zoom Trick Worm or Trolling Crank Baits some great choices are the suspending flicker shad or we also have a Crawfish colored crank bait by Challenger that has produced this week as well.Walleye have been in shallower water early and then move out to 14 feet right befor noon.

We will be open at 3:30 AM for the tournament on Sunday Morning. We have the registration forms here  they are also avilable at Lindy's.

Remember to always try new things.

After a tough weekend of fishing, I decided to try out some of the crazier looking items here at the shop. One of which had surprising results.

I was fishing along some thick lily pads with a Mister Twister Top Prop if you havent seen one of these it looks like it wont catch fish. The only reason we even had these at the store was they came in a package deal. I must say I was shocked that on my first cast, I caught a nice 4 pound Bass. i thought to myself this must be fluke so I took another few casts with it. On the Fifth cast another bass this time 3 pounds, followed up by three more Bass. So if fluke means 5 Bass I guess it was a fluke. I will be adding this ugly odd lure to my personal arsenal.

We had great weather today, which should have the lake primed for tommorow. Let's get out there and catch some Bangs Lake monsters!

Don't forget the Fall Classic is this weekend on Sunday the 25th for more info stop by the Bait Shop!

The 10 day weather outlook for Bangs Lake is PERFECT FISHING WEATHER!!!!

For the next ten days it looks like mostly high 60's to low 70's with plenty of cloud cover. It is this time of the year combined with these type conditions that big fish are caught.

Bangs Lake Bait Company would love the opportunity to see a photo of your catch from Bangs Lake. You can bring a picture by the store or share it with us via email at customerservice@bangslakebait.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bangslakebait

If you love to fish Bangs Lake then please give back by visiting our fish stocking page at http://bangslakebait.com/fishstocking.php you can even pick the size, and type of fish that gets stocked at Bangs Lake in your name! 

Well I am off to hunt some more big Cats out on Bangs, see you tommorow morning with the regular fishing report.

As predicted in yesterdays report we did find some Walleyes along Bergers Peninsula this morning, If you haven't fished this spot on Bangs Lake yet you are missing out. For Fall and Spring action the Peninsula is amazing.

Navy Ryan caught a nice cat last night over 12lbs. As well as a nice limit of smaller 1+ pouders for the table. The eaters all had belly's full of small Bluegills 1-2 Inches. ( Match You're Bait's to that size for other species this is what they are all eating)

Bass have taken to the cooler weather nicely they have been bunched up off of Lake View Villa for the last few days, and can be caught rather easily right now.

Northerns check along the peninsula and at the mouth of the circle channel these fish are in full swing right now and are ready to hit your bait.

Bluegills had a great afternoon gill hunt yesterday, and will be enjoying them tommorow as lunch!! there are big slabs all along the piers, especially at Lindy's.

Crappies have seemed to move out, or turn off. I was not able to hook up with any number of fish.

Did you read yesterday's fishing report? If so email us, and let us know how many mispellings there were! The first correct answer wins a Little Action Mac Lure! customerservice@bangslakebait.com

Get the gear you need at a price you can afford www.bangslakebait.com "The prices on www.bangslakebait.com are lower than the Big Box Stores" -Mike Jackson Daily Herald

Missed Connection:

To the Northern Pike in the North Bay of Bangs Lake that followed my lure twice today: Please bite it next time! I promise to release you safe and sound, after a quick photo opportunity of course.

Bass are really on the feed right now check the shallows especiall off the  Lake View Villa subdivision the Bass are there feeding on heavily schooled bait fish, remeber to match the hatch the best bet is to use a medium or large Golden Roach minnow.

Crappies are schooling up at the mouth of the circle channel right at the drop off large fatheads are the key tipped on a small jig head in black.

Blue Gills are all over the docks and are feeding heavily, Half Crawlers and Trout Worms are great baits these fish will also take to a leech nicely.

Walleye have seemed to diaapear today couldn't get on them to save my life. I believe they have went shallow and may be feeding along the shore line I will try along Bergers Peninsula tommorow.

Are you ready for Ice Fishing? We are at Bangs Lake Bait Company we have gear galore at our website www.bangslakebait.com Also check out the huge Musky selection online!

Minnesota sent us amoke and cooler weather.

The smoke that blew in from the forest fires in the BWCA in Minnesota seemed to help with the fishing at leatst that was thre only notable difference yesterday.

Northern Pike saw 5-7 fish rolling on the surface yesterday was able to hook up with 2 of them both fish were 32" all were taken on a Mepps #5 Squirrel Tail with a gold blade.

While throwing for the Northern we were able to shake up a few nice bass on the Mepps as well.

The bait is starting to move in we are seeing fish much shallower this week as a result. If you are having a tough time out there move in closer the fish are there and very willing to bite.

This weeks weather should really put the Fall patterns into full swing

Partly Cloudy	Sunny	Partly Cloudy	Sunny	Partly Cloudy	Scattered T-Storms	Scattered T-Storms	Mostly Sunny	Showers	Partly Cloudy
66°F High	59°	62°	67°	72°	76°	72°	70°	71°	72°
36° Low	41°	44°	51°	58°	58°	53°	55°	54°	52°

Took a nice bag of 8 Bass yesterday in just under 2 hours, the average fish was 2 pounds with one going 4.3 this was at about 3pm yesterday with high skies and boat traffic.

Walleye are still coming in steady on leeches and medium golden roaches.

Crappie are on the hunt these fish are highley mobile right now but once you find them the bite is fast and hard.

Big Bluegills are at the drop off near the North Point of the saddle.

Please dont forget to check out the fish stocking program at http://bangslakebait.com/fishstocking.php any help is appreciated.

Today we remeber the Friends, Family and fellow Americans who lost their lives on September 11th 2001. Today's fishing report is dedicated to all that were lost that day. As I watched the memorial this morning, and heard one Child speak of the Father he had never met, I couldnt help but think of all that was taken from this child. He like so many other children of 9/11 victims would never know a fishing trip with his father. So much more was lost that day than anyone could ever tally. We will never forget 9/11.

Large Mouth Bass are in the shallows chasing shooled up baitfish, medium golden roaches will match the natural forage pretty well. For a artificial presentation try a F-5 or F-7 Rapala in Silver.

Northern Pike are cruising the weedlines 500 series bucktails have been best. However a large golden roach on a slip bobber will do the trick as well.

Blue Gills are still at Lindy's Docks and are taking to half crawlers.

God Bless America

As predator fish begin their fall feeding habits on Bangs Lake , their focus centers on large forage. Young of the year perch, shiners, small panfish, and chubs, along with other forage, such as frogs, crawfish and even their own offspring will be targeted. Successful trophy hunters will match the hatch, almost scientifically, at this time of year. Imitation of the forage base is very critical and a key to productivity during the fall feeding binge that happens every year on Bangs Lake!

Feeding forays are anything but mysterious! The fish have to eat a lot as they prepare for winter. The predation cycle is in high gear on the drop offs, large points and adjacent flats, and in the channels. Old school anglers that have fished Bangs Lake for many years can predict these movements, and position themselves for hot late summer or early fall action on the biggest fish of the year. Big fish become vulnerable for longer periods in the fall because they move into areas where baitfish, and other forage are staging, some remaining in the general area through winter. To catch walleyes during fall transition and early fall consider the tendency for walleyes to move up. An obvious relationship exists between prey and walleye movements during this transition period. Forage fish move shallow during turnover and early fall because cooler water now becomes available there. And walleyes follow their food to these areas.

The sunlight penetration also makes a big difference as to where the walleyes are located on any given hump. You wouldn't think that sunlight penetration would go down as far as 12 or 18 feet but in clear lakes like Bangs it will. So when fishing, pay close attention to the sun and make sure that you fish the shady side of that hump. More active fish will be found in this area.

I prefer shallow weedy humps. I also prefer them to be fairly close in proximity to shore. They don’t necessarily have to be tied to the shoreline, but they should be fairly close.

The weeds, if they are close enough to the surface, absorb heat from the sun like a solar panel. The warmth attracts minnows and you know the rest.

Massive bait schools break up and walleyes head for specific structural elements that funnel scattered, roaming forage past specific spots. Try the two points that seperate the bays on the lake that protrude toward each other. Roaming baitfish usually congregate along these fingers and filter down them. Walleyes wait at the tips. Find those spots and you'll find big walleyes. Bright warm days are preferred to cold, blustery ones. The sun is lower in the sky this time of year, so light penetration is decreased. However, bright days will cause the water to warm up, which will turn fish on. Frequently, action will be better from mid-day on. A wind coming into the weeds beds can be advantageous, although I have enjoyed some nice catches on, calm days too. Remember that the angle of the sun’s rays is not as direct at this time of year so the fish can be quite shallow. The direction of the wind will have a lot to do with how the fish locate. Usually they will be working the windy side of the weed beds.

These spots vary but are based on factors like: water temperature, availability of baitfish, oxygen, light level, structure and schooling tendencies. Success rests with proper presentation. Once you have located the edge and fish, the next step is to entice them to bite. Your bait presentation will depend upon the specific edge that you have selected. If the walleyes are directly below and concentrated on a physical edge you can drift a livebait rig, jig, or try using a slip bobber rig, keeping the bait among the fish you see on your locator. This is one of the ways my Humming Bird comes in handy. If you find the fish strung out along the edge, keep the bait moving and they will bite. If they're clumped up in one spot, hover over them and vertically jig them.

Piers also attract fish, try pier lined shorelines. Rock piles, humps or where rocks and weeds meet or are intermixed, work it over thoroughly with a jig or live bait presentation. Try to determine where fish are holding. Keep asking yourself the question what is their pattern?

Constant bottom contact is essential even though it increases the potential for snags. Use a small jig head with a wide hook gap to deliver the bait in wavy conditions. Leeches are an outstanding live bait because they can take the pounding.

Drifting the breakline on a windy day is a way to catch trophy walleyes. The tackle is simple and the methods are easy to learn. First, use jigs tipped with a crawler, leech or minnow. The size of the jig should be just enough so you have contact with the bottom. For example, on a lake like Bangs, I prefer to use 1/16 ounce or 1/8 ounce  jigs. The important factor here is the shape of the head. The head of the jig should be round or a stand-up type of jig. This design helps when you are in an area that has snags, especially in timber or rocks. When I am on a river, I might switch to a heavier  jig, spinner or a Lindy rig.

With the cooling temperatures of fall don't put that boat away just yet, get out and fish the edges for some fall transitional walleyes. You might be surprised at the wallhanger you hook into.

If you are interested in catching some late season fall walleyes or any other info stop by the store at 106 N Main Street Wauconda IL

Lots of walleye are being taken of the north end of the lake in 18 feet of water. The fish are being taken on a mix of leeches and medium roaches.

Bass are still hitting well.Anywhere along the weed edges little action macs are highly effective.

Blue gill still at  the Lindy's piers there are some big ones there waxies and trout worms have been best.

Fishing has been very steady on Bangs Lake all week long, The cooler weather has brought the lake down to an ideal tempature.

Bass have been very productive this weel Bangs has yielded may 2-4 pound fish. The Bass a following a slow steady pattern which is why the Little Action Mac has been the lure of choice. Blue Purple Fire Tail is the best color all around.

Walleye the numbers have been low but there is good size quality, this is definitly indicative that we need to stock some more walleye in the lake. I do not think the fish are succesfuly spawning, and the big ones we are seeing are left overs from years past. Please help stocjk some walleye by clicking here:                            http://bangslakebait.com/fishstocking.php

Don't forget to check out our specials at www.bangslakebait.com as well

Crappies have moved back out and are schooling in 17-21 feet of water.

Northerns are all over the lake taking top water baits.

Bluegills are still at Lindy's piers and are hitting fiercely especially at the launch ramp.

Bass are hitting extremly well and can be found anywhere there are weeds. Best presentation has been a golden roach below a bobber.

Would you like to give back to Bangs Lake? Help out with fish stocking for the 2011-2012 Season here http://bangslakebait.com/fishstocking.php

Bass Bass Bass Bass Bass Bass Bass Bass Bass Bass is all you heard on the boat this morning these guys must have heard that its fall! Get out there now while the getting is still good.

Crappies have moved back out and are schooling in 17-21 feet of water.

Northerns are all over the lake taking anything that comes their way. Top water especially.

Bluegills are still at Lindy's piers and are hitting fiercely especially at the launch ramp.

We hope everyone had a safe holiday weekend! Don't forget to check the specials at www.bangslakebait.com if you need gear for Ice or Muskies you can save a ton with us!!!

Also check out the Mike Jackson Outdoors Show at http://bangslakebait.com/reelfishingradio.php

What a great start to the week, the weather couldnt be better for fishing!!

Happy Labor Day.

Bass are doing really well so far today, most fish are bring taken in the open weed pockets using weedless Little Action Macs.

Walleye lots of double hits drifting medium roaches over the saddle as the bait falls off the drop off the fish are picking it up.

Northern Pike pulling bucktails over the weedtops has yielded quite a few nice fish this week. Orange Black or Firetiger have been the best color choices.

The Crappies are still on the dock pattern just before sunset has been best.

Big Bluegills off the piers at Lindy's there are some big gills there right now.

Have a Great Holiday, Bangs Lake Bait Company is open till 8pm tonight so if you need bait we are here!!!

Dont forget to check our specials on the homepage www.bangslakebait.com we have some really good deals on the gear you need for Ice Fishing!!!

Happy Labor Day Weekend

Bass are really on this morning should bring some good numbers with the cloud cover as long as the rain holds off.

Walleye are hitting well we found them in 21 Feet yesterday and were able to get them to bite drifting medium roaches on a slip sinker rig.

Crappie are still on dock patterns.

Channel cats have been doing really well with lots of nice eaters coming in after dark.

Lindy's Piers are where it's at for Big Bluegills cast into them and hold on these are nice slabs.

Bass are doing really well this week get out there early in the morning and just after sunset and you will clean up!!

Crappie are near the docks cast underneath piers during the day time.

Walleye are in 14-18 FOW cruising the weed edges.

For Bass Large Roaches and Little Action Macs are great choices.

Walleye are taking to Medium Roaches

Crappie are hitting well using a size 12 pinkie tipped with a minnow presented under a fixed float and pulled.

Big Gills are all over the piers at Lindy's

Some really good crappie action is in effect on Bangs Lake the fish are on the feed and can be found under docks and on the iner weedlines.

There are some really Big Bluegills all along Lindy's piers

Bass are starting there fall feed already and are hanging out in the open weed pockets.

Northern are very active especially in front of Bergers they are taking Bucktails and Buzz Baits readily and are very interested in Large Golden Roaches as well.

Musky Alert hooked up with a nice 36 inch Esox this Morning at 5:35am This was a Tiger Musky. The fish was caught off of Bangs Lake in 9 feet of water on the far east shore of the small bay.

Bass have been doing well most being taken on Large Golden Roaches, some other great presentations have been Little Action Macs, and the Yum Dinger in Bama Bug fished Wacky Style.

Crappie (Second Hand Report) 20 plus 11-13" fish taken on the east end of the large bay all after 11pm.

Blue Gills (Second Hand Report) Doing very well with many fish coming in along the weedlines.

Catfish The 12 pound Channel Cat taken off Bangs Lake last week has me in catfish mode Stay Tuned for some BIG Catfish pictures I have a trip planned with Navy Ryan this week.

Cooler weather has turned the fish on. With water surface tempatures back at 75 degrees the fish are back to their normal patterns.

Bass the Bass are really on and taking multiple presentations to include Top Water, Little Action Macs, Large Golden Roaches, and Night Crawlers.

Walleye are being taken drifting crawlers and medium roaches on a spinning harness just outside the weedlines.

Crappie are back on there usual haunts and have stopped suspending.

Catfish are aggresivly feeding near the surface.

Bluegill are being found on the drop off at the northest end of the saddle.

Ron Behrens nailed this 12 pounder out of Bangs Lake TODAY!!! After weighing the fish we released him back into the lake, Much to the fright of all the Kids swimming at the Park District Beach!!

Nice Fish Ron

There Back!!!!!!!!!!!

The Big Crappies are back on the move with the water tempature down 6 degrees to a cool 79 degrees, We were able to put a nice 15" Crappie in the boat last night.Great Job on that Big Crappie Navy!!!

Also caught was a wonderful Walleye that tipped the scales at over 4.5 Pounds. This fish hit like a runaway freight train. The Walleye was taken vertically Jigging in 9 feet of Water on Bangs Lake.The fish felt really great on the Grant 004 All American Pro Rod!

BIG BASS the Daily Herald featured a PIG from Bangs Lake that came in over 7 Pounds. This fish was caught ny the Mike Jackson Outdoors team while fishing Bangs Lake.

A couple of nice Chammel Cats were also taken yesterday By the Kids at the Park District Pier.

Fishing is starting to pick back up!!!

A few 17" Bass came in from the Seniors Derby today.

2 Nice Walleyes one 4LB and One 6LB were taken just before 7am out of 14 FOW

Northerns seem to be back on the feed as well.

The water is still warm but it has cooled enough where the Fish are becoming more active. The bite has been very light but it's there at least!!

Slow down your presentation Wacky Rigs and Live Bait Presentations from a Slip Bobber have been best.

Crappies and Bass are still hitting well despite the warm water. Hopefully Sundays rain will cool the lake down a bit!!

The water temp is at a steady 85 Degrees

Crappie

We were able to raise a few fish despite the warm water but nothing like normal. Very hard to keep the bait alive we will try a bit deeper tonight.

The rain we are expecting tonight should help cool down the water.

Bangs Lake

While Crappie fishing last night landed three nice Cats all 10+ pounders. The Crappie Bite was there but very light.

Sunset:
20:08 CST

Moon Set:
20:38:00 CST

Peak Lunar Fishing Times:
13:12 - 15:12 CST
00:55 - 02:55 CST

Sunset:
20:09 CST

Moon Set:
20:04:00 CST

Peak Lunar Fishing Times:
12:19 - 14:19 CST
00:02 - 02:02 CST

Bangs Lake

Crappie Crappie Crappie Crappie ...... It may have been my new rod, The Grandt 004 6' Medium Light was able to dectect even the slightest hit. I made the mistake of letting my wife hold the rod, while I rebaited hers. Needless to say i SPENT THE NEXT 35 MINUTES FISHING WITH A PINK POLE :(. This grandt rod out fished the other rod 3 fish to one, no matter who had it. We specifically Crappie fished last night in preperation for a special trip monday night on Bangs Lake with Spence Petros. We did so well last night that at the end of the night my red Gamakatsu hook was no longer red. (The fish actually took the coloroing off the hook!)  all in all I would estimate the total catch at over 100 fish.

BASS A 7LB PIG was taken from Bangs Lake yesterday and was released. The fish was taken using a Wacky Rigged Yamamoto Senko.

Musky The Big Boy at Bergers didn't show his face today, Did hook up with 1 smaller Tiger this fish was under 24".

Pike while looking for My Musky off of Bergers took 2 real nice Pike both were in at 34" ++

Walleye are still very spotty but with an investment of time you can boat a few.

WE NEED FISHING REPORTS IF YOU FISH THE AREA REGULARLY AND CAN HELP OUT WE WOULD APPRECCIATE IT.

Bangs Lake

This is going to be a great day for fishing!!

Bass are on just find the weeds (they are everywhere) Use a Little Action Mac Weedless and get ready!

Bluegills lots of jumbos they are feeding on the sandy shelf on the west side of the saddle.

Crappie the big school is on the feed average fish in this school is 12" fish the drop off in 17" at east end.

Walleye 3 nice ones this morning already all are still suspending at the thermocline.

Northern NO Reports...

Musky Alert........ There is a big guy that opened up shop in front of Bergers have raised him 3 times on Bucher 700's orange/blade black tail but no hook ups. almost had him on the last figure 8. This guy is a true and will go 46 easily.

Gar while throwing for Northern picked up three nice Gar all 30 plus inch fish. They will crush top water lures without hesitating. These fish have been programmed for the last 100 million years to do one thing, and they are not shy.

We are always looking for reporters for other Area Lakes such as the Fox Chain.

Bangs Lake

The Green Hornet took some nice Crappie last night in the face of some nasty weather. The action was pretty slow, but considering the storms not bad at all. A few nice Bluegills were in the mix as well.

Thanks to Navy, Golf Cart, and Yoda for going out with us.

Walleye NO REPORT

Bass NO REPORT

Northern NO REPORT

Musky 2 fish were raised yesterday morning, but no hook ups.

Bangs Lake

Last night was a show stopper on Bangs Lake Illinois, in a little under 2 hours we boated nearly 150 fish. These were all nice sized Crappie. We didnt see a single one under 12" what a fun night.

The Bass are still hitting very well fire tailed and blue purple white Little Action Macs have been the best baits.

Northern are back in a big way the last 2 days all the overcast skies have really helped.

Catfish are very aggresivly hitting and are being taken on everything had 2 come up on a Bucher 500 while fishing Northerns.

Musky we keep getting more and more reports of Tigers showing there faces. The most recent from some panfisherman who lost there lunch to one of these Bangs Lake Behemoths.

Bangs Lake

Looks like today is going to be a winner we already have calls in that the Walleye are on the feed again. 2 boats limited between 5-7am

BASS are on Little Action Mac is the way to go for the big ones. Also have taken quite a few on this Matzuo Wart Hog I think its Odd Profile is what is setting them off.

The evening bite was full of excitement last night starting out with Hartbeater buzz baits along the weed edges slammed a few 5+ lb bass.

Crappie were very activly feeding last night ran out of bait within an hour. Thank God we had some mini-mites on board or it would have been the shortest trip on record.

BANGS LAKE MUSKY ALERT !!!!!!!!!!! A 40+++++ was caught on Bangs Lake this was a TIGER.

Northern Pike action is still good best colors are anything with black and orange.

Bangs Lake

Rain Rain go away????? Actually stick around for a bit, at least the overcast skies!!! The clound cover has set the Northern Pike Bite ON FIRE!!!!!!!

Can you say not one , not two, not even three, but four 35 plus inch Pike in a row this morning these boys were making up for lost time with the high skies and heat of last week. All were taken on a Black Tail Orange Blade Bucher 500 series Bucktail.

Bass are still hitting very good in open weed pockets on Little Action Macs and Golden Roach Minnows.

Blue Gill many large gills coming in out of 15 feet of water.

Walleye no where to be found today.

Don't forget to catch us on the Mike Jackson Outddors show every sunday at 6AM tune into 1240 or 1470 AM radio.

Bangs Lake

The Largemouth are still on a frenzy the bigger the bait the better 8" Little Action Macs have been the ticket. Another great bait has been the Matzuo Wart Hog shallow diver in the 15-17 feet deep sections, this lure took a nice 8lb 4oz Largemouth from Bangs Lake yesterday.

The Walleye bite should be back on today if we can keep the cloud cover and cooler tempatures. These fish are going to be below the thermocline.

Slab Crappies were being reported along the east side of Bangs Lake after dark in 17 feet of water.

Catfish are everywhere with the warm water and they are aggresively on the feed. 5 20+ pounders were taken last night with small suckers.

Fox River

Fishing has been good despite the heavy boat traffic and heat. Some very large Blue Gill were reported from under the 120 Bridge.

Fox Chain of Lakes

Lake Marie has been good at night for Crappie and an occasional Catfish.

Pistakee Bay has been giving up some decent Walleye after 9pm.

Don't forget to catch us on Mike Jackson Outdoors Sundays at 6AM tune into 1240 or 1470 AM

The bucketmouths on Bangs Lake in Wauconda IL have been very aggresive this week despite the 90+ degree days we have had. While fishing yesterday with the kids these 17" Pigs ran us out of bait twice!! The best action seemed to come on 2 presentations Little Action Mac pre rigged worms in Black/Chartruse and on Golden Roach Minnows just over the weed tops. This was one of the best days fishing ever. The action was fast and the fish were nice sized.

A report of a 30+ inch Natural Muskie also came in from Bangs Lake the fish was taken trolling a Johnson Silver Minnow.

Walleyes are still nose down with real slow action.

Crappies Bangs Lake Style
Spring—fish the shallows
In spring when the Bangs Lake crappie are spawning in the shallows, anyone can cast a minnow and bobber toward the bank and catch a ton of fish. Crappie may spawn as early as mid-March in Bangs Lake and as late as the end of May depending on the weather in Wauconda. The spawn generally occurs when water temperatures reach 55 degrees on Bangs Lake. The depth at which crappie spawn depends on water clarity. In stained or muddy water, they may spawn as shallow as 1 or 2 feet. In exceptionally clear water, they may spawn as deep as 20 feet or more. We see allot of shallow spawning on the 2 channels located on the north end of the lake.
During the spring spawning period, use your trolling motor to move close to the shoreline. Start small a small (1/32 to 1/16 ounce) jig into the shallow water along the shore. (Mini-Mites are a great choice) and my new friend Crappie Keith (owner of The Jig) is sending me some of his super light Jigs, these promise to be deadly. Move slowly and hit every piece of structure you can see. Once you locate crappie, Fish that spot until the fish stop biting or they’re not big enough to suit you. If a spring cold front sends crappie out to deeper water, concentrate on the saddle in between the 2 bays. (from the white townhomes to the point just before Spencer Highlands) the crappie won't be very far off the drop offs.
Summer—move to deeper water or try night fishing
Post-spawn through September, crappie tend to stay in the deep weeds located in 15 to 20 feet of water, about 10 or 15 feet down. Concentrate on the east side of the lake.
Fish the deeper open water areas near the thermocline (where the water suddenly gets colder with depth) during hot Wauconda summer months with split shot, a light #8 wire hook and a small fathead minnow casted over the side of the boat.
During the hot Wauconda months of July and August, try night fishing for slab crappie. Artificial light such as that given by a battery operated lantern attract insects and small baitfish that will in turn attract crappie. Fish the same as you would during the daylight hours with either minnows or small jigs, fishing at different depths until you locate fish.
Fall—try the docks
Crappie are generally very predictable and aggressive in October and November. Docks are a prime location for fall crappie, where they can be caught in the upper 6 feet of the water column.
Cast into the back of a pier or along the edges, letting the jig sink for 2 or 3 seconds, and then retrieve slowly. Crappie will also move into shallow water on warm days in the fall, where you can catch them in the same brush piles they inhabit during the spawn.
Winter—enjoy some of the best ice fishing in the state of Illinois.
Unfortunately, many anglers stow away the fishing tackle before the first snow flies. Those who don’t can experience some of the best fishing of the year and have their favorite spot on Bangs Lake all to themselves.
You can find crappie in deep water (18 to 25 feet) in the winter, The key to catching crappie in the winter is to use a very small jig or minnow jigged very slowly. In cold water, crappie will not chase a fast-moving presentation like they will during the warmer months.
In addition, winter Bangs Lake crappie tend to congregate in large, dense schools near structure instead of scattering in loose schools over a large area. One side of a brush pile may yield nothing while the other side may produce a fish every time.
Tackle Recommended:
Rod: Grandt XLH70 EXS150 UL 5' Ultra Light
Reel: Pflueger President XT Ultra Light
Line: Cajun Mono 4 PT

How to Catch Walleye on Bangs Lake

There are many different techniques for catching the rather elusive Bangs Lake walleyes. But none as deadly as the slip bobber. Many fisherman have a deep seated hatred of "bobber fishing". Some even call it child's play, but slip bobber fishing is galaxy's away from those red and white plastic bobbers that come to most fisherman's minds whenever bobbers are mentioned. A Bangs Lake walleye slip bobber rig set-up with a lively leech, or medium golden roach hanging from it can be deadly on walleyes.

If you're not familiar with a Bangs Lake walleye slip bobber rig let me explain. With the much hated red and white plastic clip on bobber, if you wanted to fish at 12 feet, you had to try to cast the entire 12 feet of line with your bobber and bait attached. This will almost always provide a free meal for the fish, as most times your bait will fly off in the opposite direction of your cast..

However with a Bangs Lake walleye slip bobber rig you have a moveable Dacron knot, which comes pre-tied and on a tube for easy installation, that you put on your line as a an adjustable stop mechanism. The bobber itself is hollow so it can slide up and down to your bait, as you cast, and to your adjustable stop, as your bait settles to the pre determined depth you have set.

The sequence goes like this (1) take the line from your reel, I really like using the 8lb Cajun mono for this set up as it is completely invisible once in the water. (2) then slide the slip bobber knot onto your line and firmly tighten it onto your line (be sure to snip the long ends after tightening), then put the small bead that comes with the rig, this will keep the knot from going through the bobber. (3) Then you will want to slide your bobber on I absolutely prefer to use a Thill splash bright especially when rigging for walleye. (This bobber comes set up with a light in it that will turn on when in water which really helps to detect strikes when night fishing.) (4) a number 5 split shot weight. (5) a ball bearing swivel. (this will prevent your line from twisting) (6) An 18" piece of your 8lb line to attach to the other end of the swivel. (7) A number 6 or 8 Gamakatsu Octopus hook (Preferably in red)

For a rod I recommend a Grandt 015 from the All American Pro Series its a 7ft Medium Light Spinning Rod. This will give you lots of whip for less effort when casting, (this will eliminate excessive bait fly off from having to make strenuous casts from a shorter rod) The other benefit to this rod is its strong backbone and added length (upon hook set it will pick up slack line quicker, and drive that hook home every-time.)

Now that your all set up after casting take a look at the bobber, if your bobber doesn't sit upright in the water then your bait is on the bottom, or your weight is too light. Adjust your knot so that you are 12-14 " off the top of whatever structure you are fishing.

What you want to do, Start out in the 12-17 feet of water range and go from there ... I seldom get out of that range even though I might see the fish deeper on my locator screen. Because I know, from experience, that this is the range Bangs Lake walleyes tend to feed in.

If you want to have a great time catching some big walleyes on Bangs Lake, get set up an hour or so before dusk and fish till 11pm. This is prime walleye time on Bangs Lake and will yield some really nice ones.

There are few things better than when largemouth bass sucks in a "Wacky" worm on light line in shallow water and the war is on! There is nothing quite like trying to yank one of these pigs out of the tight cover at my favorite spots on Bangs Lake using spinning gear set up with light line, as the excitement and pure adrenaline will get you every time! For summer time bucketmouths this action has been known to be an adrenaline festival to rival any carnival ride. When the fishing gets tough, not just in summer heat, but anytime of the year, get out the your medium action spinning gear and try this easy to master technique called "Wacky" worming.

"Wacky" worming can be set up a few differnt ways. The versatility of this style of finesse fishing is only limited by the number of ways you can come up to rig it. "Wacky" worming can also be done on baitcasting gear if you choose to do so, and can be nearly as effective as when used on spinning gear. The reason I prefer spinning gear is that you can use lighter line on spinning gear. When most people think of "Wacky" worming, the thought comes to mind of a worm hooked through the center of the worm with the hook exposed; and yes, this is the traditional method of "Wacky" worming. However, there are many other ways to "Wacky" rig..

Spinning rods and reels. For this type of finesse fishing, we prefer a Grandt medium or medium-heavy action graphite spinning rod, The reason being is the extreme sensitivity of these particular rods, which allow us to detect even the lightest strikes. The Grandt rods also provide a good solid hookset. The reel that we personally use with this style of fishing is the Pflueger President Xt. We use 10-12# Spider XXX Super Mono line on our spinning reels.

Depending on conditions we may rig up a few differnt ways:

1) Use a 1/0 Gamakatsu wide gap weedles worm hook tied direct to the line..
2) Same as number one above, but add a 1/32 oz. or 1/16 oz. Bullshot above the hook.
3) Use a number 1ball bearing swivel with a 12-14" flouro carbon leader and a 2/0 Gamakatsu Super Flipping hook.
4) Same as number three above, but crimp a small split shot 1/2" above the ball bearing swivel.
5) Use a small ball bearing swivel and a 12-14" flouro carbon leader with a Slider 1/0 weighted hook.

As to what plastics we use thats simple Senkos, Salty Sinkers, or Yum Dingers. These baits can all be fished either traditional, Texas rigged or "Wacky" (hooked in the middle with the hook exposed).

Conditions change, any one of the above mentioned rigging methods may work better than the others. You just have to be versatile and listen to the fish. Fish these "Wacky" set ups in anywhere from 2-14' depths in and around brush piles, docks, channel mouths, points, backs of channels, and open pockets in the weeds. When the summer heat is on, this type of fishing can be very productive fished in the cattails.. Simply cast it out, let it drop, and work it back in just like you do in traditional plastic worm fishing. This rig will also out perform other worm rigs most days but especially when the heat is on in July and August.

The weather isnt the only thing thats hot !!!!

It is a mad house on the lake but the Bass do not seem to care.

Wacky Rigging is the ticket as well as Small Suckers fished on a bobber just over the weeds. The Night Bite is on!!!

Walleyes have been slow all week

Northern Pike Have Been Spotty mostly early in the morning Bucher 500 s in Black and Orange have been the ticket.

Bangs Lake

Bangs Lake has been hot all week long for Bass, most are being taken along the weedline on Fire Tailed and purple/blue with white tail Little Action Macs. Other Bangs Lake large mouth bass have been taken using slip bobbers with Large Golden Roaches.

Small Suckers have been yielding some nice Northern Pike in the east bay of Bangs Lake.Most are fishing these 36"in deep off a bobber floating them just over the weed tops outside the No Wake markers.

Walleye have been spotty with only 3 fish this week coming in, but one was a whopper at 7lbs 6oz.

Catfish have been great with the warmer water, Sonnys Regular on Cat Cracker worms has been the best.

Crappie the slabs are being found in 17 ft of water coming in on Mini-Mites, and Slip Bobbers and Minnows .

Other Area Lakes

Fox Chain of Lakes

Fox Chain If you can avoid all the boat traffic Pistakee Bay has been giving up some nice walleyes.

Lakewood

Lakewood has been producing some nice Large Mouths this year.

Fox River

Small Mouth Bass fishing has been very good using Rebel Craws below Elgin. It seems the further south you o the better. Fished down at the Indian Trail bridge and waded north to Score a limit in under an hour.