Kinkaid or Shelbyville?

  • muskyman20
    Posts: 35
    January 21, 2011 at 10:35 pm #1240158

    Hoping to get my 2011 musky season started early this year and im thinking about a late March/early April trip to southern Illinois. Im looking at either lake kinkaid or lake shelbyville but i have never fished either. Just wondering if anybody has fished ski’s early season on these lakes and which they prefer. Im leaning towards Kinkaid but Shelbyville is closer so just hoping for some input.

    thanks

    pool13_jeff
    NW, IL
    Posts: 884
    January 21, 2011 at 10:38 pm #928981

    I don’t fish for ‘skies, but I don’t think there is a comparison. Kinkaid…

    trapsht
    Rockford, Il
    Posts: 311
    January 21, 2011 at 11:07 pm #928993

    Without a doubt…Kinkaid is the better early season lake. I’ve fished Shelbyville a lot and struggle with early season muskies. Kinkaid will warm up quite a bit faster as well.

    rockriver
    Posts: 39
    January 21, 2011 at 11:15 pm #928997

    Quote:

    I don’t fish for ‘skies, but I don’t think there is a comparison. Kinkaid…


    Kinkaid for sure. If you want some great big fish action drive another five hours to Mountain Home and fish Norfork for stripers. They’ll be feeding strong by April-I’ll be there in late February. I’ve got the striper fever now just like 20 years ago when I got the musky flu. Still love the hunt targeting skis but figuring the stripers out is challenging and awesome action when you do. Leave the 7′ heavy at home and pull out a medium action baitcaster with light line and you’ll have a blast! There great eating too if your a fishivore

    stevenoak
    Posts: 1719
    January 22, 2011 at 12:13 pm #929066

    Left it at work,but I think Muskie Hunter magazine has a article this month about starting early south.A nice muskie has moved up my “bucket list”.Have been reserching and I think Tennessee and Missouri are more proactive stocking skis.Illinois DNR is so broke a lot of muskie projects involve clubs and Muskie orgs.First year subsciption of Musky Hunter is dirt cheap and good read.Tons of info.Also a Musky expo coming up in Madison I think.Have fished Shellbyville a few times around Easter Only Musky I’ve seen was a two footer I had on a crappie jig.There is a Muskie club there,and I know they catch a few.Shatterfield Guide service does a fishing report.But it kinda quiet when the crappie bite is slow.Kincad will warm sooner as its a couple hours south.

    doonan
    Storm Lake, IA
    Posts: 74
    January 27, 2011 at 3:26 am #930901

    My dad and I try to make a trip down south every year. Kincaid is the place we like to go. It is one of the prettiest places to fish muskies in North America. The johnson creek area ranks right up there with LOTW for scenery. Your odds of catching a 50 are low but a lot of mid forties in there. We always go pre-spawn so if you need some pointers for that time of the year let me know. Without a doubt I would fish kincaid over shelbyville.

    muskyman20
    Posts: 35
    January 30, 2011 at 11:08 pm #931809

    Any info would be great doonan. I have decided to go to Kinkaid and was wondering if you know where to get a good map of the lake. Im planning the last weekend in march and a few mid forties would be very welcome in my boat! Hoping to teach the girlfriend how to musky fish so any areas of the lake that would be good for numbers would be appreciated.

    -Thanks

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