Pool 13 – War Zone Crappies

I spent yesterday and today on the upper regions of “13” chasing crappies. To get an idea of what it was like; trying jigging in a glass of chocolate milk. There is so much junk coming down river right now as well. Additionally, there is a ton of ice floating down the sloughs. Crooked Slough was 37 degrees, but every back lake is solid and the low/no current areas of the slough are solid as well. Pleasant Creek launch is ice covered and snarky. Not many crappies were brought into my boat the past two days. It was quite humbling. To top it off, today is the first day of deer season in Illinois. The western side of CS was opened to hunting this year. OMG, what a war zone.

I hate to say it, but I may have made my last venture to “13” for the year.

I wonder why the water looks so bad?

I might be wrong, but I don’t think the gates were down last week on the dam (L&D 12). At least it stuck out to me yesterday that they are now down. The water below the dam is just churning away. I don’t know if that would have anything to do with it.

Jeff,

Any word on the walleye fishing in Bellevue the last couple of days? I fished up there Monday afternoon before the weather turned to crap. I caught one really nice 21″ sauger along with some smaller walleye and a few white bass. The fish weren’t biting great by any means. I noticed other fisherman catching some walleye but nothing with any size.

Thanks

Mark,

My buddy pulled 5 eaters on Friday. He was pulling ‘raps on 3-ways.

I confirmed that the corp lowered the gates last Tuesday. That’s why the water was so nasty.