Yes we will be holding a tournament on 11/7/2010 out of Rapids City. We are hopeing to get 20/25 teams from that area and Iowa. With the 20/25 teams we have that will make a nice size tournament. If we can make this happen next year would like to have 2 tournaments on the Miss. Thanks Bob

The Illinois Walleye Trail is pleased to announce the 2011 Tournament schedule. These are Team Format tournaments with no membership requirements. This year we have elected to do a couple of tournaments out of the normal Illinois River with one on the Mississippi and the other in Ottawa. The Illinois Walleye Trail is a qualifying circuit for the Cabelas National Championship and also a Qualifying circuit for the AIM Walleye Circuit.

This years schedule will start on;
October 10, 2010 in Henry Illinois This will be the Fall Classic a non point no hold bared open tournament
October 24, 2010 in Hennepin Illinois The season Opener
November 7, 2010 Rapid City, Illinois Mississippi River
March 6, 2011 Spring Valley Illinois
April 9, 20011 Ottawa, Illinois
April 10, 2011 Spring Valley Illinois

Entry Fees will remain the same $200.00 per team with payout to 20% of the field. Big fish pot 5.00 per team 100% pay back. All rules will remain unchanged for the season.

We would like to Thank our fine Sponsors Hennepin Marine, Lund Boats, Mercury Marine, Cabelas, WoodStock Line and AIM Fishing.

Additional information can be located at http://www.prairielandeyes.com or email [email protected] phone 309-527-6328

ttt

Bill,
This has been a tough year and differnt. Normally in the fall we have low water and no current. This year we flooded in Dec. and never recovered from that. About the time it would get down to be fishable Mother Nature would dump on us again. The silver lining in the cloud is when we have high water in the spring we get a good spawn and the hatch gets plenty of cover for survial. This should make the river great in the future years.
Thanks Bob

Kirk,
I am not aware. Hopefully somebody from S. Dakota will respond?
BOb

Just an error correction – The April tournament is on the 17th (Sunday) Thanks.

Bob

This weekend is open.
Bob

Lawerance,

Sorry, I never got? Resend?
BOb

If your interested we still have opening for the 4th Illinois Governors Cup. March 6,7,2004 Pays $10,000.00 1st place with a field of 120 teams. Entry fee 250.00
Bob

Jeff,
Do you have a boat? I can see what I can find just need a little more information.

Thanks Bob

John,
Your right hope we get a slow melt. By the way the Ottawa pool opened up this weekend. Some guys were going down and try to get the ramps opened. Will let you know.
Bob

Twinrivers,

Been doing good. Mainly upstream on floaters. Would like to see the jig bite turnon?
Bob

John,
It is tough for some. Still no current. Fished all last week for the MWC pulled cranks mainly to cover water and fish are scattered unless you want to wait them out. The usual spots are all holding fish but have to weed through a lot of 13.5 to 14 to get the better ones. I think the hot bite isa still coming. The weather is going to get cold later this week and I beleive that will slow some things down. The RCL could hit it just right.
Bob

Team Crappie,

Come on over the Sauger bite is good right now. Big Fish are still slow but a lot of good 2pounders being caught. 18/20 of water on Jig/minnow or Floaters. The daily bag on walleye and saugers is 6 per person 14″ size limit. There is only one motel in Spring Valley and I’m not sure about quality or price. I would recommend the TIKI INN in Pure, 815 224-1109, They are about 10 mikes from ramps, nothing fancy, bed/shower good food next door. Rates for 2 people are about 35.00 a night. Good luck Bob

It was brutal to say the least. Air temp at launch was 8 degrees with nnw winds 10/15. Surface temp was 37 degrees sunny skies. The winning weight was 10.04 pounds five fish limit jig/minnow in 20 foot water John Dalzot and Tom Giachetto Jr. 2nd place went to Chad carroll and Konrath with 5 fish 9.28 pounds, and 3rd went to Kidd and Cutright with 8.26. The next Anglers Edge tournament will be April 26, Moline IL.

Sorry, Tony. Sounds like I wish you would have known a week ago also. Thjis weather has been so unpredicable. We will have another tournamnt the Illinois Walleye Trail on Sunday March 16, 2003 Spring Valley oif your intrested.

Thanks Bob

John,

Sunday was fair. At least the wind was bearable. Small tournament went out of the rock 21 boats. 13.5 pounds won with big fish being 3#. caught at the snag hole 20 plus feet deep. Guess who John Dalzot won. Looks like to me the river is open all the way down to Chilli.

Bob

Hoosier,
Yes we have opening for the Nov. 10, 2002 Tournament. The fish are starting to pick up with this cold snap we have finally got water down to 49 degrees. Was out today and caught about 15 Best 3# on Jig. caught fiah on floaters and cranks also. Water clarity is excellant river a little on low side.
let me know if you need anything else?
Thanks and Good Luck Bob

John,

The river is dropping still a little high. The water clarity is improving 10/12″ wait and see what happend this weekend with the rains?

Bob

Jen,

The river continues to be good after the spawn. They put on the feedbag up till about Memorial Day. After that most people stop looking for them and begin white bass or the crusiers take over. The bite will get hot again when the water drops in the fall. We always have a tournament’s in October, November and December usually will take 15/ 16 pounds to win.

Bob

Jon J.

Good report back on the tournament. The Spring Valley Walleye club host an excellant Tournament every year, with over 200 citizens helping. Always said with that kind of support from your community you can do wonders and they have had that support for 16 years.

The sauger fishing continues to get better every year. I think a lot of this goes back to the fishmen. 20 years ago we took fish home, today we are much more conservative and only take a few for meals allowing many more spawners to do there thing. The fish hatchery personnel and biologist has done an excellant job of maintaing the population. During the fall surveys they normally see 40/50 fish per hour (my understanding is that anything above 20 per hour is consider good) Now you want to hear something even better. Below the Lagrange Dam located 80/100 miles south of Starved Rock the DNR says the Sauger population is better than the Peoria pool. There survey results have been 80 to 100 fish per hour. That section of the river is mainly catfisherman and nobodys fishs for saugers. We have been thinking about having a tournament down there and see what happens. The current state record for sauger is 5# 12.5 oz. came out of the Mississippi river.

Considering the equipment problems you had, you fellows faired well and was able to adapt and still catch some fish. Also, the field of 209 teams had some of the best jiggers in the mid west. Good luck in your future tournaments.

Bob

Jon.

The river is still high and running dirt. It was starting to get good again and then the rains. We got 4-6″ of snow over the past couple of days. Calling for temps to go into the mid 40’s by friday. If we get a quick snow melt it won’t be good. Before that the fishing was good all month of jan. and until the water came up. Bob

First let us say thanks for being a part of Fish The River Forums. We love the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. My best Walleye came out of Red Wing in 1990 10# 3oz. Pre fishing for the MWC and caught her on Friday am. By the way she went back in the river. We took pictures and measured her and had a replica made for the wall. The Illinois was cooperating in Jan and most of feb. then we got rain and it came up 4 foot and got muddy. It was just starting to get back in shape until this week and now we have had about 6″ of snow with temps by the end of the week into the high 40’s. Water temp is in the mid-30’s. We have several tournaments coming up over the next few weeks and will keep you posted on what the results are. Predator2, you are correct all your spots can be great when the bite is hot. We have started expanding the playing field and are now finding fish all the way to Peoria. Some of the best fall fishing is below Henry. In the next few days I will post some background information on myself and the Illinois Walleye Trail. Good Luck with the spring bite. Bob