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blu1fin

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 08:35am - Dec 23,03 Posts: 283 Location: Chicago
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 Posted: 08:52am - Jul 15,10 |
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As things heat up, I thought a little recap of the season's panfish action may be in order: Fished some pre-spawn and post-spawn perch on the Big Lake for some of the biggest perch I have ever seen:  Even got the wife out there for some action:  Next up was crappies, instead of heading South, found a new honey hole out West. The crappies were so big they were eating cranksbaits (so were the bass, catfish and giant gills - yet another story):  First string photo in years. All post-spawn fish but still felt a little guilty:  Next up were post-spawn gills on local lakes; totally missed the spawning bite on the local ponds which is always a favorite: Released the bigger fish and kept a single meal's worth of 8" fish:  I'll include some smallies as they are part of the sunfish family and are just plain mean:  Fished a lot of big smallies this season and loved every minute of it: 
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DANCES WITH FISH

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 10:09am - Feb 11,03 Posts: 2958
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 Posted: 10:15am - Jul 15,10 |
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Those are some absolutely beautiful fish there. Great photos. Thanks for sharing them with us.
_________________ If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck.....it's probably a duck.
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twade

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 12:35pm - May 30,07 Posts: 2774 Location: Alumacraft 14 Fisherman/Honda outboard
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 Posted: 10:30am - Jul 15,10 |
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Every single species you posted was impressive on it's own. Great summary.
_________________ Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught.
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Gary Grunauer

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 08:07am - Sep 14,09 Posts: 209 Location: South of 80
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 Posted: 04:43pm - Jul 15,10 |
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blu1fin
nice pics and fabulous stringer of crappie....was that out of publis waters or a private pond? Can't imagine they came out of a heavily pressured lake.
Once again, very nice pictures.
_________________ Anything that swims
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Crappie Professor

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 07:19pm - Oct 4,06 Posts: 1381 Location: BROOKFIELD
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 Posted: 05:03pm - Jul 15,10 |
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 awesome slabs there..!!! couple quick questions....what type of cranks and what speed worked for you ???
_________________ The Crappie Professor <º))><
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Any Luc

Support Staff
Joined: 03:35pm - Feb 11,03 Posts: 6067 Location: Not too far from Windy
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 Posted: 05:19pm - Jul 15,10 |
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Crappie Professor, Isn't that about the nicest photo of a stringer of specks that you ever did see?
_________________ "The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive yet obtainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." John Buchan
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GETDANET1

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 09:02pm - Sep 8,05 Posts: 4759 Location: Chicago
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 Posted: 05:37pm - Jul 15,10 |
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BLU 1 fin, great pics and catches. Looks like your first catch was a keeper too!
_________________ LIFE, IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH. STOP WISHIN' GO FISHIN'. ONE A DA BOYZ FROM ILLINOIZ.  VIETNAM VETERAN U.S.A.F. 66-67
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MartyK

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 07:42pm - Apr 23,09 Posts: 708 Location: Highland Park
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 Posted: 06:36pm - Jul 15,10 |
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If I can borrow a phrase, HOLY COW
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wsj_outdoorsman

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 09:32pm - Feb 12,03 Posts: 7884 Location: Not quite over the hill, but has a breathtaking view from the lofty perch.
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 Posted: 07:04pm - Jul 15,10 |
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Now steve not to belittle your great talents at all.........but, wsj was wondering a bit if your lovely wife may have out fished you on the big ones. Thanks for the great pictures, always enjoy your stuff.
_________________ If a man can't laugh at himself, He leaves the job to others.
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chrisisfishin

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 11:02am - Nov 28,09 Posts: 187 Location: Villa Park IL
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 Posted: 08:03pm - Jul 15,10 |
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great catch!!!! i couldnt have said it better then twade all species were impressive awesome post
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blu1fin

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 08:35am - Dec 23,03 Posts: 283 Location: Chicago
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 Posted: 07:02am - Jul 16,10 |
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Thanks.
Crappie Prof. - My best crappie crankbaits have typically been Shad Raps, Flicker Shads, Yo-Zuri Mini-cranks and CC Shads. Rattle Trap style baits work well casting at times, as do bettle spins and traditional Roadrunner type baits but I typically troll shad style lures at 1.4-1.8mph to find scattered post-spawn fish. FYI - There is a good crappie trolling bite that sets up this time of year on Petenwell.
WSJ - Without a question, my wife ALWAYS outfished me, and I would have it no other way.
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DOUBLE D

Salmon Unlimited Member
Joined: 09:09am - Mar 15,09 Posts: 4187 Location: north side
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 Posted: 08:49am - Jul 16,10 |
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got to each me how to take pictures like that, those fish all look enormous. dd
_________________ God created whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world dd
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Popeye

Salmon Unlimited Member
Joined: 02:21am - Apr 30,07 Posts: 7119 Location: Zion, IL
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 Posted: 03:33am - Jul 17,10 |
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Denny, that's easy. First, catch enormous fish
_________________ Everybody has a purpose in life... It's just that my being banned may be to simply serve as a warning to others. My opinions and comments are free and worth what you paid. Retired USN, Life Member Disabled American Veterans Association.
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sea nile

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 07:05am - Mar 23,10 Posts: 624 Location: Lisle,Il.
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 Posted: 05:36am - Jul 17,10 |
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Denny, The first thing you do is get some photoshop softwear for your computer. It does wonders to enhance pictures.  They all look like world records to me. 
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digitalbluecat

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 12:14am - Feb 18,08 Posts: 406 Location: Antioch
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 Posted: 06:16am - Jul 17,10 |
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Excellent pics of some really hunky fish! Must be one heck of a honey hole. 
_________________ "Angling may be said to be so like the mathematics that it can never be fully learnt." --Izaak Walton
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Crappie Professor

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 07:19pm - Oct 4,06 Posts: 1381 Location: BROOKFIELD
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 Posted: 08:52am - Jul 17,10 |
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blu1fin: thank's for the info....and a big thank's for sharing the photo's...
Any Luc : only wish would be....to be there smillin"
_________________ The Crappie Professor <º))><
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GETDANET1

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 09:02pm - Sep 8,05 Posts: 4759 Location: Chicago
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 Posted: 09:31am - Jul 17,10 |
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Jim, have you swallowed that lump in your throat yet???
_________________ LIFE, IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH. STOP WISHIN' GO FISHIN'. ONE A DA BOYZ FROM ILLINOIZ.  VIETNAM VETERAN U.S.A.F. 66-67
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chuckt

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 05:06am - Jun 23,09 Posts: 1115
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 Posted: 02:26pm - Jul 20,10 |
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Those are some really beautiful fish. The smallies must have put up a terrific fight. I thought I was catching big perch in the upper Mississippi but the one in the photo makes mine look like dinks. May I ask what bait is taking those large sunfish? Is artificial always the best way to go?
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Valleye

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 07:32pm - Feb 3,05 Posts: 3825 Location: Lake County, IL
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 Posted: 03:06pm - Jul 20,10 |
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I have to say excellent for the report and pictures! I was used to your ice fishing stories and your adventure with exotics in Florida. What should we look forward from you in the upcoming issues of IF magazine?
As always your reports are great with alot of great pictures to go along with!!
_________________ ICE CAV "Death from Above"
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robvquest

Chitown-Angler
Joined: 01:14pm - Nov 2,09 Posts: 112 Location: Naperville
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 Posted: 02:46pm - Jul 27,10 |
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Great Fish!! twade did put it best
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