Post by mjweber2 on May 25, 2006 11:25:15 GMT -5
Saw this article in BASS from awhile back and thought some of you Chicago guys may be interested.
Something different to try besides the same old lakes with those weany largemouth.
Also thought I would attach a pic of one just under 18" I got last week. And I'm not even near the GOOD smallmouth waters!
Fisheries Management
Smallmouth surge on Lake Michigan
By Mike Pehanich
BASS Times, Aug. 2005
Ed Bohn holds a smallie he caught from Lake Michigan. Bohn is confident a state record smallmouth will be caught from Lake Michigan within the next two years.
Fifteen years ago, any smallmouth bass caught from Lake Michigan was considered a rarity.
What a difference a little time makes.
Today, many bass fishermen are betting that Lake Michigan will eventually produce a smallmouth that will eclipse the current Illinois state record of 6 pounds, 7 ounces.
"There's a real good chance of a state record smallmouth coming from Lake Michigan," said Jan Savitz, professor of biology at Loyola University of Chicago, whose radio tracking studies have mapped the movements of smallmouth in southern Lake Michigan. Savitz believes he knows the fishery and the quality of bass it now contains.
Ironically, it was a fishery that was "discovered" in the 1990s. Prior to that, it was considered nonexistent due to years of neglect and abuse.
" may not happen this year, but it's going to happen."
Other experts agree with Savitz, including Ed Bohn, who was once referred to as the "Godfather" of smallmouth bass fishing in and around Lake Michigan.
"The record will fall, certainly within the next couple of years," reaffirmed Bohn.
Anyone nicknamed the "Godfather" warrants respect in the Windy City. The often outspoken angler and retired firefighter once petitioned the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to change its "catch and release only" regulation for smallmouth that had been in effect along the Illinois portion of Lake Michigan for more than a decade.
Last year, a new smallmouth regulation went into effect — and many credit Bohn's personal crusade — that allows fishermen to harvest some bass but limits them to only one trophy measuring longer than 21 inches each day.
"[The trophy restriction] is to give people a chance to fish for trophy smallmouth and perhaps get that fish of a lifetime," explained Bohn, who has fished 26 BASS events and regularly hosts small bass tournaments on Lake Michigan and the adjacent waters of the Chicago/Calumet River system.
Breaking a state record of any sort is rarely a slam dunk, however.
"Is there a state record smallmouth in Lake Michigan? I have seen smallmouth close to the record there," said IDNR biologist Steve Robillard. "But growing one that big and then catching it & that's tough."
Bohn's comeback is unequivocal.
"It's there. I hooked it a couple of years ago," he insists. "That fish was every bit of 7 1/2 pounds."
"The smallie record? I expected someone to catch it last year," said Ken Schneider, who, like Bohn, is a member of the Mayor's Fishing Advisory Committee. Schneider frequents the southern Lake Michigan harbors and shoreline 12 months of the year. "I'm surprised we haven't seen it yet. But big fish are always tougher to catch."
Why such anticipation for a state record smallmouth from the big lake?
With salmon populations and popularity on the decline, the smallmouth bass is becoming the darling of Lake Michigan anglers. It's accessible to boat and shore fishermen alike and often brings plenty of excitement to the leisurely outings of shore anglers targeting the popular Lake Michigan "jumbo perch."
Bohn began fishing Chicago waters for smallmouth after sampling Wisconsin's fabled Door County smallmouth action in 1993. "I figured, Lake Michigan there, Lake Michigan here. Smallmouth bass? They had to be around."
In 1993, Lake Michigan's smallmouth first began to attract attention. Most of the fish that were caught averaged a pound. More than a decade later, Bohn now estimates his average catch approaches 2 1/2 pounds. His personal best is 6 pounds, 2 ounces.
Just how confident is he about a new state record? He carries a state biologist's phone number in his wallet to validate the record when it comes.
A record smallmouth from Lake Michigan or adjacent waters would also validate the local bass fishery in a way that many expected the Bassmaster Classic would, when the world's premier bass fishing event came to Chicago in July 2000.
That year, the Windy City remained true to its name as powerful winds churned the big water. As fishing fans will recall, Woo Daves won the championship that year by battling rough water while catching 27-13 in three days of fishing.
Afterwards, local fishermen felt the fishery, which resembled a white-capped ocean that week, did not show its true colors. Because of the hard winds, most of the Classic pros sought easier — and safer — locations in the more sheltered waters of the Chicago River system, including the Calumet Harbor and the Cal and Little Calumet rivers.
"This can be some of the toughest smallie fishing in the country," admitted Bohn. "If you can catch smallmouth here, you can catch them anywhere."
Fishing these sprawling waters is an ever changing challenge. The Illinois section of Lake Michigan alone comprises 996,000 surface acres. The fishbowl-like basin contains few natural shoals, and most of them are small.
Savitz's studies have found that local smallmouth can be transient creatures that will move in and out of Illinois harbors with temperature changes of as little as 2 or 3 degrees.
"Chicago structure is concrete and rebar," said Bohn, referring to the city's man-made lakefront. And then there are the exotics.
Anglers have mixed emotions about the invasion of exotic species that have descended upon the Lake Michigan fishery in recent years. The zebra mussel, which feasts on plankton, has brought gin-like clarity to the lake, generating welcome weedbeds for bass, especially the growing largemouth population. But the sharp-shelled mussels pose an added challenge to the sportsman. "You only have about a 50 percent chance of landing a smallmouth when they're around," explained Bohn, especially around shoreline rock areas where the fish often concentrate.
The other exotic that has grabbed headlines — the round goby — is an acknowledged egg snatcher. However, it has proven to be a favorite menu item for bass.
"I think the goby might be a godsend," continued Bohn, who fishes dark tube jigs and other baits that imitate the goby for his fabulous catches.
While bass fishermen expect the record to fall any day, at least two biologists are hedging their bets.
"Lake Michigan is a unique system," said biologist Robillard. "We have longer-lived fish, but the average growth rate tapers off after the first five or six years. A 5-pounder is a big fish."
"I have my doubts," said Tom Trudeau, program administrator for Illinois' Lake Michigan fisheries. "It could happen. But with the cold water of the lake, it may be that fish will pass away before reaching that size."
Something different to try besides the same old lakes with those weany largemouth.
Also thought I would attach a pic of one just under 18" I got last week. And I'm not even near the GOOD smallmouth waters!
Fisheries Management
Smallmouth surge on Lake Michigan
By Mike Pehanich
BASS Times, Aug. 2005
Ed Bohn holds a smallie he caught from Lake Michigan. Bohn is confident a state record smallmouth will be caught from Lake Michigan within the next two years.
Fifteen years ago, any smallmouth bass caught from Lake Michigan was considered a rarity.
What a difference a little time makes.
Today, many bass fishermen are betting that Lake Michigan will eventually produce a smallmouth that will eclipse the current Illinois state record of 6 pounds, 7 ounces.
"There's a real good chance of a state record smallmouth coming from Lake Michigan," said Jan Savitz, professor of biology at Loyola University of Chicago, whose radio tracking studies have mapped the movements of smallmouth in southern Lake Michigan. Savitz believes he knows the fishery and the quality of bass it now contains.
Ironically, it was a fishery that was "discovered" in the 1990s. Prior to that, it was considered nonexistent due to years of neglect and abuse.
" may not happen this year, but it's going to happen."
Other experts agree with Savitz, including Ed Bohn, who was once referred to as the "Godfather" of smallmouth bass fishing in and around Lake Michigan.
"The record will fall, certainly within the next couple of years," reaffirmed Bohn.
Anyone nicknamed the "Godfather" warrants respect in the Windy City. The often outspoken angler and retired firefighter once petitioned the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to change its "catch and release only" regulation for smallmouth that had been in effect along the Illinois portion of Lake Michigan for more than a decade.
Last year, a new smallmouth regulation went into effect — and many credit Bohn's personal crusade — that allows fishermen to harvest some bass but limits them to only one trophy measuring longer than 21 inches each day.
"[The trophy restriction] is to give people a chance to fish for trophy smallmouth and perhaps get that fish of a lifetime," explained Bohn, who has fished 26 BASS events and regularly hosts small bass tournaments on Lake Michigan and the adjacent waters of the Chicago/Calumet River system.
Breaking a state record of any sort is rarely a slam dunk, however.
"Is there a state record smallmouth in Lake Michigan? I have seen smallmouth close to the record there," said IDNR biologist Steve Robillard. "But growing one that big and then catching it & that's tough."
Bohn's comeback is unequivocal.
"It's there. I hooked it a couple of years ago," he insists. "That fish was every bit of 7 1/2 pounds."
"The smallie record? I expected someone to catch it last year," said Ken Schneider, who, like Bohn, is a member of the Mayor's Fishing Advisory Committee. Schneider frequents the southern Lake Michigan harbors and shoreline 12 months of the year. "I'm surprised we haven't seen it yet. But big fish are always tougher to catch."
Why such anticipation for a state record smallmouth from the big lake?
With salmon populations and popularity on the decline, the smallmouth bass is becoming the darling of Lake Michigan anglers. It's accessible to boat and shore fishermen alike and often brings plenty of excitement to the leisurely outings of shore anglers targeting the popular Lake Michigan "jumbo perch."
Bohn began fishing Chicago waters for smallmouth after sampling Wisconsin's fabled Door County smallmouth action in 1993. "I figured, Lake Michigan there, Lake Michigan here. Smallmouth bass? They had to be around."
In 1993, Lake Michigan's smallmouth first began to attract attention. Most of the fish that were caught averaged a pound. More than a decade later, Bohn now estimates his average catch approaches 2 1/2 pounds. His personal best is 6 pounds, 2 ounces.
Just how confident is he about a new state record? He carries a state biologist's phone number in his wallet to validate the record when it comes.
A record smallmouth from Lake Michigan or adjacent waters would also validate the local bass fishery in a way that many expected the Bassmaster Classic would, when the world's premier bass fishing event came to Chicago in July 2000.
That year, the Windy City remained true to its name as powerful winds churned the big water. As fishing fans will recall, Woo Daves won the championship that year by battling rough water while catching 27-13 in three days of fishing.
Afterwards, local fishermen felt the fishery, which resembled a white-capped ocean that week, did not show its true colors. Because of the hard winds, most of the Classic pros sought easier — and safer — locations in the more sheltered waters of the Chicago River system, including the Calumet Harbor and the Cal and Little Calumet rivers.
"This can be some of the toughest smallie fishing in the country," admitted Bohn. "If you can catch smallmouth here, you can catch them anywhere."
Fishing these sprawling waters is an ever changing challenge. The Illinois section of Lake Michigan alone comprises 996,000 surface acres. The fishbowl-like basin contains few natural shoals, and most of them are small.
Savitz's studies have found that local smallmouth can be transient creatures that will move in and out of Illinois harbors with temperature changes of as little as 2 or 3 degrees.
"Chicago structure is concrete and rebar," said Bohn, referring to the city's man-made lakefront. And then there are the exotics.
Anglers have mixed emotions about the invasion of exotic species that have descended upon the Lake Michigan fishery in recent years. The zebra mussel, which feasts on plankton, has brought gin-like clarity to the lake, generating welcome weedbeds for bass, especially the growing largemouth population. But the sharp-shelled mussels pose an added challenge to the sportsman. "You only have about a 50 percent chance of landing a smallmouth when they're around," explained Bohn, especially around shoreline rock areas where the fish often concentrate.
The other exotic that has grabbed headlines — the round goby — is an acknowledged egg snatcher. However, it has proven to be a favorite menu item for bass.
"I think the goby might be a godsend," continued Bohn, who fishes dark tube jigs and other baits that imitate the goby for his fabulous catches.
While bass fishermen expect the record to fall any day, at least two biologists are hedging their bets.
"Lake Michigan is a unique system," said biologist Robillard. "We have longer-lived fish, but the average growth rate tapers off after the first five or six years. A 5-pounder is a big fish."
"I have my doubts," said Tom Trudeau, program administrator for Illinois' Lake Michigan fisheries. "It could happen. But with the cold water of the lake, it may be that fish will pass away before reaching that size."
