Can I CATCH a Limit on the STINGIEST Lake in Chicago?

[@GeoFishing]

Busse and Skokie lagoons are two of the top Froggn lakes in northern il. Easily. I lived 15m from Busse for 5 years and would go daily and get 7-14 bass a day. I have videos of musky from there. My reports are still on the old fishing forums with photos. I wasn’t filming at that time. I have had to much time on that lake and salt creek all winter. Theres nothing stingy about it. Good video. Happy Fishing 🎉

[@tyghtlines]

I'll have to take a look. Frog fishing, eh? Going to have to give that a try

[@BassProtographer]

Busse and Skokie Lagoons have been very stingy lately. Historically, good bodies for water to fish. As of 2024, I have been skunked more than I would like to admit. The water clarity is the biggest culprit. The floods this year have really made conditions fluctuate to a point where consistent fishing is hit or miss. 2024 has been a rough year for bass fishing around me.

[@GeoFishing]

@@BassProtographer tried and tru black and blue isn’t a saying for no reason. 🫡🎣✌️ Black and blue frog or black and blue weightless worm. You WILL get bit. Fish along Arlington heights rd go up the channel into clear water bay. Happy fishing

[@GeoFishing]

@@BassProtographer whenever you go into murky water, use a dark color it stands out more than a white or chartreuse color would in murky water. Needless to say, regardless, the fish can feel the size speed and where your lure is, they know where to find it, but in murky water, a dark color allows them to actually see it. It stands out amongst all the other bright colors that many like to throw. Many people rely on whites, and Silvers and chartreuses. I typically always use earth tone colors. I start with black black to me, is the best color you could ever throw in any type of water. Go get them happy fishing

[@robertscott2885]

Four thanks bud for the day. Stingy lake!

[@tyghtlines]

It was rough but was happy I still had a decent time at the tail end

[@Roryanderson8408]

Stunning

[@tyghtlines]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@squonto47]

Some thoughts. To me, the conditions suggested slowing down and picking apart the cover, in particular the weed lines and lay downs. Additionally, if you wanted to stick with the swim jig the best advice I ever got is to let the rod load up before you swing. Bass don’t eat that bait like they do a spinnerbait or chatterbait, probably because of the weedguard. They tend to need to double-clutch the bait in their mouth or sometimes just grab the tail.

[@tyghtlines]

Great insight and awesome advice. I haven't heard of that tip from a swim jig. Have to admit, this is really the first year I picked up the swim jig, plenty of experience with a jig, but never really got on board with the swim jig. The chatterbait is my go-to moving jig which is an exposed hook. I'll have to try your tip out next time. I think I was letting my bias of the lake get to me and instead of picking apart areas I was in the "chuck and reel and you'll catch a fish at some point" mind set. What would you have thrown in those conditions?

[@squonto47]

Thanks for following up! You had mixed conditions as best I could tell, with mostly cloudy skies but not a ton of wind. Seemed to me you were anticipating the fall bite which isn’t quite here yet. You nailed the conditions under which it would happen (colder nights) but for me that means consistent 50’s at night which we’ve only had a hint of. I thought your best chance at catching them on a moving bait was the area that was funneling whatever wind you had. When that didn’t produce that would have been my signal to go back through and pound those lay downs off to the left. If you found them there, run that pattern but fish the weed lines a bit to see if the “tight to cover” pattern involved grass as well. More wind would have made the fish more active, but the complicating factor is always fishing pressure. You can have ideal conditions but if fish have seen every moving bait known to man (which is what most anglers use because it’s easy) you’ll still probably need to slow down. Busse gets pounded more than ever because of the kayak guys so the pressure on this old silted-in waterway is higher than ever. I got into swim jigs a few years ago but this year was when I really found my groove. Great subtle moving bait. I found a pond where I could catch tons of fish and had lots of practice at feeling bites and setting hooks. It’s an entirely different animal. Keep chucking it as the fall develops, but hold off like you would a frog bite. In those conditions I would have used a standard flipping jig near the wood, or maybe a swimming worm (pitch it in, swim it out). On the grass lines pitch a creature bait or toss a fluke. Flukes are versatile and can tell you the mood of the fish real quick.

[@tyghtlines]

Love the advice! Yeah, late summer/early fall is such a finicky time, but one of the best times to go out, and makes me constantly second guess my baits. I totally agree about using a flipping jig near cover, but I edited out nearly 30 minutes of me throwing my jig up and around the trees and other laydowns without a sniff. I found it interesting that all of my bites were on the shallow flats devoid of cover with a chatterbait, which made me scratch my head as to why they weren't eating the swim jig. Maybe the water clarity since you're right about the lack of wind, and they needed the noise and vibration to key in on the bait. Have you had much success there with a frog?

[@squonto47]

It’s been some time since I fished there but frogs will always do some damage there. On the other hand, they’re also an obvious choice that fish can get conditioned to. Interesting about the chatterbait bite. They generally work better in dirtier water and windier conditions. The more “active” the conditions, the more active the bait. If they were on any moving bait I would have bet money on the swim jig way before a chatterbait. But that’s fishing. 🤷‍♂️

[@tyghtlines]

Exactly right, that's why I was throwing the swim jig so much. Appreciate the tips! Tight lines, brother

[@danielpeter9552]

Awesome

[@brianengland6233]

Busse is always tough for me, but I know there is big stuff in there. It’s also pretty pleasant out there so I don’t mind the occasional slow day.

[@tyghtlines]

Exactly, such a beautiful place. And you're right, there are some lunkers in there, but this late into the season I'm sure they've seen every bait go by their face.

[@FourthCoastOutdoors]

Any lake you can catch walleye at in cook county is a win !!

[@tyghtlines]

Got that right!

[@BassProtographer]

How were the weeds? Last year I ventured out and my peddle drive was constantly clogged. This year I have a trolling motor and have been avoiding it.

[@tyghtlines]

One of the weedier lakes for sure, because it's so shallow in most of the area. I'd recommend getting a weedless wedge blade for your trolling motor. It has a better time cutting through them all. Definitely take your time fishing the weed edges and mats. Bass love grass.

[@BassProtographer]

@@tyghtlinesI outfitted my motor with two ninja blades so I should be prepared. Last year it was frog fishing heaven with lilly pads and grass mats as far as the eye could see.

[@jcee2768]

I’ve been skunked more often than not fishing at busse. Too much pressure and too many locals keeping anything and everything they catch.

[@tyghtlines]

That's the unfortunate truth about most of the water in and around Chicago. I wish the DNR would do more about it but I've only encountered them once in all of my years of fishing. Though it does make for a decent challenge if you're up for it. Happy fishing and tight lines brother

[@SophiaEvans-zd6wx]

Fantastic

[@tyghtlines]

Thanks!