Lake Shelbyville Guide Fishing Articles
Find our Fishing Products at These Local Retailers
Chip’s Marine – At the entrance to the Forest “Bo” Woods Recreation Area, 4mi S of Sullivan, IL on Rt 32
Crappie Pro Shop – 130 South Division, Carterville IL
Gregory’s Resort – At the entrance to Lithia Springs Marina
Howie’s Lakeside – South of Sullivan on Rt. 32 Bruce/Findley Rd. Crossing
Lake Shelbyville Guide Fishing Articles
Fishing Report: November, 2018
Best Bet…Crappie
Fall is here, the trees are brightly colored and the water temps took a big nose dive this week and now our guides are seeing 55-60.
On the header I put the entire month of November rather than just repeat myself in two weeks. Nothing much changes you catch a sunny day or an overcast day doesn’t matter. Just get some jigs and go get them. No better time of the year. The weather patterns are more stable than the spring and the fish are just as shallow. If you have any knowledge of this lake you know November is it and hundred fish days are every day thing. My hands used to just get raw from taking so many fish off the hook.
The bite is so good all you need is a handful of Deep Ledge Jigs and some Brushpile Jigs Brush Chubs. I always used the big stuff in the fall. Quarter ounce jigs will get their attention and a three-inch plastic not too big.
Let water color and either a sunny day or dark overcast day determine what colors you go with. I like anything with some chartreuse on it but those big quarter-ounce orange Deep Ledge Jigs really get it done on dark nasty days as do our black ones.
The crappie on the north end are starting to move very shallow. This is the best time of the year to load the boat up with the biggest crappie this lake has to offer. No need for long boat rides put in at either Bo-Woods or Wilborn and just start fishing, any wood in the six to ten foot range. Three man limits are coming in just a few hours.
Just tightline one of our big Deep Ledge Jigs with a plastic shad body or try one of our Deep Ledge Jigs we call the Baby Bug. It is a hand tied jig by a local angler that just tears them up in cold water.
The larger Black Crappie simply love this bait and as we get into water temps in the low forties mid- thirties it will really shine.
A recent report from one of my buddies that lives and fishes on Kentucky Lake says the Baby Bugs are out fishing everything in his tackle box. You catch 90% Blacks over whites with it. Down there currently it is the Blacks that you want to target. Much healthier currently over the whites.
Our full line of Deep Ledge Jigs and plastics are available at our on-line store at LakeShelbyvilleGuide.com. They are also available at Chip’s Marine located at the Bo-Woods exit on Lake Shelbyville. Howie’s Lakeside on Rt. 32 south of Sullivan and Gregory’ Resort located on the way into Lithia on the south end of the lake. Give them a try we ship them all over the country.
I tell anglers all the time the fishing is pretty good but believe me the fall fishing is by far the best. The biggest fish you will see all year. Just grab your favorite jig pole and go catch them.
Our guides are about booked but we can still get you in with some notice.
- Fishing Report: September 2-16, 2018 - September 4, 2018
- Fishing Report: August 19-September 2, 2018 - August 19, 2018
- Fishing Report: August 1-19, 2018 - August 2, 2018
Fishing Report: November, 2018
Best Bet…Crappie
Fall is here, the trees are brightly colored and the water temps took a big nose dive this week and now our guides are seeing 55-60.
On the header I put the entire month of November rather than just repeat myself in two weeks. Nothing much changes you catch a sunny day or an overcast day doesn’t matter. Just get some jigs and go get them. No better time of the year. The weather patterns are more stable than the spring and the fish are just as shallow. If you have any knowledge of this lake you know November is it and hundred fish days are every day thing. My hands used to just get raw from taking so many fish off the hook.
The bite is so good all you need is a handful of Deep Ledge Jigs and some Brushpile Jigs Brush Chubs. I always used the big stuff in the fall. Quarter ounce jigs will get their attention and a three-inch plastic not too big.
Let water color and either a sunny day or dark overcast day determine what colors you go with. I like anything with some chartreuse on it but those big quarter-ounce orange Deep Ledge Jigs really get it done on dark nasty days as do our black ones.
The crappie on the north end are starting to move very shallow. This is the best time of the year to load the boat up with the biggest crappie this lake has to offer. No need for long boat rides put in at either Bo-Woods or Wilborn and just start fishing, any wood in the six to ten foot range. Three man limits are coming in just a few hours.
Just tightline one of our big Deep Ledge Jigs with a plastic shad body or try one of our Deep Ledge Jigs we call the Baby Bug. It is a hand tied jig by a local angler that just tears them up in cold water.
The larger Black Crappie simply love this bait and as we get into water temps in the low forties mid- thirties it will really shine.
A recent report from one of my buddies that lives and fishes on Kentucky Lake says the Baby Bugs are out fishing everything in his tackle box. You catch 90% Blacks over whites with it. Down there currently it is the Blacks that you want to target. Much healthier currently over the whites.
Our full line of Deep Ledge Jigs and plastics are available at our on-line store at LakeShelbyvilleGuide.com. They are also available at Chip’s Marine located at the Bo-Woods exit on Lake Shelbyville. Howie’s Lakeside on Rt. 32 south of Sullivan and Gregory’ Resort located on the way into Lithia on the south end of the lake. Give them a try we ship them all over the country.
I tell anglers all the time the fishing is pretty good but believe me the fall fishing is by far the best. The biggest fish you will see all year. Just grab your favorite jig pole and go catch them.
Our guides are about booked but we can still get you in with some notice.
More Lake Shelbyville Guide Fishing Articles
Fishing Report: October 14-28, 2018
Best Bet…Crappie
Fall is quickly approaching and the water temps took a big nose dive this week and now our guides are seeing 63-66. This is moving crappie away from main lake areas and pushing them into coves and up feeder creeks in search of even cooler water temps and their food.
Read More >Fishing Report: October 1-14, 2018
Best Bet…Crappie
Sorry the report sounds the same week after week but until this heat let’s up and we really get into fall the fish will remain in their same patterns. Soon very soon things will change up big time.
The lake is at summer pool and gin clear from one end to the other. Water temps are running mid-seventies on the main lake and low to mid-sixties up in the feeder creeks and very back of big coves.
Read More >Fishing Report: September 16-30, 2018
Best Bet…Crappie
Sorry the report sounds the same week after week but until this heat let’s up and we really get into fall the fish will remain in their same patterns. Soon very soon things will change up big time.
The lake is at 600.1 at the time of this writing. That is only a couple inches over summer pool and gin clear from one end to the other. Water temps are running low eighties.
Read More >Fishing Report: September 2-16, 2018
Best Bet…Crappie
The lake is about a foot over summer pool and gin clear from one end to the other. Water temps are running low eighties.
July, August and first half of September are about the same as far as fishing patterns go. Walleye and white bass become harder to locate from day to day, but the summer crappie bite is very good due to the sheer numbers and the depth and width of Lake Shelbyville.
Read More >Fishing Report: August 19-September 2, 2018
Best Bet…Crappie
The lake is about a foot over summer pool and gin clear from one end to the other. Water temps are running low eighties.
August is about like July as far as fishing patterns go. Walleye and white bass become harder to locate from day to day but the summer crappie bite is very good due to the sheer numbers and the depth and width of Lake Shelbyville.
Read More >Fishing Report: August 1-19, 2018
Best Bet…Crappie
The lake is about a foot over summer pool and gin clear from one end to the other. Water temps are running low eighties.
August is about like July as far as fishing patterns go. Walleye and white bass become harder to locate from day to day but the summer crappie bite is very good due to the sheer numbers and the depth and width of Lake Shelbyville.
Read More >