year of the what?

[Sporty]

Well the cover page still reads 2003, year of the bass.

It seems the message board has been full of people looking for the fish but not much in the way of finding them. So I ask you all- has this been the year of the bass, muskie, walleye, crappie, bluegil, perch? Always the year of the perch...scratch that. Let's here about your catches in a year of fantastic fishing conditions weather-wise.

[dave_goodlaxson]

On my birthday, July 17th, I caught the nicest bass I have ever caught in Illinois...from Shabbona. So it has been the year of the bass to me! About 1:30 pm I was fishing just southeast of the restaurant, out about 100 yards from the bank, and hooked this guy, a 22" largemouth, that I weighed at 5 lb, 5 oz. on my Rapala digital scale. He was one beautiful fish. Denny said that I should have brought him in, but really he was too beautiful to take a chance on killing from being out of water that long. So after photographing him (I couldn't get a very good photo because I was solo) I quickly released the bass. Then I packed up and went home, because how could you improve upon the day any more?

[jjkessler]

My wife and I have had a very good year catfishing at Shabbona with more than a few in the 8-14 pound ranges. I bet a new record is not far away on the catfish side.