Lake Geneva Fishing Club April '09

By

David Floberg

It seems that old man winter may be doing a normal exit this year. Most bodies of water in the northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin areas are ice free as of mid March. It’s time to relish the warmer days and milder nights after a long cold winter. The preparation time for the open water season is upon us. If you haven’t done so yet make sure you get the new ‘09 fishing licenses for the respected state(s) that you will be angling in. Some states even allow the purchase of fishing licenses over the internet (resident and non-

resident alike). Check the state(s) DNR websites for more information.

Maybe that first trip to the water is penciled in on the calendar as you anxiously wait for the day to arrive. Dust off the open water tackle as you stash the ice fishing equipment away for another year. Gather up the rods and reels and take a look at them. Could a little tune-up be in order before starting a new season? By taking some time now to clean, inspect and maintain, you can help prevent an equipment failure from happening out on the water. Gather some soft cotton rags, an old soft bristle toothbrush and an old bath towel and you’re set to clean those rods so they look like brand new!

On a warm sunny day, bring the rods outside and fill a bucket with a warm water/mild soap solution. Unseat the reels from the rods. With a soft rag, wash the rods with the soap solution (use the toothbrush to get into the nooks and crannies, especially on the cork handles). Next, clean the reel seat out and make sure the parts are not cracked, stripped or broken. Rinse all the soap off the rods with clean water and dry off with a bath towel. Check all the line guides for scratches, nicks and proper attachment to the rod (no cracks in the adhesive or loose guides). A good way to check the line guide surface for sharp edges is to take a Q-tip and run it around the area where the guide will contact the line. If a piece of cotton pops off the Q-tip, a sharp edge or gouge has been detected and replacing the guide is suggested. For those who want to fix it themselves, tackle stores and tackle catalogues usually carry replacement guides, adhesives and tape for damaged rod handles. Bait and tackle shops sometimes offer rod repair services on site for their customers or can recommend a reliable repair facility.

Round up the reels and get all the old line off the reel spools. Use that toothbrush, some warm soapy water and get into all the crevices to remove the dirt and grime. Rinse the reels with clean water and dry off. Inspect the reel spool and line take-up for damage (gouges and scratches). Nicks (sharp edges) in the reel spool can often have an effect on the line that lies on the spool. Over time the line will become weakened and eventually fail. Remove reel spool nicks by sanding sharp edges with a fine Scotch Brite pad. If that is ineffective, replacement of the spool is recommended. Check the reel for bent, broken or damaged components and replace or repair as necessary. A good lubrication of the internal gear system of the reel should be done next. Reel gear lube can be obtained from bait and tackle shops or from tackle catalogs. If these objectives are beyond your capabilities, a reel service should be found. Again, most local bait and tackle stores should be able to recommend a reliable facility. Nothing beats a good rod and reel tune-up. It makes your equipment look great and makes mechanical failures a thing of the past.

At the March meeting, Mark Anderson, from Dave’s Reel Service, gave some great instruction on how to care for and maintain your reels. Thanks Mark! Many are now more confident in taking on this task!! The next club meeting will be at 6:30pm, Wednesday April 8 th at CABELA’S, 5225 Prairie Stone Pkwy, Hoffman Estates. The store is located in the Prairie Stone Business Park near I-90 and route 59. The April featured guest speaker will be Geneva Lake guide CHUCK SCHALZ. As a guide, Chuck prides himself on his great ability to teach and share with his clients. If you have never fished Geneva Lake or are just in need of some fine tuning, Chuck will be able to answer your questions and share some fantastic proven angling techniques. You won’t want to miss this one!! There is a $5 guest fee for the meeting which will be deducted from the annual dues if you decide to become a member. Don’t forget that if you come early before the meeting you can spend some time shopping!!

On Sunday June 7 th 2009 from 9am to 2pm the LAKE GENEVA FISHING CLUB proudly presents the 19 th annual KIDS FISHING DAY EVENT!! The event takes place at Big Foot Beach State Park and is for kids 15 years old and under. Of course, the kids’ parents are welcome to attend and are encouraged to participate. Each child will receive a prize and the club will supply lunch, fishing equipment and bait for the kids. Bigfoot Beach lagoon will hold all the fish to be caught and club members will be on hand to assist with the anglers needs. This particular weekend is a free fishing event in the state of Wisconsin and no license or entry fee to the state park is required. This is a great way to introduce kids to a fabulous outdoor activity that the whole family can enjoy. So mark your calendar now and come join us. The event is free and family and friends can spend some quality time together!! Fine sponsors help make this event possible. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a sponsor or making a donation, please contact the club at 847-524-8623.

Feel free to visit the club web site at www.lakegenevafishingclub.com for more detailed information about the KIDS FISHING DAY EVENT, directions to CABELA’S and other club information. Remember, practice catch, photo, and release, use selective harvest and share some of your fishing knowledge with other anglers!!

TIGHT-LINES!!!

Lake Geneva Fishing Club October '08

By David Floberg

Another summer has flown by!!! Fall is here and it’s time for some serious angling. Shorter daylight hours and cool nights tell the fish population that winter is close and it is time to put the feed bag on. For the fall angler warm comfortable days are plentiful. Pleasure boaters, jet skiers and other warm water activities diminish. The lake is now available for anglers to pursue trophy game fish. You say that an angler has the chance to catch the fish of a lifetime during the summer periods? True, but the fall is when the big trophy fish are most vulnerable. These fish are feeding with reckless abandon. Most fish that are caught during this season have fat stomachs and sometimes spit up baitfish they have been feeding on. Pay attention to the size, shape and color of the baitfish they spit up and try to match your presentation to that. Another good tactic for fall is to increase the size of your presentation whether it is artificial or live bait. A large easy meal is what the fish are looking for. Fish are so aggressive that even the average sized ones will be hitting large presentations. The payoff comes when a trophy fish sees that large easy meal and then, “it’s on”!!!

Watch your electronics while going over drop-offs, points, and flats. Look for pods of baitfish and any indication that game fish are nearby. Try to keep contact with the baitfish and retrieve your presentation through, under and over the school of baitfish. Try to make your bait act as if it is crippled, injured or dying. This will attract the feeding game fish.

Be patient. Fish will school in the fall. Thoroughly cover a piece of structure as fish will have a tendency to move in and out of the area The run and gun methods of the summer are not as productive. As the water temperatures drop, fish will move into areas that are considered wintering locations. If you come across this type of area, the fish are sometimes stacked like cordwood. Again, understand that these fish are vulnerable and can be easily caught. Be respectful, catch a few and then move on.

Green weeds will also hold fish. If an area has decaying weeds the likelihood of fish holding there is slim. Structure with green weeds mixed in is a plus and would be a good area to cover thoroughly.

In the early fall, traditional live baits (crawlers, leeches etc.) will catch their fair share of fish, but as the water gets colder a minnow presentation is preferred. Chubs and suckers can really mop up when the conditions are right.

Whatever you do, the fall is a great time to catch good numbers of fish with the added bonus of that fish of a life time pulling on the end of your line!!! So what are you waiting for? Get out and do some fall fishing!!!

Once again the annual club pig roast at Big Foot Beach State Park was a great success. Club President Ken Abraham manned the smoker and did an excellent job. The meat was fantastic!! Phil Urban provided the transportation to get that pig on the spit. The side dishes that members brought were great. What a variety!! Great weather, camaraderie, eating some great food with the view of Geneva Lake- it doesn’t get any better!! Thanks for everyone’s help and can’t wait till next years feast!!!

The September meeting speaker Ken Darga gave a great presentation on float fishing tactics and river presentations. He was also kind enough to share some very productive Fox River locations with the audience. Thanks Ken! We look forward to seeing you in the fishing department at Gat Guns. The next club meeting will be on Wednesday October 8 th at 6:30pm at Cabela’s in the Prairie Stone Business Park Hoffman Estates IL, near I90 and route59. There is a $5.00 fee for guests. Doug Welch will be the guest speaker. Doug is the fisheries biologist for southeastern Wisconsin. He will bring the club up to speed on Geneva Lake (which he oversees) and any other fishery questions that the audience may have. Please visit our web site at www.lakegenevafishingclub.com for directions to Cabela’s and other club information.

It’s all about sharing knowledge with fellow anglers. Remember, practice catch-photo & release and when keeping some fish for the table, use selective harvest.

Tight-Lines!!!