Huge Bass At Lake Galena

[flyrodman]

Recently my brother and I went to Lake Galena in Galena, Illinois and did some panfish and bass fishing. I was having some great success on a scum frog fished over grass, algae, and weedbeds. We were fishing on a really big rock which hung out over the water providing cover for fish. My brother was reeling a 8-9 inch crappie and when the crappie was right up next to the rock, two bass come out and proceed to try to attack it. My brother repeated this while I tied on a white shad rap to try and trick the bass into thinking it was the crappie. The smaller bass, whack I estimated to be in the 4-5 lb range took it and I reached my hand out to grab it, it wriggled and threw the hook. The larger one which was twice as big as it's little brother insisted on snapping at the crappie and bluegill my brother was reeling in. We tried everything to catch that fish but to no avail. It REALLY wanted it's prey to be big and lively. The largest lure I had was a KVD 1.5 which didn't get down the the big fish's level and wasn't even considered a meal my the big bass. Next time I visit up there, I will be armed to the teeth with large lures. Lake galena is a great lake and if you wanted, you could catch panfish all day. Don't forget this lake has trophy tiger musky. By the marina there was a dead one with a little 5/0 hook in its mouth. Its mouth dwarfed the hook and I said "This is someone's fish story sitting dead in the water." Anyway I just thought I would share this with you all.

[Guest]

I've fished up there.

Amazing lake,

I would freeline a small bluegill on heavy line.

Otherwise you might try a swimjig (bluegill pattern) when its cloudy or raining...

[tjulianc]

Big Bite Lures has come out with a new lure called a War Mouth. That might be something to try out in that situation.

[Gavin]

Good for you. I spent a couple days up at Eagle Ridge Resort on Galena Lake last month...Good time!..Work mostly, but I got in an hour of bank fishing on the lake one evening and caught a nice largemouth...( bank access stinks....get a boat next trip)...Nice resort community, some tough looking golf courses, and decent fishing...If you look a bit....you just might find a little creek with some decent smallmouth in it nearby. Cheers.

[mhall02]

I would freeline a small bluegill on heavy line.

My exact thoughts, those blugill make great bait for LMB. Took my son out to Busch's kids fishing lake a week or so ago. He was reeling in a blugill and had a hog attack it. We switched tatics, used a bluegill for bait and he caught a 16" and an 18" one, both released but he won't forget that little trick anytime soon!