"Dinner For Two"

by Kevin Patton

Lake Storey is a 130-acre, city-owned lake on the north edge of Galesburg. If you're looking to catch dinner it may be a good choice, provided you are not looking for monster fish.

Dee Dee Kumpf and I set out for Storey on September 6 to see if we could coax some bluegills, crappies, or walleyes into biting.

We got a late start, so we skipped a stop at the bait shop for minnows, which may have been a mistake.

Instead, we planned to use wax worms on slip bobber rigs for the panfish and jigs and Roadrunners tipped with nightcrawlers for walleyes.

The day was sunny with a 5-10 mph easterly wind. The water temperature was in the upper 70's.

A windy day can present problems on this trolling-motor-only lake for those with small thrust motors or one-battery systems. Those opting to drift-fish can be aided by the use of wind socks on breezy days and anchoring is always an option.

We alternated from stopping at downed trees and sunken brush with our slip bobber rigs and drifting or trolling with our walleye jigs.

Our first stop was a brushpile in 10 feet of water near the rifle range. We caught lots of bluegills and crappies on our slip bobber rigs 6-7 feet deep over the brushpile.

Although we did have to wade through lots of small fish, occasionally we caught one suitable for filleting.

At days end we had bluegill up to 8 inches, crappies up to 8 1/2 inches, and a 15-inch walleye.

These were modest fish for sure, but we had at least enough for dinner and caught lots of fish.

Like any body of water you fish, Storey gives up quality fish for those who take the time to know the lake, find the structure, and spend time on the water. For the rest of us, an occasional "dinner for two" day is just fine.

In a few short weeks, we could be knee-deep in snow here in Illinois. So now is the time to get out there and enjoy the moderate temperatures and beautiful fall colors that make this a favorite time of year for many.

There is also an annual draw-down at Lake Storey during early to mid-September, but the west ramp near the dam is still usable for most rigs.

There is no size or creel limit on Lake Storey crappies. You may also keep 25 bluegills, three walleyes that are 14-inch or longer, six catfish, and one Muskie 42-inches or longer.

Six bass are allowed, but a protected slot of 12 to 15 inches is enforced. You may have one bass that is longer than 15 inches and five bass less than 12 inches in length.