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Johnny wilkins
  • Male
  • La Grange, IL
  • United States
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Johnny wilkins's Discussions

How Do We Learn Fishing?
73 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Joe Jacobsen Aug 12, 2012.

What is A Successful Fishing Outing?
62 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Johnny wilkins Feb 13, 2012.

Win Free Bluegill Tackle - Guessing Contest
58 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Robert Kraft Jan 18, 2012.

Live Bait vs. Gulp Shoot-Out 2012
51 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Joe Angelucci Apr 5, 2012.

What Type of Angler Are You Anyway?!!
27 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by 2lbgill May 9, 2011.

Chicago Fishing Information

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Chicago Fishing School

Panfish & Trout Fishing Tackle | Northern Illinois Fishing League | Lessons



PODCAST  to RESUME Late Summer New Episodes! 

The podcast that just talks about catching fish, great rigs, live bait and lures for "the rest of us" non-tourney anglers who just want to catch a whole bunch of fish.

Follow the Podcast on internet radio with Fishing School on Blog Talk Radio

Fishing School Radio Showgram

I Teach
I am a fishing teacher and run a club in the Chicago area - the Chicago School of Fishing and I love Urban bank fishing. Learn how to fish urban waters with live and artificial baits this Spring- tune into the all new Fishing Radio Show - Fishing School download the show anytime! The show is all new, so check it out and catch some more fish.

 

I Learn
I am a bit of a history student and have been studying tackle over the past couple hundred years and the affects of modern manufacturing on our fishing tackle. I take what I learned fishing competitions, what I was taught and what I read in old fishing books and have pieced together a history of the American live bait tackle industry. From this, I am creating a reborn set of fishing tackle which will prove incredible for bluegill & panfish anglers. This tackle can be adapted to all sorts of fishing as well. Since you are reading this, you will be lucky in that 300 years of fishing knowledge will yield a whole new line of tackle available to you. Knowledge that has been lost and not passed on, is being assembled and old tactics will rise again.

We Fish Poorly & Can Fish So Much Better
My logo is represents the water in front of you. There are more fish in front of you than you would think. The gear on shelves has degraded in fish-catching quality for live bait anglers. Hooks, poor, line awful and floats - a joke. The information out there is also poor. I have taken a step back into the archives, looking at old school methods from the turn of the century and even earlier. I share them on this message board, on my website and in my radio podcast. More to come- as I try to share a little with people who want to catch some fish.

I Compete

Most of my competitions involve catching big bags of bluegill. I have been a member of the USA Fishing Team competing in bank fishing competitions and regional competitions for 9 years. In 2011 I qualified 7th in the US Championships - good enough to make the Team for the 2011 World Championships in Italy! 

These competitions on shore have taken me all over the world including trips to Canada, Portugal, Belgium and even China. International competitions have included fishing against Canada and 50 other nations in two World Championships.  I have been lucky to represent the United States two times (3 now) with a top finish of 9th place in my section and a best day of 35th in the world. I run a smaller club in the Chicago area and competitions are held each month where you can learn and have fun while bank fishing or you can observe and learn.

Urban Fishing Near Chicago
Our fishing club fishes area ponds in the Western suburbs of Chicago and on occasion in the city limits. One of my favorite activities is speed-fishing for bluegills and panfish. I love getting soaking wet and anything in the 3 - 5 fish per minute pace is my nirvana. A perfect day would be soaking wet bringing in 500 of these in one sitting. While this is a banner day, I will gladly take 100 fish caught as a good day focusing on my float, line and the fishing. One hook, one angler 500 fish- it is very possible! I plan on moving the bar upward this year, let's see how high I can push the bar.



Fishing Online Radio
If you are interested in learning fishing, great fishing products join my blog or send a friend request.

Stay tuned for fish-catching action and updates. Call in on the fishing show about urban fishing & float fishing radio show online .

Johnny wilkins's Blog

Reel Foot Lake Adventure - The Rendezvous

Conditions were horrible from mid-day on. LOFR-BR nailed it.

In hot, hot weather - this place is a puzzle, wrapped in a mystery but the fish are there because it is jurassic!!!!

Adventure 

I took a stump in the rump on the way out (while it was described to me- I wasn't really hearing that we would be banging off stumps in the front, middle and motor). I nearly jumped out of my skin right after the stump hit when a 25 lb. -  fish jumped up about…

Continue

Posted on September 8, 2014 at 12:30pm — 81 Comments

Massive Bluegill Pond / Lake Near Chicago?

Monster Gill Lake Near Chicago?

I am looking to create a panfish instruction video. While I can do some of this video on fishing urban waters and "regular ponds" for kids and new anglers - people dig the long ball (baseball home runs). 

(New note- I am thinking that there aren't any monster gill lakes - if anyone knows of one- please get in touch)

I mean to say, they have to see big fish for you to be a subject expert right. I mean, this site isn't called…

Continue

Posted on March 26, 2014 at 4:30pm — 4 Comments

Latest Activity

Kelly Peterson left a comment for Johnny wilkins
"Marvin, which Thill floats, clip on or slip floats?"
Mar 26, 2020
Marvin Morgan left a comment for Johnny wilkins
"Am looking for info about how to rig the different types of Thill floats, but unable to find any books/pamphlets that show the way to rig the different type of floats.  Can you point me in the right direction to find out about the different…"
Mar 23, 2020

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Profile Information

What type of animal is a bluegill?
I have a very small pond, I do most of my fishing in retention ponds and public ponds- we have very small bluegills and my methods are productive for these tough takes that small bluegills offer. They would do well on larger gills!
What state are you from? This can help us get together for fishing trips!
Chicago Area - Fishing Classes & Club

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Comment Wall (22 comments)

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Join Bluegill - Big Bluegill

At 11:04am on March 26, 2020, Kelly Peterson said…

Marvin, which Thill floats, clip on or slip floats?

At 5:27pm on March 23, 2020, Marvin Morgan said…

Am looking for info about how to rig the different types of Thill floats, but unable to find any books/pamphlets that show the way to rig the different type of floats.  Can you point me in the right direction to find out about the different floats, and how to rig them?

At 10:08pm on June 16, 2014, Kelly Peterson said…

Hi Johnny;

Read your Gulp vs Waxie test thread and am really intrigue. Although I use live bait nearly 95% of the time I've never tried waxies, meal worms, corn or anything else other than worms, crawlers, leeches and minnows(the later is my least used). Over the years have heard of lots of people using waxies ice fishing but rarely hear about using them in open water.

I am definitely old school, still use 40+ year old Mitchell reels and 8-9 foot fiberglass rods and recently have graduated from the re/white round bobbers to the pencil type floats. Hate the slip type floats and the spring type can wreck havoc on light line. Sure would like to know more of the things you mentioned on another thread about older fishing tools were better than todays.

Thanks, Kelly

 
 
 

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John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
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11cupsawc

"Crappie have always impressed me with the way they look! A very fond memory is the first one I…"
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Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
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11cupsawc

"More beautiful golden Fall colors on the Black Crappie…..nice fish!"
22 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
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cupsawbg9bs

"Nice gill on the beetle spin!"
22 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
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cupsawc

"Like the calico colors of the Fall…..nice crappie John!"
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John Sheehan posted photos
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
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STCrappie

"You bet Bruce! Fishing for an hour to an hour and a half each day I 've been getting three or…"
Sunday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on John Sheehan's photo
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STCrappie

"About a dozen of those would be great! Nice crappies."
Sunday
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466097223_10236349245411317_8266863466993619288_n

"Top: Shimano Sensilite 5'6"Rod /Daiwa Spinmatic Reel. Trilene clear xl 2# test…"
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Joe’s Personal Best Yellow Perch….11/3/2024

"Thanks Tracy……I was very glad that my son-in-law got this bite….he has been…"
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John Sheehan posted photos
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A Flock of Ibis Roost on a Duck Blind Near Back Bay, North Carolina….11/5/2024

These birds pass through and feed in the shallow marshes….cold weather will push them south…but we…
Nov 5
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Joe’s Personal Best Yellow Perch….11/3/2024

"Thanks Bruce ….Joe was very excited to get his hands on this perch……I started…"
Nov 5
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Nov 5
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Joe’s Personal Best Yellow Perch….11/3/2024

"Thanks Dick….fish like this give you motivation to make a few more casts even on a very…"
Nov 4
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Few More Gills From Today…..11/3/2024

"Thanks Dick…..it’s slowing like you would expect in the Fall….but with…"
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dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Joe’s Personal Best Yellow Perch….11/3/2024

"Wow, I'd take them all day long."
Nov 4
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Few More Gills From Today…..11/3/2024

"Looks like your still into some great fish Jeffrey."
Nov 4

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