Discussing fishing hotspots is never easy

Please believe me when I tell you I am not complaining over some of the questionable letters and emails I received.

I used to heavily promote the angling on the Fox Chain following years of so-so fishing conditions.

The Illinois DNR went to great efforts to plant big numbers of walleye and muskie in the various lakes in the Chain. And the results were spectacular for a number of years.

The only downside was when I witnessed, in a short time span, the clean-out of certain lakes by poachers and others who believed size and limit regulations didn't apply to them.

So I literally stopped naming the lakes where big muskies resided, as well those bodies of water where a few jumbo walleyes still grew fat and quite aggressive.

I am basically a bass fisherman. I search for both smallmouth and largemouth, and when I find some good spots I only share them with certain friends, people I know will keep the locations to themselves.

Moving along, then, to Bangs Lake in Wauconda.

Here's a great chunk of water, over 200 acres in size. It's been stocked with walleye mainly funded by purchases of a special lake user stamp. Boat launch fees are stiff but adequately maintained at one location in particular.

And yes, I have written a lot about Bangs Lake and its excellent largemouth bass fishing. I've also talked about the fairly good walleye angling as well.

Some time back these columns generated some heat because I didn't go through a two dozen or so listings of fishing conditions around the metro area.

It's my opinion in order to publish on time a fishing report in this or most any other newspaper, it often doesn't reflect what conditions prevail one day and then they may not be relevant two or three days later.

I admit to promoting Bangs Lake, perhaps over-promoting it. And as the result of that and the recent column the following email was sent to me:

"I found your article this morning (last week) interesting, and I would like you to know that a lot of people who are longtime fishermen on Bangs Lake, which in itself is similar to the crappie fishery you mentioned in the article, feel that your overuse of the lake (Bangs) in your articles is doing the same thing to our lake. We have lots and lots of the same people coming in who take fish (and as you know, it's catch and release for bass) and abuse the lake, and many of them wouldn't be doing that except for your continued promotion. These are not meant to be nasty comments, but the very concept that you identify in your 11-6 article is happening on Bangs, and it's a much nicer fishery (for now) than the crappie pond you discussed in your article. Food for thought - same concept, different fishery, just for your consideration!"

That email came from a chap named Monty. I'll grant Monty this - I'm sorry for loving the lake as much as I have expressed.

Perhaps the village of Wauconda should think about closing the lake to outsiders, those who do not live on the lake or in the village. Maybe it should be a totally private lake. Furthermore, like many public lakes, there is a tremendous shortage of enforcement personnel. I believe it's important to have plenty of game and fish people patrolling the waters to handle poachers as well as reckless boaters and jet ski operators (of which Bangs Lake has many).

With that said, I will just pay my way and get a sticker and do my very best not report where someone can take their children to catch bluegills and crappies - and hopefully everyone can still learn a few things about manners, courtesy, and good fishing ways and means.

• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.