Illinois fishing report 7-23-09

HOTSPOTS

Give us our choice of anywhere to fish in Illinois right now and we’d pick…

• White bass at Lake Shelbyville.
• Largemouth bass at Lake Jacksonville.
• Rend Lake for largemouth bass or channel catfish.
• The Clinton Lake spillway for a mixed bag.
• The lower Rock River for channel catfish.

WALL HANGERS

• Kenny Sain of Momence caught a 24-pound channel catfish out of the Kankakee River last week and weighed it at Frank’s Bait in Momence.
• John Henry caught a 13-pound hybrid striper at Clinton Lake on Sunday.
• Dan Chizel (pictured below) caught this 22-pound king salmon last weekend on the boat of Capt. Andy Mikos on Lake Michigan.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS North of Interstate 80

Apple Canyon Lake
SOURCE: Tom Calam, Tom’s Bait & Tackle, Freeport (815-232-3337)
There’s some decent bluegill and catfish being caught between the 20 and 25 foot range. Walleye are fair but most of those are on the small side. The best bait to use is waxworms, leeches or nightcrawlers.

Lake Carroll
SOURCE: Tom Calam, Tom’s Bait & Tackle, Freeport (815-232-3337).
Tom is saying the best bait to use is waxworms, leeches or even night crawlers. But that won’t matter when it comes to the walleye. There’s only 1 out of every 10 considered keepers right around the 10-12 inch range.

Forest Preserve Lakes
SOURCE: Lee’s Bait and Tackle of Elk Grove Village (847-593-6424); Henry’s (312-225-8538)
There still isn’t anything of much size with the walleye and crappie being pretty small. However, the bass are biting a bit better. Use medium roaches and night crawlers to nab those bass. Henry’s says there’s some bluegill being caught during the day in the deep weeds. Try some waxworms to snag a few. Crappie are biting right before dark on either wax worms or minnows. Largemouth bass are best on surface baits.
• Click here for a Cook County Forest Preserves lake fishing forum.
• Here are links to information on various forest preserve lakes. Cook County, DeKalb County, DuPage County, Kane County, Kendall County, Lake County, McHenry County and Will County

Fox Chain O’ Lakes
SOURCE: Greg Dickson, Triangle Sports & Marine, Antioch (1-847-395-0813).
Catfish are best by far says Dickson. The cat are biting well on prepared baits or nightcrawlers near mud bottoms. The largemouth bass are slow but can be nabbed near the shoreline on plastics or top-water frogs. During the evening hours, the walleye can be found in the flats using crankbaits, leeches or nightcrawlers. Bluegill are improving.
• Click here to check updates on no-wake status and water levels or call 847-587-8540 .

Lake Michigan
SOURCES: Henry’s (312-225-8538), Vet’s (773-734-6720) and Dale Bowman of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• On the Chicago lakefront rock bass are best in any harbors or drop-offs. Nightcrawlers working well. Vet’s says perch fishing has been solid with minnows and crab meat bringing 10-14 inchers. Montrose and Burnham harbors are good. Smallmouth bass are better. Dale Bowman reports some steelhead at Montrose and a few kings up to 20 pounds while coho are not as good at the R4.

Shabbona Lake
SOURCES: Guide Jay Angel (815-739-7030) and Denny Sands, Shabbona Lakeside Bait & Tackle, Shabbona (815-824-2581).
Crappie are good in the deep brush and around the trees overhanging the lake says Angel. Around those trees cast about 35 feet deep and 20 feet down. The walleye are really biting right before dusk on leeches. The bass are fair in deep weeds and around the flats. Using soft plastic lures for the bass. Lakeside says it’s been a typical July fishing despite some cooler weather. The water temperature is right 76-77 degrees. Crappie are being caught around the trees between 12 and 14 feet. The bluegill are being snagged around the weeds using leaf or wax worms. Frogs and any plastics seem to be working on the bass. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and chicken livers around the trees. There are some muskies being hooked using shad imitators.
• Park hours November to January 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; February to March 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; April 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; May to October 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
•Click here for a Shabbona Lake fishing forum

Wolf Lake
SOURCE: Mik-Lurch (219-989-0575)
It’s all about the walleye. Three days go there was a 26-incher caught. Anglers are using crankbaits, leeches or minnows with bobbers or just trolling for them. The crappie fishing is below average. Vet’s says largemouth bass are biting rather well. Most are 10-17 inches and are being caught using nightcrawlers and leeches. Catfish are hitting rather well and will eat about anything including worms and crabs.

NORTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS South of Interstate 80 and North of Interstate 72/U.S. Route 36

Anderson Lake
SOURCE: Site manager Ed Oest (309-759-4484)
Trot-line fishing has slowed after going strong earlier in the week. Bluegill are spotty but quality has been better than in recent years.

Argyle Lake
SOURCE:Site manager Robin Hinchee (309-776-3422); The Deck II Bait and Boat Rental shop (309-776-4275)
Catfish are best bet but have been just fair to good. Those seeking other species have been fishing near the dam for best results. Crappie are scattered and slow.

Banner Marsh
SOURCE: Adam Jaegle, Presley’s Outdoors, Bartonville (309-697-1193); Merle Keefer, Pekin Bass & Bow (309-347-3334); Tom Grider, Riverside Bait, Pekin (309-347-3793)
Bass fishing is good to very good, with 20 pounds to win last weekend’s Bass 25 Bloomington tournament out of East Point Access. Best bite has been on frogs up top or lizards along the weedlines says Jaegle. A few catfish reported this week, as well.

Lake Bloomington
SOURCE: Larry Dozard
Bluegill are fair to good on small jigs and waxworms or crawler bits along seawalls says Dozard. Bass are fair to good says guide Paul Center, taking jigs, crankbaits and plastics around weeds, grass or wood or deeper in front of wood or docks. Lake is stained and running 77-78 degrees. Crappie are fair in 8-10 feet of water around wood or docks. Catfish are fair on dipbaits, crawlers and liver. Hybrid stripers are slow and have not been taking topwater yet with this cooler weather.
Clinton Lake
SOURCE: Joanne Lowe, Mike’s Tackle World, Decatur (217-423-0730); Clinton Bait and Tackle, (217-935-3851)
Catfish, white bass and walleye all seem to be biting pretty fair on the main lake. Crappie are starting to bite again on minnows, but you really have to sort to find keepers. Fishing below the spillway has been good. John Henry hooked into a 13-pound hybrid striper (pictured below) and a 20-pound flathead on consecutive casts Sunday while fishing minnows along the bottom in search of walleye. He also caught a 40-pound Asian carp and got his limit of walleye (15-19 inchers). “There was tons of people up there catching small stripers and hybrids,” he said.

Dawson Lake
SOURCE: Leon and Judy Gibson, Moraine View Concession (309-724-8295)
Catfish are the only species reliable right now says Leon Gibson, with decent reports on dipbait and Glo Crawlers fished from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. according to Old Man River Bait & Tackle in LeRoy. Some bluegill reported and an angler did catch several small walleye on Thursday. Dozard reports the crappie have improved some this week.

Emiquon Preserve
SOURCE: Paul Dinkheller, Dink’s, Lewistown (309-547-1094); The Nature Conservancy (309-547-2730)
Bass fishing is very good on soft plastics. Senkos, flukes and larger trick worms have been producing fish, most are 12-14 inches long with occasional 15-inchers in the mix. Pink has been a hot color. Very few reports of panfish, though. Anglers must obtain a free permit at Dickson Mounds Museum (open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) before fishing here.

Evergreen Lake
SOURCE: Brad Wood, operations supervisor, (309-726-2022) or Larry Dozard
Crappie are still biting well with numerous keepers of 9-10 inches being caught in 10-15 feet of water on jigs and minnows or white beetle spins say Wood and Dozard. Saugeye are best evenings around humps and off points on leech baits. Several 14-inchers also reported around the Pump house says Dozard. Catfish are biting better with a 5-pounder reported near the dam on chicken liver. Soft plastics have been best for bass which are just fair. Bluegill are best along weedlines and rip-rap. Bowfishing has been slow. The lake is just below capacity and clarity is 1-2 feet with temperatures running in the upper 70s.
• Click here for up-to-date lake reports.

Heidecke Lake
SOURCE: Don Stephens, Greybeards (815-941-1504); Guide Mike Lynch (708-655-7667); Guide Greg Heath (815-258-9136)
Walleye have been spotty, with best results on crawlers says Greybeards. Hybrid stripers are fair to slow. Best action on chicken liver. Channel catfish are fair.

Hennepin Canal
SOURCE: Ann Downey, Northside Bait & Archery, Kewanee (309-852-4760)
Catfish are best in the canal on dipbait, crawlers and livers. Bluegill are slow. Most panfish anglers are headed to strip mines or farm ponds instead says Downey.

LaSalle Lake
SOURCE:Dale Bowman of the Chicago Sun-Times
Catfish are good and crappie are fair along quite shorelines on smaller minnows, pinky jigs and small beetle spins says Ed Mullady.
• Click here for a LaSalle Lake fishing forum.

Powerton Lake
SOURCE: Merle Keefer, Pekin Bass & Bow (309-347-3334); Tom Grider, Riverside Bait, Pekin (309-347-3793)
The lake reopened Thursday after being closed three days for levee repairs. Prior to that fishing was best for blue catfish and small channel cats.

Snakeden Hollow SFWA
SOURCE: Victoria Tackle Shop (309-879-2664)
Channel catfish are good in the walk-in on lakes on dipbait and dew worms says Terry Whiteside. Anglers report a few crappie on minnows and decent bluegill fishing. McMaster Lake has been busy though fishing is just fair for most species. Several evening walleye reports in the past week and there was a 40-inch muskie caught and released last Sunday.

Spring Lake
SOURCES: Troy Galvin, Galvin’s Spring Lake Market (309-267-6538) and Larry Karnes, Larry’s Restaurant and Family Bar, Manito (309-968-9500)
Catfish are biting well on crawlers, dip bait and shrimp says Karnes, who weighed a 6.5-pounder caught this week by Angela Hackney of Forest City. Shrimp is best. Bass have picked up some and are fairly good on top-waters and weedless baits on either end. Last Saturday’s tournament took 13 pounds for three fish to win off the north end. Bluegill have slowed.

Lake Storey
SOURCE: Al Hayden, Al’s Sporting Goods, Galesburg (309-342-7776)
Bass bite is improving says Hayden, who advises rubber worms or crankbaits. Overall bass are just fair, though. Crappie are also fair and have been best shallow early and late on waxies or minnows under a bobber. Later in the day the crappie are moving 8-12 feet deep and have been best on jigs tipped with waxies. Bluegill are also best early and late. Walleye are fair on spinner rigs says Larry Dozard.

Strip Mines
(Fulton, Knox, Peoria and Stark counties)
SOURCE: Presley’s Outdoors, Bartonville (309-697-1193); Dink’s, Lewistown (309-547-1094); and Larry Dozard; Tom Grider, Riverside Bait, Pekin (309-347-3793)
Bass are fair most places and have hit a variety of lures. Crankbaits were outperforming plastics last weekend but the plastic bite has improved as the week has gone on. There are still a few scattered crappie reports and overall they are better than usual for July. Bluegill are not so good. Some are catching plenty but sizes and numbers are a bit down. Don’t be afraid to fish chicken liver or dip-bait under a bobber in clear water situations while trying for catfish.

SOUTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS South of Interstate 72/U.S. Route 36 and North of Interstate 70

Beaver Dam Lake
SOURCE: Gwen Gilmore, Gilmore Bait & Marine, Carlinville (217-854-8136); Kim Eggers, Beaver Dam Bait Shop, (217-854-6688)
Catfish are really good says Gilmore, who has seem fish up to 9 pounds and plenty of 2-3 pounds. Nightcrawlers or dipbaits are best. Bluegill are also fair to good says Eggers.

Carlinville Lake
SOURCE: Gwen Gilmore, Gilmore Bait & Marine, Carlinville (217-854-8136)
Gilmore has reports of largemouth bass up to 6 pounds on Bandit crankbaits. Few other reports.

Charleston Side Channel Lake
SOURCE: Rick Cuddy, Prairie Outfitters, Charleston (217-348-6770)
The channel cat are biting real well. There’s some 3-5 pounders being caught using cheesebait and chicken livers. The bass are pretty good but be sure to use soft plastics or cheese bait. The flathead aren’t very big but using live bait will be pretty effective.

Coffeen Lake
SOURCE: Scott Withers, Indian Grove Fish Camp, Coffeen Lake (217-537-3001)
The bass fishing has been fair. There are a lot of little ones being caught using worms. The crappie are slow.

Lake Decatur
SOURCE: Joanne Lowe, Mike’s Tackle World, Decatur (217-423-0730)
Catfish are biting well and anglers have caught a few walleye, but overall fishing is slow.

Lake Glenn Shoals
SOURCE: Jack Rebman, Kink’s Corner, Hillsboro (217-532-5442)
The bass have been a bit spotty but you can use crankbaits, plastic worms, jigs and top-water lures. The crappie have been slow but you can find a few in the creeks below the lake. The catfish will be good when using cheesebait, leeches or some night crawlers.

Lake Hillsboro
SOURCE: Jack Rebman, Kink’s Corner, Hillsboro (217-532-5442)
There’s just a few crappie being found around the brush. The channel cat are spotty and bass are best on plastic worms.

Lake Jacksonville
SOURCE: Tom Holmes, Military Surplus Outlet, Jacksonville (217-243-6161) and Lake Jacksonville Campground (217-479-4646)
Bass are biting well on spinnerbaits as well as nightcrawlers, with some 6-pounders reported says the campground. Catfish are best on shrimp. Bill Ringenberg of East Peoria fished Lake Jacksonville on Monday with Doug Schoenman and combined for several fish over 17 inches on Yum hawg craws, a Bill Dance Fat Free Shad and a 6-inch pearl and black worm. Ringenberg had three over 3 pounds and one that went 3-10. Water was 76 degrees early and rose to 81 by afternoon.

Lake Lou Yaeger
SOURCE: Denny’s Bait Shop, Litchfield (217-324-2628)
The only thing that has been slow is the bass. The crappie are being hooked on minnows. The bluegill are good on nightcrawlers. The catfish are good on stinkbait or cut bait. Reports of an 11-pounder this week.

Lake Mattoon
SOURCE: Rick Cuddy, Prairie Outfitters, Charleston (217-348-6770); Joel Pittman, Mattoon Parks Department (217-254-6680)
The bass seem to be a little off. There’s lots of catfish being caught on crankbaits. Bluegill are fair.

Mill Creek Lake
SOURCE: Dennis Shiley, Mill Creek Lake Park (217-889-3901)
Crappie are pretty good in lay downs using minnows between 10-12 feet. Otherwise, the bass are slow and the catfish have slowed down considerably.

Lake Sara
SOURCE: Tony Niebrugge, Anthony’s Acres Resort, (217-868-2950)
The bass have slowed down. However, you still can catch some during the early hours on top-water offerings. The bluegill are biting well on waxworms. Catfish are also taking waxies. Crappie have slowed and most are smaller.

Lake Shelbyville
SOURCE: Guide Ken Wilson (217-774-5756 or 217-454-2672) at Lithia Springs Guide Service; Margie Oliver, Marv and Kathy’s Bait & Tackle, Sullivan (217-728-4044); Guide Steve Welch (217) 762-7257 or (217) 840-1221
Ken was happy to report that the fishing is good with a water temperature of 74 degrees. The white bass are biting using rooster tails and twister tails. The walleye have slowed down. The crappie are biting in 10-12 feet of water in the mid-south part of the lake. With the cooler water brings the muskie. They are starting to get active in as a part of the pre-fall bit. Margie says that the white bass are absolutely crazy now that the water has cooled down. Some are being caught two at a time with others are bringing in 140 or more a trip. Use There’s very few crappie, maybe just 10-12 the whole week.
• For a daily report on Lake Shelbyville call (217-774-2020).

Lake Taylorville
SOURCE: Lindsey’s Bait & Tackle, Taylorville (217-287-7550)
The catfish will bite just about anything you throw out (bait shrimp, chicken livers, night crawlers or stink bait). And the size is good too; between 7-9 pounds is pretty standard.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS South of Interstate 70

Baldwin Lake
SOURCE: Site office (618-785-2555)
Fishing has slowed down considerably due to the rising water temperature.

Carlyle Lake
SOURCE: Buddy Langenhorst, Lavish’s Bait Shop , Carlyle (618-594-4413); Henkel’s (618-594-4818)
The white bass are biting on the flats on crankbaits and split spoons. Catfish are good off the flats using crankbaits. Walleye are also biting well for anglers trolling the flats. Below the dam walleye are fair and there were reports of a large flathead over 40 pounds this week on a live bluegill.
• For the latest water level information call (618-594-4637).

Cedar Lake
SOURCE: Ron Reed, Cooksey’s Bait, Marion (618-993-3366); Guide Matt Strobel (618-922-0354); Kyle Garner, Crappie Pro Shop, Carterville (618-985-8277)
Strobel says bass are fair and the best bet is to head to grass points and use shaky heads or jigs. Garner suggests trying Carolina rigs, pumpkin-colored worms or deep-diving crankbaits.

Crab Orchard Lake
SOURCE: Ron Reed, Cooksey’s Bait, Marion (618-993-3366); Guide Matt Strobel (618-922-0354); Kyle Garner, Crappie Pro Shop, Carterville (618-985-8277)
Crappie have turned back on in 12 feet of water about 8 feet deep Reed says. Catfish are taking cut bait and minnows. Strobel Bass are
is great. Use minnows and cast your line about 12 feet out and an 8 feet deep for best results. There’s also some catfish biting using cut bait and minnows. Strobel says the key to finding bass is to fish wood or weedlines. Plastics and jigs are producing. Garner suggests flipping into the weed begs with black and blue jigs. June-bug colored worms are also producing. Morning has been best.

Devil’s Kitchen
SOURCE: Ron Reed, Cooksey’s Bait, Marion (618-993-3366)
The trout are doing rather well. Use some minnows and some jigs to grab a few good-sized trout.

East Fork Lake
SOURCE: Sharon Long, Long’s Tackle Box, Robinson (618-544-2709)
Sharon says things are slow. The bass are tough and mostly plastics are being used.

Lake of Egypt
SOURCE: Guide Matt Strobel (618-922-0354)
From front to back of the lake, the bass are biting near the grass. Mostly plastics, jigs or top-water bait will do the trick.

Forbes Lake
SOURCE: Site manager Glenn Wegener (618-547-3381); Mike Polcyn, Mike’s Bait & Tackle Shop, Louisville (618-665-3209)
There’s some real good fishing here, says Mike. The crappie and bluegill are both coming in on the beds. Use some minnow to catch the bluegill as Mike is saying the crappie and bluegill are getting bigger and bigger all the time.

Horseshoe Lake, Alexander County
SOURCE: Jim Melton, Melton’s Fish Camp (618-776-5504)
The channel cat are on a pretty good bite. Just drift the middle of the lake with some night crawlers and you’re likely to catch some normal to small channel cat.

Kinkaid Lake
SOURCE: Janet Graeff, Top of the Hill Bait Shop, Muphysboro (618-684-2923); Guide Al Nutty (618-694-4897)
Head to different depths and you’ll be finding both crappie and bluegill. Bluegill are in 4-8 feet on waxworms, mealworms and crickets. There’s some crappie caught around 12-15 feet says Top of the Hill. The catfish are good around 6-8 p.m. in shallow water. They are biting worms and night crawlers. Walleye are slow and the muskie will be almost nil till August. The bass fishing is good. Using spinners, surface bait and rubber lures for the bass. Guide Al Nutty says he’s seen bass in the 5-6 pound range on Carolina rigs and crankbaits. Al also says that as cool as it has been the muskie maybe a good try. From to 2-5 feet, the bluegill are biting using wax worms and crickets. The catfish are good as usual. Use nightcrawlers, stinkbait and cut shad. The crappie around 8 feet are hitting using minnows around new brush piles.

Mermet Lake
SOURCE: Shawnee Bait & Tackle, Creal Springs (618-996-3089)
The fishing for crappie, bluegill and catfish is pretty good. However, use only live bait because of the all rain that Mermet has gotten.

Newton Lake
SOURCE: Ruth Rauch, Rauch’s Bait & Tackle, Newton (618-752-2151)
The bass have been deep but with the cool weather, more and more are coming to the surface.

Rend Lake
SOURCE: Jason Johns (618-927-3432); Bill Hudnall, Rend Lake Sporting Goods, Mount Vernon (618-242-2191)
The bass have been tearing up the water using spinnerbaits and crankbaits. They are ranging up to 7 pounds. Be sure to hit and move. The catfish have also been great. The crappie has been anywhere from average to awful. Use jigs and head to the very shallow part of the lake.

Sam Parr Lake
SOURCE: Sharon Long, Long’s Tackle Box, Robinson (618-544-2709)
Always famous for its catfish, the Sam Parr has seen a steady stream of cat catchers. Those anglers are using a little bit of everything. From shrimp to stinkbait and just about anything else.

RIVERS

• Click here for water level information.

Des Plaines River
SOURCE:Andrew Ragas
Fishing the DesPlaines River and it’s creeks has been poor to fair for not only myself, but for everyone else whom I have consulted with. I cannot explain what went wrong this past week and what had happened since the good fishing from previous weeks, but the fish from the past few weeks have not been showing themselves around. If I had to give an excuse for the lack of activity, I’d have to say low summertime water levels.

Some people catching smaller Pike while most others trying haven’t been catching anything. Those finding fish are throwing spinnerbaits and in-line spinners through deeper pools with current. It’s not an ideal time of the year for Pike anyways.

Channel Catfish are still hitting regularly most evenings from deeper water areas with hard bottom and current. The action is there, just not much size. Stinkbait, cut baits, and livebait working well on slip sinker bottom rigs.

Little to no Walleye reports coming in, and nothing much to show for Bass and Panfish.

As for the DPR creeks such as Salt Creek and other similar places, the fishing hasn’t been all too hot either. Of all species of fish, Carp are most active. Bass are slow, Crappies are too few and far between, and Walleyes haven’t been around in the areas they should be in (deep pools with current!).
• Click here for a Des Plaines River fishing forum.

DuPage River
SOURCE: Click here for a DuPage River fishing forum.

Fox River
• Click here for a Fox River fishing forum.

Illinois River
SOURCE: Darrell or Carol Culjan at Cajun Sporting Goods in Utica (815-667-4222)
• Near Utica white bass are best early on bladebaits and almost nothing else except a few on Panther Martin spinners. Run up down and the river and target rocky points or drop-off sandbars. If you find baby shad you will catch whites. Bigger fish are 6-8 feet deep and smaller fish are shallow. Pink and white or silver or fire tiger have been best colors. Some small sauger are being caught in 10-12 feet of water by pulling crankbaits. The Hennepin power lines have been a hotspot. Catfish are mediocre and best action is along channel edges leading into deep holes on dipbaits, shrimp or shad. The river is low and 76 degrees. Some reports of smallies and largemouths. The big Vermilion River was very good last week for channel cats on chicken liver floated under a bobber.
SOURCE: Baitshop Bob, Riverview Marine, Spring Valley (815-663-1000)
• Near Spring Valley the river is still down and catfishing has slowed some, as anglers needed just 30 pounds for five fish to win last weekend’s largest tournament. Baitshop says sauger are still being caught trolling crankbaits or by pulling live bait on three-ways. Near Hennepin and the mouth of Senachwine Lake anglers are catching stripers by pitching shallow and retrieving into the channel. Most white bass are smaller, though.
SOURCE: Marge Hankins, Hankins Riverview, Henry (309-364-3617)
• Near Henry anglers report some decent catfish off the rock wall. Shrimp has been best. Stripers are fair at Senachwine.
SOURCE: Merle Keefer, Pekin Bass & Bow (309-347-3334); Tim Presley, Presley’s Outdoors, Bartonville (309-697-1193)
• Near Peoria white bass have slowed in backwaters now that the water has dropped. Some still being caught at Duck Island. Asian carp snagging is better with the wicket dam up at Peoria, but fishing is still fairly slow. Kurt Karnes snagged the 16-pounder pictured below on Wednesday.
SOURCE: Tom’s Bait Shop in Beardstown (217-323-BAIT)
• Near Beardstown catfish action is pretty good on cheesebaits, crawdads and to a lesser degree on nightcrawlers. Fish are scattered and good in backwaters on trot lines. Stripers are still fair to good, with an angler reporting catching 60 from a creek mouth on Wednesday on Mepps spinners.

Kankakee River
SOURCE: Ed Mullady, Sportsman’s Letter (815-932-7285)
The river is very low but fishing has been fairly good says Mullady.
• In Indiana te best action is north of English Lake where there are nice 2-4 pound catfish on nightcrawlers and liver. Pike are fair around the mouth of ditches at at Yellow River.
• Near Momence, Frank’s Bait at Momence weighed in a 24-pound channel catfish caught by Kenny Sain, Momence. Some walleye being caught. Kenny Sain on the weekend caught a 5-pound walleye on a jig and crawler. Pike hitting good on *minnows *spoons *large spinners.
• Near Kankakee catfish are good on *crawlers *minnows *cheesebaits. Smallmouth Bass are fair to good around Rex Island and Timothy Island.
• Near Wilmington catfish are good. *Smallmouth Bass picking up on *live minnows *crank baits *live and imitation crawfish
• Click here for a Kankakee River fishing forum.

Kishwaukee River
SOURCE:Bob Rhodes, Rockford Bait (815-226-3515)
Head to any of the parks that the Kishwaukee runs through and you’re set. There’s plenty of small mouth bass biting. Use just about any bait (minnows, crank bait, etc.) because the small mouth are pretty aggressive. There’s been reports up to 20 inches but average is between 10 and 12 inches.

Mackinaw River
SOURCE: Guide Jonn Graham (309-399-7055)
The river is fishable and has cleared nicely and has enough water to float canoes easily. Smallmouth bass have started on top-waters but are best on tube jigs and smaller minnow imitators.

Mississippi River
SOURCE: Iowa DNR; Todd Baker of Todd’s Bait & Tackle in Thomson (815-973-2378)
SOURCE: Iowa DNR
Mississippi River Pool 9
Channel Catfish - Excellent: Fish are being caught on stink bait. Check deep holes around wing dams.  White Bass - Good: Fish are being caught trolling along the channel.  Bluegill - Good: Use night crawlers and bobber around the big lake area.  Largemouth Bass - Good: Crankbaits on rocky shorelines.  Walleye - Fair:

Mississippi River Pool 10
Northern Pike - Good: most fish are being caught incidentally while fishing for bass. Use crankbaits along rocky areas.  Bluegill - Fair: Using wax worms under a bobber.  Crappie - Good: Using minnows on a slip bobber in the side sloughs. Walleye - Good: using crankbaits in the lower ends of side sloughs. Fish are also being caught below the dam in the tailwaters.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught along the channel using night crawlers or stink bait. Check the holes around the outside and below wing dams.  Flathead Catfish - Good: Flathead are being caught in the tailwater using night crawlers.  White Bass - Good: White bass can be caught in the tailwaters or along some of the wing dams using small inline spinners.  Smallmouth Bass - Good: Smallmouth are starting to being caught on the wing dams using small spinners or crankbaits.  Walleye - Good: Walleye are being caught on the wing dams either trolling crankbaits or three-way jigs tipped with night crawlers. Keep checking different wing dams to find where active fish are concentrated.  Freshwater Drum - Good: drum are being caught using night crawlers fished on the bottom.

River gauges: Lansing 7.4, Lynxville 12.2, Guttenberg 4.3. Water temperature at Guttenberg is 72 degrees. The water levels in pools 9-11 are low.  Boaters should use caution when boating outside the main channel. Boaters should also use caution when backing down the ramps so as not to back odd of the ends. Call Guttenberg fisheries station for current conditions at (563) 252-1156.

Mississippi River Pool 12
River stage at Dubuque is 7.41 feet and is forecast to remain stable.  Water clarity is fair.  Water temperatures are in the mid 70s.  Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are being caught on stink bait or crawlers fished in 10-12 feet of water in side channels and around wing dams.  Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills have been coming on crawlers fished around rocks on wing dams with slow current in 6-9 feet of water and in side channels in 4-6 feet of water around snags.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Shallow crankbaits along the floodwall up by the dam.  Also cranks on rocky shorelines in side channels and along the Iowa shoreline below Nine Mile Island (Massey).  Crappie - Fair: Fish being caught in side channels around snags in 12-14 feet of water.  Walleye - Good: Fish are being caught on the wind dams on three-way rigs tipped with leeches or crawlers or crankbaits.  There are reports of a lot of fish measuring over 20 inches.  Freshwater Drum - Good: Fish crawlers on the bottom in areas with moderate current for small drum or use crawfish for monsters.

Mississippi River Pool 13
River stage at Bellevue is 4.57 feet and is forecast to remain stable.  Water clarity is fair.  Water temperature is in the mid 70s.  Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are biting well on stink bait fished around wing dams.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Throw crankbaits along rocky shorelines with current or below the dam in Bellevue.  Walleye - Good: Walleyes are on the wing dams.  Throw crankbaits or fish three-way rigs with spinners or floaters tipped with crawlers.  Crankbaits are also producing.  With the low water, walleye will be more concentrated on the wing dam tips and dams with more current.  Freshwater Drum - Good: Fish a night crawler on the bottom in areas of moderate current.

Mississippi River Pool 14
River stage at Camanche is 9.81 feet and is forecast to drop slowly.  Water clarity is poor.  Main channel water temperature is in the mid 70s.  Channel Catfish - Good: Good numbers being caught on stink baits, crawlers, or leeches around wing dams.  Largemouth Bass - Fair: Bass are coming off rocks and woody structure around current.  Crankbaits have been working well.  Walleye - Fair: The bite has slowed with the recent rains and dirty water.  Walleyes are on the wind dams and biting on crankbaits, three way rigs, or jigs.  Freshwater Drum - Good: Fish a piece of crawler on the bottom in areas with moderate current.

For information about fishing Pools 12 - 15 of the Mississippi River, call the Bellevue Fish Management and Research Station at 563-872-4976.

Mississippi River Pool 16
River stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 5.05 feet.  Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on night crawlers, leeches, and stink baits around wing dams and log piles. Stink baits have been working the best. Fishing has been good along Sunset Marina and at the mouth of the Rock River. Fishing has also been good for catfish in Andalusia Slough and Velie Chute fishing brush piles.  White Bass - Slow: White bass fishing in Sylvan Slough has been hit or miss.  Bluegill - Fair: Bluegills are being caught in the backwaters floating pieces of worm or small minnows under a bobber. Areas to try are Sunset Marina and the Andalusia Island Complex.  Crappie - Slow: Fishing for crappies in Sunset marina and the Andalusia Island complex has been slow.  Sauger - Fair: Some saugers are being picked up on the wing dams trolling crankbaits or on three-way rigs with half a night crawler or leech.  Walleye - Fair: Walleyes are being caught trolling crankbaits in front of wing dams or anchoring in front of the wing dams and casting to it. Some fish are being picked up on three-way rigs with half a night crawler or leech fished on the front side of wing dams.

Mississippi River Pool 17
River stage at Lock and Dam 16 is 4.61 feet.  Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on crawlers, leeches, dip baits, and chicken liver fished around wing dams and log jams.  White Bass - Fair: White bass fishing has been hit or miss. Some fish are being caught up by the dam and on the wing dams on crankbaits and jigs/twister combinations. The best fishing has been early in the morning or right before dark.  Bluegill - Slow: Some bluegills are being caught in Big Timber floating pieces of worm or small minnows under a bobber.  Crappie - Slow:  Crappie fishing in Big Timber has been tough. A few fish are being picked up along the deeper cuts floating a minnow under a bobber.  Walleye - Fair: Some walleyes are being caught trolling crankbaits along the fronts of wing dams. Anchoring above wing dams and casting crankbaits has been producing some fish as well.

Mississippi River Pool 18
River stage at Lock and Dam 17 is 6.76 feet.  Channel Catfish - Good: Channel cats are being caught on night crawlers, leeches, dip baits, and chicken liver fished above wing dams and around log piles. Dip baits seem to be working the best.  White Bass - Fair: A few white bass are being picked up by the dam fishing jig and twisters and small crankbaits.  Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill fishing in the backwaters has been slow.  Crappie - Slow: Crappie fishing in the backwaters has been slow.  Sauger - Fair: A few saugers are being picked up while fishing for walleyes on the wing dams.  Walleye - Fair: A few walleyes are being caught trolling crankbaits on the wing dams. Some are also being caught on three-way rigs with half a night crawler fished in front of the wing dams. The bite has been better towards evening.

Mississippi River Pool 19
River stage at Lock and Dam 18 is 3.63 feet. Channel Catfish - Good: Channel catfish are being caught on night crawlers, leeches, dip baits, and chicken liver fished around wing dams and log jams.  White Bass - Fair: Some white bass are being picked up by the dam casting a jig and twister or small crankbait.  Bluegill - No Report:  Crappie - No Report:  Sauger - No Report:  Walleye - Fair: A few walleyes are being picked up on the wing dams around Burlington trolling crankbaits and on three-way rigs tipped with half a night crawler.

Mississippi River Pools 16-20: With recent rains, river levels have risen close to a foot over the past couple of days. Main channel water temperature is around 75 degrees. For more information on fishing Pools 16-20 of the Mississippi River contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

Pecatonica River
SOURCE: Tom Calam, Tom’s Bait & Tackle, Freeport (815-232-3337)
There’s a lot of catfish being caught using cheese bait, genus, sunny, bonkers and sponges around the night time. From 15-20 feet deep, there’s some pretty decent flathead.

Rock River
SOURCE: Tom Calam, Tom’s Bait & Tackle, Freeport (815-232-3337)
• Near Rockford dipbait is catching channel cats and walleye are fair. Flathead fishing has slowed due to the spawn.
SOURCE: Jan Prose at TJ’s Bait/Tackle & Canoe Rental in Oregon (815-732-4516)
• Near Oregon channel catfish are good all over on crawlers and leeches says Prose. Anglers are also catching a few flatheads, including an 18-pounder last weekend. Deep holes near Byron have coughed up some walleye and stripers. Cloudy days are best for stripers, which are also biting on the east side along the rocks. Few reports on smallies.
SOURCE: Ray and Irene Hays, Bunny’s Bait Shop, Dixon (815-288-3812)
• Near Dixon fishing was very good prior to last Friday’s cold snap. Action has started to improve some in the past day but is still fairly slow says Hays. Cheesebait, shrimp and chicken livers are best for catfish. Walleye has really come on strong prior to the cold snap. Flatheads were also good on goldfish, chubs and bluegill. Hays has heard of a few more flatheads in the past few days including one big fish by Oregon and a couple near Nelson of 26-28 pounds.
SOURCE: Guide Matt Jones (815-537-5506 or 815-590-1469 cell) and Doc at Kodiak Outdoor Sports in Dixon (815-284-3075)
• Spawning flatheads have made that bite tough says Jones, but channel cats are making up for that by biting very well on cheesebait. The Kuhen brothers from Erie (pictured below) recently caught 22 nice channel cats in three hours. Channels have finished spawning and are moving shallow.

Spoon River
SOURCE: Al Hayden, Al’s Sporting Goods, Galesburg and Paul Dinkheller at Dink’s in Lewistown (309-547-1094)
Bank polers are catching some flathead catfish on leeches and bluegill. This is later than usual for bankpolers and comes thanks to the high water.