WEEKLY FISHING REPORTS

WATER ..... Illinois River

FISHING REPORT DATE: 05-10-08 ---- Fishing conditions are typical for early spring and water levels are higher than normal, but slowly falling from Peoria upstream. From Peoria pool downstream water levels are higher than normal with most areas falling just below floodstage. Fishing success should increase with lower water levels.
Remember...April showers brings big fish in May, time to start looking for them.

BEST AREAS: Sidechannels, backwaters, below dams at LaGrange, Peoria, Starved Rock, Marseilles, and Dresden and tributary mouths are the hotspots for spirng fishing, whole river system is poor and spotty catches at the present time due to high water levels.

WATER CONDITION: Higher than normal level (above flood stage above Peoria) and slowly falling throughout with poor clarity, 52 degrees F. Water clarity is less than 1 foot.

Click on the hyperlinks below to see more info on water levels:

(Illinois Department of Natural Resources Water Levels...realtime... http://il.water.usgs.gov/nwis-w/IL/datasum.components/owrtable.cgi

(St.Louis Corps District Water Levels)... St_Louis District-Water Control.htm
(Rock Island Corps District Water Levels)...realtime.. water_mvr_usace_army.htm

(USGS Water Levels)...realtime.................................. USGS water conditions.htm

GENERAL RIVER REPORT: Spotty action due to high water levels

FISH: Sauger and walleye ... post-spawnm, most anglers are catching fish below dams, around islands, and along rocking shorelines. Spawning activities have ended and postspawn conditions are the rule. Best success with drifting and casting lead head with twister tails tipped with minnows, boat/bank, below dam in tailwaters, rocky shorelines, around islands, in backwaters, woody structure along banks

FISH: Crappie .... prespawn conditions, some anglers are catching fish in backwaters and sidechannels. Best fishing with casting to cover and structure with lead heads tipped with twister tails and or minnows, casting twister tails, minnows with a slip bobber, wax worms and crickets are also producing, both boat and bank anglers are finding crappie up to 1 3/4 pounds; local hotspots - Beardstown marina area and Bath Chute

FISH: Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass .... prespawn conditions, some anglers are catching fish in backwaters and sidechannels. Best fishing with casting to cover and structure with inline and safety pin type spinner baits, lead heads tipped with twister tails and or minnows, casting twister tails, minnows with a slip bobber are also producing, both boat and bank anglers are finding some largemouth and smallmouth bass. Smallmouth are primarily caught from above the Starved Rock Dam upriver.

FISH: White Bass .... prespawn conditions, some anglers are catching fish in mouths of tributary rivers and creeks. Best fishing by casting to cover and structure with inline type spinner baits, lead heads tipped with twister tails and or minnows, casting twister tails, minnows with a slip bobber are also producing, both boat and bank anglers are finding white bass. Mouth of Vermilion River near Starved Rock in Peoria Pool is always a hotspot for spring white bass.

FISH: Catfish .... prespawn conditions, some anglers are catching fish, rated fair in backwaters, sidechannels, and tributary rivers such as Sangamon near Beardstown. Best fishing with shrimp and shad minnows.

POOL REPORTS: Starved Rock, Marseilles, and Dresden Pools (Reports provided by Cajuns Sporting Goods in Utica, JR's Bait and Pet Feed in Morris, and B&B's Live Bait in Ottawa

FISH: Sauger and walleye ... most anglers are catching fish drifting and casting lead head with twister tails tipped with minnows, boat/bank, early morning is best..

FISH: Crappie .... some anglers are catching fish casting to cover and structure with lead heads tipped with twistertails and or minnows, big fathead minnows with a slip bobber

FISH: Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass .... some anglers are catching fish with lead heads tipped with twister tails and or golden roach minnows

FISH: White Bass .... some anglers are catching fish with inline type spinner baits, lead heads tipped with twister tails and or minnows, casting twister tails, minnows with a slip bobber are also producing, both boat and bank anglers are finding white bass.

FISH: stripers .... spotty with some anglers are catching fish with shiners and minnows.

POOL REPORTS: Peoria and LaGrange Pools (Reports provided by Tom's Bait and Tackle in Beardstown)

FISH: catfish ... some anglers are catching fish from 1 to 1.5 pounds on night crawlers and shad guts

FISH: Crappie .... some anglers are catching fish casting to cover and structure with lead heads tipped with twistertails and or minnows, big minnows with a slip bobber caught a 2.5 pound crappie

FISH: Largemouth Bass .... some anglers are catching fish with various kinds of live bait and lures.

FISHING REPORT DATE: 05-03-08 ---- Fishing conditions are typical for early spring and water levels are higher than normal, but slowly falling from Peoria upstream. From Peoria pool downstream water levels are higher than normal with most areas above floodstage. Fishing success should increase with lower water levels.
Remember...April showers brings big fish in May, time to start looking for them.

GENERAL RIVER REPORT: Spotty action due to high water levels

FISH: Sauger and walleye ... most anglers are catching fish below dams, around islands, and along rocking shorelines. Spawning activities have ended and postspawn conditions are the rule. Best success with drifting and casting lead head with twister tails tipped with minnows, boat/bank, below dam in tailwaters, rocky shorelines, around islands, in backwaters, woody structure along banks