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) and slowly falling throughout with poor clarity, 70 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 Wacter Levels)............realtime.................
water_mvr_usace_army.htm
d
(USGS Water Levels)...realtime......................................................
USGS water conditions.htm
GENERAL RIVER REPORT: Spotty action due to high water levels Near shoreline, backwaters and off channel areas are currently producing good catches of white bass and largemouth as the water drops.
FISH: Sauger and walleye ... post-spawn, 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 .... post-spawn 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 .... post-spawn 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 .... post-spawn 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 .... post-spawn 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 with most being caught on the banks either early in the morning or at dusk using spinners and averaging 2 pounds in size
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 still fishing early or late in evening off the banks also and using just about any live or stink baits - sizes are averaging anywhere between 20-25 inches in length.
FISH: Crappie .... some anglers are catching fish off the main channel 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 off the main channel with various kinds of live bait and lures.
Illinois River Bait Shop's Fishing Reports:
Tom's Bait Shop in Beardstown reports:
catfish are excellent right now and even better in the backwaters! Anglers are catching'em on shad guts and crawdads and sizes are averaging between 2-4 pounds. bluegill - are excellent and biting on just about anything you throw in... afew nice sizes but most average
Southside Worm Ranch in Peoria reports:
catfish are excellent and about the only thing the anglers are boasting about! Best bet is in the trees and willows using whole shad, n/c's, and bout any type of dip baits - sizes are averaging 4-6 pounds.
Cajun's Sporting Goods in Utica reports:
drum are excellent using nightcrawlers
catfish are good to excellent using shad, river herring, and n/c's with sizes there averaging 1-2 pounds.
stripers are fair to poor with afew still being caught using shiners
B&B Live Bait in Ottawa reports:
bluegill - are excellent and biting on just about anything you throw in... afew nice sizes but most average
stripers are excellent (there) using worms and baby roaches
catfish are good to excellent using any type of cut or stink baits.
walleye and sauger are fair with afew reports of success using large fatheads and n/c's
NOTE: Several 10-12 pounders were caught
Big Jim's B&T in Ottawa reports:
catfish are good using any cut or stink baits and/or liver
stripers are excellent!