I'm in Bradley il- been launching at des plaines conservation and having good luck. Not to much action on the Kankakee down here. Lake hiedecke has been slow also. Im fishin south Wilmington tonight and I'm gonna try mazonia here soon

where on on the kkk would be a good spot to start looking? going ouhere tommrow morning. thanks

Been having good luck at Eureka Lake and Banner Marsh(Central IL) lately

hello from IL here!

Hey bwell, what tournament was held on Mattoon? Was it a club, and if so, what club? I grew up fishing Mattoon, and haven't fished there much in the last so many years, but wouldn't mind getting in on a tournament there.

It was for the Champaign County Bass Masters. We fish Mattoon, Shelbyville, Clinton, and Springfield. Last year we threw Vermillion in the mix, and we are fishing Egypt for our classic. Let me know if you want anymore info on it, our meetings are the first Monday of the month at the VFW in Champaign.

Hey guys. I'm new on the forum but I'm a fellow Illinois resident. I live in Pontiac. We have a little river that flows through here called the Vermillion River that is filled...and I mean FILLED with smallmouths. I fish the dams pretty often for bronzebacks. The one in my profile pic came out of one of them not 2 blocks from my house. Other than the river, I also love to fish LaSalle lake for big blue catfish, and Lake Shelbyville for crappie, white bass, and walleye although admittedly I'm a horrible walleye fisherman. If anyone has any tips for me as to how to fish Shelbyville for walleye, I would be very interested as they are my favorite fish to eat.

Fishing Shelbyville in another week and trying to figure it out myself for a largemouth over 14" lol

There is an excellent point right across from Point 3 which is great for bass. Try fishing a deep diving crankbait. If you are looking at the sign that says "3" straight on, it is on your right. It divides two coves and runs really far out into the lake. We caught a 3 pounder and a 2 pounder at that spot last time we were there using Bandit 300 Series Cranks.

bwell, do they have a website? I have been fishing a club further south this year, but I just joined the Champaign- Urbana bass club and gonna give them a try. I am kind of searching around for a club that I want to fish full time next year. What do you guys do about the $50 sticker at Mattoon? Do they give you guys a one day pass for the tournament, or some kind of break?

Sent you a message steelslinger

Hi all ! I just joined bass resource forums. I live 5 minutes from Sangchris Lake & I'm just now starting to fish there regulary. I have fished there off and on since i was 12. Still waiting for a monster striper to hit my line. Right now the only baitshops I know of are the casey's gas stations in pawnee & kincaid, then the baitshop/guns&ammo/gravestone/taxidermy store on the very east end of pawnee on the way outta town towards the lake. If anyone knows of a close baitshop I missed around the area please let me know. All the actual baitshops of my youth no longer exsist. Hence why I started worm farming for all my future fishing bait & gardening needs. Also does anyone know of someone that is a lake guide on sangchris ? Thanks in advance !!!!

OutdoorAndy

Killed them on the Fox Chain yesterday. 84 degree water temps and bluebird skies. T rigged Rage Craws, Havoc Pit Boss, and Yum Dingers were the baits that worked although we did get a couple on the frog. All shallow. Boated maybe 30 fish. Afternoon bite was on fire. Find shade, find fish.

Another for south Chicago suburbs here.

Lots of fish in central IL- size way down though. catching mostly 14-15 inch fish on 10-12 inch worms on drops. Can not seem to find the groups of bigger fish.

Lots of fish in central IL- size way down though. catching mostly 14-15 inch fish on 10-12 inch worms on drops. Can not seem to find the groups of bigger fish.

Where are you fishing exactly?

Evergreen this past weekend- used to be a "big fish" lake- not so much anymore. Clinton bass size is still good, numbers solid. Just have not been there for 2 weeks. Looking foward to getting more south the next couple of weeks- Kinkaid area. May take a trip to rend and carlyle as well. Better yet if I can get over to lake of the ozarks and catch lots of good fish- but that is a bit more than a weekend trip...

I have a tournament at Clinton on the 22nd and after it has been really hot it seems to shut down, at least I cant find them lol. The only luck I have had at Clinton when it gets hot outside is cranks near the bridge.

Fished my Shelbyville event and caught a couple of short fish but that was it. Next events are back at Rend and then final event for one league is on Shelbyville again and hoping the forth time is the charm!!

I have a tournament at Clinton on the 22nd and after it has been really hot it seems to shut down, at least I cant find them lol. The only luck I have had at Clinton when it gets hot outside is cranks near the bridge.

Same up here. Last week in the heat was great compared to the past 2 days with lower temps. I managed only one 15" yesterday had 2 other bites in 4 hours.

I have a tournament at Clinton on the 22nd and after it has been really hot it seems to shut down, at least I cant find them lol. The only luck I have had at Clinton when it gets hot outside is cranks near the bridge.

I dont go past state park ramp once the water gets hot, fish mostly back towards the intake. Been catching them on 16ft ledges and points pretty regular. Water was around 93. 2 weeks ago they were busting shad though in about 2 feet of water on flats near channel swings- smallies included, midday. weird.

I talked with a couple people from my club today and they fished Clinton last week. They said there were tons of dead bass, one said he stopped counting after 25! I really hope this doesn't hurt the lake to much...

Fishing a tournament on the Kankakee on 7/15 near the Des Plaines conservation area this weekend and getting out on the lake at first light so we can be off the lake before the high temps hit. We'll see how it goes being out that early.

I talked with a couple people from my club today and they fished Clinton last week. They said there were tons of dead bass, one said he stopped counting after 25! I really hope this doesn't hurt the lake to much...

Wow...i did not hear that...May run over there this weekend and check it out. That place was turning into a great fishery.

I talked with a couple people from my club today and they fished Clinton last week. They said there were tons of dead bass, one said he stopped counting after 25! I really hope this doesn't hurt the lake to much...

What?!?? I was going to make my first trip to Clinton this next weekend. I know it's a bigger lake and hopefully 25 bass were about the only ones to die but from the sounds of things, that seems unlikely. Someone please let me know if it has cooled down / is still worth the trip from the Chicago burbs. Feel free to message me but I will return to this thread...thanks