However, the practice is legal and still practiced in a few states north of the Mason-Dixon line. It reaches maturity at a length of 12 to 15 inches. Go back. Listen to updated fishing reports on where the fish are biting and what they are biting on. Fishing the Illinois River has only improved over time. Department of Natural Resources Staff at Eldon Hazlet, Division of Fisheries, can be contacted at 618-594-3627. While the . provide an opportunity for new anglers and families to go fishing even if they have not yet purchased a fishing license. Go back. This sh lives in rivers and lakes in areas with submerged logs and other debris. Areas on the Ohio River near Old Shawneetown in Gallatin County and the gravel bars around Mound City in Pulaski County all the way up to the Smithland Dam are some of the best spots on the river. Anglers have several options at their disposal to catch catfish in the Ohio. One that has done well for me is fishing wing dikes or wing dams. Catfish are found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers throughout Illinois. Explore the map and charts for more successful Blue catfish fishing. The three main species of catfish we catch are blues, channels, and flat head catfish. As summer arrives, catfish might be spread over larger areas of the river. Murphysboro Lake. Depending on the time of the year, you can catch white bass, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and Fathers Day weekend Friday, June 17 through Monday, June 20, 2022. It weighed in at 124 pounds and topped the previous state record for the species by a phenomenal 39 pounds. In Illinois alone there are 15 dams along its stretch, creating additional sections and rivers to fish. Youll be able to target different species in various parts of the Mississippi. The upper part is great for Channel Catfish and both Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass. Head further down the river for excellent Flathead and Blue Catfish. The record catch measured 58 inches in length and had a girth of 44 inches, according to Illinois Department of Natural Resources district fisheries biologist Fred Cronin. If this happens, it might be time to go searching. Vernon is a terrific place to go bluegill fishing, but there are over 35 other species in Illinois River. This method is primarily used to catch flathead catfish and blue catfish in Missouri when these fish are spawning or nesting in small rivers or streams. And the map shows spots in Illinois, where fishermen caught Blue catfish. Hanna is a fish-catching machine! Habitat: Although the channel catfish has been stocked in many ponds, lakes and reservoirs, it is basically a stream fish that usually reaches its greatest abundance in fast-flowing, sand and gravel-bottomed rivers of medium to large size (e.g., the Mississippi, Rock, Spoon, LaMoine, Embarras, Kaskaskia and Wabash Rivers), but can tolerate a wide range of conditions. Flowing through our state capital, big channel cats and flatheads are very abundant, and this river provides one of the best catfishing opportunities in the central third of our state. 7.) Plan a full weekend at Jones Lake in the Shawnee National Forrest! As has been our recent tradition, the annual Illinois Free Fishing Days will be held during . Free Fishing Days. Below you can see the analytics for Channel catfish fishing in Illinois. Ranking My Top Lakes In Southern Illinois For Channel Catfish 8.) All about fishing for flathead, blue and channel catfish in IL. There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. Catfish are found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers throughout Illinois. Catfish are one of the most popular fish in the U.S. for several reasons. The tail is forked, and the top half of the tail fin is longer than the bottom half. Usually only one sh per drift pile is Cedar Lake is a 1,750-acre reservoir at the southern tip of IL, 5 We spoonbill fish from March 15th through April 30th at the Lake of the Ozarks. Catfish Waters In Illinois. Hourly chart Monthly chart To map. HOW TO CATCH CATFISH: BASICS. Not uncommon to catch 4 or 5 species in a few hours of fishing moving around the lake both Indiana and Illinois sides Christina Petrites at Stans Bait & Tackle Center in Hammond emailed: Hi, Dale. Illinois River. When most people think of hand fishing for catfish, aka noodling, it brings up images of the deep south and swampy, stumpy backwaters. It is stocked in ponds and reservoirs. The athead catsh may be found statewide in Illinois except in the northeastern onefourth. I fish from Grafton, Illinois to Chester, Illinois and the Lake of the Ozarks in search of trophy blue catfish and Spoonbill. On the Illinois River you'll find catfish usually hanging along the channel edge by midsummer around La Salle clear up to the dam above Starved Rock State Park, according to DNR biologist Mike Garthaus. Spawning May through July, the female deposits 2,500 to 70,000 eggs in a nest fanned out on the bottom or in an object on the bottom. The athead catsh is a solitary species. One of those states that few people know about is Illinois. U.S. Army Corps Staff at ILLINOIS RIVER. One catfish stream in central Illinois that Abe Lincoln floated in pursuit of big catfish is the Sangamon River. The channel catfish has an average life span of eight years. The stumpfield above the dam at Starved Rock is also a consistent producer. Anderson Lake is a 1,130-acre, freshwater lake located in the west-central part of IL, 5 miles southwest of Havana. Most waters in Illinois have a population of one kind of catfish or another. This fish is active at night. They thrive in small and large rivers, reservoirs, natural lakes and ponds. On the Illinois River, catfish can be found on the channel edge near La Salle clear up to the dam above Starved Rock State Park. Carlyle Lake is a 26,000-acre reservoir in the south-central part of the state, at Carlyle. Jones Lake (Saline County). About an hour north of Crab Orchard off of Interstate 57 is sprawling Rend Lake, an 18,900-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir that offers the best channel catfish action of Illinois three Corps reservoirs, and may be even better than Crab Orchard simply because it is more than twice as large. There is also a stumpfield above the dam at Starved Rock that always holds catfish. Flatheads like to attack moving baits and fishing live baits on the bottom near submerged logs, preferably in deeper water, is a popular method. Catfish populations on our major rivers have their ups and downs. Below you can see the analytics for Blue catfish fishing in Illinois. Fondulac Reservoir is a reservoir located just 3 miles from East Peoria, in Tazewell County, in the state of Illinois, United States, near North Peoria, IL. Fishing Spots in Illinois Rend Lake. The channel catfish naturally lives in rivers and lakes. For one, they are found in nearly every state, giving anglers plenty of opportunities to learn how to fish for cats. Some of the 49 species found in North America can easily reach double digit weights, they are almost always hungry, and most can make a drag on Get after big catfish this year on the Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio rivers. While large trophy fish are often the target on these three big rivers, anglers fishing for the table can also find success. Fishing with Al Crocker. Illinois Fishing Information Despite And the map shows spots in Illinois, where fishermen caught Channel catfish. You can fish along the 273 miles of Illinois River for Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Sauger, Rend Lake near Mt. Description for Fondulac Reservoir, Tazewell County, Illinois. It may attain a maximum length of 50 inches. The average size for this fish is one to two pounds in weight and 12 to 32 inches in length. The Channel Catfish is the most numerous in North America & Illinois. Rod and reel anglers may have the greatest success with flathead catfish just below reservoir dams. It is a popular source of food. Eggs hatch in six to 10 days. Recently implemented Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) monitoring using LTRM style hoop nets baited with clam and cottonseed bait allow for a comparison of catch rates and size structure between hoop nets baited with clam, cottonseed, and soybean bait in the La Grange Reach of the Illinois River (IL). Channel Catfish have a keen sense of smell and taste. BEHAVIORS. Explore the map and charts for more successful Channel catfish fishing. Giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked. Since the Clean Water Act in 72, the sportfishing here has blossomed.