Illinois Catfishing Lakes?

[lookinfurabiggun]

Does anybody have any info on good catfishing lakes in illinois. I have been to Lake Springfield, but that lake is too big to get to know overnight. I have also been to Otter lake in girard Illinois if anyone knows it. I just want to know of good catfishing lakes in Il. So far in myu searches the best lakes I have found are coffeen, and Mattoon. If anyone knows of any others closeby. post them please. (I live near springfield.)

[Rainman4u2]

I guess the real question is, how far do you want to drive????

That will give everyone an idea on how to help.

Ray

[bearcat]

Dont forget to check out Lake sangchris. It has lots of channels and Gives up numerous flaties in excess of 40 lbs every year. If you want to drive sout a little. Hillsboro lake glenn shoals is a good lake for channels and the flaties are strating to show up. Flaties in excess of 25 lbs have been caught in the last 2 years.. I am sure there are more.

[SangamonCatKiller]

Scratch Lake Decatur from your list immediately. That lake is the biggest waste of time. There may be big flatties in there but locating them in the open water that is lake decatur is nearly impossible. Lake shelbyville I believe has decent fishing...im not much of a lake fisherman.

[Doyle]

I personally spend 99% of my fishing at Clinton Lake. A lot of good size catfish get caught there. (Not by me.) I catch a lot of 6 lb and below size. I think the fishing is almost good for these sizes.

[Rockin' Blues]

baldwin has big blues ,flatheads and channels,also stripers

[bearcat]

Scratch shellbyville from your list unless you are looking for party cove that is full of necked people on most any summer weekend.

[Rainman4u2]

I personally spend 99% of my fishing at Clinton Lake. A lot of good size catfish get caught there. (Not by me.) I catch a lot of 6 lb and below size. I think the fishing is almost good for these sizes.

Doyle!!!! Good to see you on Brother!!!! Glad to have you back!!!

Ray

[eogden]

A recent survey by DNR rates Taylorville Lake high on channels up to 12 lbs.
Bearcat is right about Shelbyville. Occasionaly below the dam you can score but the water flow has to be good. Sangris the channels are typical of a cooling lake. Lots of them but 2-3lb ave. Sangris though has the potential of producing the next record flattie. Tremendous forage base for them to thrive & being a cooling lake with LOTS of cover & structure it is a natural for flatties. You don't have to get to know all of Springfield Lake. If you have a boat, drift the flats north of Lindsey bridge on the west side. The channel runs along that side & they come up on the flats to feed. Lots of 10lb plus channels & some monster flatties that can be taken from the shore. Otter you have to work up in the north fingers. Lots of bullheads here so go with cut bait & live bait. Gillespie Lakes are good but have a terrible moss bloom so anytime after mid june it is a tough lake.

[bearcat]

Hey Eric where you been hiding. When it gets a litle milder we will have to get together and fish.

[Doyle]

Hi Ray
I was being a little bull headed about the change in format, but I gave it up because its getting catfish time.

[Redtick]

I live on Lake Mattoon and catch a catfish or 2.:) But, there are several lakes in the area that are just as good.:cool: There is nothing wrong with Shelbyville if you know where and when to fish it. The huge flathead on my avatar came from Shelbyville. I would fish Shelbyville alot more but all I have to do is walk 50 feet from my door to fish here at home. On the whole, Shelbyville has more and bigger catfish in it.:cool:

[Whistler]

You guys are saying that Shelbyville is not a good place to fish for catfish? Now that's hard to believe. LOL I was told in no uncertain terms that we should fish there instead of Mattoon lake because there are good fish in there and that we'd fish Mattoon out if we kept fishing there. Hmmm....I think maybe we were being led astray. Chuck? What do you think? I think I'll be back up to fish Mattoon again as soon as you think it's warm enough, though the last time warm had nothing to do with it! LOL And since I know Tim and Eric fairly well, I think I'll stick with their guidance on this subject.

[Redtick]

I am not leading anyone astray. All I need to do is walk 50 feet to get in my boat here at home but Shelbyville is much bigger and has much better fishing if you know where and when to fish it. We used to have some 200 pound + catchs there. Of course, 2-3 35 to 50 pound flatheads ads up quick. I am not going to draw any maps but if you can't catch them at Shelbyville, you just don't know what you are doing. I am very sure I could catch bigger catchs there than here at home.

[coalminer78]

I'm a big fan Of Clinton Lake and Sangamon River.

[lookinfurabiggun]

Nice comment brian LMAO Let me know when you and paps go to mattoon. I wanna come. I have fish shelbyville from bank a lot and havent caught much. It is a big lake to find fish in. I will try out sanchris a little more if there are that many flatties in it. Thanks for the feedback guys.

[cats4uandme]

i will have to say from the stories and experience ive had that clinton lake ranks right up there as one of the best catfishing lakes in illinois. last two seasons i have caught to many to count. i would say at least a couple hundered a year. 2-13 lbs. last season a 51# flat was pictured in the bait shop. just one of many. and a 26lb channel was caught off dewitt bridge. i have fished this lake for 15 years on and off and have almost never been skunked. adverage catch is 4- 8 fish. 2-8lbs. and ocassionally 20 or more. i seen a fella catch 33 on one eve alone at the hot water disdharge. sadly he kept them all. but he did say he was giving them to the church for a fish fry.

http://www.catfish1.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=243&d=1124832363

http://www.catfish1.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=242&d=1124832356

http://www.catfish1.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3365&d=1135817354

http://www.catfish1.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3364&d=1135817341

http://www.catfish1.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3361&d=1135817171

http://www.catfish1.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3822&d=1137096339

these are a few of my catches this year. clinton lake adveradges 12-15 ' deep in the forks toward parnell and the north fork. the main body is 20 some foot. 5000 acres. flooded creek horse shoe shape. has a hot water dischearge that makes a great place to catch lot during spawn.

[Whistler]

Hmmm....I need to come fish with you Jeremy!! LOL Some good fishing it looks like.

[bearcat]

Hey Bryan you get up this way to fish. Give me a holler. I would like to go with or take you out to my lake. It is similar to mattoon.

[Whistler]

I'll let you know Tim. Thank you.

[muskyman]

Man, I will be moving back there in May and by the looks of what you guys are telling me - I can hardly wait ! Now it looks like I just gotta narrow down to which waters I wanna hit. You guys got way more lakes than we got out in Calif. Can one fish at night on these lakes ?

[bearcat]

Hey Muskyman Yes they are open to nite fishing.

[QuincyFisher]

Scratch shellbyville from your list unless you are looking for party cove that is full of necked people on most any summer weekend.
Ummm. Well you can count me in on that one!

[eogden]

Hey Bearcat,

Been busy with training with the new job. Completely different computer system & its like starting over having to learn a new system but hands down the BEST company I've ever worked for. They have never had a layoff in 52 years of being in buisness. I will be going to Ohio a lot for additional training over the next 2 yrs but am looking forward to it.
I am ready to fish!!! Little brother called me last night & he's got the fever too!
I keep wondering about the Alton Lock & Dam & am thinking that maybe a guy could catch something from the bank down there. I've also been told that below the Chain of Rocks should be good for some early blues.
Does Scott ever post any more?

Eric

[SubnetZero]

i will have to say from the stories and experience ive had that clinton lake ranks right up there as one of the best catfishing lakes in illinois.

Jeremy, I would love to try out Clinton this spring/summer. I've never been on it, so If you ever have an open spot in your boat, let me know. I'll buy a 12 of your choice of beverage and/or gas in the boat... I also have a 16' grumman with a 25HP motor on it we can take if needed..... Not looking for you to show me your "honey holes", just general areas and guidance for the lake....

[wendell]

I like to fish the lakes along the Illinos river.Every year I catch impressive numbers of channel cats there.

[bearcat]

Hey Eric. He doesnt post much. He always posted from work and he said they are starting to cut back on personal web time at work. He still lurks around some though. I will PM you his email addy.

Chain of rocks or alton would be great. If we get some warm days and you dont mind going on a saturday or sunday. We could take my boat and try the river below alton. I know henry is wanting to go really bad also.

[bearcat]

Hey Quincy. I didnt say it was all bad. Just not the type of fishing everyone has in mind. HeHeHe


What have we here. I just reeled in a swiming suit. OOPs. :p

[bondman]

Alright guys here we go with my favorites from before I left for Iraq. Carlyle dam was way up there on my list of hot spots my biggest flat 55 # came from there they have since laid wire on top the wings for what i dont know but it is there. the lake also has some good fish in it but they seem to prefer the north end lots of stumps and as many lines in there as there is stumps so its hard to fish it with out tangleing in someones set line. Coffeen lake has also been one of my great lakes for some good eating size fish there is some nice flats in the lake up by the railroad tracks in a real secrect hole (ha ha) But if you plan on putting in at coffen lake just remember the water is way down its the lowest I have ever seen it, was there yesterday with my brother caught a few but not many waiting for it to really turn on there. Mississippi river below the Alton lock and dam has been one place that I truely enjoy going I have caught a 43# blue from the bank there and have hooked up with a couple of others lost them but hey its called fishing. went with bearcat to hillsboro lake caught some real nice channels there. Vandalia lake has got some real nice channels in it I have caught some nice ones form the bank there on the south end and also the feeder creek coming into vandalia always gives up a 10# plus every year to one of my friends. Kaskaskia river around vandalia has given me some nice fish from time to time. And I also have a hot spot that gets refreshed with the earlly spring floods a little pond on the edge of vandalia off the beaten trail have not been there for awhile I think I might hit it on monday afternoon for some cr@$*&es. so there you have my favorite fishing holes. GOOD FISHING
Bondman

[joesf]

Clinton lake has to be my favorite lake to fish.

It very good because it self sustains its population.

The depths and rip-raps and currents made by the power plant and natural flows on the forks on salt creek allow the fish to retreat the heat of the plant in the summer and to utilize it in the winter for an extended growing season.


This is my opinion but I think this is what makes it a better catfish lake that the other cooling lakes in the area.

[JimF]

Pittsfield lake in pike county. has been a great lake for years. I have heard of flats going over 60lbs and it was loaded with channel cat.

[SubnetZero]

I hit Sangchris quite a bit last summer.. Only caught Dink after Dink... Was lucky to see anything over pound... Most were hardly bigger than my bait...

[HARVRAD2003]

Rend Lake about 15 miles South of Mt. Vernon was good to me in 2004 especially for channels. Caught a good 50 in 7 days of fishing, took my dad there first time in probably 30 yrs. that me and my dad went fishing. The cats were an average of 2-4 pounds each with about 4 reaching 8 pounds, the only thing was that they were only biting on Geno's Stink bait from Carlyle, sure was a fun time.

[Doyle]

The hot water should be flowing next week at Clinton Lake, they're reloading fuel now. I took a look at the boat and boy is it dirty, I'm going to clean it up and get ready for next week. I've got one more pack of frozen catfish so I'll have to get some more.

[cats4uandme]

whistler and subnetzero. no problem. i fish alot alone. any time. i am getting a hold hopfully of this medical thingy i got going on. i hope to do a lot of fishing this season. it kind of had me down this fall and i didn't get on the water as much. pleny of room. 3 can fish my boat ok. two comfortably.

i usually go once every weekend and a couple times during the week. last year i went on a 8 day strech every night. sherman. thats about 40 min from here. as ya know subzero cause ya worked on the libs computers. the lake is about 15 from my house. as a matter of fack i just live down the road a couple blocks on from lib on the same road.

well have to hook up and get some cats. there is a fella from lincoln i see posting and heas real close to me as well. about 15 min.

[greenwing7]

A recent survey by DNR rates Taylorville Lake high on channels up to 12 lbs.
Bearcat is right about Shelbyville. Occasionaly below the dam you can score but the water flow has to be good. Sangris the channels are typical of a cooling lake. Lots of them but 2-3lb ave. Sangris though has the potential of producing the next record flattie. Tremendous forage base for them to thrive & being a cooling lake with LOTS of cover & structure it is a natural for flatties. You don't have to get to know all of Springfield Lake. If you have a boat, drift the flats north of Lindsey bridge on the west side. The channel runs along that side & they come up on the flats to feed. Lots of 10lb plus channels & some monster flatties that can be taken from the shore. Otter you have to work up in the north fingers. Lots of bullheads here so go with cut bait & live bait. Gillespie Lakes are good but have a terrible moss bloom so anytime after mid june it is a tough lake.
that is right by where I live I live down that bay (named long bay) and I believe that the original channel is the third or fourth one off the west bank but don't quote me on that but it does drop off there fairly quickly when you hit the old original channel

[DensSang]

i have been catching 3 and 4 lbs over at sangchris but alot of bass are hitting on everything

[ccromwell78]

I am new to fishing sanchris and thought about fishing a bit this weekend. Any ideas where to go and fish from the bank? Should be a bit nicer this weekend. If it is I bet I won't be the only one there.

[astutzman]

I am new to fishing sanchris and thought about fishing a bit this weekend. Any ideas where to go and fish from the bank? Should be a bit nicer this weekend. If it is I bet I won't be the only one there.

There's a boat ramp at the south end of the middle arm that's pretty near the discharge area that is pretty good for bank fishing. I was down a couple of weeks ago, so i'm not sure how warm the water is. I was thinking about going down there either this weekend or early this coming week. Maybe I'll see you down there.