[jhill10]

im new to this site. and really enjoy all the info everybody has. and the way you guys help eachother out. my question is: where is the best place for big blues. i catch channels up to 15 lbs quite often. but i really want a big 1. i hear of the chain of rocks canal. but my boat is a 16 ft lowe with a 25. dont know if its big enough. goin to springfield lake tomorrow. will post how i do.

 

[backwoodsman68geric]

Lake Springfield is a good spot for blues, we like the dropoffs and cutbait. For river blues the Mississippi near Alton is tops and I'd put it against any river for blues anywhere. Fish the heads of scour holes or any current edge with cutbait, asians, shad, herring, eels or any legal cutbait. A sleeper bait that few use is Beejays dough bait in river baitholders ie: surgical tubing cut with holes. Illinois River holds them too, Lagrange locks have a decent population around scour holes and one of the best ones is on the west side at the end of the wall. Municipal lakes around here have a few but not enough to target exclusively for them. Most catch's are incidental.

 

[jhill10]

thanks a bunch. do u think my boat is big enough. 16 ft lowe with a 25 hp. rivers probably up a bunch from all the rain.

 

[riverrat1003]

At pool I've put in at the ramp below Mel Price in the same rig you have with no problems. Right now the ramp in West Alton is underwater though. U'd have 2 put in at the Marina under the bridge at Alton and then lock down thru the small chamber 2 get down 2 the chain. Lots of trash in the water and all the gates are up. It sure would be 1 LONG trip northbound back to the marina. If ya do go make sure ya keep your bow pointed upstream when ya anchor and ya will probably be OK.

 

[jhill10]

ya. i doubt i go anytime soon probably b a coupl months. whens the best time of year to go?

 

[backwoodsman68geric]

If I only had one day to go a year and I had to catch a big blue in the Mississippi.... Sometime in September, maybe early October for me if I wasnt bowhunting. Some swear by spring fishing, some love winter fishing. This time of year with hot weather and flooding it can be tough if your not right on them in THE spot.

 

[hock_paul]

The kaskaskia river baldwin south is pretty good for big fish of all 3 species. Baldwin lake has a bevy of 20-40 pounders too. Just watch the weather forecast for the wind speed, that lake can get downright nasty with just a 10-15mph wind. GOOD LUCK and welcome to the club!!!!!