Fishing Illinois

[MartyMar]

Anyone from norther party of IL? Where is a good place to fish and when do you guys start (march/april).  ???

[TommyBass]

Nope, Indiana guy here.

Here's a start for you though.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?board=Northeast

And more specific.....

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1221418713

[Simp]

Na all the LM got wise and took I-57 south to Sothern IL.

[zero limit]

I fish the so. west cook county forest preserve lakes, tampeir, saganaskee, sag quarries and all the smaller ones too

[BLUESKY]

I live about 30 miles west of O'hare and fish in Northern Illinois, also lakes in southern Wisconson. Not very much info in your profile, where in the northern part of the state do you live, and what kind of fishing are you looking for?

[MartyMar]

I live 5 minutes west of OHare.  I'm trying to grasp bass fishing but without a boat it seems really hard to do.  I've caught a bunch of catfish, suckers, bluegills and other bottom feeders using live bait.  I want to start catching bass! lol  It seems pretty hard without a boat and without a fish finder.   

I rented a boat a few times but had no luck catching anything. :'(

[slonezp]

Martymar, without a boat your best bet would be Busse in Arlington Hts or Beck in Des Plaines. It sounds like you're using live bait. Try a wacky rigged senko or a soft plastic jerkbait like a fluke or houdinishad, or a sluggo. Soft plastics are less expensive than many other lures and live bait. Once you switch to artificials you'll stop catching the fish you don't want.

[j-bones]

any of you guys fish the kankakee river?

[swilly78]

Martymar, go get yourself set up with a float tube and waders, its less than $200 at BPS.  Then head down i-55 to Mazonia state park.  There are numerous lakes there that are float tube friendly and stocked full of bass of all sizes.

[BLUESKY]

Lilly Lake In Lakemoor Il., on Rte 120 a couple miles west of Rte 12. When the Lilly Pads come up, throw senko's into the pads. Use a stout rod and braided line as they really like to dig into the weeds.