Lake Michigan Fly Fishing Guides

Illinois has some wonderful fly fishing opportunities. Of course, Lake Michigan fly fishing reigns supreme, but there are also a number of lakes and rivers with some great angling action. Also, because of an active fishing program, many neighborhood ponds and waters in state parks are stocked and carefully managed. No matter what type of fish you want to catch on the fly, there’s an Illinois fly fishing guide ready to help. Trout Fishing in Illinois Illinois anglers have at their disposal the cold waters of Lake Michigan, home to many fish species. The state record rainbow trout (31 pounds, 7 ounces), brown trout (36 pounds, 11 ounces), brook trout (7 pounds, 5 ounces), lake trout (38 pounds, 4 ounces), and tiger trout (8 pounds, 12.5 ounces) were all caught in the huge lake. Lake Michigan fly fishing charters are readily available. The Illinois DNR stocks catchable-size rainbow trout in many lakes and small community ponds across the state. Some of these include Lake of the Woods, Axehead Lake, Siloam Springs State Park Lake, the campus pond at East Illinois University, Balleau Lake, Manners Park Pond, Mill Race Pond, Silver Lake, Mount Vernon Game Farm Pond, Sand Lake, Banana Lake, Wyman Lake, Lake Atwood, Jones Park Lake, and Washington Park Pond. Rivers and streams that receive trout are Kent Creek, Waddams Creek, Yellow Creek, Piscasaw Creek, Rock Creek, the Apple River, and Pine Creek.

Fly Fishing Illinois Rivers, Lakes, and Streams

Illinois has its share of dedicated salmon fly fishermen, and the place to go is Lake Michigan. All the state-record salmon species in the state were landed in the Great Lake. These include an Atlantic salmon weighing 18 pounds,11.25 ounces; a 37-pound Chinook salmon; a coho weighing 20 pounds, 9 ounces; and a pink salmon at 3 pounds, 4 ounces. Illinois fly fishing charters that specialize in salmon angling on Lake Michigan can easily be found.

Striper Fishing in Illinois

Few freshwater fishing experiences equal battling a big striper on a fly rod. Lakes in Illinois that provide great striped bass fishing include Cedar Lake, Heidecke Lake, and Sangchris Lake, home of the 31 pound-7 ounce striper. Lake Michigan also has some excellent striper action, but you’ll probably need an Illinois flyfishing charter to help you find the lunkers.

Bass Fishing in Illinois

Smallmouth and largemouth bass can be found all across Illinois, and both are worthy opponents on a fly rod. Some of the best bass fishing in the state can be found in Fox Lake, Lake Taylorville, Heidecke Lake, Newton Lake, Lake Springfield, Lake of Egypt, Rend Lake, Crab Orchard Lake, and Cedar Lake. The state record largemouth came from Stone Quarry Lake and weighed in at just over 13 pounds, while the record smallie weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces and was landed in a strip mine lake. You’ll find scores of Illinois fly fishing guides for bass.

Other basses in the state include the rock bass, the hybrid bass, the white bass, the yellow bass, and the spotted bass. All of these species can be taken on flies.