Illinois Fishing, Lake Michigan Charter Fishing

Illinois provides some great fishing on Lake Michigan. Residents and visitors have access to several rivers, lakes, small ponds, and Lake Michigan. In all, there are over a million and a half acres of different types of water in Illinois. Some impressive fish have been taken from these waters.

They include a 4 pound, 7 ounce white crappie; a 31 pound, 7 ounce white bass; a 26 pound, 15 ounce northern pike; an Atlantic salmon weighing almost 19 pounds; a brook trout at 7 pounds, 5 ounces; a brown trout weighing over 36 pounds; a Muskie weighing almost 38 pounds; a rainbow trout at almost 31 pounds, 7 ounces; and a smallmouth bass at 6 pounds, 7 ounces. The state record largemouth bass was an impressive brute that weighed over 13 pounds.

Lake Michigan Fishing Charters, Illinois Bass Fishing Guides

Lake Michigan Fishing Charters – This Great Lake covers over 22,000 square miles and has 1,638 miles of shoreline. Fish species in the lake include Atlantic salmon, brook trout, brown trout, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, freshwater drum, Muskie, lake trout, rainbow trout, lake sturgeon, northern pike, walleye, pumpkinseed, and smallmouth bass. Several state records have been hauled in from Lake Michigan by anglers and local Lake Michigan fishing charters. In fact, the lake dominates all the records for trout and salmon. With so much big water and deep pockets, you’ll need a fishing guide. Numerous fishing guides and fishing charters are available.

Rend Lake – Rend Lake is in the southern part of the state and covers almost 19,000 acres, with 162 miles of shoreline. This is a great place for crappie fishing, and you’ll also have the chance to catch largemouth bass, striped bass, hybrid stripes bass, white bass, channel catfish, and bluegill. Local fishing guides can help.

Sangchris Lake – This 2,321-acre lake is located near Rochester. Some big stripers have been pulled in here, including the state record fish. Other species inhabiting the lake include black crappie, bluegill, channel and flathead catfish, white crappie, and largemouth bass.

Shabbona Lake – Located in the northeast section of the state, this lake holds the state record for the largest Muskie. A small lake, it covers about 140 acres and has seven miles of shoreline. It also holds walleye, white crappie, redear sunfish, bluegill, channel cats, stripers, hybrid stripers, and both smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Illinois River – Efforts to “clean up” this river have seen a rebound in sport fishing. Because of a variety of habitats, several species have good populations. Areas with submerged structure and vegetation are best for white and black crappie, while the dam tailwaters are best for freshwater drum, channel cats, and white bass. For largemouth bass, fish the lakes and pools off the main river in the late spring and early fall.

Lake Shelbyville – This central Illinois lake consists of 11,000 acres and some 200 miles of shoreline. There’s lots of flooded timber and other structure in the lake, and largemouth bass weighing up to six pounds are not uncommon. Lake Shelbyville might be your best bet for catching a big bass in Illinois. For the best results, hire a bass fishing guide who knows where the big boys hide.