There are the best places to fish in Illinois and if you are within the area, you are so lucky. And if you are a fisherman and you are hunting for a great spot, don’t worry about finding the great spot because there are tons of fishing spots and each of them is a must-visit place. It’s the reason why Illinois as among the best places where fisherman goes even if you are from far-flung areas.
Fishing in the area of Illinois is among the best way to experience in the state and it’s a popular recreational activity and it can be fun for anglers regardless if skill levels. So if you are still searching for the best place to fish in Illinois, then you have come to the right place. We have carefully selected the best fishing spot specifically in Illinois. With that, keep reading and see what you like.
The Best Places To Fish In Illinois — 5 Best Spots To Try!
Devil’s Kitchen Lake
Location: Williamson County, Illinois
The Devil’s Kitchen Lake is among the three lakes (the other lakes are Little Grassy Lake and Crab Orchard Lake) that is included in the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Williamson County of Illinois. It was once a valley and a perfect camping spot for the pioneers in the area. The lake is somewhat large measuring 810 acres in terms of surface area. There’s also a campground and a trail nearby for those who wanted more than just fishing activity.
It’s among the best fishing location where there’s an abundance of fish. The Devil’s Kitchen Lake has a maximum depth of 90 feet. This freshwater lake is among the deepest and clearest lakes in Illinois. Other than that, it has other wildlife activities going here given that it’s a wildlife refuge. You will see some turtles, raccoons, beavers, American bald eagles, and many more.
Keep in mind, if you are bringing a motorboat, be advised that there is a 10 horsepower limit. With this speed limit, you can get a glimpse of how good the lake is and how quiet it is to have some fishing activity here. Furthermore, if you are a competitive angler, you can go here and engage in their fishing tournaments. Usually, they held 6 tournaments here.
What are the fish you can catch here?
You can find some fish here such as:
- Yellow Perch
- Crappie
- Largemouth Bass
- Bluegill
- Rainbow trout
- Redear fish
Crab Orchard Lake
Location: Williamson County, Illinois
Another artificial freshwater lake that’s in Williamson County is the Crab Orchard Lake and it’s near Devil’s Kitchen and Little Grassy. This lake is larger than Devil’s Kitchen Lake which measures 6965-acre. Originally built that’s meant for flood prevention. But nowadays, it’s more than a flood prevention area which makes this also a home for recreational activities. Among those activities are swimming, water skiing, campers, and anglers. But this is among the best places to fish in Illinois.
Compared to its nearby lakes, they allow all sorts of water transportation without any limitations or restrictions. Although when it comes to fishing, the creel limit especially for largemouth bass is only three per day and it must be 16 inches and beyond. During summer, this is a perfect haven for recreational water sports and it’s expected that many people will flock here given its popularity.
Other than that, this is a suitable place not just for fishing and other water sport activity but this is also home for camping sites, watching the wildlife, hunting, and even hike nature trails. In addition, this is also protected by the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge and they held numerous activities in here especially when it’s peak season.
What are the fish you can catch here?
You can find some fish here such as:
- Largemouth Bass
- White Bass
- Crappie
- Channel Catfish
- Bluegill
Lake Springfield
Located: Springfield, Missouri
No, it’s not the Springfield you think just like in the animated cartoons. But joke aside, this is among the treasured gem of anglers because it’s among the best places to fish in Illinois. The Lake Springfield spans about 4200 acres and a man-made lake that was originally built in the 1930s. Nowadays, this turned to be an urban lake and it’s just southeast of the city of Springfield. This also holds fishing tournaments on a year-round basis and offers unrestricted boat fishing which is really ideal for any avid anglers out there.
Did you know that there are great fishing spots within the area of Lake Springfield? among them are Marine Point, Island Bay Lane, Sunset View Fishing Area, and Dividing Dam are among the most favorable fishing spots in the lake. In addition to that, there are numerous activities you can do within the area.
Among those are camping sites, recreational parks, water sports, and other things. But if you are an angler, you will greatly be amused because there’s an abundance of fish in the lake which makes it among the perfect spot to start fishing. It’s home to at least 45 fish species. But most of them are hard to catch. Although you can catch some common fish in the lakes which are not bad after all.
What are the fish you can catch here?
You can find some fish here such as:
- White Bass
- Largemouth Bass
- Flathead Catfish
- Crappie
- Channel Catfish
- Bluegill
- Blue Catfish
Heidecke Lake
Location: Jugtown Rd, Morris, IL 60450, United States
Another amazing place to fish is the Heidecke Lake. Previously this was a cooling lake for the Collins Station Power Plant. But now it’s out of service for more than a decade. The Heidecke Lake measures 1,955 surface acres of water. Among the best things here besides fishing is there are no horsepower limitations. Although there’s a speed limit of up to 40 mph except in specific areas. If you are wondering if you can have some water sports in here, it’s not allowed.
There are no boat rentals either, and the only activity you can do here besides fishing is to have a picnic. But be advised when it comes to fishing. Because they are somewhat strict and there are certain rules to follow when fishing in Heidecke lake. So be sure to check them first in order to prevent any trouble.
Catching a fish here may seem difficult as the depth of the lake varies depending on the spot, we advise that you should use a fish finder to help you track the fish. The texture of the water here is somewhat mild and there’s less timber. Also, there’s not much vegetation. In addition, with the wide variety of fish in here, you may want to add some fishing gear that can be tweaked so you can catch any type of fish.
What are the fish you can catch here?
You can find some fish here such as:
- Bullhead
- Pumpkinseed
- Crappie
- Channel Catfish
- Walleye
- Muskellunge
- Hybrid striped bass
- Striped, smallmouth, largemouth, or yellow bass
Lake Michigan
Location: Near Chicago
Lake Michigan is no stranger to anglers of all sorts of skill levels and types. The fact that this Lake is among the Great Lakes of America and it’s large enough making this one of the best places to fish in Illinois. But it’s not just avid anglers who visit the Great Lake but even local and foreign tourists with their families flock in the area. Because the area offers more outdoor activities other than fishing especially when it’s pick season.
Given its largest body of water around Illinois, this gives you plenty of fish to catch and home to various fish species depending on the season and your type of trip. There’s also a camping ground nearby. Much better if you will go to the camping site and then go fishing in the lake which gives you plenty of outdoor activities to engage in. You can go trail within the natural forest and a perfect way to get away from the bustling city.
Going back to fishing, you can enjoy the boating within the lake and reelers regardless of levels, you must experience this. Although there’s a speed limit which is 55 mph. As an angler, it shouldn’t be a problem. After all, you are not there to race but to fish and find a suitable fishing spot.
What are the fish you can catch here?
You can find some fish here such as:
- Bass
- Salmon
- Whitefish
- Crappie
- Smelt
- Brown trout or Lake trout
- Walleye
- Muskie
- Steelhead
- Northern Pike
Tips To Catch A Fish
If you are figuring out how to catch more fish, don’t fret. Because it’s part of the learning process especially if you are just a beginner angler. In fishing, there’s no losing or bad luck here, it’s either you catch a fish successfully or you learn. Mind you, it takes time to become familiar with fishing let alone mastering the art of it. But for you, we have some useful tips to make you catch more fish.
It’s about choosing the best time of the day
First of all, you need to know what’s the best time for you to fish. It’s understandable for a beginner if you don’t understand a specific time or a peak hour to catch a fish. So, pay attention. As you know, fish are active in low light settings, because they feel it’s less risk and no predators can threaten them.
That said, your chances of catching a fish are from early to mid-morning, and also from early afternoon to evening hours. So, pay heed to those little details because they increase the chances of catching a nice fish. Also, take advantage of the cloudy skies and search for shaded water.
Determine the Best Spot
Fish loves the game of hide and seek. They will often hide in a shaded area, around submerged trees and rocks, at banks that are overhanging, and even in broken water, because these surroundings help them to blend in those environments.
So if you are out for fishing, make sure to identify some of those areas. Better if you have a fish finder to locate the school of fish and this increases the chances of catching a fish with ease.
If you know where the best fishing location is, then your chances of catching of fish are secured. Although the fishing spots will vary depending on the time of day, weather, and other elements, so pay close attention to those also.
Wear Some Polarized Sunglasses
Polarized glasses allow you to see the glare on the surface water, and besides that, it will help you protect from the sunlight especially if it shines directly at you. That said, wearing this will increasing the chance of catching a fish because there are no elements of distractions. In addition, polarized sunglasses may help you spot the fish you are about to catch.
Steady is the Key
Remember always be patient when you are fishing. It’s alright to get excited when a fish is chasing the bait but don’t stop reeling. Moreover, don’t lose your composure and remain calm as possible this will make sure you will have the same rhythm. Because if you are out of composure, the fish will just dodge away and it will only alert the fish which loses the chance of catching a fish.
Final Thoughts
Illinois is gifted with many fishing spots and that means there’s also an abundance of fish. There are actually more best places to fish in Illinois but so far, there are the only places we have been so far. But don’t worry we will update this as we discovered more and more areas within the region.
After all, discovering new fishing spots is an angler’s duty and it gives much joy whenever you discover a nice fishing spot. Because this means there’s a new activity to work on and many fish to catch. So which fishing spots have you been? Tell us baout it by dropping your comments below.
