Baldwin is a 2,000-acre lake north of the town of Baldwin, IL in Randolph County. You can, too. HYBRID STRIPED BASS (Wipers) At-a-Glance. Stripers247.com
It still has big fish. Subscriber Services. District fisheries biologist Barry Newman said the water in the 2,000-acre lake gets too warm and the catch rate drops dramatically during summer months. There is a 17-inch minimum on all hybrids, with three fish per day. numerous stripers from the high teens to low-20-pound range Cedar Lake is located four miles southwest of Carbondale. Striped bass and hybrid striped bass can also be caught from the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. "My biggest concern is the gizzard shad isn't reproducing well there, and these fish depend on shad to survive. In our experience squid and eel have proven more successful for trolling than any other baits. click logo for the striped bass home page, Click Here for The Striper Room
A productive fishery has developed in this small 346-acre supply reservoir, and the upcoming year should be good because strong year-classes of fish over 20 inches are present. Fishing is one of those popular sports that are done here year-round. The fish usually hit them when they are not moving or are sinking. For Striped Bass, we tend to use the patterns below, adjusting to where the fish are striking in the water column: Clouser Minnows in Blue and White, Chartreuse and White, and Red and White in size 2 to 6 and vary size weights to … Clinton Lake hybrids have gone down in recent years, but below the spillway in Salt Creek, good numbers of escapees have gathered, and they provide anglers with an opportunity to take advantage of numbers packed into a small area. Lake Jacksonville in Morgan County is a trophy hybrid lake. State Record: 20 lbs/.32 oz (1993) Best Lures: large minnows, spoons, spinners, crank baits, jigs, crayfish and lures that that look like a shad. Even small ones put up a great fight.". Kelseyville, California, United States About Blog A bass fishing … At the turn of the fall season, striped bass follow shad into smaller streams and feed vigorously. Mattoon will produce some big fish in the upcoming year, and will be a lake to watch in the near future. Two boat launches are available and there is a 10-horsepower restriction on motors. If the fish are in the cold water, Wells anchors close to where the hot water enters the cold water. April and May are the top months. "I let out 20 to 30 feet of line and go slow with a trolling motor or just drift and let the fish swim.". LAKE CHARLESTON According to the 2005 Status of Striped Bass/Hybrid Striped Bass Fishery in Illinois, numerous angler reports of hybrids up to 12 pounds have been tabulated in Coles County's Lake Charleston. Wells likes trolling flats using a three-way swivel with a grub on a leadhead jig on a short line and a crankbait about 18 inches behind that. Lake Charleston is managed by the City of Charleston. They hang out where stripers are feeding to pick up the shad that stripers miss.". MISSISSIPPI RIVER POOL 14 Pool 14 of the Mississippi River has a trophy hybrid striper fishery because of the Exelon Nuclear Power Plant that has been doing experimental striper stockings of this species there since 1984. There aren't many better ways to spend a summer night than skewering fish in the shallows. That's a big mistake. The nastier the weather, the better the fishing. As well as the river itself, try fishing … There are no creel or length limits for hybrid stripers on the Mississippi River. As a result, most anglers haven't taken the time to learn to fish for these hard fighters, and they are pursued by a relatively small following of anglers. Fall sees hybrids corralling baitfish off points, over humps and bars, and in the backs of coves. There is a three-fish per day limit, and boaters are required to purchase an annual lake-user permit. All Stripers All The Time!! The new Oklahoma record measured 76 inches long and weighed 143 pounds. We have been fishing this bay for over 15 years. The best fishing for stripers in the 240-acre Pike County lake comes by trolling deep-running lures in the open water near the dam, but some fish are caught by casting into areas where they're feeding on shad near the surface at dusk. Miller said the best fishing is on the north side of the center dyke, which anglers call "striper alley." Best caught during the spawn, casting bait into areas of moving water and structure. Schott starts fishing Otter Lake's flats in late March and continues through early June, using jerkbaits and lipless crankbaits. I've had them hit so hard they rip the hooks right of the lure.". Although some of the novelty has worn off, striper fishing is a fascinating sport. There are basically three times during a 24-hour period that are usually the best time to fish for bass. Points, humps and saddles can also concentrate fish. Call Angelo's Outdoor Sport Center for river conditions at (815) 476-7524. When attaching a squid to a hook, pull the squid’s spine out and thread the line through it. one of the best striped-bass fishing holes in the state. "There isn't an abundance of fish larger than 20 pounds in there, but there are some, and several get taken each year.". Stripers247.com All Stripers All The Time!! You'll also get to learn new fishing techniques and try the exclusive fishing gear, all pioneered by Starved Rock Guide Service. We found the hottest new rivers, lakes, and streams—one for every state—to catch big bass, trout, walleye, catfish, and more. However, he pointed out that state-record size pure stripers weighing 35 to 43 pounds live in the Grundy County lake. Now it's back. Heidecke Lake SFWA opens April 1. CLINTON LAKE Clinton Lake has boasted a strong population of striped bass since Illinois first stocked them into its waters. Most of the fish in surveys are between 24 and 30 inches, and some pushing 20 pounds have been reported. Winter striped bass fishing is a simple affair and easy to learn. "The best fishing is during a full moon," he said. JACKSONVILLE LAKE This 450-acre lake has a great population of hybrid stripers. Unfortunately, it fell on hard times in the late 1980s. Dr. David Wells, a Red Bud physician, has been fishing the lake for stripers since 1985. There is a huge year-class of fish weighing from 10 to 13 pounds, which is the average catch. The striped bass might be the most misunderstood fish in Illinois. These affordable designs are big on features, short on cash outlay — ATA Show. All striped bass must be at least 17 inches with a 3 fish limit. Look for shallow flats near deep water and along old roadbeds. And with a little searching, Mattoon can provide anglers with the … You'll usually find stripers close by.". Spoons, jigs, live shad, chrome Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits catch the most fish. Striped bass fishing is at its peak in San Francisco Bay in the summer and fall. Fish up to 12 pounds are possible. PITTSFIELD LAKE Pittsfield Lake has large hybrid stripers but few anglers who fish for them. Lake Mattoon is managed by the city of Mattoon, and there is an access fee to launch a boat. U.S. State Hunting and Fishing Regulations . Keep an eye out for seagulls, too. Fishing swimbaits for bass is a unique experience and one that requires a bit of expertise and finesse. REND LAKE The numbers of hybrid stripers is down from past years at Rend Lake, but the size of the fish is up. OTTER LAKE Otter Lake surveys show stripers there weighing up to 20 pounds. This can be an effective way to catch stripers. Eight- to 10-pound fish are very common." 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