Illinois eyes

[cranker']

Alright all you Illinois walleye guys (& gals), I was wondering were everyone goes for eyes in the state, especially in the summer months. The waters I fish are good in the early fall thru spring but do not produce worth a s### in the summer months. I frequent the likes of Heidecke Lake, the Kankakee & Illinois Rivers, and occasionally LaSalle for eyes in my area, but have been itching to explore some new waters in the state. How's fishing been up in the Fox Chain this year? How about Shelbyville & Clinton? Any others? Just looking for a little input. If anyone wants any info on any of the above waters in my area feel free to ask. Thanks in advance & tight lines...

[Cranks]

Cranker-

Looks like you've hit the key areas/spots. The Chain has a ton of nice fish in it but boat traffic in Summer makes it prohibitive. We generally move onto Erie, Canada etc in the Summer months and concetrate on the river saugers and eyes in Spring and Fall. Try night trolling Lake Geneva. I've never been down to Clinton/Shelbyville or the Southern Illinois lakes.

Good luck!

[FJH1]

Fox Chain and Illinois River. I live near the Fox Chain, 5 minutes from the launch I use. I fish it the whole open water season. It's great for 'eyes, but it will take some work. The summer is very hectic with boat traffic, but the fish are still there, just a little shell shocked! You can't beat the Illinois River in the spring and fall and early winter for walleye and sauger, just an outstanding fishery.

Best Regards,

FJH

[CWS]

Fox chain is tough with boat traffic, but if fishing is tough there is still some good scenery and a good chance to see some females sporting their headlights.

Good Luck

[Lundy]

You might want to try the Mississippi River, Ilinois-Iowa border the Clinton pool,New Boston,Burlington,and Muscatine are very good for eyes and sauger.Good Luck

[mbrandt]

I second the Mississippi. Lived in the NW suburbs for years and did most of my eye fishing at Bellevue. Some great fish in there and the only time it gets crowded is when the sauger run in the fall. The rest of the year you practically have the river to yourself. I sure do miss that place.

Mark

[Shabby]

Take a look at these for Shabbona Walleye info.

#####://www.shabbonalake.com/walleye_secrets.htm

Option #9 is my favorite in the summer, but I substitute a crankbait for the live bait.

#####://www.shabbonalake.com/1999_part_ii.htm

Thats me at the bottom of the page with the 30" 9 1/4#-25" 5 3/4# that I caught in July of 1998 on a #7 Rapala Fat Rap in GFR (gold fluorecent red), WHICH THEY DON'T MAKE ANYMORE.:-( But I have 2 or 3 of them so I'm good for awhile. You probably shouldn't try this area (the area mentioned in option #9 which is between #23 and #24 on the map provided on the shabbonalake.com page) unless you are proficient with a lure retriever, but that's where the big boys live. Any questions feel free to ask, here or e-mail.

Shabby (Scott)

[Dave]

Gotta love those illinois river sauger. Clinton Lake also has good numbers of fish 7# and up. Can't forget the mighty mississippi

[cranker']

Thanks all, I think I may take a shot at the Chain if I can get a weekday off! :-)

[Cranks]

Cranker - I thought of one more thing - the strip pits in mchenry and kane counties hold some big eyes too. (keep it quiet) it's hard to get in them - but if you can; do it - great for other species too - you might want to try lake mich southern basin trolling

[ooc]

cws is right,a sunny day on the chain is always scenic.but,bring lots of money!2 public launches one 4 miles of no wake up the river the other a carnival plus 75 dollar user fee.don't buy it you will get stopped and checked.you will 10 to 15 dollars to launch,but walleye fishing is great if you pay attention to what you're doing instead of headlites like cws,RIGHT SCOTT!

[Jay Johnson]

I fished the Rock river for the first time this past Monday. I caught a 24" walleye at an eddy before the Grand Detour bridge. I put my boat in at Lowell park (Dixon,IL) and went upstream toward Oregon, IL. I used a sliding sinker and NightCrawler. I thought I had a snag and when I started to reel in, the snag pulled back. I was suprised to find the 24 incher still on my line. I didn't have a leader and the hook was in his gut. (Luckey he didn't cut my line!!)

Last year I caught a few walleyes in the Mississippi River just north of Thompson,IL @ Big Slough. There is a channel that gets trolled very often, but I caught mine drifting and casting a firetiger "fat" Crankbait at the edge of the channel. Also caught some on a jig with a curly tail in the flats. (WATCH OUT FOR THE STUMPS!!!)

[Eye Dog]

You are correct Jay, some of the locals get some good Eyes from the Rock River out south of Rockford. The best bite is Probably spring and fall like our other rivers.I think I will try there later this year its only 30 min. from here.
I bought the Hot Spot maps a few years ago and forgot all about them. Eye Dog.

[Eye Dog]

Daaaa, you said you caught that fish last Monday and I'm saying its only good spring & fall.
Eye Dog.

[waz]

there are no walleye in ill go to wisconsin or mn.

[Fuzzy]

That's right Waz! No walleye and monster sauger in Illinois. Stay up there and enjoy the ##### out of yourself. Stay off the pipe! ;-)

[waz]

fuzzy don't get so excited, just what to keep the folks away from my favorite close to home hot spots.