Illinois River this weekend?

[MG]

I want to head up to the Illinois River this weekend, but don't know much about it. I need some general info. Launch at Spring Valley or Starved Rock? What bait, techniques, things to look for? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Tight Lines.
MG

[FJH1]

Launch at Spring Valley. Just upriver from Barto Landing is an area known as the Peru Flats. There will be boats on this area. Some people pull upriver with 3-way rigs. I prefer to vertical jig. We use an 1/8 or 1/4 ounce Fire-Ball tipped with a minnow. A productive depth to start jigging is 11' to 12'. Downriver (maybe 4 miles) from Barto is an area known as the Clam Beds. Again, there will be boats on this area. Use the same technique - vertical jigging. The fish in the Illinois are spawned out and it was a tough bite last weekend, I think it should be a better bite this weekend. E-mail me if you have any more questions.

Best Regards,

FJH

[walipro1]

There's a tournament this week end at Barto Landing. The 15th and 16th.