Spring fishing is finally in full swing. Everyone is anxious to get on the water and wet a line. When it comes to picking a place to go, for me the choice is easy because one of my favorite lakes is found in Southern Illinois.
Rend Lake is the perfect destination. . First of all it's only about four hours from Chicago's south suburbs. Many people driving south on I-57 pass over this 19,000 acre lake, which is just south of Mount Vernon.
It's difficult to explain why crappie anglers travel another four or five hours farther when Rend is so close and is one of the best crappie lakes in the Illinois. Rend Lake is the current holder of the Illinois state record black crappie, which weighed 4 pounds 8 ounces.
Southern Illinois lakes such as Rend are warming up quicker than some of our lakes up north. So for a jump start on spring fishing, this is my first choice.
Most of the people who visit Rend fish for crappies. That's what it's known for. But bass anglers should not pass up this lake. My personal best at this lake is just shy of five pounds, but friends of mine have caught many bass that were larger.
The Illinois DNR also considers Rend to be one of the top catfish lakes in the state. Let me tell you, when it comes to catfish, this is a totally different story.
I've fished for cats in a number of different ways. Using a rod and reel and shad or dip baits always produced a lot of channel cats for me.
One time I went jugging. That's where short 20-inch lines with a hook are added to sealed 16-ounce bottles painted bright orange or green. Bait them up with leech pieces and throw them overboard. About 50 bottles are used and when you see one taking off across the water's surface, you run it down with the boat, grab the bottle and swing a big catfish up and into the boat. Believe me, this is fun.
I went hoggin' once too. Call me crazy if you want, but at least I can say that I did it. Hoggin' is the Southern Illinois version of noodlin' or catching a huge monster flathead or channel catfish with your bare hands.
One day a friend and I captured five; two channel cats and three flatheads by feeling around submerged broken concrete and drain tiles. When a cat bites your hand, that's when you grab it and the wrestling begins.
The biggest flathead I got was more than 24 pounds. I've experienced this once; now I'm done. I don't need to do it again.
So yes, Rend is a favorite spot for me because it offers such a diverse fishery. It's given me so many memories. And having literally dozens of other large and small lakes within an hour drive from Rend Lake makes it even more convenient for a weekend or week long fishing vacation destination.
My TV show is hosting a trip to Rend Lake in mid-May. It will be the perfect time for crappie and bass fishing. Experience the fishing in southern Illinois and you'll surely agree that "Great fishing is not that far away."
For more information on the trip, visit my website at IllinoisOutdoorsTV.com and click on the Spring Trip button. You can also see dozens of photos from last year's trip on my blog at ChicagoNow.com/IllinoisOutdoors.
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