A quiet moment on the lake with the warm early autumn sun on your skin and a tug on the line. What better way to spend an afternoon? At Kate’s Trailer Sales, we can appreciate the love of fishing for bass, walleye, catfish, crappie and more on a peaceful Illinois lake. For all the outdoorsmen and women who shop our trailers, we made a list of some of the best spots for fishing in Illinois. From the shores of Lake Michigan in the east to the Mississippi River in the west, it’s never been easier to fish in Illinois.
The Best Spots to Fish in Illinois
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River runs through most of the United States, and it’s nutrient-rich water makes for a perfect environment for healthy fish. It’s known for huge trophy catches, like jumbo catfish, which makes it one of the best places to fish in Illinois. You can also catch bass, sauger, bluegill, crappie, walleye, northern pike and perch. The muddy Mississippi River waters serve as the western border for our state, so no matter where you are you aren’t far from casting a line.
Lake Michigan
This Great Lake sits near Chicago, and the large population of residents and tourists make it a popular place to fish in Illinois. In summer, you can bring your motorized boat or kayak out on the water. While in winter and early spring you can try your hand at ice fishing on the lake.
As the second-largest Great Lake, and the largest lake in the state, it’s not surprising that Lake Michigan offers the best variety of fish species. These species include salmon, bass, smelt, whitefish, trout, pike, muskie and more!
Lake of Egypt
At the southern tip of the state, you’ll find the waters of the Lake of Egypt. This lake spans 2,300 acres and includes many smaller fingers and nooks in it’s 90 miles of shoreline. The variety of fishing spots makes it perfect for both beginners casting off from the shore and experienced boaters at the deepest stretches of water. The Lake of Egypt is particularly known for its winter bass and crappie fishing.
Lake Shelbyville
Our next spot to fish in Illinois is the picturesque Lake Shelbyville, one of the best spots for bass fishing in the state. It’s another lake with small coves and nooks off the main waters. Anglers have a chance to catch yellow, white, largemouth, smallmouth and striped bass. In addition to the large bass population, there’s carp, muskie, walleye, crappie and bluegill to be hooked.
Lake Springfield
Just southeast of the capitol city of Springfield is Lake Springfield. This urban lake is one of the smaller on the list at 4,260 acres, but it’s easily accessible to anglers living in the highly populated city. There’s year-round unrestricted boat fishing on the lake. Fishermen and women can expect to catch bluegill, catfish, largemouth bass, crappie and white bass.
Rend Lake
Near Benton, Illinois, Rend Lake is a popular place to fish in Illinois. The lake itself is really a reservoir that reaches just 35 feet at its deepest. There are tons of activities at the lake, like campsites, hiking and a museum, but it’s best known for fishing. You can sign up for an all-day fishing charter on the lake, which is especially popular for less experienced anglers or large groups. You can expect to hook bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish and carp.
Devil’s Kitchen Lake
Devil’s Kitchen Lake is known for steep slopes and sandstone valleys: sights that make this lake a popular travel destination. The lake itself spans 810 acres and features clear water and submerged timber, which make it ideal for fishing. While there are strict regulations on speed, motors and watercraft types, this makes Devil’s Kitchen a particularly quiet, relaxing, scenic lake to fish. It’s home to a huge population of largemouth bass, as well as trout, bluegill, sunfish, crappie and more.
Crab Orchard Lake
Near Devil’s Kitchen you’ll find the much larger Crab Orchard Lake. This reservoir lake covers nearly 7,000 acres and is fed by Devil’s Kitchen Lake and Little Grassy Lake. It’s the main attraction of the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge and is a popular fishing spot in southern Illinois. Though it’s open to recreational water sports in the summer, this high-traffic lake is still a great spot for anglers. It’s known for its catfish, bluegill, crappie and white bass populations.
Before you head to your nearest lake or river, make sure you’re licensed and ready to fish in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has the answers to all your fishing questions online. And, if you’re in need of a new trailer to carry all your outdoor gear, you can shop trailers for sale in Arthur, Illinois, at Kate’s Trailer Sales. View our inventory online or contact us to get started on your search!
