Your Favorite Lake in Illinois

[marcoman]

One of my favorites in Northeast Illinois is Heidecke Lake. They are located here:

5010 N. Jugtown Rd.
Morris, IL 60450
815.942.6352
HEIDECKE LAKE
or
http://www.ifishillinois.org/profiles/lakes/heidecke.htm

There is a public boat launch at the State Park. There is a concession stand there that rents boats and sells bait. 

[Dug]

One of my favorite lakes to fish is Dawson Lake, located at the Moraine View State park.
A concession stand, located near the boat dock and launch, offers dock and boat rental, fishing tackle, bait, refreshments and various supplies. A restaurant, seating 60, serves breakfast and lunch daily. For information, call (309) 724-8295. 

27374 Moraine View Park Rd.
LeRoy, IL 61752
309.724.8032

For more information on this small but high quality lake
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R3/Moraine.htm

Dug

[Lipripper]

Well my favorite lake to fish is Lake Shelbyville because of the many diffrent fish you can catch in there. There are 3 marinas on this Lake one on the North End and one about Mid lake and one on the South end. Here is the information on one of them.
Sullivan Marina and Campground Resort
RR 2, Box 35
Sullivan, IL  61951
Phone #  (217) 728-7338  or Toll Free  (888) 728-7338
Their web site is  Sullivan Marina

[OCBassman]

  I have to go with the Fox Chain of Lakes in Illinois.

  We put in at the Chain of lakes state park on Grass Lake.

  8916 Wilmot Rd
  Spring Grove ,Il 60081
  847-587-5512

  Here is a link;  http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R2/CHAINO.HTM

[Team KaRu]

I'm gonna post this even tho it is actually on a river but it is bound by the dams...

Pool 13 / Mississippi River, Savanna, Illinois

LAUNCH RAMP INFO:
Savanna Marina
1 Main Street
Savanna, IL 61074

PHONE: 815/273-2955
 
DAILY LAUNCH FEE
$6 In-District
$7 Out-of-District

Here is a link;  http://www.savannaillinois.com/Park_District/Marina_Fee_schedule.htm

Oh there is more!
The restaurant opens at 5am...Hot Coffee, Bacon/Egg & Cheese sandwiches  oooh and the Biscuits and Gravy are to die for!


AND FOR ALL YOU SOUTHERN BASS FISHERMAN WHO DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM!
 
WINTER STORAGE: (Effective 10/1/05 – 9/30/06)   
Boat Storage Paid BEFORE Oct. 31  - $110
Poat Storage Paid Nov. 1- Nov. 30  -  $160

This Pool gives you the best of both worlds ... lake and river experience!

And you can access it from Minnesota all the way down thru New Orleans too!

[karverind]

Good place to go is
Spring Lake State Park
7982 South Park Rd.
Manito, IL 61546
309.968.7135

Limited to 25 hp though I think. Great fishing if you like going around trees, etc. Not open during duck season though

[TinyTorp90]

My favorite lake is not even a lake. Its the Dupage River and boy do those bass get big! I cant really fish lakes yet b/c I have no boat and I am only 16 but im working on getting a small boat from my uncle n throwing a trolling motor on it so atleat I can be mobile throughout the summer on the Dupage.

[3deez]

Has to be laSalle lake. great for largemouth and better for smallies. Jig the humps and hook into those crazy Hybrid stripers. Of course july and august are for other lakes.

[marcoman]

My favorite lake is not even a lake. Its the Dupage River and boy do those bass get big! I cant really fish lakes yet b/c I have no boat and I am only 16 but im working on getting a small boat from my uncle n throwing a trolling motor on it so atleat I can be mobile throughout the summer on the Dupage.

Where do you fish on the "Dupage River"?

[ilbass77]

 Site M in west central illinois. We have our only two day club tournament of the year there and its takes about 40lbs to win it. Its a very small lake but have huge bass. I think they call it Jim Edgar State Park were its at.

[TinyTorp90]

Where do you fish on the "Dupage River"?

Northern suburbs area how about you?

[marcoman]

Northern suburbs area how about you?

The east and west branch forest preserves.

[fish81156]

 I have to aggree with Basser 913 I would say the chain of lakes because it offers so much. You can fish shallow water deep water the north and south rivers etc. it has alot to offer. For those that dont know up the north river they took the Wilmont dam out so you can get up into wisc. now but make sure you have a wisc. lic. and be careful it gets real rocky up that way. I would say my second fav. has to be the Three rivers area in Channahon thats where the Des Plaines ,Illinois and Kankakee all come together and there is some great fishing to be had there.

[illinoisbassfishin]

first post on this site but my favorite lake is the Newton, IL Power Plant Lake, 18 inch limit on bass and there are tons of them also 25 hp limit so you don't get rocked around all day long lol.  And people like to think that the bass don't bite there in the summertime cause the water gets mid 90s on cold arm and that is the best time of the year to fish no fishing pressure at all.

[Triton21]

first post on this site but my favorite lake is the Newton, IL Power Plant Lake

This is also my first post and I also like Newton a lot, My second favorite is East Fork.  I am new to Illinois and have only fished 5 lakes.  Newton, Forbes, Borah, Little Grassy and East Fork.  I have fished East Fork most because it is only about a 30 minute drive and has unlimited HP.

Kelley

[ShawnDee4]

I gotta go with Lake of Egypt. I've only fished Newton once as it is almost a 2 hour drive. Egypt is only 40 minutes away. Similar to Newton, power plant lake, no hot or cold side. A ton of grass and you know what that means........BASS!

[bass1cpr]

   I din't think I could really pick a favorite, I like them all for different reasons. Haven't fished many above Springfield but the central and southern part of the state has in my opinion the best lakes. Powerton is still on my radar for the small mouths there.

   Baldwin is another power plant lake that has transplanted small mouths from powerton and they have been growing like wild. Caught my biggest to date there.

   Fished East fork several times and it can have a phenominal top water bite that will last all day chasing schoolies busting shad.

   Forbes hasn't been the same for years not close to what it use to be.

   I'd guess location of where you live has a lot to do with what your favorites are, and how the catching was when you were there.

   My best tournament fish is still a 6lb. 4oz. fish from Crab Orchard. Biggest fish I've had a hook in during a tournament was Ohio river Golconda, Smithland pool. Don't see many really large fish down there any more but lots of numbers of fish.

   Egypt still rates high on my list of lakes I like to fish just don't get down that way to often anymore.

   Probably one of the better lakes for numbers and size close to home would be Coffeen Lake another power plant lake and you can fish it all year long, you can fish grass there until it's comming out your ears, and that's a lot of fun.

[tazman]

We have fished them all, and none compare to Newton Lake. Numbers of fish, and size too. Spring tournaments take a 6 fish 30 pound limit to win. Take the time to learn the lake and its patterns and you wont go anywhere else. The lake is out in the middle of nowhere, but they have a great place to stay 1/2 mile from the boatramp. Its called The Outdoor Sportsmans Lodge. They have upscale log cabins that sleep up to 8 each. They have all inclusive deals with meals and guide service, or simple cabin rental. They have been on numerous tv shows including Denny Brauers ESPN show, O"Neill Outside, and Midwest Outdoors. For info www.outdoorsportsmanslodge.com

[marcoman]

We have fished them all, and none compare to Newton Lake. Numbers of fish, and size too. Spring tournaments take a 6 fish 30 pound limit to win. Take the time to learn the lake and its patterns and you wont go anywhere else. The lake is out in the middle of nowhere, but they have a great place to stay 1/2 mile from the boatramp. Its called The Outdoor Sportsmans Lodge. They have upscale log cabins that sleep up to 8 each. They have all inclusive deals with meals and guide service, or simple cabin rental. They have been on numerous tv shows including Denny Brauers ESPN show, O"Neill Outside, and Midwest Outdoors. For info www.outdoorsportsmanslodge.com

The 25 HP motor limit is a factor in holding tournaments there.

[Jr. Bassmaster]

Newton is probly the best lake to fish but I like Lake Sara more because I know it better than any other lake.