Fishing Lower Illinoise River Labor Day!

[schultedillon]

Hey everyone,

I am new to the forum and I must say I have enjoyed all of my readings so far. This weekend I plan on going with two of my friends to the Lower Illinoise River and doing some fishing. I plan on doing some bank fishing/Wading and was wondering where the best place to go for this would be considering how packed it may get. I was also wondering if there is a place to rent a John boat out on the river or should I attempt to rent a kayak and fish out of it. Thanks!

[schultedillon]

If anyone could explain on how to get to the watts parking lot to fish that would be greatly appreciated.

[GoDoe]

http://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/power/hydropower.html

check the water release schedule here. They update it every day at 4:30 and at 4:30 on Friday they will post Sa-Su-Mo. 3 -4 hours after they stop releasing is the best fish and until about 14 hours after you will still have water moving. Moving water the key.

You can find a map to and of the Watts area at ODWC.com Fishing-Trout fishing or trout waters.

If the water is way up fishing is very tough and if it is way down it is tough too. Falling water is the best.

If you are wading you can move down stream from Watts parking area maybe 1/2 mile pretty easily. I don't know how far up stream you can go. If you have a small boat or kayak you will be able to get away from the crowds better. I like to paddle up stream know I can come back to the truck with the water flow.

You will not want to be there too long once they open the gates. It gets fast, deep and very cold.

I waded without waders during the falling water. 8 hours after they quit releasing. The water drops and the sun warms it so it is not too bad. Sooner than that and during the high water you will need waders. It was too cold for me on my first trip.

Take this for what it is worth. I have been there twice. Once to scout and once to fish. I caught 9 trout on the fishing trip on Wooly Buggers Size 10 hook. Black or Olive.

Good luck,

[schultedillon]

Thanks your information was very helpful. I must say this is one of the best forums I have found. I will post my results when I get back home. Anyway if the water is high close to the dam where do you recommend going? Also should I be there very early in the morning since the generators are often not running at 8AM.

[GoDoe]

If the generation schedule holds.....1pm to 8 pm then you need to fish as early as possible while the water is still moving/draining. In my very limited attempts it seemed that if you get to fishing like 8-10 hours after generation ends you will have a nice amount of water and water movement. By 15 hours after, which is about when they start again, or so the pattern has been, the fishing will be dead because all the water movement is over.

Tomorrow they will post the schedule for all weekend and maybe even for Tuesday since it is a holiday weekend. I don't really know any other places to go but if the water is high, like full generation or shortly after, I wouldn't even bother fishing.

Sorry I can't be more help but I have limited knowledge over there.

I had very good fishing from 9 hours to 14 hours after generation ended but I also had a mostly cloudy day. I think the cloud cover extends the good fishing.

Post up how you do so I can learn something from you,

John

Norman, OK