spawing?

[zackroe]

Do rainbows reproduce in the lower illinois?

I have never read anything about rainbows spawning in the illinois, but I was fishing on tuesday and the rainbows were in the shallows everywhere late in the day. We caught some big females, and the males were milking the eggs i guess. Great fishing we caught around 40 between the two of us./ They were biting a florecent orange and green rooster tail, brown and olive jigs, and green power bait. Cant wait to go back next tuesday.

zackro

[The Caddis]

I was there last Friday and caught a couple of females that looked ready to bust. I'm sure they'll lay eggs, but who knows if it will be successful.

[Zach Bearden]

Well anytime I go ill catch a female full of eggs but im not sure bout the males what have yall been doing good on? most of my success is with a 12 copper john

[txspecks04]

Just curious where you guys are fishing relative to Fayetteville or Siloam Springs in Arkansas? I go out to the Illinois fairly often and have never seen rainbows out there...lots of smallies, but no trout...

[The Caddis]

Below the Tenkiller dam, there is a stretch of about ? miles of trout water. Here is in excerpt from the ODWC's website.

Lower Illinois River

Trout Season: Year round.

Designated Trout Area/Size/Location: 7.75 miles of Il­li­nois River from Tenkiller Dam to Hwy. 64 bridge near Gore in Sequoyah Coun­ty.

Bank Access / Boat Ramps: A new public access location has been added to the Lower Illinois River trout stream. The Lower Illinois River Public Fishing and Hunting Area – Simp and Helen Watts Management Unit offers public fishing access to almost one mile of the trout stream and 320 acres of public hunting opportunity (see map). To reach the area, travel north on SH 100 from Gore approximately four miles. Turn east onto a gravel county road and travel approximately one mile to the entrance east of the house. Park in the designated parking area only. The area is managed for walk-in access only.

Four other public access sites are available along the state designated trout stream, including a pool off the river located immediately below the dam which allows trout fishing even during high power generation. Another good site is located at the River Road Public Access Area about six miles downstream from the dam. The Gore Landing Public Access Area, operated by the Town of Gore (918) 489-2636, offers camping and a boat launching ramp.

Special Regulations: Brown trout – daily limit: one (1); size limit: 20-inch minimum. Rainbow trout – daily limit: six (6); size limit: none.

Lower Illinois River Public Fishing and Hunting Area – Simp and Helen Watts Management Unit – all general trout fishing regulations apply (see page 24). All hunting is restricted to shotguns with pellets or archery equipment only. See Hunting Guide for open hunting seasons. No overnight camping is allowed on the area.

Zach, I did ok with a size 18 EHC, but I swtiched to a new flymph I tied for the soft hackle swap. I only had 1 with me (stupid of me I know), but it got smashed hard and after 2 fish was done for. the other soft hackle patterns I had wern't as good but productive none the less.