Hope you all made it through all the wind and rain ok. Spring is here!! Time to terrorize some gills.
Both I and Schoe will be traveling down through southern IL. late next week. working our way toward Kentucky Lake. We will be traveling through Friday or Saturday. If the fishing turns out good, may overnight in the area.
I was looking over Crab Orchard as I've fished there at the Marina area before. It sounds like the water is real high and lots of damage.
I was also turned off a couple years ago on a trip there with my grandson. I bought year permits then went to the marina area to bank fish. Gate locked and no parking signs all over. We weren't happy to say the least, left and never been back.
I have an idea!!:rolleyes: With all the high water, do you think we could get permission to fish some of the interstate borrow ponds? I've never fished one nor asked permission, just an off the wall idea. Are any of them public?
Would sure appreciate your input. oleMike

Hi Illinoisgiller. A little farther north than Crab Orchard is Rend and we've taken quite a few gills there. If the weather's good we plan on doing some fishing Saturday and just might be there. Had one 8" gill 3 years ago that almost pulled my wife over the gate on the pontoon. I had to grab her to keep her from going for a drink.

I have seen some up around Collinsville that had signs up around them that said "State Property No Trespassing". I don't know why they won't let people fish them.:confused:

I dont think there are many that are public and are fishable,though i rarely ever see anyone fishing them so obtaining permission may be fairly easy,you never know till you try. If you have time i would fish River King in New Athens good bluegill lakes and if you have a boat even better, but a 9.9 limit Good Luck.If you are fishing for bluegills i have a clubhouse on a couple acre lake outside of carlyle that has tons of them it just depends on what days you come thru maybe me and a buddy could meet you,pm me

Thank you! I'll have to explore the possibility of checking out that River King at New Athens. We won't have a lot of time .
Pinning down the gills on 38,000 acre Rend inland sea
while it is up 4' over average might get a little daunting for a short stop by. lol
So sad about the Collinsville ponds, but no supprise and reflective of the very reason I seldom fish my home state of IL. Thanks all, Mike

You might wanna check out Pyramid if you get the time. It might not be there next time you come through.:(

What is the story on this Pyramid Lake??
Is some politician retaining it for a playground:mad:?

They where going to trade 5000 acres of killer reclamed land for 2000+ - of un-reclamed land where they washed the coal. Its all contaminated. They where suppose to build a tourist trap but people where raising such a fuss they kinda backed off for now. I haven't heard anything lately but that might be a bad sign. They could be sneeking something in on us. Its a real nice place to fish. The old part is 40 + year old strip mines. The new part is about 18,ooo acres of reclamed strip mine ground which was stopped being mined about 10-15 years ago. Check out the IDNR site formore info . I have fished it several times and its a great place to go.;)

http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R5/PYRAMID.HTM

FunGusAmonGus, Thank you for the information. That place sounds like it would be worth the fight. I'll avoid a tirade on the politicans-past, present, and percieved future.:mad:
That area sounds like a dream come true for an ole feller and a couple 13 yr. old grandsons with float tubes to get lost in for a few days. lol
Are there trails enough to drag a Fish Cat #4 float tube down? I could order pack straps if needed.lol I'd doubt the gas Gods would permit it this year, but not too old to dream. Thanks for the info. Mike

Fungus are you talking about pryramid state park? if so im goin to be one pissed off mother lol. I used to go there and tear up huge gills and red ears.

Fungus are you talking about pryramid state park? if so im goin to be one pissed off mother lol. I used to go there and tear up huge gills and red ears.
Thats the one Josh. Its the new part where Super Lake is.I haven't heard anything lately so maybe they went away.

i sure hope so. theres alot of real good lakes out there and good duck hunting. i usually go to the old mines and drag a boat down some trails

i sure hope so. theres alot of real good lakes out there and good duck hunting. i usually go to the old mines and drag a boat down some trails
I think the old part is safe its the new part with the huge nice reclamed lakes they where after..

Didn't get a chance to try any interstate borrow pits. Seems I forgot how long the state of Illinois is. lol After a very long drive, we stopped by Murpheysburro City Lake. We got a bunch of gills and crappie there from shore by the parking lot. but nothing of great size of course. Met a nice ole feller there and gave him our catch to use for catfish bait. Stayed in the area and stuffed ourselves at a world famous barbaque joint. (burp) lol
Moved on to Kentucky Lake for some cattin and gillin with great success. 8 to 14 lb channels were available in numbers on the flats at Blood River.:D
We worked in bluegills whenever time. I found out the easiest way to measure them is by the bucketfull. lol We got lots of big ones and also some meaty mid sized ones. I honestly don't think I reached the oh so rare 1 lb gill level though. The gillin was so good that I and Schoe stayed an extra two days.:rolleyes:
On the last day the weather was rainy with a severe cold front and wind.We caught very near 300 gills and schoe got a nice channel cat 10 or 12 lbs on his little Acadia ultralight rod.We finally gave up when we couldn't see the float from 6' due to darkness. Catchinest trip ever.:D Pictures later. Mike
Schoe has the pictures on his camera, and Ill post some when I get them.

If you want coolers full of gills and don't mind the drive, go to Reelfoot Lake on Mothers day weekend.

I've been to Reelfoot before with the grandsons. What a beautifull lake. I have a Reelfoot Lake boat w/8 hp Honda & bow facing oars so the stumps were just a bump in the water.lol If I outlive the depression I'll probably return. Mike