If anyone is trying to crank in some nice cats try going down to the kaskaskia river. I find the best ways to catch them are on live or cut shad and bluegill. There is really good boat access at the New Athens Marina.
If you dont have a boat try going to Baldwin lake this winter. You can catch some really big blues and flatheads this time of the year near the hot water outlet. Use cut bluegill and dont be surprised if you reel up a nice bucketmouth or hybrid bass.

I agree about the cut shad. Best cat bait there is. Get a throw net and you can have plenty of bait real quick. Best time to fish Baldwin is when it's freezing out it seems.

I usually fish Baldwin in the winter. We always catch some cats and whites down by the hot water outlet. It is tough in a boat in the winter a lot of times because of the wind. We usually cheat when we walk in and drop one guy off at the road by the outlet with the gear and the other guy parks the truck and walks or rides the levee. It is tough to keep all the small channel cats off the baits. I heard that they stocked smallmouth bass in the lake.

I heard that they stocked smallmouth bass in the lake.

I would think that the water is too warm in there for smallies? Would be nice to have a spot to wrestle bronze-backs though. I grew up catching them on the Susquehanna R. back home.

it is true they have smallies in balsdwin. I have cought one about 16 inches on a bronze bagley's crankbait. I dont know how often they stock it but i know they are in there.