Anyone have any experience with clinton lake?\
most lakes freezing over up here, need to wet a line!!!!

My experience with "hot water" lakes are the colder it is the better the fishing (at least at Coffeen Lake). They generate more electricity therefore release more warm water in the lake at cold snaps/times. The steam coming off the lake helps a whole lot in keeping you warm also.
Most people go for crappie and bass but catfishing is great too in the winter.
Hope this helps and good luck!

Hey fish I used to fish Clinton quite a lot. Crappie used to be great in there and Walleye pretty decent too. Been a few years since I've been over that way but I would recommend it if you are wanting to get some fishing in.

I would have never guessed that Clinton Lake had walleye, cool.
I drove by there many a time while working (truck driver) but never stopped by to look none the less fish. Walleye is good eats!

Here's some info on the lake and species...

http://www.ifishillinois.org/profiles/lakes/Clinton%20Lake/clintonprosp.htm

I have had a boat on Clinton Lake the last 4 days. Checked out a 14 ft boat Thanksgiving day with a 9.9 that I just purchased. The last 3 days I have been trapping with an ole boy that has the only trapping permit for the whole Clinton Lake. We used my 20 jon boat to set traps out Friday. Ran the traps Saturday and Sunday and picked them up Sunday. Got 12 coons and one beaver. This morning there where only 6 trucks with trailers in the parking lot, 3 duck hunting and 3 fishing. Talked to two guys on 2 different days and one guy said he had the biggest bass of his life and the next day another guy said he only caught one catfish. Several guys fishing on the bank. One local guy that fishes for crappie and walleye must have been having some good luck as his truck and trailer has been there everyday!!! No ice on the lake but some way back in the coves that you would never get to. Hope this helps.

Bowfisher

My experience with "hot water" lakes are the colder it is the better the fishing !

I find the same thing at Baldwin... When you think it's too cold... go fishin!

Yep! it's time. The worst thing is keeping your line thawed out. :eek:

Last Dec (21st I think) we took 52 carp in 2 1/2 hours on Clinton Lake. I don't know about those green fish...or them fishin' poles for that matter. LOL :D

or them fishin' poles for that matter. LOL :D


Why you gotta go bringing race into this??? As a Pole that fishes, I'm offended...:p

Well you know how I am...not the most PC person out there.

Sorry fer hurtin' yer tender sensibilities. ;)

Maybe we need to go fishin' together and I can learn more about these fishin' "poles" fishin' with fishin' "poles". Wait! I think I just confused myself. ???

Oh where's the asprin. :D

Fishing "Pole"....now that is funny!

thanks for the help guys im looking to go there on thursday, i am about a 2 hr drive there. I am ganna go after some gills or crappie....if not any of them then probably for some cats....
hate drive all that way to have it froze over, I was reccomended to put in on the west ramp and follow the to the left along points and cove/bay areas.

Fish;
If you put in at Muscoutin State Park you will be closer to the hot water ditch and warmer water. The lake won't be froze over as the power plant is still making hot water. Looking a the weather you are picking the coldest day of the week. Winds will be from the North. IF you put in at Muscoutin, or you can boat to there from the West side ramp, head East from the boat ramp along the rip raft. That is deep water and the warm water from the hot ditch traveles along there. Good place for crappie. THen head West to the first big cove and fish along the high bank on the East side. Guys where catching crappie there for the three days that I was on the water there last week. Watch out for flying slugs at Thursday is the first day of the second deer season. Good place to ear lunch is in DeWitt at the Power House Pub in DeWitt.

Good Luck
Bowfisher