Thread: Score...Crappie-1 ILDS-0

Got out yesterday afternoon and fished for a few hours on some backwaters of the Illinois River. Crappie won the first battle, but I put it to some small Bass!!! Lots of good looking cover, water was 8 feet deep and relatively clear. Not too sure of the temp. Talked to another guy who had 4 Crappie and said he caught them about 18 inches deep in 8 feet of water. Rumor has it that guys were catching lots of Crappie out of there about a week ago in 2-3 feet of water.......

years ago, I used to fish Long, Stump & Fowler this time of year with some
decent success. Always amazed how shallow they were.

Do they catch the sauger in that part of the Illinois river?

Stump Lake and Long Lake used to be pretty good spots for Crappie and Bluegill years ago, but since they have levied off most off the hunting areas and drain them during the summer, the fishing prospects have taken a beating. I remember being up at Stump several years ago during the heat of the summer, and Long Lake was FULL of dead Crappie and other fish. Lots of nice ones too! I was fishing yesterday in Calhoun Point. Just couldn't bring myself to beat the buck brush and duck blinds to death. Figured my better prospects were in deeper water. I've also heard that Gilliad Slough on the West side of Calhoun County used to be a great Crappie and Bluegill spot.

As for the Sauger fishing in the Illinois, I think they catch some up around the Winfield dam, but I don't speak for certain. That isn't my kind of fishing. Me and fast moving water below dams just don't go together!!!

Were you north of Harden by any chance?

Sounds like a better day than being at work.

CX.

Never fished Gilead Slough, but when I hunted Stump years back, a lot of the old timers used to talk about that if you wanted to catch good crappie, that was the place to go! Especially this time of the year. They said they fished it as soon as duck season was over, and until the lakes started warming up. Again, they said they'd catch em shallow right on the banks.

It's a shame to hear fishing is down around Stump. Used to be a good early season spot.

Well, went back again today with my Dad and another buddy for some more fishing on the backwaters. Started out at Gilead Slough since I had to run up to Hamburg and pick up another buddy's boat from Quillers. Gilead looks awesome, but I think it is too early to be fishing in there. Caught a few gills in there, but really only fished for about half an hour or so. Pulled out and headed to the south end of the county to fish some other back water and managed to catch one really nice slab and another 9 incher. Threw back about half a dozen smaller Crappie, and put about 24 nice gills in the cooler. Can't wait for warmer weather here! Headed to Lake Washington, MS in 3 weeks....Hope we aren't too late..