Thread: looking for a Rend Report

Low water

I have only fished Rend once and I'm sure all lakes in Illinois are low since we are way short on rain I would try and find some brush in deep water and work the bridge piers until temps fall off fishing will be tough to find fish. I always post when ever I go somewhere as to how we did and what worked and didn't worked but I have found on this forum most are very tight lipped about there successes. That is sad for a fishing forum that should be here to help everybody not just for the guides to try and get customers. You will see a lot pics about catches with their customers but little about where and how. I have to travel at least 3 hours from home to get to anywhere that has decent crappie fishing and would appreciate any pointers that others can offer most of us just want to enjoy a day or two on the water. NOt fishing for a living, I hope you can get some advise from those who are fishing that lake but as my father-law used to say don't hold your finger in your butt waiting for it to happen.

I am going to fish everyday in September and October that I have available. The fish start chasing shad schooled...They don't do it all day...depending on the weather. But multiple times during the day they are going to be pushing shad up against something to catch them or trying to catch them while the shad are feeding . If it's overcast it's going to be better generally. You may fish most of the day catching little then be in just the right spot and catch 10,20 fish or more in thirty minutes or less. You can also catch them when they are not actively feeding if you find the spots they are positioning themselves near the shad schools. The stable weather helps a lot because things are more predictable and being on the water is easy. Waiting for late fall and winter when the gang tight to structure is great...but like as not you might wake up and it be blowing 25 from the North and spitting sleet..good weather to catch them maybe but not so great to sit in and position your boat.

You should be able to catch fish right now on any Southern Illinois lake...you got to go after em and make a presentation they are looking for.. If you get out there at daylight and fish four brush piles and don't catch anything and go home at 9 am you might not catch anything.

The shad are perky right now and they have trouble catching them..they can't rush em all day they are not stripers... they pick their place and times to up their odds.

Haven't fished Rend since the spawn. In the past I've caught crappie in October shallow on the 154 rocks and I-57 rocks around Gun Creek. And shallow brush in about any cove. Single jig pole. As the water cools it seems like they stack up on bridge pilings and there are a LOT of people fishing them there. Everyone is pretty nice about it though. But I'm a crappy crappie fisherman. You might send a PM to Mean Green or Mean Green 2. They guide there but have helped point me in the right direction any time I have asked them a question. Sorry but that's all I got. Guess it's better than not replying at all!

I was down that way hunting last weekend, but stopped by the boat launches several times to see what was happening. Here's what I saw:

1) Very low water like what was mentioned above. I've live in Southern Illinois for 5 years now and this is the lowest I've seen it.
2) Very few boats at the launches, and very few of those boats near the bridges or rocks around 154. If they crappie were biting, the boat launches would be packed, and the bridges would be packed.

I'm guessing the water temps need to drop yet. It's been warmer than usual the past month. Once the water temps drop, the crappie bite should be on.

I appreciate all the replies. I was just trying to decide if I wanted to take a day off bow hunting to fish. Doesn’t sound like I do just yet.

Thanks Ladykiller. Was thinking of possibly heading to Rend myself. Think I'll stick with the whites at Carlyle for another week or two.

North end of the lake. I was there Sunday and got my 10 over 10" limit i don't keep my shorts there so they can grow. The parking lot was full Sunday.