Smallmouth Bass In Illinois

[CavScout]

Hey every one i was just wonder ing where to catch smallies in the Quad City area. Every one says the Green River but I can not find them, or at least catch any. Where do you go to catch them.
thanks
CavScout

[Schoe]

I have seen guys work log and rock piles in the Rock River between Moline and Greenrock for Small and largemouth Bass with some success.

Also in the Mississippi at Sylvan Slough behind the old Farmall Tractor Plant. Work the limestone ledges for the bass.

[BassDude]

Hey man you should try highly reflective hard jerk baits up in the green river. run them down the laydowns with hard jerks and long pauses. i use Yozuri 3-D minnows in tennese shad and baby bass. I also use black and blue bitsy jigs i kill the smallies. Good luck chief.

[BassDude]

Another good place for smallies is around the bridge pillars under the cambells Island bridge.

[Schoe]

Sounds like you have a lot of fun with the Smallies, thats what it's all about. Schoe

[Environmentor]

I have never caught a smallmouth around the Q.C. area, nor have I ever seen anyone catch a true smallmouth locally. Even out shocking a couple times with the D.N.R. in the pools around Buffalo/Andulusia and Fairport and Muscatine I have never seen a smallmouth role up. I have seen plenty of people catch largemouths swearing their smallies (but they are always wrong). I am not saying the guys on this post are wrong, because I haven't fished most these areas that they are describing. I know smallmouth are around here, but in lower populations at all the pools and lakes I seem to fish.

However, a little north (like north of Clinton) I think the population increases drastically (I am guessing, because this is the only place I have seen them being caught). The best luck I have had with smallmouths is up north in Dubuque. Only fished the spot once, but the whole family caught dozens of smallmouths (and no largemouths). Downstream of the Dubuque Lock & Dam on the Illinois side has perfect conditions. Just fish right there off shore. There is also a little backwater pond there. Upstream past the dam there is a bunch of emergent vegetation - I would guess this holds alot of largemouth bass.

[CavScout]

I will be heading to Powerton Cooling Lake for a little smallie fishing on the weekend of the 25th. Any of you guys been there before? There are supposed to be some monsters in there..

[gofish]

cavscout my map book says theres a bait store there called "the bait place" in pekin. they say use anything flashy in early season(no suprise) maybe you can call ahead. you might want to make sure theyre pumping since 2 powerplants around here are offline. if i hadnt called ahead last week wouldve been bad news for me at clinton.

[Rainman4u2]

I will be heading to Powerton Cooling Lake for a little smallie fishing on the weekend of the 25th. Any of you guys been there before? There are supposed to be some monsters in there..

It's a big lake. Been there a couple of times. Fish the rock ledges on the opposite side of the discharge canal. I've seen them Drop shotting, using shad raps, and small spinners, while I was catfishing.

Another spot if you don't mind the walking(or riding a bike) is Snake Den Hollow down by Victoria Illinois. The last I knew, there were 5 lakes out there that held smallies. They are on the south side of the trail that goes around Lake McMaster, and about a 1/2 mile from the parking lot.

Oh, by the way, Woodhull isn't very far from Cambridge.:D

Ray

[CavScout]

Thanks for the tips Rainman, I will be in a boat when I am there. Woodhull is not far at all Rainman. I have been to Snake Den a few times. Havent had much luck there except for a once. Next time you are going give me a shout if you need a partner. Tomorrow starts my week off, I work a seven day on seven days off schedule. I usually dont have trouble finding time to fish.

[Rainman4u2]

You got it!!! I'm just finishing off 13 days in a row. When Spring gets here, we'll have to set up a date and time, and drag Schoe with.

Ray

[wewamohawk]

cavscout sounds like a real good schedule you got there at one time i uses to work out in the gulf and i worked 14 days and off 7 days that was nice but now i have lots of time to fish some honey dos but mostly fishing good luck the mohawk

[michbassman1]

Tube baits work great for smallies just about any where from inland lakes to all river systems , Remember to use quality jig heads , Owner or gamakasu are quailty , Save a buck and you'll pay for it on that big one of a life time , Try using a jig head with a red hook , seems to up the odds alittle , Also had a rattle into the tube or you can buy jigheads with rattles attached , give the tubes a try, try snap jigging them first then try to very the speed and jigging action , soon you'll find the right retrieve and hang on...............:)