Fishing Report For Clinton Lake, IL

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

Bass fishing is currently experiencing major changes in the way anglers are approaching the sport. The expanded use of high-tech fish finders is giving anglers, who fish from a boat, a distinct advantage. The fishing hasn't really changed, but the catch rate has increased considerably. The advent of new lures and equipment has improved success for anglers fishing from the bank as well. Savvy anglers, who study bass patterns, continue to catch nice fish, with or without the new gadgets.

This power-plant lake provides warmer than usual water in the winter, extending the growing season. Largemouth bass, in the 4 lb to 7 lb class are not uncommon, and the typical bass are fat and healthy.

WINTER. The cold of Winter has isolated largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are currently in the low 40's, and bass can be found from 15 to 35 feet deep, slightly shallower on warm, sunny days. Often, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools in 5 or so feet deeper water. They are currently being caught around Parnell Bridge, and north arms near Mascoutin Cove. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs, finesse worms, or lipless crankbaits are often the key to getting bites.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. The section of the lake from Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, up to Parnell, has been good for many locals during spawning season. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 8 to 15 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 8 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 10 to 20 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they are typically caught in 6 to 10 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 8 to 15 feet deep. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Some of the best reports typically come from anglers fishing around the Dewitt Bridge, Mascoutin Cove, and rip-rap shorelines.

FALL. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 8 to 20 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Here flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 15 feet of water, or deeper. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.

Current Fishing Report: Very Good

Anglers are catching big, blue catfish using forward-facing sonar and other high-tech fish finders, originally designed for bass fishing. As a result, they are now catching more and bigger blues, by identifying specific targets. The catch rate is improving as anglers hone their skills with these new tools. Currently, new baits, line and rigging methods have also improved success for bank fishing enthusiasts. Savvy anglers, who study the life cycle and patterns of blue catfish, are still catching nice fish, with or without these new tools.

Clinton Lake is home to numerous fishing tournaments for blue catfish each year. These big cats have been stocked here for many years now, and anglers are catching big ones now.

WINTER. Now that the cold Winter has set in, big blues are being caught in deep holes, around 25 to 45 feet deep. Prime areas are in the main river channel and on deep channel ledges. Good reports are coming from the river channel in the deep basin, north arm channel edges near Mascoutin Cove, and channel swings near the Parnell Bridge. Here these catfish await warmer water in Spring. They are less aggressive now, but slow drifting, or dead sticking baits, can still trigger bites. Cut bait, or live bait taken from this lake are the top bait choice. Use slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs with enough weight to keep the bait bumping bottom as you drift or slow troll.

SPRING. Spring begins the aggressive feeding, in preparation for summer. Blues in early Spring are typically caught 15 to 30 feet deep in bays and coves, on shallow flats and along shallow ledges where baitfish school. Hot spots on this structure includes channel bends and sharp depth breaks. Transition zones between the main channel and secondary creek channels, and flats around creek mouths are also popular areas. In late Spring blues will stage for the spawn in water 10 to 20 feet deep, then spawn in 3 to 10 feet of water, around cover. Cut bait is the ideal bait this time of year, with locals preferring cut shad.

SUMMER. Early Summer is post-spawn season for big blue catfish. They follow big schools of baitfish, and feed heartily. Live shad is the preferred bait at night, while cut bait is catching nice blues during the day. Stay around channel edges and fish areas that have concentrations of bait. Once Summer weather has warmed lake water into the 80's, blue catfish move closer to the main basins. During hottest months blue cats commonly suspend along the thermocline where it intersects channel ledges. They hold in deeper feeding areas, 12 to 25 feet deep, preferring to remain in slow-moving current when available. Blues, including some of the bigger ones, are caught while slow trolling, or drifting ledges, adjacent to river channels, or within the channel along the edges. The lake served up a 70-pound blue in 2025, and 25- to 40-pound fish are regularly caught. Anglers fishing from the bank are catching a few fish, but boats are the preferred approach. Late Summer, if the water temperature rises above the high 70's, they become less active, and fishing can slow down.

FALL. Fall is one of the better times of year for catching blue catfish. Early in Fall they cruise the shallows in 10 to 30 feet of water, in search of food. Areas with good reports include points and channel edges in the north and mid-lake basin, and channel bends around Parnell Bridge. Later, in the season they migrate away from the shallows and current, to moderately deeper holes in the main body of the lake, around 25 to 35 feet deep. They remain in these areas and feed aggressively in preparation for Winter.

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

Both black and white crappie are being caught using new technologies, reducing the amount of time it takes to locate schools. Forward-facing sonar is allowing anglers, fishing from a boat, to locate schools and focus fishing time on areas with good numbers of crappie. This is true for trolling or casting. Anglers fishing from the bank still have to search the old fashion way, via test casting, until a school is located. Then, they are catching them just as anglers have for many decades.

Crappie fishing has been exceptionally good since the first week in April, and continued throughout Spring, Summer and Fall.

WINTER. The current water temperature is in the mid 40's, and now that the shallows have turned cold, crappie have migrated to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. Currently they are being caught using a very slow presentation, in 15 to 30 feet of water. Most are caught around creek channel bends, submerged timber, deep brush piles, and main-lake structure. Good reports are coming from drop offs and brush, in the north-arm creek channels and Mascoutin Cove. When they suspend in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 10 to 14 feet of water to feed. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 8 to 15 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as both black crappie and white crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 6 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. Inlets around the Clinton Lake State Recreation Area and Mascoutin Cove are classic crappie spawning areas. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in slightly deeper water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 8 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 10 to 20 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, and artificial fish habitat around the SRA access. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

FALL. As Fall begins warming the shallows, baitfish, move into shallow flats, coves and bays, which draws crappie into these areas. They will be feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 8 to 20 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late Fall which turns the shallows cold, starts pushing crappie deeper, toward winter holding areas. Small flutter spoons, fished in 10 to 20 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results typically come around points, creek channels, and brush piles.