Evergreen Lake Fishing Report

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

Good numbers of saugeye are being caught using forward-facing, and side scanning, sonar while fishing from a boat. Fishing is better as anglers are focusing on areas with good numbers of saugeye. This is true when anglers are trolling or casting. Anglers fishing from the bank still have to search the old fashion way, via test casting, until fish are located.

The Illinois DNR has been stocking saugeye annually here, for three decades. Spring and Fall are the best seasons for catching saugeye, as they spend a great deal of time shallow. But they are caught year round.

SUMMER. Currently the water temperature is in the high 70's, and saugeye fishing is good. Throughout Summer, early in the morning, and from dusk until long after dark, are the best times to catch saugeye, as they move shallower to feed. Anglers report good catches on crankbaits, and jigs tipped with minnows. They are being caught up shallow around the mouth of coves, and on shallow flats, early and late. The rest of the time they are cruising flats and creek channel edges, where they are harder to locate. Most saugeye caught during the middle of the day are holding in 15 to 25 feet of water, where deep diving crankbaits, blade baits and jigs tipped with minnows.

FALL. Fall will bring cooler temperatures to shallow areas, drawing saugeye and baitfish into the shallow coves and bays. Jigs, swimbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits are all catching saugeye again.

WINTER. This Winter fishing for saugeye was decent through the ice. Saugeye often migrate to slow-moving waters below dams, during winter. They primarily feed on shad and other small fish, close to the bottom. Blade baits, jigs, spoons, and worms all work well while ice fishing.

SPRING. Anglers will find saugeye in the shallows, especially in rocky areas and inlet channels, where they will spawn once the water warms to the mid 40's. Afterwards, they move to shallow points, flats, shoals and ledges just off shore nearby their spawning locations. Bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers are catching them in 4 to 8 feet of water during low light hours. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits also work when saugeye are up shallow.

Current Fishing Report: 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.

SUMMER. A 3 fish limit and minimum length limit of 15", is improving the quality of the bass population here. Bass are feeding shallow early and late in the day, where they are being caught on topwater, crankbaits and swimbaits. Wacky-rigged stick worms are catching finicky bass, when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 18 to 25 feet deep. The best reports seem to be from anglers fishing main lake points.

FALL. As Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays, where spoons, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years.

WINTER. Winter will isolate them around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from at various depths when ice fishing, with weedy areas and drop-offs being prime spots. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. Once water temperatures in rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deeper wintering spots, to shallower water just outside spawning areas. Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and vibrating jigs typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are starting to focus on the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 4 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. Crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms and swimbaits are catching bass during this period.

Current Fishing Report: Very Good

Considered one of the best muskie lakes in the state, Evergreen Lake has a solid population of muskie, many around 40 inches long, and longer. The lake record muskie weighed nearly 40 pounds, and measured nearly 48 inches long. SUMMER. Deeper ledges, reefs, weedbeds, islands and channel edges are the primary areas to find muskie during the warmer months of Summer. Some of the larger muskie may also suspend in open water, just outside these areas. Trolling or drift fishing is producing some nice catches, using spoons, big spinners and deep diving crankbaits. Early and late in the day, and on cloudy and rainy days, noisy topwater baits are catching some quality musky.

FALL. Considered by many avid muskie anglers to be the best time to fish for muskie, Fall will find these predators back in the shallows, feeding heavily in preparation for winter. Noisy, flashy, and bright color lures are ideal during this time as they are quite aggressive. Jerkbaits and bass assassins are also a good choice.

WINTER. As Winter chills the water, muskie move deeper and hold on structure in 15 to 20 feet of water. Points, deep weedbeds, drop-offs, channel edges and corners around the mouths of rivers, are all good places to find them this time of year. Ice fishing is most productive early and late in the safe-ice season, but muskie are being caught all through the ice-fishing season. Cold water causes muskie to be less active in winter, due to slowed metabolism. Slow moving, or even motionless presentations are in order. Jigging spoons, ciscoes, shiners and suckers are favorites of muskie enthusiasts.

SPRING. Muskie will move from their deep wintering habitat into shallow bays and flats for Spring spawning. This begins once water temperatures get into the 50's. Noisy, flashy, and bright color lures are ideal during this time as they are quite aggressive. After the spawn, concentrate on weed lines, and drop-offs along the edges of weedy flats. Successful anglers use big spinners, bass assassins, and Johnson spoons.