Central Illinois Fishing Report – November 2nd, 2012

Coffeen Lake

Bass are good on topwater baits, crankbaits and plastics. Bluegills are fair on wax worms and fairly shallow catfish are good on dip baits, crawlers and cut bait, with some big flatheads being landed. Stripers are fair on deep running crankbaits.

Powerton

Crappies biting hard on minnows. Smallmouths fair on crankbaits and tubes. Some smallmouths being taken with little jigs. There have been reports of a few channel catfish but not very big ones. Asian carp are showing up in increased numbers throughout the lake. Flathead catfish have gone deep, but big blues are still being found.

Newton Lake

Bass good, but flooding has changed situation. Water clarity very murky. Some white bass were reported prior to the rains. Crappie fishing is a big question mark after a poor fall and few reports this winter so far. Catfish good.

Spring Lake

Bass slow. Crappies are  biting on tube jigs at the south end bays. Channel cats also biting on shad at the big turn on the south end.

Lake Bloomington

Bass fair on plastics, crankbaits and jigs along weeds or timber. Crappies slow to fair and little scattered but should improve on jigs and/or minnows. Catfish slow to fair on dipbaits, shad and crawlers. Walleye action slow but should improve with cooler weather.

Evergreen Lake

Crappie fishing is fair to good. Best crappie fishing is found over structure just offshore. Minnows are best bet, with a few being caught on light jigs.

Clinton Lake

Catfish going strong on shrimp. Below the spillway, anglers finding walleyes using Rapalas or sand blasters. Crappies being caught with jigs or minnows. White bass fair on bladebaits. Some walleyes being landed on Big Dudes. Reports of hybrids and walleyes below the spillway.