March 31, 2016

Sangchris Lake: Bass are good on spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. Try casting along shorelines with emerging vegetation, if available. Catfish picking up on anything that smells: liver, shad, doughs. Crappies are good on minnows and on jigs fairly shallow along rocks near dam. Lake Bloomington: Bluegills biting good on worms. Crappies were excellent on minnows around

Crab Orchard Lake: Most crappies are still holding over deeper cover on minnows and jigs. Some anglers were also taking some bluegills near the riprap on a variety of baits. Catfish action is still slow. Largemouth bass fishing has been good on plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Drop lures deep and crank slow, as bass begin to become more active

Braidwood: Bank fishing was hot soon after the lake opened for the season. The southeast corner of the cooling lake was the most popular, as fish congregated there. Anglers are finding some good largemouths on spinnerbaits and swimjigs. There are some days that reaction strikes are the way to go, so don’t be afraid to bounce a crankbait off the rocks to trigger

Banquets/Fundraisers April 8: Sugar Hill WTU Banquet, 5:30 p.m., Lourdes Parish, Germantown. For more info call Jake Evans, 309-303-9988. April 8: Goose Lake Gobblers NWTF Banquet, 5:30 p.m., Jennifer’s Garden, Morris. For more info call Dan Snyder 815-791-0049. April 15: Illinois Trap & Skeet Club NWTF Banquet, 5 p.m., Interstate Center, Bloomington. For more info

Region I – Capt. Laura Petreikis CPO Thompson investigated a case involving an individual suspected to have harvested a 9-point buck without first purchasing licenses and permits. CPO Thompson met with the man at his residence and proceeded to interview him in reference to the allegations. After a short interview, the suspect informed CPO Thompson

LAKE MICHIGAN/METRO AREA LAKES Water in the Port Washington harbor and in Sauk Creek was murky after the area received heavy rainfalls. Conditions should improve as weather stabilizes. Brown trout and occasional steelhead have been caught in the harbor near the power plant discharge. Anglers have been using a variety of baits – spawn, shiners,

DOOR PENINSULA AND ALGOMA/KEWAUNEE AREA The ice is pretty much gone for the most part throughout the Door County Peninsula and now everyone has switched gears to the open-water opportunities that are almost endless here in the county. Brown trout fishing has started off with a bang just like it ended last year in December. Fishermen have