If you have any outdoor news, reports, or photos you'd like to share, please send to iloutdoors@comcast.net
Outdoor Reports and Photos - Photos are at the end of this blog
Illinois Deer Archery Update from the IL DNR
Through Sunday, October 15, 2017, Illinois archery deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of7,793 deer, compared to 7,738 for the same period in 2016.
Harvest to date has consisted of 69% does and 31% males (5340:2453). Top five counties were Jefferson (219), Fulton (201), Pike (201), Franklin (169), and Jackson (156).
Salmon Unlimited News
For the latest Salmon Unlimited Newsletter, CLICK HERE
Rend Lake Fishing Report by Randy Cordray
| SPECIES | RATING | BAIT OF CHOICE | SUGGESTED LOCATIONS | REGULATIONS |
| LARGEMOUTH BASS | Good | Minnows spinner baits, worms, and black and blue jigs. | Reports of fish being caught around Jackie Branch, Sandusky Cove, and below the dam. Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. Fish around bridges and along the rocks | 14” minimum length limit, 6 daily creel limit. 1 fish daily creel limit in PONDS 14” minimum length. |
| CRAPPIE
|
Excellent | Meal worms. Small & medium minnows. Quarter-ounce pink and white tub jigs. | Shallow water! Fish attractors! From shore, fish near structures, hot spots are Jackie Branch, Sandusky, Sailboat Harbor, Marcum coves, and Ina Boat Ramp. Try the Jackie Branch Breakwater and along Mine 21 Road. Fish the main lake drop off areas. | 25 fish daily creel limit with no more than 10 fish 10 inches or longer |
| BLUEGILL
|
Good | Small jigs, worms, meal worms, wax worms, crickets. | From shore try Sailboat Harbor and Mine 21 Road. Try fishing shallow with crickets, worms or small jigs. Fish in the back of necks and on flat shallow banks and on the rocks. | 10 fish daily creel limit in PONDS. |
| CHANNEL
CATFISH
|
Excellent | Large minnows, leeches, Hoss’s Hawg Bait, night crawlers, and Sonny’s stink bait. | Try leeches in moving water. Drift fish the flats. Set line 3-4’ from the shore over rocks. Try the Waltonville Dam, Turnip Patch, Jackie Branch, and North Sandusky Day Use Area. | 6 fish daily creel limit in PONDS.
Jugs must be attended at all times while fishing. |
| WHITE BASS | Good | In-line spinners, jig and curly tail grubs. | Reports of fish being caught around the 154 bridges. Fish around along the rocks and drop-offs Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. | 20 fish creel limit.
No more than 3 fish 17” or longer daily |
| Information as of: 10/15/2017
LAKE LEVEL: 404.89 AVERAGE POOL FOR THIS DATE: 405.24 WATER TEMP: 68°F |
Use of a minnow seine, cast net, or shad scoop for bait collecting within 1000 yards downstream of the Rend Lake dam and spillway is prohibited.
Maps of the Fish Attractor tree locations along with GPS readings are available at the Rend Lake Corps of Engineers Project Office. Contact Randy Cordray for more information at (618) 724-2493.
Lake Shelbyville Fishing Report by Steve Welch
With the overnight temps hovering around forty this week the crappie on the north end will and have been biting. These are the larger fish in the system since the water is more stained and the white crappie love that. Jigs are all you need one of our Deep Ledge jigs with a chartreuse plastic on the back. Brush in the ten-foot range now for the next six-weeks. Tight lining jigs with long ten-foot rods fished vertical right down in the brush.
All summer and fall I have buddies who have been filling their freezers with sauger speed trolling Flickershads across flats on the north end. Staying close to the drop offs and moving very fast 3 mph. This lake has an abundant population of both sauger and walleye.
Steve Welch
Crappie Specialties
Website: www.lakeshelbyvilleguide.com
Central Wisconsin Outdoor Report by Phil Schweik
deer seasons we have seen in years.
Niagara Falls USA Fishing Forecast from Destination Niagara USA
Recent rains earlier in the week triggered a big slug of salmon and trout into many of the Lake Ontario tributaries like 18 Mile Creek in Newfane. While the water is a bit high from all the rain, conditions should be good in a day or two. There’s plenty of fish in the system for anglers to catch. Scott Scheffler, Marina Director for the Town of Newfane and heading up Fisherman’s Park at Burt Dam, also noted that they have been using a Ranger ATV to haul people to and from the fishing areas, a benefit for those fishermen who could use a little helping hand for access. Fresh fish can be found in all of the deeper holes further down towards the harbor and fish are still being caught off the piers and in the lake according to Wes Walker at The Slippery Sinker. At least when there isn’t northeast or northwest wind chasing anglers off the piers. Casting spoons, spinners or stickbaits are all good approaches off the piers or from anchored boats. Another popular method is to use treated egg skein under a float. You can anchor or drift. Over in Wilson, Terry Swann of Wilson sends word they are picking up some perch off the piers, as well as some nice trout. Use spinners and spoons for trout; live bait for the perch.
The lower river salmon action has been continuing on a consistent clip to the delight of boat fishermen and shoreline anglers. Casting glow in the dark spinners and Little Gem spoons under low light conditions work best. Rat-L-Traps can also produce salmon, but some brown trout started showing up in the gorge this past week according to Mike Rzucidlo of Niagara Falls and they hit the rattlebaits and spinners. One angler, who preferred to remain nameless (because he called in sick) was 10 for 16 on salmon (9 kings and a coho) while fishing with his father in the gorge. Treated egg skein fished under a float did the trick. That was from shore! Sounds like some more fresh fish hit the river. The fishing platform has not been as productive as years past for some reason. Fish are available there. It won’t be long before lake trout start showing up to spawn. Remember that the season is closed now until the end of the year.
In the upper Niagara River, bass and walleye are still available. For musky, water temperatures are still in issue as Lake Erie is still 67 degrees, the warmest it’s ever been for this time of year. A lot of work has been accomplished on the 2018 version of the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo at the Conference and Event Center Niagara Falls. Dates will be Jan. 19-21. Mark your calendar. Check the website out atwww.niagarafishingexpo.com.
Bill Hilts, Jr. Outdoor Promotions Director
Lake of the Woods Minnesota Fishing Report by Joe Henry
The walleye bite remains strong! Report is very similar to last weeks. Walleyes are staged in front of Pine Island, Graceton Beach and Zippel Bay in 18-30'. Anglers sorting through a few small fish for every keeper. Most anchored up with jig and shiner. Pink, pink/white and gold have been the best colors. Reefs holding fish as well.
Rainy River anglers finding success up and down the river. Schools of shiners coming into river randomly right now. When they do, the walleyes are close behind. Some days excellent, some days catching fish but not a slam dunk based on whether shiners are moving through. Vertical jigging tipped with a shiner while anchored is the go to method. Some anglers trolling crankbaits with success as well. Smallmouth bass, pike and crappies showing up.
Up at the Northwest Angle, in MN waters walleyes are crushing jig and shiners. Orange and chartreuse were the hot colors this week. Big pike being caught trolling minnow baits. In Ontario waters, minnow/shiner have been effective off of points at depth of 18-26' while anchored or trolling. In addition to walleyes, crappies on fire and jumbo perch active! Some muskies being caught trolling. Lodging, charters and guides are available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.
Joe Henry | Executive Director | Lake of the Woods Tourism | LakeoftheWoodsMN.com
office: 800-382-3474 | Joe.Henry@LakeoftheWoodsMN.com
Filed under: Boating, Hunting, Outdoor News
Tags: Asian carp, bass, Bass Fishing, Boulder Junction, Crappie Fishing, deer hunting, fishing, Forest Lake Country Store, hunting, IL DNR, Illinois Outdoors, Land O Lakes, muskie fishing, Outdoor News, Outdoors, Smallmouth Bass, Southern Illinois, Walleye Fishing, Wildcat Lodge
