Heidecke
Lake Morris,
IL
Heidecke Lake
Fishing Information and Fishing Reports
Heidecke
Lake is one of the premier fishing lakes in Illinois. At
any given time, one can expect to catch a monster catfish, smallmouth
bass, walleye, hybrid striped bass, and many other fish.
Get the latest Heidecke Lake fishing reports and conditions on our message boards!
Directions
to Heidecke Lake: I-55
to Lorenzo road. Lorenzo/Pine Bluff west just past 2nd Railroad
tracks to Dresden Road and turn right. Do not enter Com Ed facility,
keep going about 4.5 miles and road ends right at entrance. Plenty
of free parking.
Bait Shops
near Heidecke Lake: Graybeard's Bait & Boat is the new
concessionaire located at the Heidecke Lake boat ramp. They will
have boat rentals, live bait, tackle, and a grill! Look for more
information about Graybeard's soon. Contact them at 815-941-1504.
Also... Angelo's Bait is located in Wilmington, about 10 minutes
south of Heidecke.
Known Species
in Heidecke Lake: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye,
Musky, White Bass, Striped Bass, Yellow Bass, Hybrid Bass,
Catfish, Bullhead, Bluegill, Freshwater Drum, Warmouth, Carp.
Jay's General
Comments: Heidecke Lake is one of the best lakes to fish in
the entire region! This is where you fish for the big ones. Heidecke
Lake is quite an interesting lake. There is virtually no vegetation,
and the lake is, well, a cooling lake for a power plant and it looks
like it. But in 2005, the power plant was shut down so Heidecke
may be taking on a whole new persona. Look for vegetation to increase,
and for some of the fish to "spread out" and be in different
parts of the lake. This could be quite an interesting year for Heidecke.
I'll be adding info as it becomes available.
It's not uncommon to come away with a fish of 15 pounds from this
lake. Even in bad weather fish can be had. The shore can be
fished rather eaisly but be carefull of the rip rap shore line as
it is quite easy to turn an ankle on the rocks. A bicycle is helpfull
for traveling the shore line, especially out on the dike. This lake
is frequently listed as a hot spot by local reports and I wish to
spend much more time working this body of water. Boat launching
is available. There is no camping. Also, bring an umbrella
on sunny days. I cannot stress this enough! The sun
will eat you alive! Bring plenty of water to drink, sunscreen, long-sleeved
shirt and jeans.
There are bathrooms
located at the parking lot and a porta-potty and the start of the
dikea mile out on the dike as well.
Additional
Info: Contact the Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife area
at 815-942-6352
Heidecke Lake Report: May 6, 2006 -- Jason W. Norris
Shore fished Heidecke Lake from 6:30am-1pm. Temps in mid 40's-mid 50's sunny, very light NE winds.
Got there at the gate opening and secured a spot under the the southwest corner of the bridge. Minnows produced small walleye 10"-14", and 2 smallnouth bass 13.5" and 14". One smallmouth bass was caught on a Rapala X-Rap. The best walleye method was the minnows right off the bottom.
Another angler 30 yards down caught a 15+ pound hybrid striped bass on cut bait (sliced up bluegill).
Reports from around the lake were very slow. One guy on the north side of the dyke by the bridge had several small-medium hybrids on medium roaches/crawlers.
Total catch:
Jason - 2 walleye
Augy - 3 smallmouth bass
Tony - 4 walleye
Heidecke Report: April 22, 2006 -- Jason W. Norris
Temps in the 50's early to 60's later. Strong west winds 10-20mph. Mix of clouds and sun.
Rented a boat from the very nice Steve Anderson of Greybeards Bait & Boat. Hit the water at 7am and worked several areas. The only fish was a 14" walleye caught by Augy at 11:15am with a nightcrawler on the wind blown south side of the dike. Brought the boat back at noon and headed to the bank fishing area. Strong winds. Worked the same spot on the dike from shore. Managed a few nice white bass with bottom rigged crawlers. Threw several baits for other fish but nothing. About 6.5 hours on the water.
Other anglers reported small walleye near the dike on bottom rigged crawlers. Also a few nice catfish and very few, but some smaller sized hybrids. Shore fishing seemed to out produce boat fishing today.
Heidecke
Lake 2005 Fishing Reports:
Report:
July 23, 2005 -- Jason W. Norris
Temps in the 80's, mostly cloudy, SE winds 5-15mph. Fished from
6pm to 8pm. Was hoping for some stripers, bass, walleye, etc. Big
mistake. I was skunked. Another angler caught a few nice catfish
using bright colored floating jigheads with leeches a mile out on
the dike. Boaters reported Hybrids with topwaters.
Reports
Archive:
Report:
August 8, 1998 - Jason W. Norris
Caught several Yellow bass right before
sunset. That's about it. Area was all the way to the left when entering
the shoreline area in a small beach like spot. Not very deep. Used
nightcrawlers. Did not witness any other fish caught. Southwest
winds, light, with a very hot and bright sun!
Report:
August 15, 1998 - Jason W. Norris
Same report as above. This time I tried working the
center dyke but nothing was to be found. The heat and sun were unbearable.
There is absoultely no shade on this lake.
Report:
September 19, 1998 - Jason W. Norris
Not
a bad day. The temp was in the mid 80's with a hazy sun followed
by some much needed clouds. We arrived at about 3:30pm and headed
out on the dike. Here's the take: 1 yellow bass (small) on a crawler
off the bottom, one13-inch smallmouth on a slip bobber and minnow,
one13-inch largemouth on a crawler and bobber, one1-pound drum on
a crawler on bottom, 3 channel cats (all under 10 inches) on bottom
rigged crawlers, 2 nice size bluegills on crawlers, 2 warmouth (small)
on minnow and slip bobber. The sun finally took a break about 4:30
and that's when the action began. We fished the south side of the
dike right between the first and 2nd bends (approx 6000 feet out).
Other fisherman reported smallmouth on crankbaits and a 22 inch
muskie on a medium sized gray Rapala from shore as well.
Report:
April 4, 1999 -- Jason W. Norris
Very sunny,
strong south east winds, shore fished from 2:45pm-7:15pm. My 1st
muskie! Only 18 inches, but fun as hell! Got 'em on a small rattle-trap
right by where the dike starts on the right hand side. Also managed
a few white bass and a largemouth bass near the bridge with jigs
and with crawlers. Many other anglers were catching real nice walleye
and hybrids, especially near the bridge.
Report:
April 17, 1999 -- Jason W. Norris
Got a very late
start and was only able to fish from 6pm to 7:15pm. Managed 1 small
walleye by the bridge on a nightcrawler. That's it. Conditions were
cloudy, east winds around 10mph with temps in the 40's. Other anglers
had some impressive catches of hybrids, striped bass, white bass
and walleye. The fish ranged up to about 8 pounds.
Report:
April 18, 1999 -- Jason W. Norris
Shore fished
from 2:30pm to 6pm. Sunny and cold. Got skunked. Others were getting
some walleye and hybrids by the bridge.
Report:
April 24, 1999 -- Jason W. Norris
To make a long
story short... got skunked. Worked the shore in the afternoon. Northeast
winds, temps in the low 50's. Plant was not pumping so that could
be the culprit.
Report:
April 25, 1999 -- Jason W. Norris
Action was still
slow but plant was pumping. Got skunked again. Some bass were taken
by other anglers. One guy got a real nice 18 inch smallie on a medium
roach about 50 yards past the bridge on the north side. Action by
the bridge heated up around sunset and the hybrids were hitting.
Report:
May 1, 1999 -- Jason W. Norris
Sunny, temps
in the 60's, light south east wind. Worked the shore from 2:30pm
to 6:30pm Another slow day. Only catch was a 16 inch smallie on
the north side of the dike about 15 yards east of the bridge using
a 1/16 oz jig with a leech.
Report:
June 6, 1999 -- Jason W. Norris
Sunny, then
clouds came in, temps in the 80's. Very strong southwest winds.
Fished from 3:30pm to 7:30pm. Hardly anyone there! We actually got
a spot under the bridge on the north side. Another slow outing.
All we got was 1 small largemouth bass and 1 white bass. One guy
in the same spot reported 6 hybrids earlier. Saw a few small walleye
caught and a 4 pound drum. We used crawlers, minnows and leeches.
Got both of the fish on crawlers.
Report:
April 14, 2001 -- Jason W. Norris
Partly sunny,
winds WNW 15mph, temps in the 60's. Worked the dike from shore from
1:15pm to 4:30pm. Very little action. Plant was not running. Lots
of shore fisherman using mostly live bait and waiting. This did
produce a few fish for some. Mainly yellow bass ans small hybrids.
Nothing to write home about. I managed one very small smallmouth
out on the dike with a small jig cast right along the shore. Also
got 1 bluegill with a nightcrawler. One guy had "the spot" out on
the dike and was catching small whites, yellows, and hybrids on
almost every cast. But all small. I had an inline spinner stolen
after a very short battle by what was probably a muskie being that
the line broke in no time. This was a big fish! My buddy and
I worked several lures (crank baits, jigs, you name it) and got
nothing except for my tiny smallmouth and would-be muskie that got
away. Days like this are really not worth the 76 mile drive. Next
time, i'm going to call and see if the plant is running first.
