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Lake Info and Reports: Twin Lakes Rec Area (Donut Lake) Resources: Walleye Length Conversion Chart Cook County Forest Preserve District Illinois Department of Natural Resources Other:
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Fishing Tips I have long been an advocate of the "keep it simple" approach to successful fishing. By this, I mean that you don't need a $300 rod and reel, or hundreds of dollars worth of tackle to catch fish. It is, however, necessary to be ready for different conditions and to have the right tackle for the particular fish you are targeting. I personally have 5 rod and reel combinations that I use regularly. The include ultra-light, medium-action, and heavy-action rigs. The ultra-light has 2lb test line and is actually one of my most frequently used setups. It is perfect for bluegill, crappie, rockbass, and even for areas I know that have smaller largemouth bass. I suggest to always keep an ultra light rig with you and some small jigs. Panfish have a hard time resisting small jigs. And when the big fish aren't to be found, the ultra-light setup can keep you from getting "skunked". My favorite lure for my ultra light is a Berkley PowerBait 1" White Power Grub on a white 1/32 ounce jig head. Wax worms make great live bait for ultra-light fishing, but I find I actually have better luck and catch a better variety of fish using small jigs. Medium-action rigs are the most common. They are generally around 6 feet in length and a decent medium-action spinning-reel will hold 6-12lb test line. A decent medium-action rod & reel combo can be had for around $40.00. Less can be spent, and of course, much more can be spent, but $40 will do nicely. The variety of lures and baits for medium-casting action is endless. However, there are basic lures that all should have. They include: plastic worms, crank baits, top-water lures, spinner baits, and jigs. A Texas-rigged plastic worm is the most effective bass lure one can use. Plastic worms come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, but a 7inch natural colored worm will almost always do the trick. Cranks baits work by basically imitating smaller fish on which the big fish prey. Again, the come in all colors and varieties. Some dive deep, some are shallow runners, others suspend, and some float. My personal favorite is a Rapala Husky Jerk. It seems to be the most versitile and i've caught hundreds of fish with them. But again, the fish may be attracted on a particular day to something else so have a few different crank baits on hand. Spinner baits are good for covering a large area of water in a small amount of time. If fish are really active, spinner baits will find them. One of the most important elements of a spinner bait can be the retrieve speed. Make sure to vary the speed on different casts until the fish bites. Top-water lures are the most fun. They are most effective early morning and late, and when the conditions are calm. A pop'r bait or zara spook, tossed into a clearing near lily-pads on a quiet, calm morning can be deadly. The excitement of the fish "crashing" the lure is one of the things that makes fishing so exciting. Heavy-action rigs can be for targeting really large fish such as stripers, northern pike, muskie, and catfish. When I fish for catfish in the summer time, i'll use the heavy action rig and use chicken livers for bait in the evening time. This technique can produce some real nice catfish.
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