7/23/10  

Baldwin Lake - Catfish action has been good on the south end of the lake on cut bait. Some bass are being caught at the south end of the lake on crank baits and jigs. Some bluegill are being caught on wax worms.

Carlyle Lake - Catfish are the best bet in the lake. Anglers are reporting good catches on crickets, night crawlers, cut bait and shad gut. White bass are also rated excellent around the islands and silos. Little Georges are the most productive bait. Crappie are fair on minnows or jigs fished over cover six feet or deeper. In the tailwater, catfish are being caught in good numbers on cut bait, night crawlers and stink baits. White bass are also rated good on rooster tails. Crappie are fair at the river.

Crab Orchard - Fishing traffic is light, but fishing is still fair. Crappie action is still fair to good. Anglers are taking fish over brush or sets in five to 12 feet of water. Minnows and jigs are equally effective. Catfish action remains steady on stink baits, leeches and cut bait. Some fish are still being caught in shallow areas. Bluegill anglers are taking good numbers of fish in shallow areas. Meal worms, wax worms and crickets are all effective. Bass remain steady on a variety of baits, although soft plastics and spinner baits have been productive.

Horseshoe Lake - Crappie anglers are still catching a few fish around individual trees in the middle of the lake. Fish are holding close to the bottom. Minnows and jigs fished at the base of trees have been effective. Catfish anglers are still reporting success drift fishing night crawlers or chicken livers just off the bottom.

Kinkaid Lake - Fishing traffic has been light. Despite the hot weather anglers are still catching fair numbers of bluegill. Some fish are still holding in shallow areas and can be caught on meal worms, wax worms and crickets. Some bass anglers are reporting catching fair numbers of fish in late afternoon through the evening. Catfish anglers are also picking up some fish on stink baits, cut bait, night crawlers and stink baits. Crappie are slow.

Lake Murphysboro - Bass action has been fair. Anglers are reporting bass feeding actively on the surface. Bluegill and redear are suspended in the two feet of water 10 to 12 feet deep. Most fish are holding in shady areas. Meal worms, wax worms, red wigglers and crickets are all effective. Catfish are also rated fair to good on a variety of natural baits. Crappie are slow.

Lake of Egypt - Bass are the best bet. Anglers are working deep points with soft plastics and jigs. The best action has been in the evenings and into the night. Some anglers are still picking up some catfish on chicken liver, shrimp and cut bait.

Mermet Lake - Fishing traffic has been slow. The best action has been for catfish and bluegill. Catfish anglers have been tight lining natural baits around the rip rap. Others are reporting some success using a vertical presentation in the lily pads.

Ohio River-Smithland Pool - The river is at normal pool. The river and creeks are clear. Bluegill and bass action has been fair. Grand Pierre and Lusk creeks have been the most productive. Crickets have been the favorite bluegill baits. Bass anglers are reporting success on a variety of baits.

Rend Lake - Catfish remain the best bet. Anglers are reporting good success on baits ranging from cut shad, night crawlers, stink baits, minnows and leeches. Some anglers are drift fishing with leeches and night crawlers. Fish are being caught around the rip rap, near the mouths of creeks in shallow necks and main lake flats. White bass are rated good on jigs and curly tails fished around the bridges or main lake flats. Bass are rated good on soft plastics, crank baits and jigs around the Route 154 bridges, in the bushes around lay downs, rip rap and weed beds. Bluegill are still rated good on crickets, worms and small jigs. The best bluegill action has been in the backs of necks, shallow banks and near rip rap. Crappie are fair over brush or sets in six to 14 feet of water. Minnows are currently out-producing jigs. The lake is at normal pool and water temperature is 82 degrees.