8/27/2010  

Baldwin Lake - Fishing has improved in the past week. Anglers are picking up a few stripers. Catfish action has been good on cut bait. Catfish anglers are taking fish off the bottom. Bluegill and bass have been slow.

Carlyle Lake - White bass are rated excellent around the islands, silos and over main lake humps. The best action has been on slab spoons or Little Georges. Anglers trolling crank baits in the same areas are picking up some sauger. Catfish are very good on night crawlers, cut baits and stink baits. Many anglers are reporting success drift fishing shrimp. In the tailwater, catfish are the best bet on cut bait, night crawlers and stink baits. White bass are rated good on rooster tails, jigs and minnows. Some sauger are being caught with a vertical jig presentation on overcast days.

Crab Orchard - Crappie action remains steady. Fish are holding over cover and sets in 4 to 8 feet of water. Minnows and jigs are equally effective. Catfish are being caught in good numbers on cheese baits, cut bait and leeches. Bluegill are still being caught in good numbers near the bank. A variety of baits have been effective. Bass action is spotty.

Horseshoe Lake - Catfish anglers are still reporting success drift fishing night crawlers and chicken livers just off the bottom in the middle of the lake. Some crappie are being caught on minnows and jigs around the base of single trees in the middle of the lake.

Kinkaid Lake - The water temperature has dropped to 87 degrees. Bass action has been good on topwater baits fished over the top of weed beds. Crappie are still holding in 12 to 18 feet of water. Minnows have been the primary bait. Bluegill action is excellent. Anglers are taking good numbers of keepers in 4 to 6 feet of water, specifically in shady areas. Bluegill are being caught on a variety of baits. Catfish action has been best at night. Most catfish are being caught on cut bait. A few white bass are being caught.

Lake Murphysboro - Crappie anglers are finding fish in 10 to 18 feet of water. Crappie are rated slow with minnows being the best bet. Bluegill are still good on a variety of baits. The best action has been in 2 to 4 feet of water. Catfish are being caught at night on night crawlers and cut bait. Bass action is spotty at best.

Lake of Egypt - Bass action remains fair. Bass have moved closer to the surface, the best fish are being caught at 4 to 8 feet. Topwater baits and soft plastics fished around mats of grass have been productive. Catfish action has improved in the past week on cut bait and shrimp. A few crappie are being caught at about 15 to 20 feet in the weed beds and brush piles.

Ohio River-Smithland Pool - The river is at normal pool and clear. Catfish action has been good on the river on night crawlers and stink baits. Bass action is fair to slow. Bluegill are good in the creeks and river. Fish are holding to cover close the banks. Red wigglers are the primary bait. Crappie action is slow.

Rend Lake - The lake is slightly above normal pool and water temperature is 82 degrees. Catfish are still rated excellent on cut shad, night crawlers, stink baits, large minnows and leeches. Some anglers are drift fishing with leeches and night crawlers. Others are reporting success with various baits around rip rap, mouths of creeks and shallow necks. Bass are rated good on soft plastics, Rat-L-Traps and crank baits fished near the Route 154 bridges, over lay downs and weed beds. White bass are also good on jigs and curly tails fished near bridges and on main lake humps. Crappie are fair in 6-8 feet of water over sets or in 1 to 3 feet of water near stumps. Minnows are more productive than jigs. Bluegill are fair on crickets worms and small jigs.