Downstate Illinois
Central and Southern Illinois are home to some very good fishing lakes. Anglers target a variety of fish species, but the primary species of fish down here are largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. Mix in some smallmouth bass, muskie, walleye, bluegill and striped bass and you have a lot of species to target depending on what lake you are fishing.
Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois is home to Chicago and the suburbs of Chicago. This area has a lot of places to fish, however, with all the fishing pressure in this populated area, having success can be very hit or miss. Some of the better places to fish in this part of the state do offer some very good fishing opportunities though. On Lake Michigan, anglers have success off the shores of downtown Chicago and out of Waukegan and Winthrop Harbor. The cooling lakes offer some good fishing for largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass and catfish. For people that enjoy river fishing, the Illinois River is popular for its spring and fall sauger and white bass runs. There are some other places to fish as well throughout northern Illinois.
