Crappie: We are starting to hear about crappie being caught with the cool nights recently. Lots of local forest preserves like Tampier, Saganashkee Slough, Arrowhead, and Lemont Quarries have already produced fish. Expect the season to get better as we progress through October. Anglers have been mostly using Fathead Minnows, Gulp Alive Minnows and Bobby Garland Plastics.
Trout: Trout Season is starting soon with the Catch and Release season already underway at some specific sites. We are stocked up on Inline Spinners, Adjustabubbles, Berkley Trout Dough, Small Treble Hooks, and everything that you need for a great fall season. Regular Season Opens October 19th!
Salmon/Steelhead: Salmon have been moving to crankbaits over spoons recently, but both have still been effective. Pick a harbor and go out, as they are still coming in and we continue to hear good reports. Floating spawn and pink trout worms is also effective. Steelhead are also pushing in with the Kings, but the main group will likely follow the last of the kings into the harbors and rivers, so don't miss it.
Bass: Lots of largemouth are still being caught in local neighborhood ponds on a variety of baits from Live Medium Roach Minnows to Flatside/Squarebill Cranks, Chatterbaits, Spinnerbaits, and Swimjigs. Don't forget the finesse tackle too as a follow up bait when covering water, like a Neko Rig, Shakey Head, and Small Jig. The Kankakee and Des Plaines Rivers are doing particularly well right now, but just go out and you are sure to catch bass that are moving to the bank. Lake Michigan is also beginning to produce some fun early fall smallmouth already.
Catfish: We only have about a week left of the season from some of our favorite Cooling Lakes. LaSalle has been lots of fun still, but don't forget the good Catfish bite on the Illinois Rivers by Morris, as well as all the opportunities on the Cal Sag Channel, Kankakee River and Des Plaines River. We expect with the above average temperatures that catfish will continue to bite consistently into November this year. We just received a restock of various catfish dip baits like Sonny's "Triple S", Bee Jays, Hog Wild, Docs and Wicked Sticky. We also have plenty of shad for anglers that are targeting better size catfish rather than great numbers.