Photo by Ron Sinfelt

It can honestly be said that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources really knows how to mix business with pleasure.

North to south, power-generating facilities provide much needed electricity to residents of the Prairie State, while offering Illinois anglers some of the best early-season open-water fishing to be found anywhere.

It doesn't matter what you enjoy fishing for, our cooling lakes are shaping up for an incredible year, and chances are good that one of them is near you. So if you like fishing for striped bass, largemouths, catfish and a few other species, come on along for the boat ride!

BALDWIN LAKE
Baldwin Lake in the Kaskaskia River SWFA should be a definite pilgrimage for winter anglers this year.

Biologist Fred Cronin said largemouth bass are the spotlight of this 2,018-acre lake.

"Baldwin is an excellent lake to find good numbers of 3- and 4-pound bass," said Cronin.

Target the riprap banks and points throughout the lake with shad-imitating crankbaits, lipless rattling lures, spinnerbaits, plastics and the traditional assortment of largemouth offerings.

Hybrid striped bass at Baldwin this winter will be another main attraction.

"There are superb numbers of fish in the 3- to 5-pound range," said Cronin.

Most anglers target stripers with shad-imitating crankbaits, hair jigs, roadrunners and blade baits.

Catfish enthusiasts won't be disappointed either. According to Cronin, channel cats generally run in the 10- to 15-inch range, and anglers have no trouble catching their limit. Big blue catfish in the 40- to 50-pound range are caught often. Cut bait, chicken livers and big minnows are among the best offerings.

According to Cronin, the best winter fishing is found near the discharge in the northeast corner of the lake.

Baldwin Lake has a two-lane boat ramp and a maximum motor size of 50 horsepower or less. For more information, contact the Kaskaskia River SWFA at (618) 785-2555.

BRAIDWOOD LAKE
The opening-morning lines waiting to get in this 2,640-acre Will County cooler can exceed a mile, but this is for good reason: Fishing on Braidwood Lake can be phenomenal.

Largemouth bass are the perennial draw here. Most fish range between 14 and 16 inches, 4-pounders are common, and fish up to about 7 pounds are possible. Early bass relate well to shoreline structure. Shad-colored crankbaits and spinnerbaits are productive. Later, as fishing pressure intensifies, offshore structures such as breaklines, flooded strip mines, midlake humps and points attract fish.

Catfishermen won't be disappointed either. Most channel cats average between 12 and 18 inches, but channels and blue catfish surpassing 10 pounds and flathead catfish surpassing 25 pounds are available. Cut bait, night crawlers and the gamut of stinky catfish offerings will hook 'em.

Anglers can likewise expect to find good numbers of 6- to 8-inch bluegills throughout Braidwood. Anglers using minnows take crappies with some regularity. And good numbers of smallmouths in the 2- to 4-pound class are caught annually. In the early season, target the warm south end of the lake.

Braidwood Lake opens annually on March 1. Two boat launching facilities are located on site. For information, contact Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA at (815) 237-0063.

CLINTON LAKE
At 4,900 acres, Clinton Lake has plenty of water, and enough fish to keep everybody happy.

"We're seeing lots of good-sized largemouths in Clinton," said DNR biologist Mike Garthaus. "Our fall survey collected 40 to 50 fish per hour, with 30 percent exceeding 15 inches."

Look for early bass to be relating to wood and cover in the creek's various arms. Jig-and-trailer combinations, spinnerbaits and shad-imitating crankbaits are good bets to use.

For those who enjoy chasing walleyes, Garthaus said the population is very strong.

"Last fall, 84 percent of the sampling we caught exceeded the legal size of 14 inches," he said. "And some big walleyes swim here too."