About the time the first nice summer day happens along, my first thought is to take my wife and children, load them into the car, and head out to do some fishing. There is truly something to be said for the experience of having fun catching fish with your family.

There's no shortage of great family fishing waters in Illinois. If you're wondering where to go, you don't have to look far from home The fish are always biting, and chances are good your destination holds something for every member of your family to enjoy. Photo courtesy of Ted Peck.

Illinois is home to scores of fantastic, kid-friendly waters. If you're trying to decide where to take the brood fishing this summer, visit a few of the hotspots outlined below. All are teeming with fish, have great access and facilities, and all are located within a stone's throw of some fantastic sidebar activities guaranteed to put a smile on everyone's face.

APPLE RIVER CANYON STATE PARK
Apple River Canyon State Park stands among the most breathtaking parks in Illinois and has some phenomenal smallmouth bass fishing in its namesake river!

"Smallmouths abound in every pool in the river," says site superintendent Jeff Hensal. "Twenty or more fish in a day is not uncommon. Whole night crawlers fished on a float or drifted on a small hook will keep everyone in fish. Small spinners work well, too."

Hensal also notes sunfish are abundant and easily taken with small worms. And if you're up for a bit of a trudge, Apple River Canyon manages little 20-acre Hanover Lake. This facility is undeveloped, access requires walking, and few bother with it.

"In Hanover Lake, hybrid sunfish are fabulous, catfish numerous, and largemouths abundant but small. If you go you're going to catch some fish," Hensal reports.

Apple River Canyon State Park is north of Stockton in Jo Daviess County. Hanover Lake is 20 minutes away, south of Hanover, off South Hanover Hill Road. Jo Daviess County is home to some spectacular attractions. For more information about Apple River Canyon State Park, call (815) 745-3302. For travel information, visit www.galena.org or call the Galena Chamber of Commerce, phone: (815) 777-9050.

SILVER SPRINGS STATE FISH& WILDLIFE AREA
Families in Chicagoland have a great opportunity in Silver Springs State Fish & Wildlife Area.

"This is the place to go with the kids," says fisheries biologist Rob Miller of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "There's good fishing for bluegills, crappie and bass, and excellent bank-fishing access to two main ponds."

Greg Freeman of Freeman's Sports Inc. in Yorkville, phone: (630) 553-0515, says youngsters can be kept busy "bringing in the 'gills with small hooks and wax worms or red worms, fished below a small float. For largemouths, try a night crawler on an un-weighted hook. Channel catfish are taken with stink bait on the bottom."

On premises, the Fox River also offers anglers a shot at smallmouth bass, walleyes, catfish and carp.

"For smallmouths, nothing beats a black-and-gold Rapala fished around the River Road Bridge," Freeman says. "Walleyes are good in the same area with twisters or minnows, and you can catch carp all day with corn or worms fished on the bottom."

If the fish aren't biting, there are hiking trails, picnicking, playground facilities and primitive camping. Nearby there's Raging Waves, Illinois' largest water park, phone (630) 882-6575 or at www.ragingwaves. com. The towns of Sandwich, Plano and Yorkville offer plenty of attractions and entertainment for visiting families.