SHABBONA LAKE
This 318-acre DeKalb County fishery is the best public bass lake north of Peoria.

Shabbona should be the template for future lakes in Illinois. The landscape was left essentially intact when the lake was flooded, including the buildings and silo of an entire farm.

That structure and an old roadbed and timber piles were augmented with cribs, rockpiles and other structure.

Beginning in mid-April, you may want to throw an orange Rat-L-Trap when the water temperature in the electric trolling motor area is between 43 and 48 degrees. That area and the nearby shoreline offer outstanding topwater action at dawn and dusk.

DNR fisheries surveys indicate an outstanding largemouth population, according to biologist Kenny Clodfelter. Catching these fish consistently requires a precise in-your-face presentation in close proximity to structure.

For more information, call (815) 824-2106.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER --
Pool No. 13
This 30,000-acre Mississippi River pool has countless places for bass -- primarily largemouths -- to hide. Fishing is good throughout the summer and into the fall with fish relating heavily to weeds, wood and rocks at certain times of the year.

Because river levels and the forage base influence bass location to a great extent, there are several things to look for when fishing this potentially hazardous water.

Weedy points of backwater islands where two channels converge are always good places to break out a search lure like a tandem spinnerbait. Any point that an isolated slough dumps into a side channel is also worth a couple of casts.

Pool No. 13 is a veritable sea of aquatic vegetation after summer arrives. When you see any type of wood in the weeds, fish it. Otherwise, look for water at least 4 feet deep adjacent to the weeds.

On the main river, rocky wing dams can be productive in late summer if the river is low. Keep one eye on the sky, however, watching for dive-bombing gulls chasing baitfish.

For further information about Pool No. 13, call Milo & Beaver’s Gas at (815) 273-3000.

Find more about Illinois fishing and hunting at: illinoisGameandFish.com