MAZON RIVER
Head out to Grundy County and you'll encounter the Mazon River. Although it averages less than 30 feet across in some areas, this waterway is home to an awesome population of channel catfish and some big flatheads.

"Channel catfish average about 2 pounds in the Mazon, although it's not uncommon to find fish up to about 8," said Jon Medder of Jon's Bait & Tackle Shop in South Wilmington. "They relate well to holes and deep, slow runs of stream, especially when the water is low. Cheese baits, livers and leeches work well."

Flatheads are abundant in some stretches, most notably from Pine Bluff Road to Morris.

"Flatheads average about 10 to 15 pounds," Medder said. "Live bluegills or bullheads work well, but we also catch a lot of flatheads on night crawlers." Target deep undercut banks, logjams or washed up trees for best results.

The best float trips to be had on the Mazon include the run from Route 113 west of Coal City to Pine Bluff Road, and from Pine Bluff to Stratton Park in Morris. Good floating is dependent upon adequate water levels, and some landowner permission may be necessary to access some sections of the stream.

For more information, contact Jon's Bait Shop at (815) 237-2822. Travel and lodging information is available from the Morris Area Chamber of Commerce at (815) 942-0113.

PECATONICA RIVER
The Pecatonica River drains a considerable portion of Stephenson and Winnebago counties. It winds in an easterly direction through mostly forest and sparse meadow, and is perhaps one of the best catfish streams in northwestern Illinois.

Channel catfish numbers are high here, bolstered by migrating cats from the Rock River. The stream also has a smattering of flatheads. Most catfish run up to about 4 pounds. Ten-pounders are not unheard of, especially in the lower reaches, and finding upward of 30 whiskered critters is possible in a day. Cut bait -- either drifted with a float or fished on a sinker rig -- catches cats, but chicken livers, crawlers and stink bait will also produce.

The stretch from Sumner Park in Pecatonica to Macktown Forest Preserve yields the best cat water, and there are numerous access points. Floating is generally good, with few obstructions.

For more information, contact the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District at (815) 877-6124. Travel and lodging information is available at (815) 233-1350.

SANGAMON RIVER
One catfish stream in central Illinois that Abe Lincoln floated in pursuit of big catfish is the Sangamon River. Flowing through our state capital, big channel cats and flatheads are very abundant, and this river provides one of the best catfishing opportunities in the central third of our state.

"In our last basin survey, 56 channel catfish were collected from the upper Sangamon River Basin," said DNR biologist Trent Thomas. "Of these, 38 were taken from the stretch around Roby in Christian County. This indicates a thriving population of fish."

The Sangamon is generally slow, winding through a mix of forest and meadow. Channel catfish relate well to brushy holes and washed-out banks.