Anyone fishing the Illinois/Iowa area may find it a bit strange at the moment. Within the past week there have been temperatures well above normal with readings in the mid-80's to 90. This has jumped water temperatures up fast. With it, fishing results in lakes and rivers have been very up and down. In one place you will hear of nice bass being caught on jig-n-pig (normal for this time of year), and another schooled up fish are hitting on crankbaits along a windy point. Still, other reports are of nothing.

The best areas are the shallower, northwest shores and coves of a lake, or windy points. Also, smaller bodies of water are starting to produce, such as farm lakes and ponds, or strip pit lakes.

The Mississippi River is going to have some slight flooding, which doesn't make it the best place to plan a fishing trip.

There will definitely be a shake up starting this Saturday, when the weather does a complete turn around. Snow is actually predicted for Saturday night. After 90 degrees? This doesn't seem possible. Next week highs will be 50 to 55, with lows in the 30's. Should make things interesting.

The cold front is coming through as this is being written, as I hear the thunder.

Hope to give you better reports soon.

By the way, my best fishing was with small spinnerbaits, using a pumping retrieve, in the backs of windy creeks and coves.
Dan

Fishing is starting to pick up in this area, especially on the smaller lakes. The weather is warmer, and the bass are starting to move.

My best lures have been Texas rigged Jelly Tubes (crawled through heavy cover, or along the original shore line in lakes effected by high water), the smaller (2") Mizmo tube rigged with an inserted lead head jig (fish with a slow pump near drop offs), and the Gambler Silver Pro Series willow leaf spin (used near shore line cover in the backs of creeks).