Fishing Resorts & Lodges in Illinois
- Reel in the big one at an Illinois resort.Fishing image by Antonio Oquias from Fotolia.com
From perch, trout and salmon in Lake Michigan, to the channel catfish that call Illinois' 13,000 miles of streams and rivers home, the state offers a broad range of fishing opportunities. The largest fish ever caught in Illinois was a 157-pound alligator gar. This monster fish was pulled from the Mississippi River in 1944, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Lodges and resorts can offer a range of amenities to enhance any angler's fishing vacation. - The Heartland Lodge and Resort, located in Nebo, offers guided fishing trips on the Mississippi River. Depending on the time of year, you may fish for sturgeon, bass, buffalo, carp, blue catfish, channel catfish, drum perch, Flathead catfish or walleye. Choose from a half-day, four-hour trip or a full-day, eight-hour trip. Fishing boats take a maximum of three passengers. According to the lodge, the best fishing is in May, June, July, August and October. Other lodge activities include hunting, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and golf.
- The Lick Creek Game Preserve in Pekin is located on a 55-acre lake. Guests can fish for bass, blue gill, catfish and crappie. Boats with trolling motors are permitted. The preserve maintains a boat ramp. Fishing season runs from March 15 through November 1. Guests can fish from sunrise until sunset from boats and from sunrise until 10 pm from the shore. Stay at the lakeside campground. The Lick Creek Game Preserve requires membership, but guests can purchase daily passes.
- Rend Lake Resort, located in Whittington, offers fishing trips. Spend a full day fishing for crappie on Rend Lake. Trips are guided and include bait, tackle, boat and a meal at the resort's restaurant or lounge. Crappie fishing is best in the fall and the spring. If you prefer to fish on your own, rent a fishing boat from the resort. Boats can be rented by the hour, by the half day or for a full day. Other resort activities include hunting, mountain biking, horseback riding, tennis and golf.
- Pittsfield's Pine Lakes Resort is set in a 105-acre campground on a 45-acre lake. The lake is stocked with several species of fish. You don't need a fishing license to fish at Pine Lakes Resorts, but you must pay a daily fee. The resort operates annual fishing contests for children ages 12 and under. Stay in the resort's campground or rent a two-bedroom cottage. Other activities include boating, volleyball, basketball, horseshoes and swimming.
