The Kankakee River flows for 52 miles, offering a lot of good walleye spots, according to owner Nick Carr of the Kankakee River Trading Post in Kankakee. Three of the best fishing holes in his neck of the woods are above and below the Kankakee Dam and near the Kankakee State Park.
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Are there walleye in the Kankakee River?
The scenic Kankakee River and its primary tribu- tary, the Iroquois, are streams offering excellent fishing opportunities in a section of the state where fishing areas are in high demand. Good popula- tions of smallmouth bass, walleye, northern, rock bass, channel catfish and crappie are found in the system.
Where is the best walleye fishing in Indiana?
- Bass Lake (Starke County)
- Big Turkey (Steuben and LaGrange counties)
- Brookville Lake (Franklin and Union counties)
- Cagles Mill Lake (Putnam and Owen counties)
- Clear Lake (Steuben County)
- Crooked Lake (Steuben County)
- Kokomo Reservoir (Howard County)
- Lake Freeman (White and Carroll counties)
What fish are in the Kankakee River in Indiana?
Primary species include bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, Northern pike, redear, and walleye.
Where is the best place to catch walleye?
- Lake Francis Case, South Dakota.
- Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota.
- Dale Hollow Lake, Tennessee.
- Lake of the Woods, Minnesota.
- Saginaw Bay, Michigan.
- Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin.
How is the fishing in Kankakee River?
The best smallmouth action occurs in early spring and fall. Spinners, crank baits, jigs and similar artificials are good on the spunky fish, but minnows, worms, frogs and crayfish also can produce. Riffles, creek mouths and fast water below dams are good for “bronzebacks.”
How deep is the Kankakee River?
The width of the main channel now varies from 75 to 180 feet with an average depth of 4-5 feet. The Kankakee’s average fall is approximately 1 foot per river mile and flow is generally at 3-4 miles per hour.
Are there trout in the Kankakee River?
Kankakee River This locale offers close proximity to Chicago, and features smallmouth and largemouth bass, crappies, as well as stocked trout. You can wade or canoe and there are many access points to make your adventure easier.
Are there flathead catfish in the Kankakee River?
Flathead Catfish were mostly absent from collections before 1990. Abundance is still rather low but they have increased is the last few surveys and now are found at most of the 13 mainstem stations. Current Status and Long-Term Trends for Kankakee River Sport Fishes (summer surveys).
What is the best bait for walleye?
Live bait can be highly successful for walleye, which usually involves still fishing, drifting, or trolling the bait. A bottom-bouncing rig or slip sinker is effective for drawing the walleye’s attention in clear water. The best choices of live bait include leeches, minnows, and nightcrawlers.
What is the size limit on walleye in Indiana?
Walleye Size Limits Walleye taken from all public waters (lakes, rivers, and streams) north of State Road 26 must be 16 inches in length or longer, except for: Bass Lake (Starke County) and Wolf Lake (Lake County); minimum size 14 inches.
Is the Kankakee River Clean?
The Kankakee River takes a leisurely path from its origin to a point near Wilmington, Illinois, where it joins the DesPlaines River to form the Illinois River. Long acclaimed as one of the cleanest rivers in the Midwest.
Where is the best fishing in Indiana?
- Patoka Lake – Patoka Lake. Paul/Flickr.
- Lake Monroe – Bloomington. Elizabeth Nicodemus/Flickr.
- Summit Lake State Park โ New Castle.
- Geist Reservoir – Indianapolis.
- Lake Maxinkuckee โ Culver.
- Lake Shafer โ Monticello.
- Potato Creek State Park โ North Liberty.
Where is the best place to fish for crappie in Indiana?
However, the most consistent stringers come from massive schools of crappie in major lakes including Barbee Lake, Bass Lake, Big Long Lake, Big Turkey Lake, Bluegrass FWA, Brookville Lake, Cagles Mill Lake, Cecil M Harden Lake, Dewart Lake, Dogwood Lake, Eagle Creek Reservoir, Geist Lake, Hamilton Lake, Hardy Lake, …
How deep should you fish for walleye?
Walleye are generally caught between 10-40 Ft. A typical mid-sized lake in the Midwest would likely hold Walleye between the depths of 10-15 Ft. during the Spring, 15-25 Ft. transitioning to Summer, 25-40 Ft.
What state eats the most walleye?
1. Minnesota. All other claimants can stand down. No state has more lakes, rivers, streams, and reservoirs stuffed with walleyes than Minnesota.
What is the best size walleye to eat?
The best eating size fish: walleye 15 โ 18 inches, perch 9 โ 12 inches and northern pike 22 โ 28 inches. We encourage our guests to enjoy eating while they are here when the fish are at their very best freshness and taste. Shore lunches where fish and food are cooked over an open fire are especially delicious.
Can you swim in the Kankakee River?
Because the Kankakee River is unpredictable with fast currents, drop offs and a rocky bottom, no swimming is allowed in any area, including Rock Creek.
Is the Kankakee River open for boating?
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has closed the Kankakee River to recreational boating.
What feeds the Kankakee River?
Description of the Kankakee Basin The Kankakee River flows westward from In- diana into Illinois. The headwaters are near South Bend, Indiana, and the mouth is the confluence of the Kankakee with the Des Plaines River where those two rivers become the Illinois River (see map, Figure 1).
How far does the Kankakee River flow?
Kankakee River, navigable stream rising near South Bend, northern Indiana, U.S., and flowing south and west approximately 135 miles (217 km) to be joined by the Iroquois River near Kankakee, Ill. It continues in a northwesterly direction to meet the Des Plaines River and to form the Illinois River.
What do I fish trout with?
The headwaters of the Kankakee River is southwest of downtown South Bend, Indiana, within the city limits. An area of wetlands and springs to the northwest of the South Bend Ethanol Plant is the start of the Kankakee River.
Are there wild trout in Illinois?
For catching trout, many anglers turn to natural baits. Nightcrawlers and other types of earthworms are an excellent choice. Salmon eggs, mealworms and locally available baits can also be very successful and often are similar to food sources in the environment.
How do you catch rainbow trout in a creek?

Are there GAR in the Kankakee River?
In Illinois, the brook trout lives in streams in the northern one-fourth of the state and in Lake Michigan. Spawning occurs in late fall and early winter over gravel beds in the water.