April 25, 2025
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Sauk Valley

LaSalle Lake ripe for fishing

By MATT JONES

Photo provided Catfish are approaching 40 pounds in LaSalle Lake in Seneca

This week, I made my annual trip to LaSalle Lake in Seneca with my good friend Luke Steen.

The giant man-made cooling reservoir, located just south of the Illinois
River, plays home to some very good blue catfishing, as well as some good striped bass action. There are some tremendous smallmouth bass numbers, and some good bluegill swimming around as well. Heck, I even shot a television show there several years ago with the Illinois
Outdoor crew.

The lake has recently suffered from a depleted forage base, as the extremely warm and dry summer a few years back triggered a fish kill, with water temps rising near 110 degrees.

Catching bait there was once a foregone conclusion, but now taking bait with you is a very wise idea. The shad are making a comeback, but their numbers are nowhere near what they were, or what they need to be. So finding shad in advance is the way to go. Live bluegill or cut gills are a good bet as well as shad guts, G and S cheese bait, creek chubs, cut carp, and chicken liver, which also is a favorite of the striper population.

The lake is really a sight to behold. Just the sheer size is pretty impressive, and there’s definitely good fishing to be had most of the time. If you are looking for something different, you really should try it out.

It’s very easy to get to. Just head south on any local route until you hit Interstate 80 east. Put her in the wind until you reach the Seneca exit. At the stop sign off the exit, head south until you run into Seneca. At the stop sign in Seneca, turn left and proceed across the Illinois River.

Two miles or so after you cross the Illinois River, you will come to your first stop. Turn right and proceed toward all the windmills. About 2 more miles and the lake entrance will be on your right. It’s just that easy, and only about an hour and a half away.

With blue cats approaching 40 pounds, and some other really quality species of fish swimming around, you won’t be disappointed. The lake is super deep, running anywhere from 15 to 50 feet, enabling anyone to run virtually any boat you may have.

So if you’ve seen all the rain you care to see, can I get an amen? Starting to wonder when, and if, it’s going to stop. I hate to complain, though, because we are liable to be in a drought a month from now. Weather is crazy like that.

Until next week enjoy the outdoors, and Go Catfish!