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Fishing Conditions at Monee Reservoir
Fishing Conditions at Monee Reservoir Photograph Courtesy of Ron Molk
Monee Reservoir features a 46-acre lake providing fishing and boating opportunities. Free shoreline fishing is available, or rowboats can be rented from the concessions building. Canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and trolling motors are also available for rental, or you can purchase a one-day or season launch pass to use your own canoe or kayak. Boats are rented April 1 through October 31.

The concessions building, open daily except Mondays, offers bait, fishing licenses, and snacks for sale. A fishing license is required for anyone at least 16 years of age who fishes a public Illinois waterway. Additionally, horseshoes, ladder ball equipment, baggo games, and fishing poles can be rented.

Minnows must be purchased from the concessions building. The use of live crayfish is prohibited. Only line fishing is allowed. Anglers may use a maximum of two poles, with no more than two hooks or lures attached to each. Ice fishing, swimming, wading, and dogs in the water are prohibited. All statewide fishing regulations apply. For details, contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, channel catfish, and crappie. Taking frogs, turtles, and mussels is prohibited. Catch-and-Release fishing is encouraged, but daily limits are enforced.

Monee Reservoir's fishing report is updated daily, except Mondays, during the fishing season. The "Weekly Fishing Information" and "Catch of the Week" data is updated weekly. Visit often for the most recent catch information, or call 708.534.8499.
 
 

Current Conditions

Last Updated: 7/29/2010 at 11:33 AM
Lake Temperature: 81.4 Degrees
Water Clarity: 30 Inches
Wind Speed: 2 MPH from the East/Northeast
Air Temperature: 78.8 Degrees
Bait Type: Bass and Crappie minnows, night crawlers, jumbo red worms, little red worms, wax worms, dough bait, and stink bait. Spinner and crankbaits are starting to catch the Largemouth Bass. Wax worms and jumbo reds are working for the panfish. The Channel Catfish prefer a night crawler or stink/dough bait off of the bottom.
Weekly Fishing Information: Updated 7/27: Temperatures have been above average this past week, with 3.5 inches of rain at the Reservoir. The early morning and late afternoon bite have been the best. The white lily pads have bloomed and are a pretty sight on top of the water. The cloud cover seems to provide the best time for the fish to bite. Once the sun comes out and the skies are clear, the fishing drops off. The Channel Catfish bite is good. A night crawler or dough bait on the bottom has worked the best. Several quality Channel Catfish have been caught in the past two weeks. The Bluegill and Redear are active as well. The preferred bait of choice is wax worms or jumbo red worms at the end of a bobber. The Largemouth Bass are still active even with the summer temperatures. Finesse weed less plastics fished Texas rig or Carolina rig are working well in the pumpkinseed, red, green, purple, and black colors. The top water, spinner, and crank bait bite has also worked well. There have been several quality Largemouth Bass caught over the summer in deep and shallow water. The Black Crappie bite has slowed a bit from the previous two weeks, but there have been some nice 10- to 11-inch Crappie caught from shore and by boat. Early morning bite has been the best. The quantity is down but there are some nice-sized Crappie being caught. You must continue to move and hunt for structure. A slip bobber tipped with a small minnow 1 to 3 feet below the surface has worked the best. No report on the Northern Pike at this time.
Catch of the Week: 25-Inch Channel Catfish
Current/Upcoming Events: Fishing for Trash - August 3-8
Beaver Scales & Muskrat Tails - August 10
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17540 W. Laraway Road, Joliet, IL 60433
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