I was born and raised in Galesburg, IL and lived there until the summer of 2014 when our family relocated to the Quad City area (Illinois side). I’ve been a local outdoorsman of West Central Illinois pretty much exclusively and foresee more of the same as my outdoor days move forward.

Despite the state of Illinois being real fouled up for quite some time, I’m still pleased with the fisheries management of my stomping grounds, the vast majority of which are public access.

Regular Spots

Little John Conservation Club – Knox County (private)
Snakeden Hollow State Fish & Wildlife Area – Knox County
IRAP – Knox County

Occasional Visits
Lake Storey – Knox County
Mautino State Fish & Wildlife Area – Bureau County
Lost Grove Lake – Scott County, IA

Possibilities
Lake Carlton – Whiteside County
Lake George – Rock Island County
Hennepin Canal – multiple IL counties
Buffalo Pasture (actually Buffalo Prairie but like my name better) – Knox County
Johnson-Sauk Trail – Henry County

Past Regular Haunts
Lake Bracken – Knox County (private, fished 1980s-2008)
Emiquon Preserve – Fulton County (fished 2009-2013)
Pat’s Creek – Henderson County (fish and trap 1970’s-2012)

And while I’ve only rarely taken the time to fish big moving water, in a matter of minutes I can be casting on either the Mississippi or Rock River (from the bank as I don’t have a boat that can safely hang on these bodies of water).

With all of the options that I already have and the limited time I can get away, I feel little urge to wander too far from home and waste valuable fishing time and gas money behind the wheel of my truck. That’s not to say that I haven’t given it a try many years ago with visits to “exotic” destinations like Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and Mark Twain Reservoir. However, with coves that were way larger than my entire local lakes, I was left a bit baffled, admittedly overwhelmed and honestly, a little intimidated.

As such, it is unlikely that I will wander too far from the lists above. Of course, I am always up for some suggestions on public waters within an hour of the Quad Cities that a wannabe bass fisherman or his bluegill fishing brood might find appealing (particularly on the Iowa side as I am not too familiar).

Back tomorrow with the next to the last piece of introductory postings. Talk to you later. Troy