Powerton lake is a cooling lake with big smallmouth. take 74 to peoria illinois. then get on 474 take this to the bartonvlle exit (hwy24 south). follow the road untill you come to route 9(about 10 miles).take a left go across the bridge take a right on (hwy 29 south).Take this to manito road (there will be stop light here and a prison on your left about 4 miles from bridge). follow this about 5 miles it will be on the right. can’t miss it.gates open at 8.00 a.m.

the river is high and over it banks right now as of 12-10-04.
They fish the river into january then it may freeze up for a few weeks. I would think by the time it go’s down in a couple weeks depending on the rain the fish well be in the deep holes. If you put in in spring valley there is a bait shop about 100 yard north of the bridge on the east side of the road. The ramp freeze’s up when it turns cold. If your able to put in here head up river about 5 miles between the 2 bridges you will see the boats.If that ramp is froze. Then you have to head east to starve rock state park to put in. then head down river About 4 miles. They is a bait shopp again on the north side of the bridge.If you have any questions email me at [email protected] Make sure to put fishing the Illinois river in subject line or i may delete it.

If you come to the river it would be best to take I-80 to hennepin or to spring valley.If you put in at hennepin you can fish the area straight across the ramp this can be good at times then move up river above the bridge about 300 yards this area is call the hennepin flats or power lines there will be channel buoy here this can real good area in november.If you feel like taking a ride down river to henry up river side of the bridge tothe stream on the east side can be hot to. Then back up river from here about 2 miles where lake senachwine dumps in the river to up around the
s-curve is a good area. Now back to hennepin up pass the flats you will come to another s-curve in the river this area can be good. Now upriver from there you will go to the power plant this can produce fish at times. Up river about 1/2 mile from there is the clam beds on your right(south) side of the river. Now up river from there is a stream on the left (north) side of the river this can be hot in november. Well the should keep you busy there will be someone fishing most of these areas so they won’t be hard to find. Good luck out there if you go. If you need any more help let me know.

Thank alot for the info. It about a 6 hour trip up to fish this should make it a a good trip. Do you know of any area’s to troll. My hands are in bad shape and i can only hold a rod so long in a day trolling give them a break.