Heading To Rend This Weekend!!

[crazycrappie]

The weather looks pretty decent this weekend. If anybody has any advice on some areas of the lake I should try and target it would be greatly appreciated.

[Gobob]

Well never been there but from what I've read and those who have shared start in the buck brush then work out towards a drop off or point same old same old. North end warms first follow creek and river channels start small on your jigs work up. Or go big for the pigs. There are plenty of fish there just got to do your homework. Good luck and post some pics for us

[Mean Green]

Fish are a good month away from being in the bushes. The bite has slowed but need to find the clearest water and fish slow and deep 12--16 ft on brush.

[Bassing_53]

north end muddy and full of stumps, be very careful when running.

[crazycrappie]

Ok dumb question here. Are you referring to brush that's in 12-16ft of water. Seems like I struggle finding cover in that deep of water at Rend. But I've only been there twice since I got side imaging. Might help now.

[Mean Green]

Yep

[crazycrappie]

Thanks Mean Green. Get out there and enjoy the weather this weekend. A lot of rain is coming next week for southern Illinois!

[MontanaBoy]

I may try my luck this weekend as well over at Rend. Is the clearer water at the North End or the South end? Trying to figure out the best place to launch my boat.

[doggone]

I don't know if this will help...I have only fished Rend one time,and that was in the fall. But I ended up fishing in Gunn creek around the 154 bridge. On that day the shad were feeding along the rip rap around the bridge gap and so where the fish. Rend is different than the other lakes I primarily fish in Southern Illinois. But I have got to fish three times in the last two weeks at some other lakes in the area. Water has been stained to murky, first trip water was 42 rising during the day to 46 or so in the warmest spots. Monday it started out about 45 and got to 50 by late afternoon in the warmest areas.

I primarily cast fish shallow water to maybe ten feet. I have been catching quite a few fish. They have been actively feeding on shad and are not lethargic at all.They hit a moving jig hard and fight pretty well too. The problem is finding where it's happening at. You get out on that murky cold water and just think not much is going on and fish are sulled up. But if you search you may find a pod of fish thrashing some shad .

There are always some fish around brush and structure in deeper water.You can fish that everyday. And sometimes finding this shallow water action is hard if you don't know the lake really well.Rend is big and has so much shallow water and so many shad it could be tough to pinpoint. But I guarantee you somewhere there are some fish shallow feeding on shad. If I was fishing deep along channels I would watch for any signs of activity shallower just out of the channel somewhere,you might get lucky. I am of the camp you have to have the right jig....not just anything will work. Several will work and you have to find them. But don't set there and soak a jig for long if it ain't gittin bit and you know your in fish.

[crazycrappie]

Thanks Doggone