For those of you that don"t know what's going on, the fish kill at LaSalle lake is mostly shad and carp. There were a few bass and large catfish that probably were injured and could not survive the high temps of the water that occur whenever there is a prolonged event of temps in the 90's. This happens quite regularly in late July and August, "Dog Days of Summer". This IS a cooling lake for a nuclear power plant. Water temps will go over a hundred degrees at the discharge end. There is nothing to worry about. If you fish it, stay away from the final section by the discharge, that is if you don't mind getting vapor-lock in your outboard motor and have to get towed back to the launch!! Tight lines and go fish the river until things cool down!!
LaSalle Cooling Lake, La Salle County
Waning Crescent
If LaSalle opens up anytime soon or opening day any year, try these two spots for hybrids. The southeast corner and northeast corner of the main lake. From the parking lot it is a 2 mile walk to the southeast corner and 3 miles to the northeast corner; nice hike. It will be crowded with shore fishermen and boats but that is where you are going to catch them. You can slay them with liver, or for a challenge try rattle baits, spoons or body baits. You can find YouTube videos from previous years. Back in the late 80's and early 90's you could get the hybrids just about anywhere but those areas are where they congregate now.
Did anyone who reads this, have the opportunity in the late 80's, just after it opened to go LaSalle in the winter? There was a small parking lot on the north side of the lake right along the discharge channel. The guys I used to go with have all passed away, but everyday in the discharge channel was like opening day. But that wasn't good enough for some people who had to press it and sneak right up to the plant. That led to closing the gate forever. Although, with as foggy as it is I'm sure it would pose a security problem now.
I have seen people use cast nest at LaSalle. According to the DNR 24' or smaller diameter, bar measurement 1" or less.
Those who use them catch the shad for bait. They cut up the large shad for channel cats fished on the bottom. Shad 5" or less are fished 4' down on slip bobber/floats. Those work well for the big blue cats. If you want big stripers, chicken liver is the best bet. Just float it like the shad. One thing I have noticed is the people who fish the shad and liver within 20' to 25' of shore do much better than those who chuck it out as far as they can. I imagine it's because the game fish move in to the rocks to feed.
If you go during the first few weeks the lake is open, the DNR CPO's patrol regularly. And that's good because there are people who stuff wagons, and believe it or not, suit cases, full of big stripers. Keep an eye out for poachers and turn the jerks in; protect our fisheries.
The schedule for the opening of the three cooling lakes is always the same. Braidwood= March 1st, LaSalle= March 15th and Heidecke, which isn't a cooling lake anymore=April 1st.
