Fishing is always great on Rend Lake.

Report as of May 14, 2013
The Crappie bite is great!!!!!
Crappie :
The crappie bite is great! Spawning fish are biting. Fish are in the buck brush!
Fish the buck brush in the back of any cove and you should catch fish. The Jackie branch, Sandusky, and Marcum branches are all good.
I have been catching my fish shallow using minnows under slip bobbers. When fishing the bushes set your bait about 2 foot deep.
If fishing from the bank I would recommend fishing from the concrete wall at the Sailboat Harbor boat ramp or the docks at the Rend Lake Resort

Catfish:
The catfish bite is really good. A lot are being caught in back of necks in shallow water. Creeks leading into the lake are producing ALOT of fish. The catfish are spawning. Jugs set in necks are working very well. Play the wind and set your jugs up wind letting the wind push them across coves.
You can fish from the shore about anywhere around the lake and catch catfish. Fish on the bottom.
When spring rains raise the lake and new areas are flooded the catfish usually move in there big time. If you want a good mess of catfish be sure to try this after a big rain.
My choice of baits are shad gut, leaches, shrimp, or night crawlers, but other nasty stuff will work. My favorite is shad gut.
Rend lake is a GREAT catfish lake. I would argue the best in the state.

Bass :
With the lake more than two feet above normal pool fishing conditions have been tough for bass, but the bite is starting to turn on.
Fish have been holding in shallow water bushes and lay downs in 2-4 ft. and can be caught pitching soft plastics, jigs and spinner baits in or around cover.
Look for fish in the back of pockets and coves where there is a limited amount of water behind the buck brush bushes. The “rock bite” on Rend is slow.
Bluegill:
Some bluegill are being caught in shallow water. I have caught a few really big bluegill on minnows fishing the bushes for crappie. I would use red wigglers and crickets and fish the shallow water in the back of necks. I haven't seen any beds yet, but it should be any time.
Rend Lake fishing report is provided by

Clint Taylor, 618-731-0323
Rend Lake Guide
Crappie Extreme Guide Service for Rend Lake
Rend is a naturally muddy lake. If you can only see your bait a few inches under water that is normal. If you cannot see it an inch under water, move south. The northern parts of the lake muddy the most due to creeks and field run off.
Watch out for the wind. It can make the main lake very dangerous
Come to Rend Lake if you want to catch crappie
May 13, 2013
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