Silver Lake located in Highland, Illinois has a excellent population of Channel catfish with the average being 4 - 12 lbs. their is also a large population of Bullheads in the range of 1 - 2 lbs. We have fished this lake exclusively for 3 years and have become familiar with the patterns of the Channel catfish.
Spring and Summer ~ At night Channel Catfish are near the banks in the shallows near structure such as weed lines, fallen trees etc. mostly in 2 - 6 ft of water. The most effetive way is to tie on a 16 oz beverage bottle on your line to be used as a big bobber the Channel Cat usually feed 12 to 24 inches below the surface, however fishing on bottom will also produce large Channels.
Some people use sonny’s super sticky and catch some fish but the power house bait is cut Shad or cut Bluegill.
Fall and early Winter before the water gets to about 50 degrees cut Shad and cut Bluegill will do well in the same water levels as above but where the water that have deep inclines to 10 - 20 ft of water. There are 4 aerators in the deepest part of the lakes usualy 18 - 23 ft of water this causes the lake not to have a so called temperature incline and the lake does not “Turn over in the fall”
Bullhead can be caught pretty much year round on worms and cut bait but we found 6/0 octopus hooks to be most effective from them getting gut hooked killing the fish.
If you are wanting out in a boat for Channel Cat (which is the best method) their is a yearly boat license fee payable at the Highland Police Department. There is also a 50 HP limit on the lake, I use a 30 lb thrust trolling motor and can get from the ramp all the way to the Norther point of the lake (3 miles) in 1 hour.
So I don’t loose detail in the map you can see it here
There is no camping without a permit however as long as you are fishing and don’t have a camp set up you can stay all night with no issues. If you have questions about the lake feel free to PM me or if you want to know when we will be out there and join us on our all nighters we fish the lake heavily in the spring - Fall.
Only one rule if you fish with us is to promise to practice CPR (Catch Photo Release) to turn anything loose over 10+ lbs
P.S I am not a fishing Guide nor will I be treated like one, I just love to fish and being disabled I cant go alone…
