Largemouth Bass

For largemouth bass fishing near Schiller Park, Illinois, you'll want to focus on the Des Plaines River and its associated backwaters, sloughs, and forest preserve lakes. While the river itself can hold bass, the calmer backwaters and lakes offer more consistent action. Busse Woods (Ned Brown Preserve) with its several lakes and lagoons is a popular choice. Anglers often find success fishing near weed edges, docks, and submerged structure. Spring and fall are the peak seasons, with bass moving into shallower water to spawn in the spring and feeding heavily before winter in the fall. A local tip: Access to many of these areas is readily available via trails and parking lots within the forest preserves. Be prepared for heavy fishing pressure, especially on weekends. Largemouth bass in this area tend to be on the smaller side, averaging 1-3 pounds, but they are still a fun target. Try using weedless lures, such as Texas-rigged worms or frogs, to navigate the heavy vegetation. Topwater lures can also be effective during low light conditions.