Moose,
Rend Lake is excellent fishing, and there are big bass in the lake. You won't find much pressure on it either. There are several access roads off of Interstate 57 that take you right to the ramp areas. Very good ramps too.
If you like camping, there is a state run campground near the dam on the east side. Also a state park mid-lake on the east side.
You want to go cheap motel, Super 8 on the interstate is available, Days in just in Benton, or you could fork out for the Rend Lake Resort. I always go cheap on a fishin trip because I just need a cot and a shower and I am back on the water.
An Illinois fishing license for out of stater is $6 bucks a day. Internet purchase available, Benton has a Walmart and McNeil Sporting Goods.
Check the fishing report at www.rendlake.com, it says fishing is excellent for crappie right now with minnow tipped jigs. The rip-rap causeway near mid-lake is very long and always holds something. Also try the creek arms in the north end of the lake. A hotspot map is available for Rend Lake, and you can get snapshots of it on espn.outdoors.com for free.
Hybrid stiped bass are also available in the lake, as well as stripers and yellow bass too.
If you need to stretch your legs a while, the tailwater always has fish to be caught. Gar will hit Rebel crawdads all day long, they are fun to catch and the locals will take them off your hands cause they like to eat em.
Rend Lake has a huge timber field north of the causeway, and it is very dangerous cruising. Be careful.
I can also recommend Crab Orchard south of Marion for bass fishing. Nice lunkers, it might be goose season down there and you might find it full of hunters right now, I am not sure.
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