Although floating the main river is pleasant and effective, Lutterbie says anglers willing to stray off the beaten path and fish the Middle Fork's tributaries can find excellent fishing during the spawn. Lutterbie suggests that anglers searching for small tributaries invest in DeLorme's Illinois Atlas and Gazeteer, which shows all the small drainages and back roads in the area. He reminds anglers that most tributary streams are located on private land, and you must ask permission to fish. Lutterbie recommends the South Fork of the Vermilion as well. Flowing east from Champaign, the South Fork should have excellent bass fishing this year.
Anglers can find access at the county-owned South Fork Conservation Area.
Eastern Illinois' other top smallmouth river is the Kankakee. It may be the best smallmouth river in Illinois right now. Lutterbie also likes the stretch of river between Momence and Kankakee. The river widens downstream of the city of Kankakee, where anglers should be ready for the chance of getting into a bonus northern or walleye. As a navigable river, the Kankakee is a state-owned waterway.