Bass Get A Boost From Braidwood Station

BRACEVILLE, Ill. (May 26, 2009) - For the third consecutive year Exelon Nuclear’s Braidwood Station has teamed up with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and local bass clubs to enhance the fishing experience at Braidwood Lake.

The project at Braidwood, valued at $6,500, involved the purchase and deployment of artificial habitats at Braidwood Lake. The habitat units are designed to provide multiple benefits to largemouth bass, a favorite of Midwest fishing enthusiasts, at various stages in their life - from acting as a nursery habitat for young fish to providing feeding sites for larger, older bass. Exelon worked closely with the IDNR and local bass fishing clubs Bass Pac and the Illinois Valley Bass Masters (IVBM).

This will also be the third straight year the IDNR will stock the lake with more than 60,000 four-inch fingerling largemouth bass. “Based on what we have seen fishermen catching recently on the lake, we believe the fingerlings are surviving and the habitats are helping in that process,” said IDNR District Fisheries Biologist Rob Miller.

“The efforts of Exelon and the IDNR are making a difference,” said Rich Newell of IVBM. “We had a tournament on the lake earlier this year and we saw a tenfold increase in keepers (tournament length fish) than we did in the same tournament last year. And that increase came with fewer boats registered this year.”

Braidwood strives to be a good neighbor and supports the local community in a variety of ways. Nearly $20,000 has been spent on the lake enhancement project over the last three years. This year’s project will also include the purchase of items to improve the cleanliness of the areas surrounding the lake’s boat launches.

“This project is a success because of the work done by the IDNR and all of the bass clubs that have helped, including Bass Pac and the Illinois Valley Bassmasters,” said Braidwood Station Site Vice President Bryan Hanson. “Their knowledge of the lake and expertise in the area of bass fishing is an important factor in making the project come to life and make a difference in the overall fishing experience.”

The station’s signature charity event, “Fishing For a Cure,” will take place on Saturday, May 30 at Braidwood Lake. Information about both the team bass tournament and the children’s fishing derby in Godley is available on the Internet at www.exeloncorp.com/programs/fishing.

Braidwood Generating Station is approximately 60 miles southwest of Chicago. The station’s two nuclear energy units can produce a total of more than 2,300 megawatts at full power - enough electricity to power more than 2 million homes.

Well we did get out last Saturday. There wasnt much action, but did get 5 Bass and an equal number of Sheephead. I was going to post earlier but took a weeks vaction. :D Got some small Crappie

We had to change the date of the Cast off Hunger Tournament to May 21st, 2016 due to a conflict with Exelons Fishing for a Cure being held on May 7th Both tournaments are to support deserving local charities if anyone is interested in coming out and having fun and helping out by doing good for those in need?

Been too busy to get out there much,and it seems in springs past, just when the fishing was good, the river would come up 10 feet and ruin everything. Anybody doing any good on whites out near Marseilles?

Thanks guys for taking the time to respond. Well all that information doesnt sound too promising.

FisherDan, tell me about the Rock? For whites? Saugers?