Spring trout season gets underway on Saturday on public waters in Illinois, including several in the Pantagraph area.

But Nate Herman of Herman Brothers Pond Management in Peoria has been guiding clients to big rainbows on a private pond in Tazewell County for the past month.

Herman and his family manage ponds and subdivision lakes in Central Illinois. They own or have access to six bodies of water in Central Illinois that host a wide variety of species, from largemouth and smallmouth bass to walleyes, yellow perch, catfish, huge carp and more.

But, cool-water species like rainbow trout provide the most action early in the year. The pond the Hermans fish is 1.25 acres.

It's prime trout water, spring-fed with water from natural springs pumping through at the rate of 1 million gallons a day. Water temperature varies from 50 to about 62 degrees. Trout grow to 4.5 pounds and 20 inches.

"It's a pretty awesome trip," said Herman. "We can fish for trout 365 days a year. It doesn't matter if a cold front comes through or if it rains 10 inches. The water gets flushed through. There is no bad day fishing."

On standard work days, the Herman family sells chemicals to control algae and weeds, aeration systems and fountains and other pond supplies.

They also map ponds and lakes to pinpoint fish-holding structures. They recently produced a map of Evergreen Lake in northern McLean County, for example.

On days when they guide for trout, the Herman clan grabs the rods and simple tackle and bait to catch the rainbows. His tactics would work anywhere trout live, including the lakes the Illinois Department of Natural Resources stocks every year.

One of the most productive tactics is a night crawler on a small bait hook with a slip shot about 18 inches above the bait. The trick is to use a worm blower, a syringe-looking gizmo, to inject air in the worm's collar to make it float.

"Night crawlers would be dynamite for stocked trout," he said.

Herman uses the same hook and split shot rig for artificial salmon eggs like Berkley Power Bait. Any color works. Experiment to see what the fish want that day.

For something completely different, he also uses Sinkos, a bass bait. Try the 3-inch kind.

Some people love to use traditional trout lures like Mepps spinners on spinning gear, too.

Fishing guide Duane Serck takes clients to the same lake to teach fly fishing. The pond is perfect for that - no trees behind anglers to snag on the back cast.

Contact Herman at (309) 303-5691 or visit www.hbpondmanagement.com. A link to Serck is under "About us" and "favorite links" to www.illinoismuskies.com . You can phone Serck at (309) 267-1601.