The Illinois Connection to the Bypassed East

Illinois Fishing Rivers Map

Just like the Bypassed East, Illinois boasts some of the best fishing opportunities in the nation because of its easy access to Lake Michigan and the availability of rivers, ponds, and smaller lakes within the state. Some of the rivers within the state include the Illinois River, Mississippi River, Ohio River, Fox River, etc. Fishing lakes include Lake of Egypt, Siloam Springs Lake, Lake Mingo, and of course Lake Michigan.


Unlike the Bypassed East, Illinois continues to thrive agriculturally. It is the nations second largest corn producing state producing 1.5 billion bushels of corn annually. The agricultural industry in Illinois also produces a great amount of soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products, and wheat. Illinois also has a great wine industry and the state houses two American viticulture areas.


Illinois and the Bypassed East also have a connection in terms oil production as the Bypassed East has one of the worlds largest oil drilling platforms and Illinois is the Midwest's leading refiner of petroleum. Illinois does not have a great amount of oil reserves though. It is ranked 14th in the United States in terms of oil production.