I'm a beginning fisherman, really don't have friends who fish, and have no idea where to go around here to find eating-size crappie. We live in Pekin and I've spent some time at Banner Marsh and Spring Lake last summer and caught a bunch of tiny bluegill on worms, but nothing else. I'm not asking for any secret honey-holes or anything like that, but I'd sure love it if someone local could let me know at least a reliable place where I'd have a chance to catch something worth feeding my family!

Also, is there anything special I need to use as bait to catch fish from shore? All I get from worms is those little bluegill, and my lures are constantly getting hung up in the weeds.