Where to go and what to use in Central Illinois?

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.

Fishing from the shore greatly limits you in my opinion There are folks on here that have success at it. I don't and chiggers think I'm tasty. I use to do pretty good at lake Bloomington but it's been years ago

Welcome FarmGyy.

Banner is a good place, but can be tough to fish.
I recommend minnows for Crappies. Crappie seem to prefer minnows over worms. As for shore fishing, Evergreen is a great place. I hear Eureka lake was excellent, however they had trouble a couples years ago and had to drain the lake. Not sure if it has recovered yet or not. Snake Den Hollow out by Victoria can be good and fairly accessible from shore. Lake Storey in Galesburg is decent for bank fishing.

Oddly enough, there is another guy in our area (Redbird86) that is looking to get out more and I believe he has a boat. Maybe you too could meet up and work something out? I have a HOI Crappie Club meeting at Presley's Outdoor in Bartonville next Thursday, April 6th. Meeting starts at 6.30pm. If you want to join us we can recommend some places to fish, bring maps so we can put an x on them.

Clinton lake is good for bank fishing this time of year. Get minnows in DeWitt at ol joes and fish the DeWitt bridge along with 27,000 other people. The fish stack up in the hot water arm that is off limits to boats til April 1st. Decent size fish and they also have blacknose crappie that seem to fight a little more than a white or black crappie.

Hennepin canal. It is narrow with lots of fallen trees you can drive to the various bridges in the car and fish from shore with long poles

Dawson Lake.. google it.

On my way over to Presley's in a few minutes, see you there!

And thanks everyone for the suggestions, I appreciate it.

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Originally Posted by Hanr3

Welcome FarmGyy.

Banner is a good place, but can be tough to fish.
I recommend minnows for Crappies. Crappie seem to prefer minnows over worms. As for shore fishing, Evergreen is a great place. I hear Eureka lake was excellent, however they had trouble a couples years ago and had to drain the lake. Not sure if it has recovered yet or not. Snake Den Hollow out by Victoria can be good and fairly accessible from shore. Lake Storey in Galesburg is decent for bank fishing.

Oddly enough, there is another guy in our area (Redbird86) that is looking to get out more and I believe he has a boat. Maybe you too could meet up and work something out? I have a HOI Crappie Club meeting at Presley's Outdoor in Bartonville next Thursday, April 6th. Meeting starts at 6.30pm. If you want to join us we can recommend some places to fish, bring maps so we can put an x on them.

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Fishing should be better in the afternoon with some sun. Make sure you fish the wind blown banks(wind in your face)>