:) Here's the ultimate question for you: What is the best crappie lake in Illinois? And, what makes it so?
crappieranger
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:) Here's the ultimate question for you: What is the best crappie lake in Illinois? And, what makes it so?
crappieranger
Lake Shelbyville: Because I can consistantly go over there and no matter what it's like out I can honestly say there hasn't been a day where I caught a keeper. And my whole family has grew up there!
didnt catch a keeper** sorry
Rend Lake is one of the best hands down. But I think everyone who fishes a certain lake will pick the one they fish the most.
Crappie X.
Egypt I have caught more big crappie out of there than anywhere
I'd have to say Old River or Sugar tree. As far as a well know lake I have to agree with extreme and say Rend. Its easier for a beginner to get on fish than some of the others I have fished.
I might be bias since I am the Lake Shelbyville guide but I have buddies on Rend who guide and they envy us up here because we can hide from the wind and have a much prettier lake. I have fished Rend many times but always up on the duck impoundment barrier. Nason boat ramp area. Definately beats main lake hands down. Love fishing the fire lanes and dipping in just a couple of foot of water. Second favorite got to be Smithland Pool. Dog Creek in the fall more shallow stumps than you can fish in a life time. Third has to be Lake Decatur once again tons of shallow stumps and big fish. Bigger than my home lake and oh yeah I won a boat on it last year.
I am partial to carlyle. I catch plenty of big crappie on the main lake. Even being fairly new to crappie fishing I have been able to catch nice crappie in the 14-15 inch range. I am looking forward to this year and trying all the new methods/advice I have gotten from the board in the last few months. If there is a drawback to carlyle it is that there is not alot of places to hide from the wind
I've never fished Rend,but i've heard a lot about it.As far as sheer numbers of crappie and knowing when you go,you'll catch fish,i'd have to say Clinton lake.The numbers of crappie at Clinton are just astonishing.Not much quality,but sometimes you'll get ahold of a biggun.Shelbyville is alright,but in the late fall i've caught some hawgs there.I caught alot of 13 and 14 inchers there.I know one of the most overlooked lakes in this state is Lake Decatur.There are huge crappie in there and good numbers of em.There isn't to much visible cover,but docks and bridges produce quite well and there are quite a few brush piles and stumps out there if you know where to look.
Besides the lake I live at, I haven't done much crappie fishing in IL mostly MO and KY. I've heard Sangchris and Cedar have real quality fish?
If were going by closest to home its Lou Yaeger or Coffeen
I'm going to have to agree with fingerlicken on lake of Egypt. If the crappie are having a good year, you can catch alot of slabs bumping the one pound mark or bigger!! I hope rend lake proves me wrong this year because I plan on spending alot more time on it!!
kinkaid lake, abundant crappie, easy to fish for beginners, produces numerous two pounders each year and a few three pounders, when the crappie go to the banks its like loz, we cast jigs and tear them up.
Its hard to pick one. And im sure everyone is going to favor their own area lakes because thats what they know. For the southern illinois area I would never pick any lake above Crab Orchard even though it never gets talked about here much. In a way, Crab is like Rend minus the goofy creel limit and about 10,000 acres of wide open windy water. Thats why I much prefer it. But really, whatever lake im on is my favorite for the day. They are all special. Kinkaid and Egypt, Cedar and Little Grassy can all kick out a giant once in awhile along with some quality fish. And you cant forget Smithland Pool with its endless stump filled creeks. Im just thankful for all of them.
Being fairly new to crappie fishing myself and shore bound I have nothing to bring to the table.:o
I do appreciate your experience and have hopes to fish them all with a boat some day.
Hard to beat Kinkaid:
Quote:
Originally Posted by angler73
weird i usually catch quality at clinton but not a ton of numbers except for certain timesof the year. i think all the big lakes are good, lake springfield rocks and them blacknosed crappie they have there are thick as all heck.... but honestly there is a few ponds id rather fish for crappie for sheer numbers and average size usually beat some of the big lakes hands down
I Have fished Rend Egypt and Crab over the years. I think as of right now Rend is the best, it is great for numbers, and at certain times you can catch big ones and lots of them. Egypt used to be real good but the last three years it has droped way off still some big crappie there you just can't catch very many at least I can't.
After reading all these posts I would say that everyone has their favorite.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappie5
I love fishn Rend and still think it is one of the best and I can catch huge fish out of there year round. But after fishn Kinkaid for a while now I would say it is right up there with the best. There are several great lakes in IL and a lot that most of us don't even know about I'm sure. Smithland is not a lake so I really don't count that. But it is a great place to catch huge fish. I have buddys that know it very well and have caught huge fish from there. But it is a river not a lake so you can count it if you want.
We have some great lakes in IL for crappie fishn and should keep them that way.
Just my 2 cents.
CX.
I'm gonna gowoth Shelbyville for reasons mentined, windfree coves, beauty, good numbers and size. Next would be Evergreen. The new limits there will help produce even better fish in the next couple years. Only drawback there is 10 HP limit and $16/day - $48/year to launch.
As long as I'm fishing--and not doing honey dew crap!!
I'm happy ----plan on looking up CX on Rend this year. Shelbyville
this weekend. Lake sara thru the week -- 3lb'r out of Sara last year.
MTL. -April 21-27 Truman - MO. ---but my favorite lake -- Toledo Bend Texas.
Z21
I have a simple way to answer this.
Scott (CX) can guide me on Rend
Carp Poop can guide me on Crab
Steve can take me on Shelbyville
FL, ESF on Egypt
John on Clinton
Anyone else can just pm me as to where we will go and I'll post the results for everyone:D Yea right, I wish:D:D:D
Hardly close to home for me, but my best memories of catching crappie in IL are for Crab Orchard, Clinton, and Shabonna (sp?).
I like to keep my fishing spots to myself but there is some fine river crappie fishin' in Illinois if you know where and when. Steve, I do a lot of competition dog hunting at Nasson on Rend but I have never fished there. It looks great from the bank.
Last weekend I had a scare with amazing high blood pressure, and diabeties...
This could have put an end to my fishing for good if it would have given me a stroke or even a heart attack at 32 years old.
So, let me answer this question...
I don't care if the lake has many fish, or if it is 100 miles away or just a few. The best lake is one that I can hang out with my dad, talking about life. Laughing, eating lunch on the floor of the boat, and getting a line wet for about 12 hours a day, not worrying about gas prices or anything but being together and looking at and thoroughly enjoying the imagination of God's creation around me.
I know that may sound crazy, but when you have to look at life like I am having to learn how to do right now, your perspective changes. So if anyone wants me to GUIDE for them on that lake, it would definitely be worth it.
mrwillis
Amen to that......well said!!!!!!:)
I did not get that chance to fish with my dad......enjoy every minute!
Hope things get better for you!
You are exactly right to that.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrwillis
Sorry to here about your health problem. But I'm glad it was not any worse than it could have been.
Enjoy your time with your dad. I got to take my dad fishn several times before I lost him. Best times I can think of.
CX.
Mr Willis - Hope you are feeling better. Time with our Dads or kids is precious. Took my Dad to Shelbyville for a weekend last year. Stayed at Eagle Creek Resort, caught about 20 keepers and made some memories.
Bait for a day of fishing = $10
Gas for boat/truck = $75
Couple days wetting lines with my dad = PRICELESS!!!!!!
I don't say what I say to receive any sympathy for myself. Sure, my news was bad, and unexpected. What I am saying is simple...make life count, and enjoy it to the fullest. We don't have to have the best, catch the most, etc. Just enjoy your time, and make it count.
Also, just a little note what I am hearing subliminally...make memories! I can see this, as I know that memories is all I have to go on when it comes to my grandpa, and I hope someday my 3-year old girl will have enjoyable memories about things we did. But then again, unless we are intention on making life count, where are the memories going to come from?
I agree with you guys, I love to fill the boat with friends but there is somthing special about fishing with my son fish or no fish. I love to fish Otter Lake.
The holding tank at cabelas.They have some nice ones there.LOL.I would say REND and i dont fish it but a couple times a year.When its on its unreal.
It is definetly NOT Lake of Egypt.
every weekend the wife and i would go 4 hours in any directions crappie fishing. we would end up at mark twain mo.BEST CRAPPIE FISHING I EVER SAW.I am a new memger hello to ever one.
Bob - Welcome to the board. I graduated from Pekin High in 1954. I have lived in Mattoon since 1964. I am retired and try to fish Lake Shelbyville several times a week. We have a lot of friends in Pekin and try to make it up there about once every three to four months.
Bob...good to see another central Illinois fella here. I live fairly close to you and my wife and I do the same thing you do...and we love Mark Twain too..beautiful lake!
Hey Bob and Kenny I lived in Elmwood for a few years and now live a little north but I fish Twain alot....Grew up very close to MTL..It is by far my favorite lake.
where do you guys go for your crappie fishing close by? Banner Marsh? Canton? Victoria? I haven't had much luck up this way finding any place close to MTL except when I go down to lake shelbyville. But that is as far for me as MTL...
hey mr willis have you xtarted catching them off raccoon lake yet? Im hearing stories that they are starting to come in. Old man Kerns caught a couple a day or two ago right off his dock that were nice. Im gonna get out there today. I got some new jigs i tied up that should be great for raccoon. Anyhow i know what you mean about fishing with your dad. It surely is a joy.
As for my vote rend is surely hard to beat. Carlyle is starting to become more over known as the crappie lake in the southeast central area. If i had to pick a lake up north it would be coffeen A) because ive caught some monster crappie out there B) it will make you excited to be jigging along and a smallmouth come along and bomb your cork.
Rend lake has my vote, can always pull a few specks from there no matter what !
Ohail6, we fish both Banner and Victoria but prefer MTL, Clinton and Shelbyville...even if they are much farther away. Fortunately we are at a stage in our lives where the price of gas isn't a problem so we like to travel to different places to try. We like to stay at South Fork resort or Cannon Dam when we hit MT..sure is a pretty lake isn't it?Quote:
Originally Posted by ohail6
Nothing off Raccoon yet. But, a little warmer water and I will definitely be filling the freezer...