Fortunately, the Department of Natural Resources fishery biologists keep tabs on their fish with annual samplings to gauge the health of the fishery and, if necessary, adjust regulations or take measures to improve the fishery.

Here is a sampling of some of the better crappie lakes in Illinois for 2005.

LAKE SHELBYVILLE
Lake Shelbyville is an 11,000-acre reservoir managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is located southeast of Decatur in Shelby and Moultrie counties. There are six small-craft launch facilities located in wildlife areas. Visitors with bigger craft are advised to use the larger access areas offered at marinas, state parks or Corps sites. Contact numbers are (217) 756-8260 for Eagle Creek SP, (217) 665-3112 for Shelbyville FWA and (217) 459-2831 for Wolf Creek SP.

"My primary management effort has been to utilize creel and length limits to try to protect crappie fishing quality," said Mike Mounce, the area's DNR district fishery biologist. "Lake Shelbyville should provide a good, quality fishery in 2005. I expected a high-quality fishery in 2004, but catch rates were poor. I believe that this was due to the erratic cold weather rather than the lack of fish.

"Many of the fish not caught or harvested should be available spring 2005," he continued. "In addition, the excellent fishery produced in spring 2003 resulted in many 10-inch-plus crappies released by fishermen. A reasonable number of these fish should still remain in the fishery as large fish."

Fishing pressure for crappies is relatively high in Lake Shelbyville, even throughout the winter months. This fishery is regulated with a 10-fish daily creel limit and a 10-inch minimum length limit.

Mounce also noted several other fisheries in the central Illinois area that have good potential in 2005 to be strong crappies spots, including Lake Decatur, Lake Mattoon and Mill Creek Lake.

LAKE DECATUR
Lake Decatur, a 3,092-acre reservoir, is found in Macon County just south of the city of Decatur. There are no motor restrictions and there are public ramp access points available throughout the lake. There is a 10-inch minimum length limit and 10-fish-per-day creel limit. Information about Lake Decatur can be found at the City of Decatur Water Department at (217) 424-2863, or Jerry's Sports at (217) 864-4867

"Lake Decatur can produce some very large crappies," said Mounce. "In spring 2004, conservation police officer R.J. Austin reported measuring a 19-inch crappie for a fisherman. An electrofishing brief survey in spring 2004 also revealed a decent number of large crappies. Fishermen are reporting good numbers of smaller crappies, which should recruit quickly into the legal size range. Crappie fishing pressure is low on Lake Decatur."

LAKE MATTOON
Lake Mattoon serves as the water supply for the city of Mattoon and surrounding area. The 1,050-acre lake is located in Shelby County just south of Mattoon. There are no horsepower limitations on the lake, but a city permit is required to launch a boat. Information about permits and Lake Mattoon can be obtained by calling the City of Mattoon Chamber of Commerce at (217) 235-5661.

"Lake Mattoon, at the intersection of Shelby, Coles and Cumberland counties, has been a steady producer of quality crappie fishing," said Mounce. "Although catch rates of larger fish were down somewhat in 2004, fishing prospects for 2005 remain good. Crappie fishing pressure is moderate on this lake. This lake has no creel or length limits for crappies, but fishermen are asked to be conservative on harvesting large fish to protect fishing quality."