Photo by Tom Evans

Few things equal the fun and enjoyment of running into a mess of big crappies. They're exciting to catch and abundant throughout Illinois.

And our papermouth factories are shaping up for an incredible year. From north to south, serious crappie anglers will want to take note of the following waters, because no matter what region of our state you reside in, excellent fishing for slabs is just a stone's throw away.

MAZONIA STATE FISH & WILDLIFE AREA
Chicagoland crappie anglers looking for a quick, productive trip will want to consider the menagerie of strip-pit lakes in the Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area.

With over 250 lakes, ranging from 50 acres to a 1/2-acre, Mazonia is not short on water.

"Mazonia is a pretty consistent producer for crappies," said Department of Natural Resources biologist Rob Miller. "In lakes accessible by boat, most fish are between 8 and 9 inches."

Some of the more productive lakes include Carp, Gar, Bullhead, Bass, Monster and Ponderosa. The best times to fish are March to about May around shoreline grass, fallen trees and beaver lodges, by using minnows on slip-bobber rigs or jigs. Savvy anglers who pay close attention to their electronics and find brushpiles often find uncontested numbers of sizeable fish.

Along with the larger lakes of Mazonia, the park also boasts numerous "back lakes" that require anglers to access them by foot. Float-tubers or those who carry in small boats find papermouths in the 14- to 16-inch class.

Mazonia FWA is located in Grundy County. Boat launches are located on various lakes throughout the premises, but some are restricted to trolling motors. For more information, call the park office at (815) 237-0065, or Jon's Bait and Tackle at (815) 237-2822. For travel and lodging information, contact the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce at (815) 942-0113.

EVERGREEN LAKE
McLean County's 886-acre Evergreen Lake in Comlara Park, just north of Bloomington, is a definite destination for the crappie fanatics in central Illinois. Biologist Mike Garthaus said a lot of big fish swim here.

"There are some strong year-classes in Evergreen right now," said Garthaus. "The fish average about 12 inches and exceed all of our catch-rate goals. Last year, we caught about 55 white crappies per hour and 47 black crappies per hour."

According to Garthaus, 36 percent of the total sample were 10 inches or larger.

Mike Steffa at Comlara Park agrees that crappie fishing is exceptional:

"We had lots of guys taking their 25-fish limit last spring, and we've seen some nice-sized crappies up to about 15 inches."

Steffa suggested that spring anglers target the many coves of the lake. Two Cedars, Campground, White Pine, Beaver Den, Six-Mile Creek and the area around Deer Island attract good numbers of springtime fish. Jigs and minnows fished with or without a float -- and tubes -- are top baits.

Comlara Park has excellent facilities. Before launching a boat, you must purchase a sticker. It is $14 for residents of McLean County and $16 for non-residents. Yearly rates are available. For more information, contact Comlara Park at (309) 726-2022. For travel and lodging information, call the Bloomington Area Chamber of Commerce at (309) 829-6344.

SANGCHRIS LAKE
Biologist Dan Stephenson said Sangchris Lake east of Springfield is an excellent lake for sizeable crappies.

"Sangchris has a good population of fish in the 12- to 15-inch class," said Stephenson. "You won't see outrageous numbers, but we have some really quality fish."

A nursery pond on premises bolsters the annual fishery, including 73,000 fish stocked last year. A recent creel survey revealed that anglers catch about 20 pounds of crappies per acre.

February through April is the best time to take advantage of Sangchris' crappies, when they relate to shallow cover. Jan Hill from Sangchris Corner in Edinberg -- at (217) 623-5252 -- said the best action comes from the backs of the coves around dead lily stems. Fallen trees, stumps and shoreline brush also attract numbers of fish. She suggested minnows fished below a float or on a jig For best results.