REGION IV
One of the best choices in this region is Sangchris Lake in Christian County.

A thriving population of crappies in this 2,165-acre lake can yield some really nice fish to lucky anglers. The papermouth density is not great, but there are some tremendously big crappies present. Plenty of 15-inch slabs inhabit the lake, and at least one was caught last year that measured a whopping 19 inches!

February is a good time to start crappie fishing on this lake. With it being a power-plant lake, it tends to have some of the warmest water available at this time of year. The warmer water also contributes to fast growth. The growth is further supplemented with a great forage base of both gizzard and threadfin shad.

Biologists used to have trouble keeping a good population of crappies in this lake. Supplemental stocking started paying off about six or seven years ago, and now the fishery is doing much better. White crappies are the most plentiful, but black crappies are also present. The DNR started stocking black-nosed crappies beginning in 1985.

DNR biologist Dan Stephenson said anglers have great success with both artificial lures and minnows. For the most consistent bite, most anglers opt for the minnows. There are a lot of brushpiles scattered throughout the lake and these are the most likely spots to tie into some of these bruiser slabs.

More area information is available from the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau at (217) 789-2360, or from the Sangchris Lake site office at (217) 498-9208.

DNR fisheries biologist Jeffrey Pontnack said the crappie population at Coffeen Lake has been real good for about the last three years. While there is a population of black crappies and white crappies, the latter definitely seems to be doing better in this impoundment. The DNR has not collected a black crappie in either of the last two samples taken at the lake.

Pontnack calls the lake a "local hotspot" and said it is a good lake for crappie fishing. The population density is not as high as some lakes, but anglers can catch some decent-sized fish there. There are many papermouths in 9- to 13-inch range.

During the latest sampling effort, biologists collected 28 crappies per hour, with a total of 197 fish. The largest was just over 14 1/2 inches in length and weighed 1 3/4 pounds. The average collected was 10 3/4 inches long and weighing nearly 3/4-pound.

Coffeen is a thermal lake and can have some fairly warm water in February and early March. This makes it an excellent early-season choice. At 1,100 acres, there is plenty of room for anglers to spread out in this Montgomery County impoundment.

Most of the crappies are found in the far north end of the lake. There is much more vegetation in this end, and crappies will often suspend in deeper water near woody or vegetative structure. Most anglers find the best success with jigs or jigs tipped with minnows. Chartreuse or yellow are the primary colors used by locals.

The site office at the Coffeen Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area can be reached at (217) 537-3351. For area info, contact the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce at (217) 532-3711.