Anglers do well here with both spring and fall crappie fishing. Hooe said the fall fishing is spectacular. Minnows on jigs and other artificials work well. Look for crappies in natural brush and submerged timber, as well as around artificially placed fish attractors.

For lake information, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (618) 724-2493, or Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park at (618) 629-2320. For fishing tips, give Todd Gessner Guide Service a call at (618) 513-0520.

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Those are only a handful of Illinois' crappie honeyholes. Just gas up your vehicle and you can probably find your own papermouth hotspot within an hour of your home. Just remember to buy the tartar sauce when you buy your minnows!