There are many fallen trees and much woody structure along the shoreline at Argyle Lake. During the springtime, look for crappies to be holding in the woody cover. Typical crappie baits such as minnows, jigs and jigs tipped with minnows are really productive.

After the water heats up and the thermocline develops, crappies are found offshore in deeper water. This is when drift-fishing comes into play to locate the fish. After a school is found, casting and fishing vertical are good options.

There is a 10-fish-per-day creel limit with a 9-inch minimum length at Argyle Lake. This creel includes white, black or hybrid crappies in aggregate, not 10 fish of each.

More information on fishing at Argyle may be obtained by contacting the Region I fisheries office at (815) 625-2968 or the Argyle Lake State Park at (309) 776-3422. Traveling anglers may want to contact the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at (309) 833-1315 or visit www.macomb.com.

REGION II

FOX CHAIN O' LAKES
Anglers in the northeastern part of the Prairie State have their own crappie haven in Lake and McHenry counties near the Wisconsin border. The Fox Chain O' Lakes provides more than 7,000 acres of angling bliss and is home to a very nice crappie fishery.

DNR fisheries biologist Frank Jakubicek said the lake doesn't experience big up-and-down cycles like other lakes and the crappie fishery stays pretty stable even though there are no creel or size limits for papermouths. He said they watch the Chain closely and haven't seen any evidence of overharvest.

The bulk of the crappies are the black variety, but there are some white crappies and hybrids as well. The average fish caught is about 9 inches long, but there are plenty of fish in the 10- to 12-inch range. Occasionally, crappies much larger will be caught, even up to the 15- to 17-inch range.

Jakubicek said almost all the lakes have good crappies, but access is a little better in the northern lakes than in the southern ones. There is not usually much fishing pressure early, because the weather is still chilly, which allows anglers plenty of uninterrupted angling if they are willing to brave cold weather. Of course, the early crappie action is dependent upon the weather and water temperature.

Early in the year when Jakubicek and other DNR personnel sample the Chain, they see the bulk of the crappies and crappie anglers near shore on the main lakes. By mid to late April, the crappies move more toward the back channels. The channels are not all created equal and the deeper ones tend to hold more fish. Anglers must do a little scouting to find the best ones. A real popular spot with crappie anglers is near the McHenry Dam.

The Fox Chain O' Lakes has numerous boat-launching ramps, some with fees and some free. There are ample choices for lodging, camping and dining. More information may be obtained from the Lake County Chamber of Commerce by calling (847) 249-3800, or go online to www.lakecountychamber.com. The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce may be reached at (815) 385-4300 or www.mchenrychamber.com.

District fishery biologist Frank Jakubicek may be reached at (815) 675-2319, and the Region II office number is (815) 625-2968.

REGION III

LAKE SHELBYVILLE
While there are several good crappie waters in Region III, one of the first locations in this region an angler should consider is definitely Lake Shelbyville. This 11,100-acre crappie haven offers nearly anything a papermouth enthusiast could want. From a great crappie population to excellent habitat and lake layout, Shelbyville has something for every taste.