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Fishing in the Central Illinois Region

Explore fishing in the Central Illinois Region of Illinois. Lake Springfield Inlet, Clinton Lake, Shelbyville Lake, Deca

The inlet streams feeding Lake Springfield offer good fishing for the region's target species.

1. Lake Springfield Inlet (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill)

Lake Springfield Inlet, Illinois

The inlet streams feeding Lake Springfield offer good fishing for the region's target species.

Catfish, buffalo, carp, bowfin, drum, gar, suckers, shad · Limit: No harvest limit · Grass/silver/bighead carp: no live possession
Walleye, sauger, saugeye · Limit: 6 combined · Min 14 in (except Mississippi/Wabash)

Boat Launch: East Launch →

2. Clinton Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill)

Clinton Lake, Illinois

Clinton Lake offers excellent fishing in the Central Illinois with good public access and scenic surroundings.

⚠ This water: All Fish: 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1) (2). Sport fishermen shall be allowed to use trotlines, jugs, and bank poles in the portions of the lake that lie north of the Route 54 Railroad Bridge and northeast of the Route 48 Bridge. All jugs must be attended at all times (3). Sport fishermen may take carp, carpsuckers and buffalo by bow and arrow, bow and arrow devices, gigs and spears on the entire lake, but not within 150 feet of any boat ramp, dock, beach or other developed recreation areas
⚠ This water: Blue or Channel Catfish: 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
⚠ This water: Large or Smallmouth Bass: 16 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
⚠ This water: Striped, White, or Hybrid Striped Bass: 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 3 Fish greater than or equal to 17 inches
⚠ This water: Walleye: 18 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
⚠ This water: White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 15 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 Fish greater than or equal to 10 inches and 5 Fish less than 10 inches
⚠ This water: All Fish: 2 Pole and Line Fishing Only (1)
⚠ This water: Channel Catfish: 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
⚠ This water: Large or Smallmouth Bass: 15 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
⚠ This water: All Fish: All jugs must be attended at all times (3)
⚠ This water: Large or Smallmouth Bass: 15 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
⚠ This water: White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 10 inch Minimum Length Limit; 10 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Catfish, buffalo, carp, bowfin, drum, gar, suckers, shad · Limit: No harvest limit · Grass/silver/bighead carp: no live possession
Walleye, sauger, saugeye · Limit: 6 combined · Min 14 in (except Mississippi/Wabash)

Boat Launch: East Launch →

3. Shelbyville Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill)

Shelbyville Lake, Illinois

Shelbyville Lake offers excellent fishing in the Central Illinois with good public access and scenic surroundings.

Catfish, buffalo, carp, bowfin, drum, gar, suckers, shad · Limit: No harvest limit · Grass/silver/bighead carp: no live possession
Walleye, sauger, saugeye · Limit: 6 combined · Min 14 in (except Mississippi/Wabash)

Boat Launch: Lake Shelbyville →

4. Decatur Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Walleye, Bluegill)

Decatur Lake, Illinois

Decatur Lake offers excellent fishing in the Central Illinois with good public access and scenic surroundings.

Catfish, buffalo, carp, bowfin, drum, gar, suckers, shad · Limit: No harvest limit · Grass/silver/bighead carp: no live possession
Walleye, sauger, saugeye · Limit: 6 combined · Min 14 in (except Mississippi/Wabash)

Boat Launch: Commodore Decatur Yacht Club →