Central

Some lakes remain closed for for the season:

– Braidwood Lake: opens March 1.

– LaSalle Lake: tentatively set to re-open in mid-March to
fishing

– Heidecke Lake: tentatively set to re-open about April 1.

– Rice Lake: closed

Larry’s Fishing Hole (larrysfishinghole.com)

– Powerton Lake: Lake is closed to boats until mid-February.
Smallmouths are being caught on crankbaits and small jigs. Good
currents are reported in the discharge area. Bandits and inline
spinners also are working.

Shabbona Lake: There is 5 to 6 inches of ice on the bays. Use
caution in the main lake areas and stay on the paths. Bluegills and
crappies are being caught over the fish cribs and around the
standing timber.

Allen Outboard and Bait

(815) 739-4522

Lake Bloomington: Bluegills are biting on worms, but are slow
and small. Crappies are being caught on minnows in 12 to 14
feet.

DNR reports

Lake Decatur: Crappie are being caught on minnows. Bluegill
fishing has been slow, with a few being caught on worms. Catfish
have been very slow on worms and stinkbaits.

Mike’s Tackle World: Decatur

(217) 423-0730

Lake Shelbyville: Crappies have been biting in shallows or
around brush on jigs and tubes of chartreuse with yellow, red or
white and chartreuse tubes. Muskies are biting below the
spillway.

Mike’s Tackle World: Decatur

(217) 423-0730

Evergreen Lake: Channel catfish have been biting in the evening
and early morning hours, with the best bets being chicken liver,
stinkbaits, or nightcrawlers near the spillway. Crappie fishing has
been slow. Bass are biting in shallows on spinnerbaits and plastic
worms. Muskie fishing is starting to pick up.

Mike’s Tackle World: Decatur

(217) 423-0730

(217) 935-0925

Clinton Lake: Crappie fishing has been fair near brush with
minnows. Bluegills are being caught on worms near shore.

Clinton Bait & Tackle: Clinton

(217) 935-3851

Coffeen Lake: Bass fishing has been good for anglers using
crankbaits and plastic worms. Crappies have been slow to bite.
Catfish have been caught on nightcrawlers and stinkbaits. Striped
bass have been hitting topwater lures in the evening.

Indian Grove Fishcamp: Coffeen

(217) 537-3001

Lake Springfield: Bluegills are biting on worms along
shorelines. Crappie fishing has been slow. Catfish have been biting
on shad. White bass have been hitting spinnerbaits near the
bridges.

Jim’s Live Bait & Tackle: Springfield

(217) 787-1951

Sangchris Lake: DNR is reminding anglers that the west and east
arms of the lake and dam area are closed to boat traffic through
Jan. 31 for waterfowl season. Crappie fishing has been good on
minnows.

Jim’s Live Bait & Tackle: Springfield

(217) 787-1951