The push to boost catfish and redear sunfish populations in the collection of lakes that make up the Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area continued this year, with Illinois DNR stocking 450 channel cats and
Largemouth bass, muskies, and crappies continue to be on the edge of “breaking out” as spotlight fish at Canton Lake.
But the stage still belongs to catfish.
A small lake that had seen steady growth in its muskie and largemouth bass populations took a step back in August 2020.
Four years later, the lake appears to remain in “comeback” mode.
The focus on growing Lake Centralia’s channel catfish population has continued, with DNR stocking 1,500 of the fish in 2023 and 900 more in 2024. The channel cats, ranged from 8 to 10 inches, and
At least two anglers reported landing bass over 7 pounds in 2024. That jives with DNR’s report on the lake, which noted that in 37 DNR-sanctioned fishing tournaments in 2023, several bass over 6 pounds
DNR now rates Evergreen Lake as an “average” bass fishery.
With that being said, it appears the 7-pound largemouth bass appears to be back at the central Illinois lake.
Word is still out on DNR’s recent Fall 2024 survey of Citizens Lake, a small body of water with a big fish population in Warren County.
Last fall’s sampling showed an impressive channel catfish
Ever since a 10-pound largemouth bass was caught by a tournament angler in 2022, the looks on faces of anglers who show up at Cedar Lake all seem to say the same thing.
There’s
Few lakes in Illinois can boast of a solid and settled bluegill population, but tiny Bunker Hill Lake earns such recognition.
DNR’s 2023 survey of the 11-acre lake shows good size structure, with 19%
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