Thread: The Best Crappie Lake in Illinois

Lake Shelbyville: Because I can consistantly go over there and no matter what it's like out I can honestly say there hasn't been a day where I caught a keeper. And my whole family has grew up there!

didnt catch a keeper** sorry

Rend Lake is one of the best hands down. But I think everyone who fishes a certain lake will pick the one they fish the most.

Crappie X.

Egypt I have caught more big crappie out of there than anywhere

I'd have to say Old River or Sugar tree. As far as a well know lake I have to agree with extreme and say Rend. Its easier for a beginner to get on fish than some of the others I have fished.

I might be bias since I am the Lake Shelbyville guide but I have buddies on Rend who guide and they envy us up here because we can hide from the wind and have a much prettier lake. I have fished Rend many times but always up on the duck impoundment barrier. Nason boat ramp area. Definately beats main lake hands down. Love fishing the fire lanes and dipping in just a couple of foot of water. Second favorite got to be Smithland Pool. Dog Creek in the fall more shallow stumps than you can fish in a life time. Third has to be Lake Decatur once again tons of shallow stumps and big fish. Bigger than my home lake and oh yeah I won a boat on it last year.

I am partial to carlyle. I catch plenty of big crappie on the main lake. Even being fairly new to crappie fishing I have been able to catch nice crappie in the 14-15 inch range. I am looking forward to this year and trying all the new methods/advice I have gotten from the board in the last few months. If there is a drawback to carlyle it is that there is not alot of places to hide from the wind

I've never fished Rend,but i've heard a lot about it.As far as sheer numbers of crappie and knowing when you go,you'll catch fish,i'd have to say Clinton lake.The numbers of crappie at Clinton are just astonishing.Not much quality,but sometimes you'll get ahold of a biggun.Shelbyville is alright,but in the late fall i've caught some hawgs there.I caught alot of 13 and 14 inchers there.I know one of the most overlooked lakes in this state is Lake Decatur.There are huge crappie in there and good numbers of em.There isn't to much visible cover,but docks and bridges produce quite well and there are quite a few brush piles and stumps out there if you know where to look.