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Wardy is the resident expert here, but I've put in some time on it. It's tough to fish if you don't know it, there's no visible deep cover like standing timber, big bridges. So look for the deep...

Yeah, it would've. I'll wait for a 16"er. Looked pretty good in the skillet, though, too.

Angler73 and I had 13 this morning, same depth and techniques. I caught what appears to be the Lake Decatur black crappie record. 15 3/4", 2.59 lbs on a certified scale.

On vacation this week. Hit Crab Orchard in S. IL Mon and Tues and didn't do squat. Came back and fished Decatur Wed-Fri mornings. Caught close to 2 limits Wednesday by 10:30, Angler73 and I got 13...

Probably, but they took a risk by taking an illegal fish out of Sangchris. Like I said, mine was under 10". From what I've read the blacknose are just a strain of black crappie, and the blacks I've...

Donnie, is it really muddy even at the south end, or did you stay north?

I'll catch you Sunday unless I struggle with them Saturday. I hate muddy water.

It has been a very good fall so far, and the next 6 weeks should be fantastic. Nothing like having the best crappie lake in the area practically in your back yard, with the way gas prices are.

Actually, Donnie, I don't know where you're catching them because you never took me to your spots, lol.

Talked to an old-timer Lake Decatur legend in his own mind the other day and he said the...

I'm not catching most of them around docks, Donnie, so you know where I am catching them at.

I got my limit Saturday, better than I did last weekend. Still took me 5 hours, though. Fish were 6' deep around structure, no matter how deep the water was. Caught a couple shallow. Nice fish,...

Anybody wanting to put a boat in (or get one out) better hurry. Ramps are going to be too shallow soon if we don't get some rain.

A little early, but I got a limit Saturday and threw back 6 keepers, and then got 8 on Sunday. Off the water by 11 both days. Docks and bridges, 2-6' deep. Water temp 76 with perfect color. 90% of...

That's not bad for that lake, 7 fish limit. I heard every boat brought in the limit.

If you're thinking about launching at the Lost Bridge ramp, it may not be worth the trouble until the lake comes up a bit. I had to get my trailer way out to get the boat off the only time I...

Just got back from four days in Carbondale, spent some quality time with my college student daughter and 3 different lakes. Fished Crab Orchard, Kinkaid, and Lake of Egypt, all for the first time. ...

Corp of Engineer ramps are $3 a day, state park ramps are free. You can get a season pass, somewhere around $30.

Lake of Egypt is privately owned (power company). Would that make a difference?

I always have to be out early and late, they don't come easy. I got a few in Basin 3 Saturday, but I got a limit this morning and all but one was from Basin 1.
They seem to be stacking up outside...

It's getting better. Got nine this morning, caught at least that many over 9.5". Surface temp is up in the low 60's. Fish were 3-6' deep around cover.

They've got a summer pool and winter pool, it only varies a foot or two from what I can tell. Obviously at winter pool now.

Jerry's Sport Shop in MZ is reporting fish being caught in the Big...

I've never stayed at the Pin Oak, but they met most of my requirements - close to Carbondale and Crab Orchard, half-hour drive to some other lakes, cheap, and they will let me charge boat batteries. ...

I'm heading down that way next week, but I've never fished those lakes. Carlyle is not highly regarded, I'm skipping that one. We're staying at the Pin Oak Motel in Carterville for a few nights and...

Donnie, the important color was purple, the color of that 11' BnM I was holding all day, lol.

I kept a few and they tasted fine.

Two of us got 10 today, mostly in the West arm on shallow laydowns where the water temp was 55. Most of them were 11.5" to 13". There's a little action in the pad stems. They'll be spawning over...

Fished Wilborn area again today, water temp 43, about 5d cooler than last weekend, and way too muddy north of the ramp. Not bad towards the RR bridge. Only got 4 keepers, ratio about 1 to 8-9. A...

I got 8 keepers today, half of them 11" to 11.5 Wilborn Creek area, 3-7' deep.
Had to catch 60 fish to get those 8. Some of the keepers were so stuffed with shad I don't know where they thought...

Thanks, for the info, BG, I was planning on hitting Crab Orchard and Kinkaid mostly, looks like I need to give LOE a look too. I expect we'll know more the closer we get.

That's a good day - I'm going to be down that way around the middle of April, planning on fishing Kinkaid, Crab Orchard, maybe Egypt. Where do you think I should start? Will the spawn be over on...

I haven't been over there in two weeks. Does anyone know if they shut the plant down for an extended period? If they did, with this weather, I'm sure my shallow fish aren't there. If it's going to...

Got only 6 keepers today, but they were nice fish. Two 13's, two over 12 and a couple of little ones. Probably caught only 12-15 fish total. Water is clearer and colder than it was a couple of...