CHARLESTON SIDE CHANNEL STATUS REPORT SUMMARY
CHANNEL CATFISH: The lake is located approximately three
miles southeast of Charleston, in Coles County. The lake covers 330 surface
acres with a maximum depth of 16 feet and average depth of 7.7 feet. Public
boat launching facilities are available. There is a no wake regulation
in effect on the entire lake. A six catfish/day creel limit exists. Very
good fishing for channel catfish exists through maintenance stockings
by the IDNR.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: CHARLESTON SIDE CHANNEL LAKE - A 14
inch minimum length limit is in effect.
Fingerling bass have been stocked in 1990 and 1992 2003 due to poor natural
recruitment of bass fry in the lake, likely due to the lack suitable aquatic
vegetation for nursery habitat. A wide variety of sizes of bass exist
in the lake. Eight and nine pound bass have been reported caught from
the lake. Overall the collection rate was poor in the 2003 fall survey
(28 bass/hour), with very few fish above 12 inches collected. Most size
structure indices (YAR, PSD, RSD14, RSD16) were lower than usual and below
management plan objectives due to a strong year class of age 1 bass collected.
This is likely due to warm water temperatures affecting the distribution
of bass. However, the number of age 1 bass, from the 2002 year class,
collected was good and should provide a boost to this fishery. Despite
consistent stocking, bass fishing prospects are rated as poor to fair
for catch rates, with trophy potential as fair good.
This lake is being utilized by the Illinois Natural History Survey to
evaluate largemouth bass stocking strategies. Two, four, six, and eight
inch bass fingerlings are being evaluated as to their relative contribution
to the fishery. This should provide valuable information to the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources. A relatively strong 2002 year class has
developed and is comprised of mostly, if not entirely, stocked bass. Of
this year class 92% had identifiable marks, identifying them as hatchery
raised fish, with 36% of the marked fish stocked as 6 inch fingerlings
and 64% stocked as eight inch fingerlings. Unmarked fish (8%) collected
from this year class could be from natural recruitment, stocked as gentically
identifiable 2 inch fingerlings, or larger stocked fingerlings with unidentifiable
marks (regenerated pelvic fins).
STRIPED BASS (HYBRIDS): CHARLESTON SIDE CHANNEL LAKE
- - is located approximately three miles southeast of Charleston, in Coles
County. The lake covers 330 surface acres with a maximum depth of 16 feet
and average depth of 7.7 feet. Free public boat launching facilities are
available. There is a no wake regulation in effect on the entire lake.
A 17 inch minimum length limit with a three fish daily creel limit is
in effect. Many anglers have reported catching hybrids from 2 to 12 pounds
with fish up to 15 pounds collected during fish population surveys. Fishing
is especially good in spring when fish congregate near a pumping station
in the south east corner of the lake. A strong fishery, attracting numbers
of anglers, has developed. Two “Big Fish” Awards were submitted
for hybrid striped bass in fall ‘04 by one angler. Fishing prospects
for striped bass hybrids are rated as good to excellent, but tend to be
dependent on the amount of pumping activity.
WALLEYE: CHARLESTON SIDE CHANNEL LAKE -is located approximately
three miles southeast of Charleston, in Coles County. The lake covers
330 surface acres with a maximum depth of 16 feet and average depth of
7.7 feet. Free public boat launching facilities are available. There is
a no wake regulation in effect on the entire lake. The statewide 14 inch
minimum length limit and creel limit of six fish daily is in effect. Saugeye
(sauger X walleye hybrid) have been stocked annually since summer 2000.
The collection rates from fall 2006 (11/hr.) met standard stocking success
goals. Numerous saugeye from 14 to 20+ inches were reported caught by
fishermen in late spring ‘05 and fall ‘05. Saugeye fishing
prospects are rated as fair to good in 2006.
Return to Charleston
Side Channel
