LAKE DECATUR STATUS REPORT SUMMARY
The lake is located in Decatur in Macon County. The lake covers 3093 surface acres with a maximum depth of 22 feet and average depth of 6.0 feet. Public boat launching facilities are available. The City of Decatur (217-424-2837) collects a boating access fee.
CHANNEL CATFISH: A naturally reproducing population exists, although recently reproductive success appears to be highly variable. Fishing prospects for channel catfish are good. Angling reports have been outstanding. No creel limits exist on this population.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: LAKE DECATUR - A 14 inch minimum length
limit is in effect.
An improved largemouth bass population is developing through the supplemental
stocking program. Fingerling bass have been stocked in 1990 and 1992 2003
by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and since 1999 by the
Decatur Angler’s Association due to poor natural recruitment of
largemouth bass fry in this lake, likely due to the lack suitable aquatic
vegetation for nursery habitat.
Although similar to fall 2002, catch rates through electrofishing were poor during the 2003 stocking success survey (28 bass/hour). However, a very good size distribution of fish from 8 through 18 inches were collected and all size structure indices (YAR, PSD, RSD14, RSD16) were within management plan objectives. A fair number of bass up to 5 pounds are available in this lake, with larger fish rarely collected or reported. Angler catch rates were reported as fair to good in summer 2003. Bass fishing prospects are rated as fair for catch rate and quality.
The construction of a five acre nursery pond by the Decatur Anglers’ Association, in cooperation with the City of Decatur and the IDNR, is expected to produce up to 20,000+ 5 8 inch fingerling bass. Since 1999, over 66,000 largemouth bass have been raised and released into Lake Decatur. This pond is harvested on the first or second Saturday in October each year.
Volunteers are needed to help mark bass for evaluation of the contribution of this pond to Lake Decatur. Anyone interested in this project should contact Decatur Anglers’ Association President, Jack Morse, or District Fisheries Biologist Mike Mounce (217/345 2420). Estimates from the ‘03 stocking success survey indicated that 100% of the ‘03 year class of bass for Lake Decatur were produced in the nursery pond!
STRIPED BASS: LAKE DECATUR - Statewide regulations are in effect, with no limit for fish under 17 inches, but a maximum of only three striped bass hybrids over 17 inches can be kept. A strong white bass fishery exists in this lake. Fishermen should keep in mind that a maximum of only three white bass over 17 inches can be kept as well, which can be easy to exceed. Very few striped bass hybrids are reported caught in lake Decatur, but a viable fishery exists below the dam for both hybrids and true striped bass. Since the likely source of the stripers is Clinton Lake, some if not most of the hybrids could be coming from this source as well. One angler reported that he was catching hybrids in the Sangamon River above the lake in spring. Fishing prospects for striped bass hybrids on Lake Decatur are rated as poor. Fishing prospects for striped bass hybrids below the Lake Decatur spillway are rated as good, especially in spring.
WALLEYE: LAKE DECATUR - The statewide 14 inch minimum length limit and creel limit of six fish daily is in effect. An abundance of gizzard shad forage in Lake Decatur allows for the stocking of additional predator species to diversify the fishery. The stocking of 2-inch fingerling walleye from 2000 through 2006 appears to be developing a good fishery. Collection rates for fall 2005 (37+/hr.) exceeded standard goals. Numerous reports of fishermen catching walleye were received in fall ‘02 and summer ‘03. Walleye collected were scattered along the rip-rap shorelines on or near bridges. The walleye collected ranged from 8 to 23+ inches, with numerous 14 to 16 inch fish collected. Walleye fishing prospects for Lake Decatur are rated as fair to good for 2006.
