LAKE SHELBYVILLE STATUS REPORT SUMMARY
Largemouth Bass - excellent - Recent large floods and a few well-timed smaller flood pulses have resulted in excellent natural recruitment of largemouth bass. It appears that strong year classes have been or will be recruited to the lake from spawns in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009! Recruitment of the 2009 year class of bass appears to be potentially good, especially in the upper part of the lake. The strong year classes produced should sustain this fishery for many years.
This lake has become a very popular tournament destination due to the high quality of the fishery. Fishermen catch rates in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 were much improved over 2004 and 2005. Fishermen reported catching good numbers of bass both below and above the size limit through the 2009 season. Unlike 2008, high water levels in 2009 had little impact on catch rates for most gamefish species in the lake. Water clarity was much improved over 2008. The three greatest single day tournament total weights were 588, 619, and 814 lbs. Average weight of bass weighed into the larger tournaments ranged from 1.9 to 2.5 lbs. The largest bass weighed into the larger tournaments ranged from 5.3 to 6.3 lbs with the exception of the new lake record bass, caught in a tournament by Chuck Ditto in April, which weighed 8.55 lbs.
The number of bass collected in the 2009 fall survey (80/hr.) was well above the 2006, 2007, and 2008 survey results (24, 31, 22/hr). Collection rates were higher at mid lake and upper lake sights. Incidental sampling later in the season indicated the potential for high catch rates. The largest bass collected during the 2009 fall survey was 20 inches and weighed 4.3 lbs. The largemouth bass fishing prospects for 2010 remain good to excellent for numbers and good to excellent for size and should improve significantly in future years.
Smallmouth Bass - poor - A foundling population of smallmouth bass was stocked in Lake Shelbyville in falls 2006, 2007, and 2008. Approximately 200 fingerling smallmouth, averaging 6.5", were stocked in 2006, 279 averaging 7.1" were stocked in 2007, and 366 averaging 6.4" were stocked in 2008. No smallmouth bass were stocked in 2009 due to the inability to collect broodstock from the Kaskaskia River due to high flows. All smallmouth bass were stocked into the lower part of the lake. Good recruitment of largemouth bass will allow for continued efforts to establish smallmouth bass in Lake Shelbyville. 1,435 smallmouth bass averaging 4.4" were stocked into the Kaskaskia River just above Lake Shelbyville in 2008 as well. No smallmouth bass were collected in the 2007, 2008, or 2009 fall fish population surveys. A few reports from fishermen indicate that the initially stocked fish are doing well. There has been no evidence of spawning success as of yet. Tournament fishermen are asked to release all smallmouth bass where caught and are not allowed to weigh them in tournaments on Lake Shelbyville. Fish fishing prospects for smallmouth bass are poor due to low stocking densities.
Crappie - excellent - Crappie fishing over the previous four years had been very disappointing for most fishermen up to fall 2008. Since fall 2008 crappie fishing has improved dramatically and was excellent in fall 2009. Crappie fishing in '09 has been very good with fishermen catching limits of fish, including fish up to 14". Fall fish populations surveys indicate that good numbers of legal size crappie were present.
The largest white crappie collected during the 2009 fall survey was 13.8 inches and weighed 1.4 lbs. The largest black crappie collected during the 2009 fall survey was 12.2 inches and weighed 1.1 lbs. The largest crappie reported from tournaments was 1.9 lbs.
The crappie regulation changed in April, 2007 and so far has been popular with fishermen. Fishermen will be able to keep ten (10) crappie, 10" and larger, PLUS an additional five (5) crappie less than 10". This regulation is designed to thin out the smaller crappie slightly to provide a small boost in growth rate. Given the population size structure, improved fishing, prospects for crappie should be excellent for both numbers and size in 2010 and for several years.
Walleye - good - excellent - Walleye fishermen and guides reported excellent fishing in late May, 2009 for walleye. Rising water levels impacted many walleye fishermen, but some were able to catch walleye throughout the summer. Catch rates of young-of-the-year walleye were very good in both the 2007 and 2008 fall standard fish population and supplemental surveys, and excellent in 2009. This is likely due in part to an increase in the number of fish stocked, however there is a possibility walleye may have spawned in the Kaskaskia River in spring 2009. Catches of young-of-the-year walleye in surveys and by fishermen were exceptionally high in upper reaches of the lake and Kaskaskia River in fall 2009. The catch rate of walleye in the fall stocking success survey was 64/hr, with the majority of the fish being young-of-the-year. The largest walleye collected during the 2009 fall surveys was 27+ inches and weighed 6.7 lbs. Fishing prospects for 2010 should be good for both numbers and good to excellent for size and should improve over the next several years.
Sauger - poor - Sauger were stocked "experimentally" into Lake Shelbyville for the first time in 2006 to attempt to establish a self-sustaining population. Additional sauger fingerlings (2") were stocked in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Thirty sauger, from what appears to be all age groups, were collected in the 2009 fall standard survey and stocking success survey combined. The largest in 2009 was 14.1 inches and weighed 0.89 lbs. A few legal-size sauger were reported caught by fishermen in summer 2009. Stocking densities have been low, and should not produce a significant fishery unless natural recruitment from spawning within the lake or the Kaskaskia River occurs. Although the stocked fish appear to be doing very well, fishing prospects for sauger are poor due to low stocking densities.
Muskellunge - good - excellent - Located in Shelby and Moultrie Counties in east-central Illinois. This lake has a surface area of 11,100 acres, with a maximum depth of 67 feet, and an average depth of 18.9 feet. Public boat launching facilities are available, with a fee assessed on U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (217-774-3951) boat ramps, and free access on state park or Corp gravel boat ramps. A 48" length - 1 fish daily creel limit will remain in effect. The limit is in effect in the headwaters up to the Corps of Engineers project boundary and extends below the dam, downstream to the State Route 128 Bridge near Cowden.
Pure muskellunge were first stocked in Lake Shelbyville in 1978. It wasn't until 1988, however, that somewhat consistent year-to-year stockings of 5,500 fingerlings per year were initiated. Compared to the known potential longevity of this species, this fishery is still relatively young compared to the many well known fisheries in northern United States and Canada. In recent years this lake has developed into an outstanding muskie fishery; however catch rates in 2007, 2008, and 2009 have been depressed for unknown reasons. Floods may have been partially to blame in '08 and '09, allowing muskies to use heavy brush for cover which makes fishing for them more difficult.
Fishing for muskie was very poor during the spring and summer, both on the lake and below the spillway in 2007 and 2008, but improved slightly in 2009. Fall fishing improved the most below the spillway. An extended spawn is believed to be the primary stress causing an extensive muskie kill below the spillway in 2007. No evidence of a significant muskie kill was observed on the lake, although fish were reported later. Fishing results were slightly improved in fall of each year, including '07, '08, and '09 although again, high water hampered most fishermen's efforts.
The three major muskie tournaments held on Lake Shelbyville in fall 2009. The catch as reported was distributed as 7 fish (LSMC, 14 boats, biggest 39"), 13 fish (IMTT Fall Classic, 28 boats, biggest 45"), and 1 fish (IMTT Championship, 20 boats, biggest 36"). Highly variable weather and water levels may have had an affect on the outcome of these tournaments.
Muskie numbers remain good on the lake and low but somewhat improved in the area below the dam. Nine muskies up to 39+ inches and 16.1 lbs. were collected in the 2009 fall fish population survey. Fishing prospects for 2010 remain good for numbers and size on the lake and likely moderate below the spillway.
White bass - excellent - Unlike the previous four years, 2009 was a banner year for white bass fishing! Catch rates of 200+ fish per day of good sized fish resulted in a high quality fishery. Clearer water on the main lake helped fisherman success. Fishermen reported catching white bass up to 14 inches, with most keepers from 11 to 12 inches. Electrofishing results from the 2009 fall survey were average. The largest white bass collected during the 2009 fall surveys was 14 inches and weighed 1.4 lbs. The lake record white bass caught was 4 lb 2 oz. in spring 2002. Fishing prospects for 2010 should be excellent for numbers and size.
Catfish - fair - poor - Very low numbers of channel catfish were collected during the 2009 fall survey, with the largest being 29 inches and 11 lbs. As usual, few flathead catfish were collected as well, with the largest measuring 49 inches and 58 lbs. The lake record flathead, weighing 62 lbs. was caught in 2002. Channel catfish recruitment appears to continue to be poor with flathead recruitment variable, but apparently low. Fishermen report variable, but fair success. Fishing prospects for 2010 remain poor to fair for numbers and good for size.
Bluegill - fair - Most "keeper" size bluegill will range from 6.5 through 7.9 inches. A few bluegill in excess of eight inches are caught annually, although they are NOT common. Bluegill averaging 7.0 - 7.5 inches and 0.25 to 0.3 lbs are often caught by fishermen using nightcrawlers seeking other species. Fishing prospects for 2010 remain good for numbers and poor to fair for size.
