SPRING LAKE SOUTH STATUS REPORT SUMMARY

CHANNEL CATFISH: South Spring Lake was rehabilitated in 1986 to remove a very undesirable fish population.  Shortly after the restocking of the lake, a major fishery for channel catfish was established.  A creel census conducted in 1988 on South Spring Lake showed that 36% of all anglers were fishing for channel catfish.  The total catch the year the creel was done showed that 6.6 pounds of catfish were caught per acre.  The 2007 population samples showed a large number of fish from 2-4 pounds present at the lake.  A tremendous number of channel catfish are caught by shore anglers when other species are not hitting.

The best fishing for channel catfish occurs along the rock rip-rap levee after dark during the months of June and July.  Best baits are minnows, small bluegill (caught lawfully at the site), cut shad and shrimp.  No multiple hook devices are allowed (pole and line only) and a six fish limit applies.  Food and boat rental as well as camping are found at spring Lake.  There is a 25 horsepower regulation in effect.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: SPRING LAKE (SOUTH) - The coverage of submersed and emersed aquatic vegetation in 2007 was much more abundant that was seen in previous years.  This was due to a vast increase of Eurasian milfoil, white water lily, and lotus.  Herbicide treatments in the spring were conducted using 2, 4-D.  The aquatic vegetation has a negative impact on bass populations.  The South Lake’s largemouth bass population size structure in 2007 was characterized by numerous fish over 15" and good reproduction.  All largemouth goals for management were equaled or exceeded in 2007.

A 3 fish daily limit and a minimum size of 15 inches is in effect.  This change was made to improve predator pressure on small bluegill and, more recently, yellow bass.  The catch per unit of effort of electro-fishing has increased significantly over past levels.

Based on the results of sampling efforts in 2007, the fishing prospects for largemouth bass in South Spring Lake are excellent.  The best results for bass fishing in 2008 will be early in the spring before weeds become a problem.  Best areas will be along the center ditch and the spring hole areas along the bluff and the lotus pads.  Best baits will be crank baits, spinners and top-water plugs.

All bass tournaments must pre-register at the site on a first come, first served basis at least 60 days prior to the event.  A 25 horsepower restriction is in place at Spring Lake.  Food, bait and boat rental are available at the lake.

NORTHERN PIKE: (Tazewell County) In 1978, Spring Lake was divided into two distinct waters for the purpose of capital improvement and the restructuring of the fish population.  Prior to 1916, Spring Lake was part of the Illinois River system as a lateral freshwater marsh.  In 1916, it was separated from the river by a high levee and has remained a separate body of water.  From 1916 until 1981, the quality of the fishery habitat and the fish population declined due to rough fish populations such as carp and bullheads.  In 1986, the lake was treated with Rotenone to remove the existing fish population and encourage the growth of aquatic vegetation.  The key to the rehabilitation was the re-establishment of lush aquatic vegetation which had occurred by summer of 1986.

Always a shallow water, South Spring Lake today has an average depth of 2.9 feet.  Of the 610 acres of water, at least 75 percent is covered with 13 different species of aquatic vegetation by late May of each year.  The tremendous spring recharge from the bed of the lake amounts to 100 acre feet a day, creating very cold water temperatures under the insulating layer of vegetation for the majority of the summer months.  This is a unique situation and only occurs in Spring Lake within the State of Illinois.  The resulting temperature regime and water quality is excellent habitat for pike.

Because of its’ proximity to the Jake Wolf Hatchery, South Spring lake has been used as a brood source for northern pike the past seven years and has provided most of the early northern stocks for statewide stocking of northern pike and tiger pike each year.  In an effort to collect fish for egg production, extensive population assessment data has been gathered since 1994.  We know quite a lot about the size structure and age of the population as well as growth.  It appears that growth of female fish is excellent when compared to nation-wide populations.  Growth of male northern is in the normal range when making a similar comparison.  There is a big difference in the length at age between sexes!  A 28 inch female is usually 4 years old, whereas a 25 inch male is 5 years old, on average.

Fishing for northern pike on South Spring Lake is a challenge.  The water temperatures rise quickly and usually result in fish feeding actively in early March.  Aquatic vegetation becomes thick and hard to fish no later than May 15th of each year and lasts until the lake closes for regular waterfowl season.  The narrow window of opportunity between the first of March and mid-May results in some excellent fishing.  The fish are then refuged by the thick vegetation until the following year.  Sometimes fishing the holes in the vegetation in June is quite effective.  There are a number of large fish in the population available to northern fishermen.  Based on the size structure of the fish sampled during the spring of each year, it may be possible to catch northern up to 20 pounds in weight.  Large white or yellow spinner baits are among the best choices early in the year with many larger fish caught by surface plugs and jerk baits later in the spring!  A number of fish are caught in the winter in the large spring area located at the south end of the lake.  State-wide regulations apply to the northern pike fishery at Spring Lake.

South Spring Lake has one boat ramp and is accessible by the Manito Blacktop, 12 miles South of Pekin.  No fuel or services are available; however, camping and food service are both located on the facility.  There is a 25 horsepower limit at Spring Lake.  The lake is closed to fishing north of Pike Hole bridge during the waterfowl season each year.

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