Choose another lake

SHELBYVILLE, LAKE

SHELBYVILLE, LAKE FISHING GUIDE


Lake Information

County: Shelby

Acreage: 11100

Average Depth: 18.90 feet

Shoreline Length: 120 miles

Recreational Amenities

Boat Fishing? Unrestricted

Boat Ramps? Yes

Boat Rental? Yes

Skiing? Yes

Swimming? Yes

Picnicking? Yes

Camping? Yes

Wilborn Creek Coal Shaft Bridge Whitley Creek Eagle Creek Wolf Creek Lone Point Coon Creek Oppossum Creek Lithia Springs Shelbyville Dam


    Click on area names for a more detailed map.
    Coal Shaft Bridge, Coon Creek, Eagle Creek,
    Kaskaskia River Access, Lithia Springs, Lone Point,
    Oppossum Creek, Shelbyville Dam, Whitley Creek,
    Wilborn Creek, Wolf Creek

Maps are not intended for navigation.


There are no zebra mussels in this lake.


Fish Stocking

Year

Species

Size

Count

2023

Black Crappie

Fingerling 1 - 3"

75000

2023

Muskellunge

Adult

6167

2023

Striped Bass

Fingerling 1 - 3"

68210

2023

Striped Bass

Fry

1068

2023

Walleye

Fingerling 1 - 3"

98035

2024

Sauger

Fingerling 1 - 3"

63292

2024

Striped Bass

Fingerling 1 - 3"

3853

2024

Striped Bass

Fry

89072

2024

Walleye

Fingerling 1 - 3"

299734


Additional information for stocking on Shelbyville, Lake


Fishing Outlook  ( Full PDF Report )

Click here for a list of all reports.

Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLACK CRAPPIE

Very Good

Abundance has been decreasing slightly. Fish up to 11-12 inches can be found with the occasional larger fish.

BLUEGILL

Fair

Fishing is fair. Few fish exceed 7 inches.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Good

Are fairly abundant with 8+ pound fish present. Catfish spawning boxes will soon be placed in the lake in the hopes it will improve natural recruitment.

FLATHEAD CATFISH

Fair

Are low in abundance, but large fish are present.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Average

Population is relatively stable. The 2022 year-class appears to have been a bit weaker than average, however 2020, 2021, and 2023 were all at or above average. The lack of aquatic vegetation and continued loss of coarse woody debris continues to be the biggest hinderance to the population. We are frequently asked about stocking of bass. Research has shown that stocked largemouth bass contribute very little to an established population, especially in a reservoir this large.

MUSKELLUNGE

Developing

Recent efforts have begun to successfully restore the muskie population in Lake Shelbyville. The 2022 and 2023 year-classes are particularly strong, with muskie over 30 inches expected to be moderately abundant in 2024. A decent fishery still exists below the spillway, with an abundance of 25–40-inch muskie.

SAUGER

Very Good

Annual stocking began in 2020 (only periodic stocking before that) and the population is doing well with most fish in the 12-16 inch range.

SMALLMOUTH BASS

Poor

Abundance is low as we attempt to develop a population through stocking. Brood stock are collected from the Kaskaskia River, transported to Jake Wolf Hatchery where they spawn, and fry are then reared on-site at the Fin-and-Feather rearing pond. The occasional fish is reported caught by anglers. No evidence of natural recruitment has been observed. Catch and release is encouraged.

STRIPED BASS

Developing

In moderate abundance thanks to annual stockings. Walleye up to 8 lbs. have been collected, as well as good numbers of intermediate sized fish.

WALLEYE

Very Good

In moderate abundance thanks to annual stockings. Walleye up to 8 lbs. have been collected, as well as good numbers of intermediate sized fish.

WHITE BASS

Excellent

Numbers have recovered rapidly over the last several years after a die-off in the mid 2010’s. White bass are abundant with 12-15 inch fish common.

WHITE CRAPPIE

Excellent

Recruitment and growth rates have been great over the last 5+ years. Catch rates and length distributions are in the ideal range. Anglers can expect to find White Crappie up to 13 inches, with the occasional larger fish.

Location: Lake Shelbyville is located in Shelby and Moultrie Counties in east-central Illinois, with the dam situated on the Kaskaskia River, east of the City of Shelbyville, Illinois.

Description: This lake has a surface area of 11,100 acres, with a maximum depth of 65 feet, and an average depth of 18 feet. Numerous public boat launching facilities are available, with a fee assessed on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers developed access area boat ramps, and free access on state park or Corps gravel boat ramps. All tournaments must be scheduled through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (217-774-3951).

History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The fish population in Lake Shelbyville is surveyed annually. Lake Shelbyville is home to at least 32 species of fish. In addition to the lake, a popular fishery exists in the Kaskaskia River just below the spillway and in the West Okaw and Kaskaskia Rivers upstream of the lake. The USACE and IDNR manage two nursery ponds, 6.5 and 0.7 acres, which are currently used to raise walleye, sauger, and smallmouth bass to stock into the lake.

Additional Lake Information: See the Illinois Fishing Information guide for a complete list of regulations for Lake Shelbyville and other USACE and IDNR project ponds and lakes. Regulation signs are posted at all boat ramps and major access points. All fishing tournaments on USACE ramps require a permit from the USACE office.

Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance: The Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance (LSFHA) was formed in 2017 in an effort to improve habitat in the lake. To date, the LSFHA, USACE, and IDNR have placed over 2,000 artificial structures in the lake, as well as over 350 tons of offshore rock pile habitat. To keep up to date with habitat builds and other volunteer opportunities, follow the LSFHA at https://www.facebook.com/fishlakeshelbyville/

Artificial Habitat Maps can be found at:
https://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Lake-Shelbyville/Recreation/Fish-Attractor-Maps/

Contact Information:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
217-774-3951
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Jim Garavaglia
217-345-2420

Multiple day tournaments are listed with * end date.

Interested in participating in one of these public tournaments? Contact us with tournament ID for more information.

2024–2025 Approved or Pending Tournaments
Start Date ID Approval Ramp Location Bank/Boat
Hook/Bow
Max Boats Species Youth? Open to Public?
November-2427092ApprovedForrest "Bo" Wood Rec. Area boat
hook
40Crappie
NoNo
April-2627911PendingWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
100Crappie
NoNo
May-0327456PendingDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
120Largemouth Bass
NoYes
May-0328109PendingWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
YesYes
May-0427557PendingWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
20Crappie
NoNo
May-1227264PendingWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
50Crappie
NoYes
May-1727207PendingDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
NoNo
May-1727829PendingWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
NoNo
June-1427734PendingWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
NoNo
June-1428104PendingDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
June-2127467PendingDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
120Largemouth Bass
NoYes
June-21
*June-22
27508PendingWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
June-2227331PendingWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
17Largemouth Bass
NoNo
June-2827212PendingOpossum Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
NoNo
June-2927332PendingWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
17Largemouth Bass
NoNo
July-1227213PendingWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
NoNo
July-12
*July-13
27300PendingOpossum Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
NoNo
August-0227215PendingWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
NoNo
August-1627208PendingDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
NoNo
August-1727621PendingDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
NoNo
September-06
*September-07
28147PendingWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
September-1427580PendingWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
20Crappie
NoNo
September-2127218PendingDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
100Largemouth Bass
NoNo
September-2727228PendingDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
80Largemouth Bass
YesYes
October-04
*October-05
27515PendingWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
October-04
*October-05
27888PendingLithia Springs Rec. Area boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
October-11
*October-12
27299PendingDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
90Largemouth Bass
NoNo
October-1127269PendingWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
25Crappie
NoYes
October-18
*October-19
27353PendingWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
17Largemouth Bass
NoNo
October-25
*October-26
27355PendingWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
17Largemouth Bass
NoNo