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Lake Information for Lake Shelbyville
Lake Shelbyville is an artificial lake located in Shelby County, Illinois and Moultrie County, Illinois created by damming the Kaskaskia River at Shelbyville, Illinois. The lake's normal surface pool is 11,100 acres (44.9 km2) at an elevation of 183 metres (600.4 ft). The area that surrounds the lake is the Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area. The lake is managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the wildlife is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Bordering the lake are two state parks: Wolf Creek State Park and Eagle Creek State Park. Lake Shelbyville's coastline is heavily wooded and sandy, so there are some public beaches on the lake. Aside from the main channel of the lake are many coves, perfect for fishing. The lake is deeper than other major lakes in Illinois, so it is popular with boaters during the summer. There are full-service marinas, resorts, and campgrounds on the lake.
Recent frequent floods have resulted in excellent natural recruitment of largemouth bass. In addition the stockings of fingerling bass from the Fin & Feathers Nursery Pond has resulted in the development of a good to excellent largemouth bass fishery. This lake has become a very popular tournament destination due to the high quality of the fishery.
In recent years this lake has developed into an outstanding muskie fishery. In fall 2002 the Professional Muskie Tournament Trail set a record for any previous tournament for the catch rate per fisherman and in the spring 2003 the total number of fish caught in a tournament (later broken on the Madison Chain of Lakes)! This attest to the increased quality of this fishery! Several fish are reported each year exceeding 50 inches. Muskie fishing prospects are rated as excellent!
Collection rates of channel catfish have been reduced in fish population surveys for numerous years.
Consistent stockings of fingerling walleye since 1994 has resulted in the development of a good to excellent walleye fishery. In recent years, knowledgeable fishermen have been able to catch limits of fish from April through mid-June. Some fishermen believe that July and August are the better months.
Largemouth bass fish is best from April to October in the bays and points and among the flooded timbers and stick-ups.
Muskie are best in the spring and fall in the rock bars, points and dead falls.
Walleye and sauger are best from April to October in the flooded ridge, drop offs, flats, and in the Kaskaskia River and tailwater.
White bass are found most often from May to October in the points, rock rip-rap, flats, and tailwaters.
Crappie fishing is best in the spring and fall among the brush and timber, rock rip-rap, and tailwaters.
Fishing for channel catfish is best from May to September along the Kaskaskia River, the shallow bays, and the tailwaters.
Businesses Located Nearby
Boat Rental
- Can Do Canoe Rental
- - Champaign, IL
- (217) 835-2563
- Lithia Springs Marina
- Rr4 Box 103a - Shelbyville, IL
- (217) 774-4121
- Klauser Marine
- Lake Rd - Shelbyville, IL
- (217) 774-4798
Vacation Rental
- Eagle Creek Resort
- Eagle Creek State Park, Findlay, Il 62534 - Findlay, IL
- (217) 756-3456
- Sunset Inn & Suites
- 1101 Kleemann Dr - Clinton, IL
- (217) 935-4140
- Hilton Garden Inn Effingham
- 1301 Avenue Of Mid America - Effingham, IL
- (217) 540-7777
