--In Northern Illinois Ice conditions were good over the weekend
- At Chain O'Lakes area Ice Fishing is FAIR with Bluegills best small jigs or spikes.
-- And at MAZONIA SFWA - Lakes are open to fishing and all Ice fishing is done at your own risk.

ANDERSON LAKE Site Office 309-759-4484
- - No Reports

BANNER MARSH -3 access points on Routes 24/9 SW of Banner 3 miles, with a 25HP limit. (309-647-9184)
-- No New Report

CHAUTAUQUA LAKE - Just southwest of Goofy Ridge. 309-535-2290 -
---There is a no wake 10 mph boat speed limit (which may not be posted at lake).
* * Chautauqua refuge is on a new course and here is some new info..
Some have thought they heard it is closing down to fishing.. Not totally They have drained the north pool to encourage plants that provide food for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. It might not be much good for fishing, but it’s not going to be closed..? The south pool will also remain open to anglers. All former limits have been lifted, meaning there are no longer length or creel limits for crappie and anglers can keep bass longer than 12 inches. And the levee has been overtopped too often to keep out carp and other rough river fish so they are in there.
The general purpose of Chautauqua since its establishment has been as “a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds.”
We will have to wait and see if fishing will be managed for this area in future..?

DAWSON LAKE - East of Bloomington Exit #149 on I-74, North through LeRoy 4-miles on CH21 then East at Moraine View State Park sign.
-- The Crappie limit is 15 fish a day with no size restriction.
- - No New Reports

DOUBLE T STATE FISH and WILDLIFE AREA (3 miles northwest of Canton) - From State Route 78 in Canton, turn West on Vine Street (County Hwy. 21) go 3 miles turn right following County Hwy. 21 for 1-mile to cross-road (Cypress Rd.) and turn left (west), Lakes are 1 to 1 1/2 miles.
--THIS LAKE IS CLOSED TO FISHING - and remains Closed till APRIL 1st, 2010 --

EMIQUON PRESERVE - Between Havana and Dickson Mounds Museum on IL Route 78
- - This area is Open and Ice fishing is permitted from sunrise to sunset (( with some time & day restrictions listed below)) but you must have a free permit, available at Dickson Mounds Museum from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call The Nature Conservancy at (309) 547-2730.
- Some Ice fishing going on but No Reports - Remember- Permits for the new year are required.
* New permits are required as of January 2010 for participation as Existing 2009 permits for boating and fishing expired on December 31, 2009.
* Remember, Fishing is only allowed after 1:00pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during duck season.
- -Some of the site rules are: - No minnows allowed; - No bank fishing will be allowed;
- Boating and fishing is allowed only on the west side of Thompson Lake.
- No gas powered motors are permitted - Electric motors only and gas motors must be removed from boats ;
- Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and have a permit signed by a parent or legal guardi while on the Preserve.
- Boating and fishing are permitted between sunrise and sunset with additional restrictions applying on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during waterfowl hunting season when fishing is allowed only between 1 pm and sunset.
- *No boating or fishing access before 1:00 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays during waterfowl hunting
-- Parking locations and access to the lake may change or be limited during the season as on-site construction of visitor facilities progresses.
- -Check This Complete RULES File

EVERGREEN LAKE - North of Bloomington to Exit #8 on I-39, and West just over 1-mile and turn left (south) at sign.
This Lake has BOATING FEES and Evergreen Lake remains a 10 hp (or less) lake. You may use a larger motor ONLY to load and unload from your trailer. Larger motors MUST be propped out of the water once you are away from the courtesy docks.
- Brad, Operations Supervisor on Jan. 26th says " Ice fishing has been good on Evergreen the last few weeks. A lot of the ice fishing activity has been in the mouths of coves, off of points, and in the main creek channel. Wax worms have been the bait of choice among most through the ice. Most fish reported were being caught in deeper waters and mostly in the late afternoon hours. A recent report from the weekend yielded hundreds of crappies, with the majority being at least 9 inch. BE SAFE on the ice & Good Luck " ** STARTING APRIL 1, 2010 THERE WILL NO LONGER BE A SIZE LIMIT ON THE CRAPPIE AT EVERGREEN LAKE . THE FIFTEEN (15) CRAPPIE PER DAY CREEL LIMIT WILL REMAIN IN PLACE . SO, UNTIL APRIL 1ST THE 9” MINIMUM SIZE LIMIT/15 FISH PER DAY REMAINS IN PLACE .

HEIDECKE LAKE -
** This Lake is CLOSED to Fishing for the season and will ReOpen April 1st --
* Access is being enhanced at the Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area by the Midwest Generation engineering and environmental staff and IDNR Land Management and Water Resources personnel by installing protective rip rap around a dewatering structure on Heidecke Lake, reducing the need to significantly lower the lake water level during winter months to protect the structure from ice floes on the lake. As a result of the now protective “ice breaker” rip-rap stone reef that will prevent ice floes from reaching the blow down structure and eliminate the need to draw down the water level in the lake, water levels can be maintained that allow easy access to the lake for fishing and waterfowl hunting programs managed by the IDNR.

HENNEPIN-HOPPER LAKES - 2 miles South of Hennepin off IL Route 26, turn West on Road 810N and then next right.)
--For membership, call (815) 481-0778 and talk to Site sup. Rick.
** This Area is CLOSED TO FISHING --
-- Lakes closed for 2010 Season and No ice fishing will be allowed on Hennepin and Hopper lakes this winter --
Through the joint efforts of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Wetlands Initiative (TWI), rehabilitation of the marsh and lake habitats at the Hennepin and Hopper Lakes Project began with pump at the south end of the lakes into the Illinois River. The main focus is the remove the invasive carp that have destroyed the marsh habitat. Next they electrofished to rescue some of the game fish from the lakes with the final step to removing carp with IDNR fisheries staff applying rotenone in early spring. Since rotenone is a natural extract from tropical plants and decomposes rapidly in sunlight, IDNR Fisheries Biologist Wayne Herndon expects to restock the lakes within 2-3 weeks after the rotenone application is complete. As the lakes naturally refill with groundwater and precipitation and plants return, the lakes will be a fertile nursery for rapid growth fo the largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, northern pike, walleye, and sauger. Herndon said he also will stock native species such as starhead topminnow and redspotted sunfish.
IDNR and TWI will monitor the growth of the fish population in the coming years before deciding when to re-open the lakes to public fishing.
* Read more on Hennepin & Hopper Lakes Rehabilitation

LAKE BLOOMINGTON - North of Bloomington to Exit #8 on I-39, and East for 3 1/2-miles.
---This Lake does have a BOATING FEE and a 40hp limit and on April 1st, 2009 the 8" size limit on Bluegills was lifted and the new Bluegill limit goes to 25 fish a day with no size restriction.
- No New Reports

LAKE JACKSONVILLE - Lake info 217-479-4646
** Lake is CLOSED to Boats for the season
-- Lake RE-OPENS March 1st but the shop at Lake will not open till April 15th
-- During winter season Check with Trevor at Big Reds Bait and Tackle at 2193 Stevenson Drive in Springfield.. You can call them at (217) 679-1800

LAKE SHELBYVILLE - Between Shelbyville and Sullivan - LAKE OFFICE (217) 774-2020.
-- As of Jan. 26th Lake level was about 607 which is just under 13-14 foot above normal winter pool 594.0
-- Lake is slightly stained with temps at or near freezing.
- Be aware There are some Closures of roads and some areas for security...
Lake Shelbyville Info Line at 217-774-2020 or contact the Lake Shelbyville Project Office at 217-774-3951.

LAKE STOREY -North of US 34, 1 mile on US 150 at north edge of Galesburg.
- -This Lake is City owned and only allows trolling motors
--- No Reports
Check with Al from AL's SPORTING GOODS in Galesburg before going and he has our 2010 Fishing Calendars too.

McMASTER LAKE at - SNAKEDEN HOLLOW - - NW of Peoria, just 1 1/2 miles East of Victoria South off IL Route 167, there is a 10HP limit. 309-879-2607
* Victoria Tackle Shop is CLOSED and most likely will remain Closed....* - Another local run shop bites the dust..??

Macomb SPRING LAKE - North of Macomb
- - The Lake has a 10 hp limit with hours November thur March Sunrise to Sunset

SHABBONA LAKE -
- - This Lake has a 10-horsepower limit.
- - - Park hours during November through January 8 a.m. to 5 p.m
-- GOOD NEWS The Park has agreed to expand the hours in April 2010 of 6am - 10pm
- -Lakeside Is CLOSED for the Season and will reopen in late March or early April, 2010.
- - The lake Ice was about 10 -11 inches early in week where fishing was better earlier this week but Slowed some
- Bluegills are FAIR around shallow weed beds.
- Crappie are FAIR over the rock piles on the roadbed and over the campground fish cribs.
- Also a few Catfish around brush piles, rocks or roadbed
**Rockfest is Feb. 6th starting at 8:30 a.m in the main office.
** FISHING NIGHT: The special night for fishing will be Feb. 13 with some prizes.
- - You can contact Jay Angel for a guide trip next season at (815)739-7030 or by email at dekalbfish@yahoo.com

SPRING LAKE (South & North) - Just south of Pekin off Manito Blacktop, 5 miles northwest of Manito, and there is a 25HP limit. (309-968-7135)
-- No New Report

WILDLIFE PRAIRIE STATE PARK LAKES-
OPEN TO PUBLIC With a $5.50 fee in March or $6.50 fee April - Oct. to enter Park (or purchase a membership - $40 or family for $50). Call 676-0998 for details.
** The PARK and FISHING Is CLOSED for the season.

- - - -SOME ILLINOIS POWER PLANT LAKES - - - -

BRAIDWOOD LAKE -
** The Lake is CLOSED for the season and ReOpens March 1st--

CLINTON LAKE - Three miles east of Clinton off Route 10 or 54 Ph 217/935-8722.
A PORTION OF LAKE FROM ABOUT IP POINT UP TO 54 BRIDGE IS CLOSED
--A NO-WAKE speed limit is in effect from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise at Clinton Lake. Signs will be posted at the lake for reminders and a Violation will lead to a $75 ticket.
-- No Fishing Reports
* REMEMBER an easterly area of Clinton Lake between the DeWitt (CH14) and the 48 bridges is CLOSED FROM OCT. 10th through MARCH 31st to protect fish and wildlife...
--For your baits and latest reports, check at Clinton Bait and Tackle in Clinton near the Y of Routes 10 & 54, call 217-935-3851 --

LAKE of EGYPT - About 8 miles south of Marion east of Route 37.
- - Brian has this Report from Jan. 23rd
-- Water temps 49 hot end 42 mid lake and in the 30s upper lake.water level is up with all the rain.
- Bass fishing was very Tough and SLOW. Fish we did catch were on jerk baits and spoons with only 5 fish over 2 days but they were QUALITY fish all over 18 inch

LAKE SPRINGFIELD - At Springfield off I-55 Exit 94 and go the east.
-- NO NEW REPORTS
--Check with Trevor at Big Reds Bait and Tackle at 2193 Stevenson Drive in Springfield just a mile from the lake dam.. You can call them at (217) 679-1800

LaSALLE LAKE -
--This Lake is CLOSED --
And is set to Re-Open on March 17th
Allowing for regular hours (6 a.m.-sunset) Wednesday through Sunday in March.

NEWTON LAKE - 16 -17 miles southeast of Effingham off Route 33.
- - Water temp a week ago were 50 - 55
- Bass were FAIR-SLOW fishing cuts, laydowns and main lake point in east bank of the warm side on spinnerbaits, swim jigs and lipless crankbaits

POWERTON LAKE - One mile south of Pekin off Route 29 along Manito Blacktop.
---- site Office 309-968-7135
** LAKE IS OPEN TO SHORE FISHING ONLY --WINTER HOURS 8am - 4pm
* THIS LAKE IS STILL CLOSED TO BOAT FISHING - NO BOAT FISHING till FEB. 15th - -
- Jason Grider, who has reopened his Dad's Riverside Bait Shop in Pekin tells us a couple big BlueCats in the 30 pound range and a 42 pound Flathead caught this week
- Bluecats and Flatheads were somewhat FAIR this week
- WhiteBass and Hybrids are FAIR near hot water area
-Smallmouth are SLOW
- - - Also REMINDER -- Powerton was 1st stocked with Hybrid Striped Bass June 2008 and a Reminder is that the Daily Limit is 10 WhiteBass or Stripers and Only 3 over 17 inch..
--Check with Jason at Riverside Bait in Pekin (309) 347-3793 before going

SANGCHRIS LAKE - South of Springfield off I-55 Exit 82 and go east on Route 104 about 10 miles, with a 25HP limit.
--- Sangchris Lake site office at 217/498-9208.
- - NO NEW REPORTS