Smallmouth Bass

Scientific Name: Micropterus dolomieu Found in Illinois: Typically found in the northern third of the state and most often in flowing waters State Average: 10" State Record: 6 lbs/7oz (Mar. 1985) Best Lures: On the fly: Dry or wet flies, streamers, buck tails, poppers, hairbugs. Spin cast: Rooster tails, small spoons, jigs, live bait (e.g., crayfish, frogs, minnows, hellgrammites), plastic worms. Top 3 Lakes (based on average size): Fox Chain, Powerton, Top 3 Rivers (based on average size): Kankakee, Fox, Rock

Largemouth Bass

Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides Found in Illinois: Statewide State Average: 10" State Record: 13 lbs 1oz (Feb. 1976) Best Lures: plastic worms, jigs, spinnerbaits, crank baits, minnows, crayfish, night crawlers, worms. Top 3 Lakes (based on average size): Clinton, Springfield, Shelbyville Top 3 Rivers (based on average size): Mississippi, Ohio River Tributaries,Illinois

Flathead Catfish

Scientific Name: Pylodictis olivaris Found in Illinois: Statewide State Average: 17" State Record: 81 lb 6.4 ounces (2015) Best Lures: artificial baits, minnows, sunfish, shad, crayfish, and night crawlers Top 3 Rivers (based on average size): Wabash, Illinois, Mississippi

Black Crappie

Scientific Name: Pomoxis nigromaculatus Found in Illinois: Statewide State Average: 8" State Record: 4lbs/8oz (1976) Best Lures: minnows, jigs, spinners Best Lakes (based on average size): Braidwood, Heidecke, Shelbyville

White Crappie

Scientific Name: Pomoxis annularis Found in Illinois: Statewide State Average: 9" State Record: 4lbs/7oz (1973) Best Lures: minnows, jigs, spinners Best Lakes (based on average size): Evergreen, Shelbyville, Carlyle

Channel Catfish

Scientific Name: Ictalurus punctatus Found in Illinois: Statewide State Average: 18" State Record: 45lbs/4oz (1987) Best Lures: cut bait, shrimp, small shad, minnows, chicken livers, and night crawlers Top 3 Lakes (based on average size): Fox Chain, Carlyle, Rend Top 3 Rivers (based on average size): Mississippi, Ohio, Rock

Bluegill

Scientific Name: Lepomis macrochirus Also known as: Bream Found in Illinois: Statewide State Average: 5" State Record: 3lbs/8oz (1987) Best Lures: wax worms, red worms, red wigglers, crickets, night crawlers, small minnows, and artificial flies and poppers Top 3 Lakes (based on average size): Clinton, Shelbyville, Rend Top 3 Rivers (based on average size): Mississippi, Rock, Kankakee

Walleye

Scientific Name: Sander vitreus Found in Illinois: Mainly in northern Illinois State Average: 14" State Record: 15lbs/1oz (2012) Best Lures: minnows, minnow-spinner combinations, spinners, crankbaits, night crawlers, worms, frogs, crayfish Habitat: Walleye are typically found in large rivers with clear water or deep, weedless lakes with clean bottoms of gravel, rock, sand, or hard clay. However, the best walleye populations occur in large windswept, moderately fertile lakes with feeding grounds consisting of shoals, bars, and shallows. In Illinois, walleye are found primarily in large rivers and streams in the northern part of the state. The largest populations are in the Mississippi, Rock, and Kankakee Rivers. Smaller numbers occur in the Fox Chain O'Lakes region and in some strip-mine lakes. Adult walleye are mostly piscivorous (they feed mostly on other fish). During the day they tend to move to deeper water to feed, while moving closer to shore…

Northern Pike

Scientific Name: Esox lucius Found in Illinois: Statewide State Average: 23" State Record: 26lbs/15oz (1989) Best Lures: minnows, jerk baits, jigs, crank baits, spoons, and spinners Habitat: Northern pike prefer larger-sized, shallow, weedy lakes with fairly clear water. Many of the glacial lakes of northern Illinois provide now, or once provided, this kind of habitat. Backwater lakes and sloughs off of the rivers of many areas in northern Illinois present attractive areas to the northern pike as well. However, northern pike are found mostly in natural lakes and streams in Illinois north of Peoria (40 degrees latitude). The 40 degrees latitude line demarks the southward limit of the range of the northern pike throughout the world. Feeding and Habits: Like the muskellunge, the northern pike is mostly piscivorous, meaning its diet consists of other smaller fish. They will also feed on crayfish, frogs, snakes and mice. Reproduction: Sexual...

Muskellunge

Scientific Name: Esox masquinongy Found in Illinois: Statewide State Average: 30" State Record: 38lbs/8oz (2002) Best Lures: minnows, jerk baits, jigs, crank baits, spoons, and spinner. Habitat: Muskellunge (or muskie) prefer clear waters with sufficient structure, such as weed edges, rock outcroppings, or tree stumps, where they lurk to ambush their prey. They can be found in clear lakes with sufficient vegetation; quiet pools and backwaters of creeks; and small to large rivers. Feeding and Habits: Muskie are mostly piscivorous, meaning their diet consists mainly of other fish, and are considered apex predators. Despite eating mainly fish, muskie have been known to eat crayfish, frogs, ducklings, snakes, mice, small muskrats, and other small mammals. Reproduction: Spawning for muskellunge begins in the mid to late spring in shallow, vegetated areas with a rocky or sandy bottom. Unlike some fish species, muskellunge do not build nests....