Where can I find blue catfish in Illinois?

[Rat]

Blues
Lake Storey Knox county
LaSalle Lake LaSalle county
Powerton lake Tazewell county
Baldwin lake Randolph county
Gladstone lake Henderson county
Canton lake Fulton county
Mississippi river
Ohio river
Wabash river

Stocking information
Canton lake 1999-----2000 5 inch blues stocked
2001-----------------2000 5 inch blues stocked

LaSalle lake 1999-----70,563 4.8 inch blues stocked
They were also stocked in 2001 and 2003 but no numbers are available

Powerton lake 1999---35,000 4.4 inch blues stocked
They were also stocked in 2001 and 2003 but no numbers are available.
Rat

[Chuckb]

Rat I have personally seen a 15# blue caught out of lake Springfield and heard rumors of larger ones. I wonder if they were stocked by individuals or the state stocked them.

[bluecatnut]

rat i have always had luck at the il river the miss and missouri river
i hope this helped rat

[TeamCatHazzard]

ChuckB, yea Springfield is stocked by both the state and individuals. I fished the Bass Pro tourney in Alton earlier in the month and 20 of those fish were taken up to Lake Springfield to help stock the lake which I think is a bunch of BULL*$&! but Ken Freeman said that he had permission or whatever. There are also people from there that I know for a fact fish the river around here in Alton and keep fish to take up there and try to restock. This burns me up everytime I think about it and I KNOW for a fact that it happens because I have talked to the people and seen it done! Fish should stay in the waters they came out of and not taken somewhere else and CPR should be used on big ones! That is just my opinion and an answer to your question about Lake Springfield Blues. Lots of them have been stolen from the Mississippi River near Alton.

[poopdeck [patrick]]

I was down at the river this morning and some one told me the same thing about them taking the blues to springfield. I guess its alright as long as they don/t take too many.

[Rivercat2]

I have cought alot of blues in the Illinois river not very big biggest I have cought was 15lb.

[Rainman4u2]

Heard of 15+ in Powerton, and have seen 6-8lb blues come out of Lake Storey in Knox County. Down by the overflow dam on the west end of the lake there are 2 or 3 holes that are 30-40ft deep in normal pool. The guys use the gut pockets from gills to catch them(me to this year!).

Ray

[ccromwell78]

One of the first blues I ever seen in my life was in Schyrush lake.

[TeamCatHazzard]

Patrick, I dont think it right at all. First of it is a federal offense for any person to transport a game fish to another water like they are doing unless like in that tourney they have a special permit to do it. Also I mean how can we say what is too much? If they keep doing this it could have a direct impact on our waters and I personally would report anybody I knew that was doing it. It just isnt right (illegal) and morally wrong I think. I just dont agree with it at all!

[Rivercat2]

I'm with you teamcathazzard fish should stay in the water they were cought in.

[Jbuck]

Twenty years ago we caught 10 Flatheads to every Blue in the Ohio river at Cave In Rock, now it is just the other way around, don't know if there are just a lot less Flatheads or a lot more Blues. I don't mind catching Blues they fight hard and contary to what most people try to tell me the ones I keep to eat are tastey.

[mississippi man]

I was ther at that Bass Pro weigh in, and I looked it up in the regulations book, and it states it is illegal under tournament fishing rules. It says the fish have to be released to the waters they are taken from. I think Ken ought to be returned to his water.

[armynavy]

For those of us that are new transplants to illinois which one of those is closest to rockford? I always wanted me a big blue kitty.

[TeamCatHazzard]

I was ther at that Bass Pro weigh in, and I looked it up in the regulations book, and it states it is illegal under tournament fishing rules. It says the fish have to be released to the waters they are taken from. I think Ken ought to be returned to his water.

He talked to us about this after the tourney. He had permission from the state and it was "legal" for him to do this apparently. There was a game warden called and it was said to be ok in this case. Which I dont care I think is bull@(#*! Anyways there are a few groups of people that are pushing for this and bluecats in Lake Springfield. Anyways I dont think this should happen and Ken Freeman said it was "for our kids and for kids to enjoy catching fish". First off, I dont have kids, but when I do they wont be at Springfield Lake. They are taking fish from our spot where our kids could fish to somewhere else because some people are whining that they want fish. That is rediculous!

[JimF]

Patrick, I dont think it right at all. First of it is a federal offense for any person to transport a game fish to another water like they are doing unless like in that tourney they have a special permit to do it. Also I mean how can we say what is too much? If they keep doing this it could have a direct impact on our waters and I personally would report anybody I knew that was doing it. It just isnt right (illegal) and morally wrong I think. I just dont agree with it at all!First I agree. Second if you are talking about catfish they are not Game fish.
I wish they were Game fish. It would change a lot of things I don't agree with.

[eogden]

There is an article in the State Journal today about the blues in Springfield. i tsaid that there is no viable option for hatchery raised blues available so the DNR has given permission for blues to transplanted from the Misssissippi into Springfield Lake to try and get a spawning base of fish. The article says that the forage base is more than adequate to support the blues. At present there have been 150 mature blues transplanted with hope for more. This is an attempt to provide a future blue fishery in Central Illinois.
Eric

[DRC]

rob and jim ,
i dont see what the alarming concern is for a quantity of catfish to be moved to another body of water for the reason of produceing more fish for other people to catch.
you say you dont have children,and although i wont hold that against you . i will however point out that you used that fact in a way that to me
sounds like you dont care if someone elses children or even other adults
should be able to get a chance to catch a big blue catfish.

the mississippi with all its length width , tributaries ,slews, creeks,and
oxbows i would think holds more than enough cats to be able to help supply other bodies of water around the area to give other catfishing enthusiasts an ample shot at landing one.

with gas as high as it is i would be greatfull if they would stock some of these area lakes better to keep from haveing to drive so far to catch
a nice fish.

i would like to point out though that if the act of these transplants are shown to have a negative effect on either the river they were taken from ,or the lake they are put in then by all means i would be against it too.

we have a couple lakes about 40 miles away that have blues in it
and i wonder how they got there?
if they were transplants then i think it was great that they did it cause now this lake is always being talked about as a great catfish lake.
i may have read what you typed wrong but it sounded to me like you were being stingy and selfish.:rolleyes:

we all would like to be able to catch fish from closer to where we live.
so if this helps make that happen , then im all for it.


They are taking fish from our spot where our kids could fish to somewhere else because some people are whining that they want fish. That is rediculous!

[TeamCatHazzard]

First off I wonder why hatchery blues wont work for the lake? But second off, I prolly really wouldnt have a problem with them takin some small fish 10lb and under up there but that is not all that is taken. I also know that the fish that the state takes there are NOT the only fish that are taken there. There are some people from Springfield that fish our waters here in Alton quite frequently and they take the fish that they catch and release them there as well and I know that they arent all small fish. I am totally against keeping fish, but most of the time there isnt anything to do about it. I CPR everything over 10lbs and CPR 99.9% of the time anyways but I just dont see why they have to take fish from here to stock that lake. For all we know those fish they are taking could potentially be the next world record. I just think that the fish shouldnt be transported. I also know that the fish transported from that tourney, I cant see how everyone of them made it there alive. They had stock tanks plumb full of fish with some water and they didnt have any room to move. They are wanting to do this, but they arent even doing it professionally. That is just dumb not to take care of them. Just throw them in the back of a pickup without aerators and just throw them in there wall to wall? No, that is not the way to keep them alive. Maybe if you were from around here and saw this more you would disagree as well.

[eflow]

Your right Rob, if more people knew the facts i think there would be no disagreement about what went on that day. The permit stated that smaller breeder cats(10-15lbs.) were to be taken to lake Springfield, & only from club members from Springfield that fished that tourny. From what i seen & was told there were no state bio's around to record any info. about the fish, no one knew about the about the transfer (its was all kept in the dark) until it happen, & you were right on the button when u said it was done unprofessoinally (two trucks w/ two tubs of fish with no O2) sound pretty shady, backwater to me. I really feel if everyone that was involved would have just been up front w/ what happen we wouldn't be talking about at all.

[bearcat]

I dont disagree with the transfer of fish from the Miss river to lake springfield. As long as it is donne with state permission. Which according to the article in the State Journal register it is. Second I dont think you can hurt the population with take in 150 blues from the Miss river. The commercial catfishermen rmove thousands of pounds of catfish every day. I am sure some of them are small blues. More in one week than the Springfield catfish club will remove in a lifetime. The use of hatchery fingerlings was looked into. According to Dan Stephens the State fisheryes biologist there were none available. Also you said they were removing them from your spot. On public waters there is no YOUR SPOT. it is whoever is fishing there that days spot. Get over it that is the way it is. If you build your own lake or buy one then you can have YOUR OWN SPOT. Public water i sjust that, PUBLIC WATER.

Now for what I disagree with. If they were transporting them with out proper care then I am agaisnt that. I have seen the fish hatchery deliver fish. The always use O2.

Look at it this way. If they create a new fisheries in springfield lake then they will quit fish in your spot , or there will be an additional place for you to fish for big blues. That next world record blue may come from lake springfield. The fisheries biologist claim they have shocked up flatheads in that lake that would break the state record. Why couldnt it produce the next big blue. JMHO

[Rivercat2]

Rob

I agree with you 100% I am not from Alton I live 3hr. north I was down to Alton for that tournament and if springfeild wants blues let the state put them there.

[eogden]

What if the same attitude was applied to deer & turkey?
Illinois stocked the state in the fifties with deer from other peoples "spots" and did the same with the wild turkey. In the long run, a great amount of people benefited form this.
The last I knew, the blues were native to the Mississippi & didn't "belong to anyone and like Bearcat said, if it is your privatlely owned hole then you have every right to be upset, but the Mississippi belongs to people from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, not just to people around the Alton pool.
This approach makes sense, as these are mature fish capable of breeding already and may do so this year. Maybe by bringing along some of the big ones they will perpetuate the gene pool of these big fish. Springfield has a shad base that is out of this world & it could realisticly produce some monsters.
JMHO
Eric

[DRC]

rob if they are doing this the way you described then i agree that sucks
and should be illegal.
but if they are doing it in a safe way then i am for it.
now i havent seen a tourny live but from what i read and hear described
it sounds like tournys are not a safe and consiensious (spell check)
practice for any kind of fish.
maybe i am wrong .
i would like to witness one or two to get a better idea,
i aint knocking your concern , im glad your as passionate about the well being of these cats for sure, just kind of think that maybe you mixed a
little of the interest of these fish with a bit of selfishness and it came off
somewhat self centered.
i think what i would do if i were you is have a talk with a dnr official and see if they can have an officer at the next /or future tourny to see to it there are no unethical hauling of these blues in any shape or manner.

whos to say these cats arent taken to sell ??
i see large jons around the area near there (within 10 miles) setup selling fresh fish all the time.
i guess these guys have a commercial license?
i often wondered that .i have to agree with tim i think if these are taken
in the proper manner to help inhance another body of water then i
cant see the harm and think that maybe it could indeed be a win win for you and those that live near springfield.

[SubnetZero]

I know im sounding a bit selfish, but I am really excited they trying to get Blues started in Spfld. That Lake is one of my primary fishing spots. Sorry, but I actually did the "happy dance" when I read that article ;)

I'm sure the Mighty Miss can spare some catfish to hopefully produce another blues hot spot....

[eflow]

hey guys, then why do we have state laws prohibiting this same topic we are talking about, that stop the everyday law abiding fisherman from transporting fish from one impoundment of water to another? OH!!!!!!! I forgot the state of IL. said it was o.k. this time. Maybe we should transport some BIGHEADS to IL. lakes, I'm sure if the right people were contacted & there pockets lined w/ the right amount of money it would be o.k. too. The pressure that is being put on Miss. river pool #27 is far greater than any one person can understand including myself. I just feel everyone should play by the same rules.

[mississippi man]

I'm suprised if the truck even made it as heavily as it was loaded down they definately should have transported the differently. I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of those fish jumped out onto I-55 and were ran over, the way were loaded.

[TeamCatHazzard]

I agree with Justin completely. Some (prolly most) of you arent from that particular area and see what goes on so it is kind of hard for you to see what is going on first hand. If you think that its ok because commercial fishermen take fish so this is no different.....whats to say every person that fishes there cant take every fish they catch? Then we have a major problem. And like Justin said why cant we transfer big heads, etc. up there? Springfield obviously has A LOT more political pull than we do down here and Im sure that has something to do with it as well. Now Im not a selfish person, I dont care if someone else catches the fish, but I DO STRONGLY disagree with fish leaving their home waters. If fingerlings werent a viable option at the time they why not wait until they were? And for those of you that say there are plenty to spare.......How many is plenty? If there were plenty for everyone to take then why do they have laws on the amount you can take and what you can take? As far as that tourney goes, why was everything kept hush-hush? Maybe they knew that people would get upset about it? Ken Freeman sure as hell didnt let everyone know when there were a lot of people there. HELL NO! He waited until there were only about 20 people left to talk about it so that it didnt cause a big scene. Now why again are there fish going up there because some people are whining that they want some? I know for a fact a number of people up there are pushing for this because they want some blues up there. I know for a fact some of the fish are transported illegally as well. If your not from around here then you dont know first hand, you can have an opinion on the matter but you dont know whats goin on. This pool of the Mississippi River is fished HARD! It has so much pressure on it, its rediculous. I would say last summer I prolly fished at least 4-5 days a week and cant remember how many fish I saw leave the waters including big fish! Now we can just go back to like in the old days. You see people with stringers full or huge bass, stringers full of quail, big deer, etc. All good things must come to an end eventually and why should it here because we have a GREAT strecth of trophy waterway? Why not take a few from each pool or just grow fingerlings? It makes no sense to me the way they do it....hush-hush, unprofessionally, etc. I just wish we would do like Canada and the Red River and no fish are kept its 100% CPR. They have one heck of a trophy fishery as well, more than we will be able to say for our areas down the road if this keeps up!!!

[TeamCatHazzard]

I'm suprised if the truck even made it as heavily as it was loaded down they definately should have transported the differently. I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of those fish jumped out onto I-55 and were ran over, the way were loaded.

I totally agree with this as well. That was absolutely rediculous the way that they did it!!

[Rivercat2]

Eric

I think putting blues in Springfield is a great thing but like I said if Springfield want blues in there lake let the state do it not some yahoo in a truck with a crappy trank. DO IT THE RIGHT WAY

[TeamCatHazzard]

Eric

I think putting blues in Springfield is a great thing but like I said if Springfield want blues in there lake let the state do it not some yahoo in a truck with a crappy trank. DO IT THE RIGHT WAY


Thats the thing the state supposedly had some to do with this. So they knew the "Yahoo" (to put it nicely) transporting the fish and knew thats what was happening. That says a whole lot for out state biologists if you ask me.

And as far as "Our Spot"....meaning ALL OF OUR SPOTS! Im not selfish thinking thats its only my spot! Hell I only tell my closest buddies where I fish anyways, other than that you gotta find me or catch me to see where Im fishing. People pretty much fish all the same spots below Alton and there are no spots, so actually them taking fish from "My Spot" if thats how you see it is acually fish comin from my, yours, his, hers, spot.....SO the fish are leaving ALL of our waters and its a dam shame that ALL of us dont care enough about it. But thats my opinion and I know there are A LOT of idiots that fish the Alton area and you have that in anything you do in life whether it be fishing, hunting, life in general. I just wish more people were more considerate and Appreciative of what we have in our backyard and try to preserve it a little and not just take it for granted!

[Rivercat2]

I know who the yahoo is to he fishes alot of tournaments and he should be ashame of his self.

[DRC]

like i said earlier report this guy if you feel hes doing something illegal.
it cant hurt to report him can it??

i envy you .............:sad: i wish i could fish 4-5 days a week.

[imhotep]

if i am not mistaken ....the fish in lake springfield cant be eat or if so not over a pound intake of them due the run off of the farm chemical,s....but the fish are nice to catch .....:)

[slikk03]

im all for it, the blues in the miss ar not going anywere, there more commen than channelcats, i hate driving 3 hours to get blues, but i think the dnr should have shocked them up on several waters instead of altone

[alton]

ChuckB, yea Springfield is stocked by both the state and individuals. I fished the Bass Pro tourney in Alton earlier in the month and 20 of those fish were taken up to Lake Springfield to help stock the lake which I think is a bunch of BULL*$&! but Ken Freeman said that he had permission or whatever. There are also people from there that I know for a fact fish the river around here in Alton and keep fish to take up there and try to restock. This burns me up everytime I think about it and I KNOW for a fact that it happens because I have talked to the people and seen it done! Fish should stay in the waters they came out of and not taken somewhere else and CPR should be used on big ones! That is just my opinion and an answer to your question about Lake Springfield Blues. Lots of them have been stolen from the Mississippi River near Alton.

I would much prefer the fish caught here in the Alton area, stay in this area. It is hard enough catching them from the bank, I don't need people moving them away to Springfield. Thanks for the info.

[bnewsom71]

We have these laws because 99% of the "everyday law abiding fisherman" doesn't know what is "best" for the fisheries of illinois. Though we like to think so. We have fisheries biologists to make more educated decisions for the preservation of the fisheries. I like many others grew up on the local rivers and lakes and I have a pretty good idea about the catfishing in most of them, but do I have any clue of fish counts, forage bases and all the other factors that go into making an EDUCATED decision on what fish should go where? Not even remotely!

If it weren't for laws like this and many others, we would have those damned asian carp in every single body of water because some freakin' moron thought they are fun to catch!

[lookinfurabiggun]

"After securing the proper permits from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, catfish anglers transported blues caught near Alton to the lake.

More than 140 were stocked into Lake Springfield in a period stretching from January to May 2006.

Fish ranged from 3 to 57 pounds."

This is a quote from the Journal Register Newspaper, I am glad they put blues in springfield so I dont have to drive so far to catch em, but I am not sure if it has effected the fishing around alton, or if there are less fish being caught. In my opinoin as long as they dont get greedy, and keep taking fish from the river, everything will be fine. Now that they have some big ones if they want their population to stay up, they need to stock the lake. I can although see why they did it, and its not a bad thing for local fisherman of springfield to hook into a monster blue and have a blast. A lot of people who fish dont even know the difference between a blue and a channel if they have never fished more than just a lake in central illinois. For most it is a once in a lifetime oportunity to catch a fish over 20lbs. These few fish taken from the river, are going to make great "big fish" stories for many generations to come. Who knows maybe someday Lake springfield will take the standing world record title from the river and give you guys some competition.:big_smile:

[slikk03]

YEA, ITS FINE ITS NOT DEPLEATING ALTONE, AT ALL, BUT THEY SHOUL OF STOCKED IT, AND GOT THEM FROM DIFFERANT AREAS I HOPE IT BECOMES A BLUE LAKE,