Spring Lake (North)
Location 465 acres
Fishing Outlook
Bluegill
Improving
The bluegill population indices have been improving over the past few years. The 2025 population indices show that 16% are over 8”, a big improvement over the 5-year average of 4.5%. This size structure improvement may be from the recent successful herbicide applications for aquatic vegetation management.
Muskellunge
Fair
The 2025 spring musky survey yielded 29 fish, for a total of 0.2 fish per net-night. 6.9% of fish captured were greater or equal to 38”. The spring musky sample had been declining for the past few years possibly due to a summer fish kill from low oxygen. Stockings will continue to rebuild the population in the coming years.
Redear Sunfish
Improving
The 2025 indices show 3.1% over 9 inches in length, an improvement over the 5-year average of 0.9%. This population had been improving over the last few years, most like due to the successful herbicide applications for aquatic vegetation management.
Crappie spp.
Good
The 2025 black crappie population indices show 99.2% over 8 inches and 58.7% over 10 inches in length. The 5-year averages are 83.2% over 8 inches and 22.1% over 10 inches. In 2018 a new harvest regulation started for crappie. This regulation is a harvest limit of 25 fish per day with only 10 fish over 10 inches allowed. This goal of this regulation is to increase harvest pressure on the large percentage of crappie that are under 9 inches in length.
Largemouth Bass
Fair
The 2025 surveys show the Largemouth Bass population indices at 54.7% being over 12 inches, 14.7% of the population being above 15 inches and 2.7% over 20 inches in length. The 5-year averages are 48.2% over 12 inches, 10.6% over 15 inches and 0.5% over 20 inches. In 2018 a new harvest regulation went into effect for Largemouth Bass. The regulation is a protected slot from 12 to 18 inches with 3 fish per day harvest. This is an attempt to restructure to bass population to a larger percent of fish over 16 inches.
Channel Catfish
Good
An excellent population of catchable-sized Channel Catfish is found at North Spring Lake. The 5-year average shows 63.6% over 16 inches and 1.6% over 24 inches in length. Stockings occur annually.
| 2026 | Muskellunge | Fry | 17388 |
| 2025 | Channel Catfish | NonVulnerable (8 - 10") | 7200 |
| 2025 | Muskellunge | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 8468 |
| 2025 | Muskellunge | Egg | 15684 |
| 2025 | Muskellunge | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 57001 |
Contact
General Inquiries
309-968-7135
Description
North Spring Lake is an elongated backwater lateral marsh of the Illinois River. It was separated by a high levee from the Illinois River in 1916. The North Lake was separated from the South Lake in 1978 by a stop log structure and a spillway for discharge water. Spring Lake currently has a 25 horsepower limit for outboard motors. The main access is via the Spring Lake blacktop road. A single lane boat ramp is located along the causeway which crosses Spring Lake. An additional gravel ramp is located adjacent to the Sky Ranch blacktop road bridge crossing of North Spring Lake. North Spring Lake boat ramps are accessible by the Manito Blacktop, 12 miles south of Pekin. No fuel or services are available, however, there is camping and food available.
North Spring Lake is a shallow, very fertile backwater. It has a 75% coverage of aquatic vegetation after April and until November of each year. The lake is closed to boat fishing one week prior to regular waterfowl season, and until the end of waterfowl season each year. Always a shallow body of water, Spring Lake has an average depth of 2.9 feet. Of the 578 acres of water, at least 75% is covered with 17 different species of aquatic vegetation by late May of each year. The majority of this coverage now consists of Eurasian milfoil, lily and lotus. The tremendous spring recharge from the bed of the lake amounts to 52 acre-feet a day, creating very cold water temperatures under the insulating layer of vegetation for the majority of the summer months. This is a unique situation and only occurs in Spring Lake within the State of Illinois.
Fishery History
North Spring Lake was rehabilitated in the 1980s to remove an undesirable Common Carp-Gizzard Shad fish population. As a result of the rehabilitation, an excellent fish population resulted. Water clarity improved and aquatic weeds flourished. Good fishing for Largemouth Bass, crappie, sunfish and catfish soon resulted. As part of an effort to develop a brood source for Muskie, Spring Lake has been stocked with that species for 25 years. Muskie are trap netted at the lake and spawned at the Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery in March of each year. A total of over half a million eggs are produced for statewide Muskie stocking needs each year. The Muskie population is being continuously monitored using electronic tags. This marking program has been ongoing since 1999. Because of its shallow water and clarity, North Spring Lake has a tremendous coverage of aquatic vegetation. As part of an effort to reduce coverage of Eurasian milfoil (an exotic invasive plant), North Spring Lake is treated with DMA4 2,4-D each year.Site Regulations
There is a 25 horsepower motor limit on Spring Lake. The lake is closed to boat fishing 1 week prior to regular waterfowl season, and remains closed until the end of waterfowl season each year. During this closure period, bank fishing is allowed after 1:00 p.m.
Tournaments: All bass tournaments must register online using the Tournament Permit System at least 30 days before the event.
Site-Specific Fishing Regulations:
- Recreational Use Restriction: Waterfowl Refuge or Hunting Area (see above)
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing; bow fishing is allowed
- All live bait greater than 8 inches must be rigged with a quick set rig
- Channel Catfish: 6 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: Protected Slot Length Limit with no possession of fish greater than or equal to 12 inches and less than 18 inches; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- Muskie: 42 inch Minimum Length Limit; 1 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
- White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 25 Fish Daily Harvest Limit with no more than 10 fish greater than or equal to 10 inches
Additional Information
FALL FISHING CLOSURE: October 18, bank fishing after 1:00 p.m.
Planning to eat your catch? Fish Consumption Advisory information can be found here: Fish Consumption Advisory Page
Bath Map
