Pinckneyville City Lake

Walleye x Sauger (Saugeye)

Developing

Annual stockings of Saugeye fingerlings were initiated during 2022 to establish an additional piscivorous predator that will utilize the dense stock of Gizzard Shad and stunted panfish (Bluegill and crappie). Targeted Saugeye night electrofishing surveys have indicated desirable survival and growth rates. Stocked Saugeye are generally reaching legal size (14") in 1.5 years and 18" in 2.5 years. The 2025 fall Saugeye survey yielded fewer fish than expected, with a CPUE of 9/hour. However, environmental factors likely played a role in this, as water temperatures were nearly 10 degrees warmer than normal when the survey was conducted.

Crappie spp.

Poor

Crappie size structure and growth is relatively poor in Pinckneyville City Lake. Length-at-age data collected during past surveys revealed that Black Crappie growth is ubiquitously poor, with very few fish growing beyond 8.5". White Crappie growth rates are more variable, as some fish grow quickly and exceed 10 inches by age-3, while others stunt in the 7-9" range. A small number of naturally occurring hybrids are also present, which tend to grow quite large. During the 2024 fall trap net survey, 36 Black Crappie and 12 White Crappie were collected. All crappie in the sample, except for one White Crappie, were under 9" in length. Anglers are encouraged to harvest all crappie they catch to improve growth rates.

Channel Catfish

Good

Pinckneyville City Lake supports a self-sustaining Channel Catfish population, which is occasionally bolstered by supplemental stocking from Little Grassy Fish Hatchery. Growth potential is impressive, as individuals over 15 lbs. have been collected during past surveys. During the 2024 fish population survey, 11 Channel Catfish were collected among all gear types used. Catfish in the sample ranged in length from 16.7 to 22.3 inches.

Bluegill

Poor

Bluegill size structure, growth, and body condition is generally poor in Pinckneyville City Lake due to competition with abundant Gizzard Shad, Common Carp, and stunted crappie. Of the 479 Bluegill collected during the 2024 fall electrofishing survey, all were under 7", the largest individual being 6.93" in length. Bluegill body condition generally decreased with increasing length, indicating that larger Bluegills struggle to obtain adequate food to sustain their metabolism. Otolith length-at-data obtained during previous surveys confirmed that Bluegill growth is generally poor.

Largemouth Bass

Excellent

Pinckneyville City Lake supports an excellent Largemouth Bass fishery. During the spring of 2025, a supplemental bass survey was completed during which otoliths were taken from 95 individuals to gather length-at-age data. Otoliths were aged whole for younger bass age-4 and under, while otoliths from older bass at least age-5 were mounted in epoxy and a thin transect cut around the core. Whole and cut otoliths were viewed under a dissecting scope to count annuli and assign ages. Results indicated that bass growth rates are favorable, as all management goals for mean length-at-age (ages 1-5) were met. Bass from the sample averaged roughly 6" at age-1, 9" at age-2, 13" at age-3, 15" at age-4, and 17" at age-5.