Fish Stocking

Year

Species

Size

Count

2024

Channel Catfish

Non-vulnerable 8 - 10"

180

Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUE CATFISH

Developing

The blue catfish stocking program began in 2006. Approximately 150 fish ranging from 3-57 pounds were transplanted from the Mississippi River near Alton. Fingerlings have also been stocked from the IDNR hatchery system and through purchases from a private fish hatchery in Kentucky since 2006. Approximately 220,000 blue catfish have been stocked into Lake Springfield since 2010. Blue cats grow quickly and provide an excellent trophy fishery to anglers. Anglers can catch blue catfish year round using cut shad or chicken liver.

BLUEGILL

Excellent

Lake Springfield has a surprisingly good bluegill population, which is uncommon in a large impoundment. The fall fish survey showed that the majority of the catchable population is composed of 6–8” fish. Anglers can catch bluegill in the warmer months of the year using worms, crickets, or night crawlers along structured shorelines and in the rip rap.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Very Good

The channel catfish population is excellent both in quantity and quality, and remains one of the best channel catfish lakes in the state. Anglers can catch channel catfish in the warmer months of the year using bottom fishing techniques with cut bait, shrimp, chicken livers or night crawlers within the entire lake. The largest channel catfish ever collected during a fish survey measured 27.5” and weighed over 13.5 lbs.

CRAPPIE

Improving

Both black and white crappie are present in Lake Springfield. The black crappie are a strain originally brought in from Arkansas in 1985 that have a ¼” wide black stripe running from just under the chin up over the nose to the dorsal fin. They are called blacknose or black-striped crappie by anglers. This genetic morph of black crappie were stocked in Lake Springfield beginning in 2006. White crappie in Lake Springfield are native, and typically the more dominant species. The fall fish survey showed a catch rate of 78 white crappie/hour of electrofishing. In general, crappie numbers have been lower than desired, therefore a crappie stocking program was implemented in the mid-2000s and will continue indefinitely or until the population is strong enough to sustain itself. About 15000 blacknose crappie measuring 4.6” were stocked into Lake Springfield from the rearing pond in the fall of 2023. Dense aquatic vegetation inhibited a more successful harvest. Brood black crappie will be stocked into the rearing pond in 2024 and their young will be stocked into the lake after two growing seasons in fall 2026. Anglers can catch crappie around submerged structures within the entire lake, but particularly in the southern 1/3rd of the lake, with spinners, jigs and minnows in the spring and fall. The largest white crappie ever collected by electrofishing on Lake Springfield measured 15” and weighed just over 2 lbs! Site Regulation: 10” minimum length limit with a creel limit of 10 fish per day.

FLATHEAD CATFISH

Excellent

Lake Springfield has earned a reputation for producing large numbers of nice flathead catfish every year. The largest reported was over 60 pounds Anglers can catch flathead catfish using live bait such as minnows, sunfish, shad, or crayfish around submerged logs and deadfalls in the warmer months and deep holes in the colder months.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Very Good

Lake Springfield has been one of the most consistently balanced largemouth lakes over the last two decades. It has a high density population with electrofishing surveys routinely surpassing 100 bass per hour. In addition, thanks to a strong shad forage base, the bass are very heavy bodied. They typically are 25% heavier per length than the statewide average. For example, a 15” bass averages 1.75 lbs statewide while in Lake Springfield it weighs 2.25 lbs. The only downside to the population is the apparent lack of fish over 18” and 3.5 lbs. There are excellent numbers below that, but above, the numbers drop off significantly. The lack of fish over 18” is however normal for this lake. Anglers can catch largemouth bass on points, deadfalls, and stickups within the entire lake in the warmer months of the year with plastic worms, jigs, spinners, crank baits, minnows, crayfish and worms. The largest largemouth bass ever collected by electrofishing on Lake Springfield measured 22” and weighed 6.5 lbs. Site Regulation: 15” minimum length limit with a creel limit of 6 per day.

WHITE BASS

Developing

The white bass population remains very good. Historically, fall electrofishing surveys did not produce adequate sample sizes to assess the population, but our catch rates have increased over the last few years. All population indices were within the desired range in 2023. The lake is noted for both the size and numbers of white bass. Fish up to 15” are common. Anglers can catch white bass within the entire lake, using minnows, small spinners, and small jigs.

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