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SHELBYVILLE, LAKE

SHELBYVILLE, LAKE FISHING GUIDE


Lake Information

County: Shelby

Acreage: 11100

Average Depth: 18.9 feet

Shoreline Length: 120 miles

Recreational Amenities

Boat Fishing? Unrestricted

Boat Ramps? Yes

Boat Rental? Yes

Skiing? Yes

Swimming? Yes

Picnicking? Yes

Camping? Yes

Wilborn Creek Coal Shaft Bridge Whitley Creek Eagle Creek Wolf Creek Lone Point Coon Creek Oppossum Creek Lithia Springs Shelbyville Dam


    Click on area names for a more detailed map.
    Coal Shaft Bridge, Coon Creek, Eagle Creek,
    Kaskaskia River Access, Lithia Springs, Lone Point,
    Oppossum Creek, Shelbyville Dam, Whitley Creek,
    Wilborn Creek, Wolf Creek

Maps are not intended for navigation.


There are no zebra mussels in this lake.


Fish Stocking

Year

Species

Size

Count

2021

Muskellunge

Adult

8948

2021

Muskellunge

Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7"

4945

2021

Muskellunge

Fingerling 1 - 3"

20000

2021

Sauger

Fingerling 1 - 3"

140639

2021

Walleye

Fingerling 1 - 3"

135251

2022

Muskellunge

Adult

10353

2022

Sauger

Fingerling 1 - 3"

112775

2022

Walleye

Fingerling 1 - 3"

145320


Additional information for stocking on Shelbyville, Lake


Fishing Outlook  ( Full PDF Report )

Click here for a list of all reports.

Species

Rank

Fish Status

BLUEGILL

Fair

Fishing is fair. Few fish exceed 7 inches.

CHANNEL CATFISH

Good

Channel catfish are fair in abundance, with 8+lbs. fish present.

CRAPPIE

Excellent

Both white crappie and black crappie are abundant. Recruitment and growth rates have been good, in part due to recent flooding events. Anglers may catch crappie that are 15+ inches and 1+ lbs.

FLATHEAD CATFISH

Good

Flathead catfish are low in abundance, but large fish are present. Fishing is better below the spillway.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

Fair

Largemouth bass virus has had lasting effects on the population, as has the reduction of course woody debris and the lack of aquatic vegetation. Efforts to establish aquatic vegetation will hopefully improve the largemouth bass population. We are frequently asked about stocking of bass, however research has shown that stocked largemouth bass contribute very little to the population, especially in a reservoir this large.

MUSKELLUNGE

Poor

Muskellunge catch rates in the lake have decreased drastically from previous years. This has been compounded by issues with stocking survival, though progress has recently been made in improving initial stocking survival. A decent fishery still exists below the spillway, with decent densities of 30-40+ inch fish present.

SAUGER

Fair

Sauger have been occasionally stocked since 2006 and are in fair to good abundance.

SMALLMOUTH BASS

Poor

Smallmouth Bass are low in abundance as we attempt to develop a population through stockings. Brood stock are from the Kaskaskia River. The occasional fish is reported caught by anglers. No evidence of natural recruitment has been observed. Catch and immediate release is encouraged.

STRIPED BASS

Developing

Striped Bass were stocked in 2018 and 2019 and are exhibiting exceptional growth rates. A new regulation is in place to help create a quality fishery. Please take the time to learn how to identify the difference between striped bass and white bass so that the striped bass can have a chance to grow to their maximum potential! A pocket-sized identification card will be available at local bait shops and businesses, or by emailing the IDNR biologist.

WALLEYE

Good

Walleye are in high abundance, both due to stocking efforts as well as occasional (suspected) natural recruitment. Walleye up to 8 lbs. have been collected, as are good numbers of intermediate sized fish.

WHITE BASS

Good

White bass numbers have been down for several years but a decent fishery still exists. Most fish range from ½ to 1 lb.

Location: Lake Shelbyville is located in Shelby and Moultrie Counties in east-central Illinois, with the dam situated on the Kaskaskia River, east of the City of Shelbyville, Illinois.

Description: This lake has a surface area of 11,100 acres, with a maximum depth of 65 feet, and an average depth of 18 feet. Numerous public boat launching facilities are available, with a fee assessed on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers developed access area boat ramps, and free access on state park or Corps gravel boat ramps. All tournaments must be scheduled through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The fish population in Lake Shelbyville is surveyed annually. Lake Shelbyville is home to at least 32 species of fish. In addition to the lake, a popular fishery exists in the Kaskaskia River just below the spillway and in the West Okaw and Kaskaskia Rivers upstream of the lake. In cooperation between the USACE and the IDNR, two nursery ponds, 6.5 and 0.7 acres, are utilized to improve fishing quality in Lake Shelbyville.

An annual fish attractor project is coordinated by the USACE in coordination with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) on the third Saturday in March. Fish attractor maps can be found here: http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Lake-Shelbyville/Recreation/Fish-Attractor-Maps/

Additional Lake Information: See the Illinois Fishing Information guide for a complete list of regulations for Lake Shelbyville and other USACE and IDNR project ponds and lakes. Regulation signs are posted at all boat ramps and major access points. All fishing tournaments on USACE ramps require a permit from the USACE office.

NEWS: The Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance (LSFHA) was formed in 2017 with the purpose to apply to granting agencies for funding to improve angling quality on Lake Shelbyville. Many individuals, fishing clubs, tournament organizers, businesses, non-governmental organizations, municipalities, and governmental agencies came together to form and successfully support the LSFHA.

Fundraising prior to and after organization, resulted in enough funds received to build ~800 Shelbyville and Georgia cube fish attractors, and an additional 100+ artificial stumps, which have all been placed in the lake through 2019. So far the cubes have been paying off very well, with numerous reports of good catches coming from the cubes. Large numbers of fish are congregating on the structures in as little as two days after deployment, including bass and walleye caught by anglers! Research results indicate good fish use on these structures.

The LSFHA successfully applied for grants through the “Friends of Reservoirs” and receives $30,000, plus an additional $17,000, in winter in 2018. An additional $40,000 FOR grant was won in fall 2019 and will be distributed to the LSFHA in fall/winter 2020! In addition to the cube and stump attractors, an aquatic plant nursery was developed by the USACE, and 1000s of plants produced and planted into Lake Shelbyville in 2017- 2019. These plantings are protected by wire-mesh “exclosures” which can be found in each of the major arms of the lake. Rip-rap is being ordered to develop some rock “reefs” for the near future. The LSFHA “adopt-a-cube” program has been very popular, with over $5,000 donated to name cubes after loved-ones and businesses. Results and activities can be followed on our Facebook page; Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance. Check us out and give us a “LIKE!” Watch for future structure building events this coming year, as several are planned! Maps of habitat locations can be found on the Facebook page or the USACE web site by using “Lake Shelbyville Habitat Maps”.

Contact Information:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
217-774-3951
IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Jim Garavaglia
217-345-2420

There were 74 tournaments held on this waterbody in 2022.

Species Total Fish Caught
Crappie 1398
Largemouth Bass 3244

Top 5 Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2022 tournaments:

1     7.41 lbs
2     6.34 lbs
3     6.09 lbs
4     6.06 lbs
5     6.00 lbs

Top 5 Total Tournament Weight of Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2022 tournaments:

1 821.19 lbs
2 728.25 lbs
3 396.64 lbs
4 339.40 lbs
5 303.97 lbs


Multiple day tournaments are listed with * end date.

Interested in participating in one of these public tournaments? Contact us with tournament ID for more information.

2023 – 2024 Approved or Pending Tournaments
Start Date ID Approval Ramp Location Bank/Boat
Hook/Bow
Max Boats Species Youth? Open to Public?
April-0625886ApprovedForrest "Bo" Wood Rec. Area boat
hook
25Crappie
NoYes
April-2026074ApprovedWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
YesYes
April-2125898ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
NoYes
April-2726106ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
100Crappie
NoNo
April-2825338ApprovedForrest "Bo" Wood Rec. Area boat
hook
45Largemouth Bass
NoYes
May-0425090ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
NoYes
May-0425158PendingDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
YesYes
May-0525092ApprovedWhitley Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
45Largemouth Bass
NoYes
May-0525211ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
NoNo
May-1125167ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
25Largemouth Bass
NoNo
May-1125639ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
15Crappie
NoNo
May-1825330ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
110Largemouth Bass
NoYes
May-1825719ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
20Crappie
NoYes
May-18
*May-19
26086ApprovedWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
May-1925077ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
80Largemouth Bass
YesYes
May-1925901ApprovedOpossum Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
NoYes
May-1926166ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
20Crappie
NoYes
June-0126109ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
June-0225902ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
NoYes
June-0825189ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
25Largemouth Bass
NoNo
June-0825217ApprovedWhitley Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoYes
June-08
*June-09
25373ApprovedWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
June-0925360ApprovedForrest "Bo" Wood Rec. Area boat
hook
45Largemouth Bass
NoYes
June-0926016ApprovedWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
17Largemouth Bass
NoNo
June-1526154ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
NoNo
June-2325122ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
NoYes
June-29
*June-30
26200PendingWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
18Largemouth Bass
NoNo
July-0625176ApprovedEagle Creek State Park boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
NoNo
July-1425903ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
NoYes
July-2125174ApprovedWhitley Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
NoYes
July-2725206ApprovedWhitley Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
25Largemouth Bass
NoNo
July-2725520ApprovedOpossum Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
July-2825178ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
45Largemouth Bass
NoYes
August-0325351ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
110Largemouth Bass
NoYes
August-0425207ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
NoYes
August-0426017ApprovedWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
17Largemouth Bass
NoNo
August-1025222ApprovedWhitley Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
25Largemouth Bass
NoNo
August-1025597ApprovedWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
NoNo
August-1125904ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
NoYes
August-1726110ApprovedWhitley Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
August-1825249ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
80Largemouth Bass
YesYes
August-2425227ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
25Largemouth Bass
NoNo
August-2425521ApprovedOpossum Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
September-0125233ApprovedWhitley Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
40Largemouth Bass
NoYes
September-1525421ApprovedWhitley Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
45Largemouth Bass
NoYes
September-21
*September-22
25434ApprovedWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
September-2225244ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
45Largemouth Bass
NoYes
September-2825596ApprovedOpossum Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
20Largemouth Bass
NoNo
September-2925087ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
150Largemouth Bass
NoNo
September-2925905ApprovedWhitley Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
30Largemouth Bass
NoYes
September-2926161ApprovedWilborn Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
15Crappie
NoNo
October-0425796ApprovedDam West Rec. Area boat
hook
15Largemouth Bass
NoNo
October-0525720ApprovedWhitley Creek Rec. Area boat
hook
20Crappie
NoYes
October-26
*October-27
26019ApprovedWolf Creek State Park boat
hook
17Largemouth Bass
NoNo