 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
For more information about fishing at Lake Springfield, select any of the underlined topics below. If a topic is not underlined, it is not yet accessible. The CWLP website is undergoing continuous updating and expansion, so if the subject you are interested in is not yet available, please check back soon.
FISHING LICENSES
FISHING RULES
FISH SPECIES
CONSUMPTION ADVISORY
DISSOLVED OXYGEN AND WATER TEMPERATURE LEVELS
HOLDING FISHING TOURNAMENTS ON THE
LAKE
Fishing Licenses: Unless eligible for exemption under state licensing regulations, persons aged 16 or older must have a valid Illinois fishing license in order to legally remove (or attempt to remove) any species of fish, frog or turtle from Lake Springfield. The license must be in the possession of the holder during all fishing activity. For information on how to obtain an Illinois fishing license, contact the state Department of Natural Resources at (217) 782-2965.
Fishing Rules: All persons fishing from Lake Springfield will be governed by the State of Illinois fish code and all its amendments. In addition, the following rules and regulations will be applied:
- Fishing from a boat in the immediate vicinity of Spaulding Dam is prohibited. The actual off-limits area is designated by a line of "no boat" buoys that extends eastward from the shoreline at Lakeside Power Plant to the opposite bank. Persons are prohibited from conducting any type of recreational water activity in the portion of the lake that lies between these buoys and the dam.
- Fishing from the shore or within 100 feet of the shore of leased properties is prohibited unless the fisherman has the consent of the lessee.
- In most cases, fish and other aquatic life may be caught using only a hook attached to a single line. The exception to this is that pitchforks, underwater spear guns, bows and arrows (or a bow and arrow device), spear or gig are also permitted for the capture of carp, buffalo, suckers, gar and bowfin. The use of trotlines is prohibited under any circumstances, as is the use of seines, dips, hooks, fykes, gills, pounds, basket nets or any similar type of device.
- Using artificial light to catch fish and other aquatic life is prohibited.
- Persons catching largemouth bass less than 15 inches in length; walleye
and sauger less than 14 inches in length; or
crappie less than 10 inches in length are
required by state law to release these fish back into the lake. Persons catching female
bass that are full of eggs are also encouraged to return these fish to the lake,
regardless of their length. In addition, fishermen are allowed to keep only
6 largemouth bass, 6 walleye, or 10 crappies per day.
- Persons fishing from Lake Springfield are to obey any authorized signs temporarily or permanently suspending fishing activities anywhere on the lake or along its shoreline.
- Persons using the waters or drainage area of Lake Springfield for fishing or any other activity must not create any unsanitary conditions that could pollute the lake or its environs or make any part of the waters unwholesome or unfit for use.
Fish Species: Lake Springfield is host to nearly 40 species and several hybrid fish. Of these, approximately 15 are considered sport fish species: channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, flathead catfish, carp, striped bass, white bass, yellow bass, black bullhead, yellow bullhead, walleye, and redear sunfish.
Lake users should be aware that it is illegal for unauthorized persons to release fish obtained from other places - including unused bait fish - into Lake Springfield.
Fish Consumption Advisory: In lakes with agricultural watersheds - like Lake Springfield - large amounts of pesticide- and fertilizer-bearing soil can erode into the water each year. This can lead to the buildup of some potentially dangerous chemicals within a lake's ecosystem and inside the tissues of some of the fish that inhabit the lake.
Each year, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) surveys the fish populations in many bodies of water across the state to determine the degree to which different fish might be contaminated by hazardous chemicals. In particular, they watch for the presence of four known carcinogens - chlordane, dieldrin, heptachlor epoxide, and PCB - which have been shown to exist in elevated levels in many fish populations statewide. When high levels of any of these chemicals are detected in a waterway's fish population, DNR issues a Fish Consumption Advisory. The advisory alerts consumers as to the level of contamination that has been detected and provides maximum recommended consumption rates for the contaminated fish.
In the past, a number of different fish have been included in Lake Springfield's Fish Consumption Advisory. However, a steady decline in chemical contamination levels in the lake as a whole has gradually reduced both the number of fish included in the Lake Springfield Advisory and the severity of the risk posed by their consumption. Currently, there is no consumption advisory in effect for any fish caught in Lake Springfield.
Dissolved Oxygen and Water Temperature Levels: Many sport fishermen use dissolved oxygen levels and water temperatures to determine the best depth for finding fish. Approximately every two weeks from spring through fall, CWLP measures these levels at five different locations on the lake. The measurements are taken at one to two foot depth intervals and recorded on a special map on this website.
Holding
Fishing Tournaments on Lake Springfield: CWLP welcomes fishing
tournaments on Lake Springfield. However, because we have limited boat
launch facilities, we must control the number of tournaments and
participants, especially during the regular boating season. If you are
interested in hosting a tournament, you need to make a written request to
the CWLP Security Office by
letter,
fax or
email to the CWLP Security Office at least one month in
advance of the tournament date. In your request, be sure to include:
1. the name
of the person in charge,
2. contact information (including daytime phone),
3. the
number of boats you expect to participate,
and
4. the date and time you wish to
hold the
tournament.
Approval for tournaments will be granted on a
first-come/first-served basis, so we recommend you get your request to us as
far in advance as possible. For more information, contact the CWLP Security
Office by any of the contact methods mentioned above or call 757-8660, ext.
1003.
Last update : 01/07/08
Lake Springfield Lake Water Quality
CWLP Contact Info City of Springfield Home