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:

(1)	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.
(2)	Fish may not be caught off the shore or within 100 feet of the shore of leased properties unless the fisherman has the consent of the lessee.
(3)	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), spears or gigs 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.
(4)	Using artificial light to catch fish and other aquatic life is prohibited.
(5)	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.
(6)	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.
(7)	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.