The Illinois and Michigan Canal in Illinois is a popular fishing spot for anglers. The canal is home to a variety of fish species, including bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, and more. Fishing tips include using live bait and lures that mimic the natural prey of the fish you're targeting. Nearby activities include hiking, biking, and camping. The best time to visit for fishing is during the spring and fall months, when temperatures average in the 50s to 70s.

Featured Fish - Black Crappie

It is an abundant species and is important both commercially and as a sport fish. Black crappies are easily caught, often as fast as the hook can be rebaited. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: Though they show a definite family resemblance, they are distinctive enough that they shouldn’t be confused with any other species. The black crappie and the white crappie are most often confused with each other. Despite their common names, both species are the same color (dark olive or black dorsally with silvery sides) and both have spots on the sides. However, the pattern of the spotting is distinctly different. In the black crappie the spots are more or less irregular and scattered while in the white crappie the spots may be more vague and are clearly arranged into 7-9 vertical bars on the sides. Another distinction; the black crappie has 7-8 dorsal spines while the white crappie has only 6, the same number as in its anal fin. In body shape the black crappie’s is somewhat deeper than the white crappie.