SUMMARY
Maple Lake is located in Illinois, USA and is a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts. The lake is well-stocked with a variety of fish species, including bass, catfish, bluegill, and crappie. Visitors can also enjoy nearby activities such as hiking, camping, and boating. For fishing tips, anglers should use lures that mimic the natural prey of the fish they are targeting. The best time to visit Maple Lake for fishing is typically in the spring and fall months, when the weather is cooler and the fish are more active. The average temperature during these times is around 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit.
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.
FISH SPECIES
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Largemouth Bass
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Rock Bass
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Smallmouth Bass
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Bluegill
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Yellow Bullhead
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Common Carp
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Channel Catfish
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Black Crappie
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Freshwater Drum
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Alligator Gar
NEARBY FISHING
Local Campgrounds
| Camping Area | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natchez Trace State Park | 50 | |||
| Paris Landing State Park | 63 | |||
| Mousetail Landing State Park | 24 | |||
| Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park | 53 | |||
| Joe Wheeler State Park | 116 | |||
| David Crockett State Park | 107 | |||
| Montgomery Bell State Park | 80 | |||
| Harpeth River Bridge | ||||
| Meriwether Lewis | 32 | |||
| Beech Bend |
