West Okaw River

Shelbyville is one of the state's premier fishing resources and is recognized for its largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, muskie and walleye opportunities. --Anglers should be aware of special length limits for walleye, largemouth bass, muskie and crappie. Consult visitor centers for the special creel restrictions, which are also posted at most public access sites.--Boaters should watch for buoys placed near beaches, bridges, marinas and in some coves. The buoys indicate no boats, no wakes or other navigation information. In addition, green and red navigation buoys have been placed from the Highway 32 bridge to the "Bo" Wood Access to aid deep-draft sailboats. Large, 2-foot-square navigation daymark numbers are strategically placed throughout the lake.

Gizzard shad compose the majority of the forage base, but quickly outgrow the preferred size range of most gamefish. Threadfin shad have been introduced because they are smaller, reaching only about 4 inches in length. However, they are vulnerable to nearly total winterkill. Other forage includes bullhead minnow, brook silverside, red and redfin shiner, young-of-the-year panfish and roughfish, the larvae of mayflies and midges.--Small freshwater drum are second only to shad in the walleye diet, while crayfish become more prevalent in low water years. The Corps of Engineers program to create riprap should enhance crayfish populations.

Walleye and white bass make spring spawning runs up the Kaskaskia River, and have been documented 25 miles north to the Highway 36 bridge. It is believed a white bass run occurs up the West Okaw River, but the extent of the movement has not been studied.