IllinoisFisher.com
| Color Guide for Fish HotSpots BASS is red CATFISH is green CRAPPIE is blue BLUEGILL is yellow WALLEYE is purple |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Updated May 15th 2009 - The Crappie are biting really good right now. I am getting a lot
of reports from people catching as many as they want. I have even seen a couple in the
13-14" range. This is the best I have ever seen Forbes for crappie. It will not last long.
Jig a minnow under a bobber near down trees. I have caught crappie in all the spots
listed above this year and a few in areas that usually hold bluegill.
The 585-acre lake provides ample opportunities to the sport fisherman. The lake has been stocked
with largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, crappie, channel catfish, hybrid-striped bass, tiger muskie,
and walleye sauger hybrid. Largemouth bass are stocked annually from brood ponds located in the
park. This, combined with a 14-inch size limit, has created excellent bass fishery. Fishing is also
available at Boston Pond, Marlow Pond, and Wilson Pond.
Outlook
Bass - Good, expect some nice keepers early in the year.
Bluegill / redear - Okay, mostly 7-8 inches.
Crappie - Fair, they do better and better every year with about 9 inches being average.
Channel Cats - Good, I catch several channels while crappie fishing near wed beds. The dam is full
of little channels and yellow bellies.
Striped bass - Good to Fair, I hear of 10 pounders a lot.
Tiger Muskie - yeah right, go to Kinkaid for muskie.
Walleye / Sauger - Never fished for them here.
Boston Pond - Good, they stock trout in the spring and fall. Plus the bluegill and catfish is just
above average here.
Marlow Pond - Fair, this pond has low pressure and very low upkeep. The trail to it is 1/3 of a mile
and might be worth it if you are looking for crappie. Fish near the down trees.
Wilson Pond - What, there is another pond named Wilson?
of reports from people catching as many as they want. I have even seen a couple in the
13-14" range. This is the best I have ever seen Forbes for crappie. It will not last long.
Jig a minnow under a bobber near down trees. I have caught crappie in all the spots
listed above this year and a few in areas that usually hold bluegill.
The 585-acre lake provides ample opportunities to the sport fisherman. The lake has been stocked
with largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, crappie, channel catfish, hybrid-striped bass, tiger muskie,
and walleye sauger hybrid. Largemouth bass are stocked annually from brood ponds located in the
park. This, combined with a 14-inch size limit, has created excellent bass fishery. Fishing is also
available at Boston Pond, Marlow Pond, and Wilson Pond.
Outlook
Bass - Good, expect some nice keepers early in the year.
Bluegill / redear - Okay, mostly 7-8 inches.
Crappie - Fair, they do better and better every year with about 9 inches being average.
Channel Cats - Good, I catch several channels while crappie fishing near wed beds. The dam is full
of little channels and yellow bellies.
Striped bass - Good to Fair, I hear of 10 pounders a lot.
Tiger Muskie - yeah right, go to Kinkaid for muskie.
Walleye / Sauger - Never fished for them here.
Boston Pond - Good, they stock trout in the spring and fall. Plus the bluegill and catfish is just
above average here.
Marlow Pond - Fair, this pond has low pressure and very low upkeep. The trail to it is 1/3 of a mile
and might be worth it if you are looking for crappie. Fish near the down trees.
Wilson Pond - What, there is another pond named Wilson?
| Look below map for more info about Forbes Lake. |
| Stephen A. Forbes Lake |
| Crappie can be caught in the brush just off the peninsula near the dam using a jig/minnow rig in a 3-5 ft depth range. |