Lake Lou Yeager IL

[ToyotaKev]

Shout out to the STL guys for any info regarding this lake...daughter moved to the STL burbs and was thinking of having her/grandkids meeting me there...thanks for your time/thoughts

[NattyLite]

I haven't fished it in some time but success was nothing to write home about. This is a little dated but offers some incite

LAKE LOU YAEGER2015-2016 Fisheries Fact SheetLake Lou Yaeger was created by damming the West Fork of Shoal Creek. The lake was constructed in 1964, andcompletely filled during May of 1966. The predominant uses are boating recreation, sport fishing, and flood control.Location – Resides near 1 mile northeast of Litchfield, IL. in Montgomery County.Area – 1,269 acres; shoreline length – 24.9 miles; watershed – 74,550; maximum depth – 31 feet; average depth – 10feet.Description – Lake Lou Yaeger has no horsepower motor limit. There is a boat ramp on the southwest shore, and midlake on the west side. Restrooms, camping, and picnicking are all available on site.Status of the Sport Fishery – Approximately 15 fish groups swim in this shallow, fertile water body. At this time, nospecies are being stocked by IDNR on an annual basis. A rearing pond for Largemouth Bass is functional on Cityproperty. For the time being, it has been shut down due to budget constraints. The City does stock 5” to 8” Largemouthannually in an effort to maintain the predator base.Largemouth Bass – Lake Lou Yaeger has a weak Largemouth Bass population. Numbers are subpar, yet size structureis fairly solid. Our last (2015) sample showed most bass resided in the 10” to 17” length range. The largest bassmeasured 22”, and topped the scale at 6.2 lbs. The City of Litchfield continues to stock this fish group on an annualbasis. If this program remains, this fishery should benefit down the road. If fish are available, 4” Largemouth Bass willbe stocked in Lake Lou Yaeger in 2016 via IDNR.Bluegill – For an impoundment of this size, and competition with younger Bluegill from Gizzard Shad, this fish groupdoes fairly well. We saw good numbers of Bluegill in the 6” to 7” area, and collected this species up to 7.4” in totallength. Usually under these conditions, Bluegill struggle to attain 6”. If the predator base strengthens, this fishery couldimprove even more over time.White Crappie – White Crappie are doing fairly well in Lake Lou Yaeger. The majority of individuals collected werein the 6” to 11” category. The largest Crappie captured was 13.2”, and weighed 1.1 lbs. Densities are high, and looks asthough this group is re-building as smaller fish increase/larger fish decrease in numbers. Continued harvest by theangler should reduce competition, and allow smaller fish to move up through the length range rather quickly.Channel Catfish – In 2015, we did quite well collecting this species as opposed to 2012. 143 Channel Catfish werecaught ranging from 8” to 26.2” in total length, and topping the scale at 8.6 lbs. Natural reproduction is occurring inthis lake, which should ensure decent fishing into the future.Fishing Regulations - Site specific angling regulations. Two pole and line fishing only, and all other statewide rulesapply at this lake.Channel Catfish – 6 fish daily creel limit.Largemouth Bass – 15” minimum length limit; 3 fish per day creel limit