OutdoorIllinois March 2010 Fishing the Wabash - Illinois DNR

Canada geese settle on the banksof the Wabash River near Grayville(Edwards and White counties).A nearby, large, oxbow lake is apopular fishing destination.another 15 miles, ending at WabashIsland on the Ohio River.Because of its unique qualities for alarge Illinois river, the Wabash supportsa diverse fishery. Fish speciesrange from small, endangered dartersto large paddlefish. Sport species presentinclude blue cat, channel cat, flatheadcat, white bass, black bass,striped bass, hybrid striped bass, smallmouthbass, spotted bass, largemouthbass, white crappie, black crappie,bluegill, freshwater drum and sauger.Carp—common, grass, bighead and silver—alsoare present.Catfish provide the best opportunitiesfor the angler and can be foundthroughout the river’s entire length.Smallmouth bass are found in theupper 100 miles of the river and spottedbass throughout its length. Latesummer and fall, when river levels arelow and the water clarity is improved,are the best time to seek black bass.Among the fish found in the WabashRiver are paddlefish (below, held byMack Sitzes, fisheries technician)and blue cats (right, held by SteveJenkins, fisheries biologist).White, striped and hybrid stripedbass can be found throughout the river’slength but are more numerous in thelower 100 miles. Look for these speciesfrom spring through early summer in thelower river around the numerous sandbarsand fast-water riffle areas.Sauger can be found throughout theriver’s entire length. Those same sandbarsand fast-water riffles hold saugerMarch 2010 OutdoorIllinois / 7

Although not as common as theircousin the sauger, walleye area prized sport fish and present inthe Wabash River.from late February through early April.Better fishing opportunities for largemouthbass, crappie and bluegill are inthe oxbow lakes along the river.Formed when the river cut off largebends, these oxbows serve as theboundary between Indiana and Illinois.A large oxbow lake, accessible to thepublic, can be found at Grayville. Thepaved boat ramp and parking area aremanaged by the City of Grayville.Although angling success can occuranywhere on the river, a few stretchesare especially well-known. Identified byIllinois locations are the river stretchesnear Mt. Carmel, Maunie and NewHaven. Indiana reaches include areasBeall Woods State Natural Area,located on the banks of theWabash River in southeastern Illinois,has one of the few remaining tracts ofrelatively virgin timber east of the MississippiRiver. Besides hiking, BeallWoods offers camping, picnicking,fishing—and a chance to marvel attrees that are 120 feet high and morethan 3 feet in diameter.For further information, write BeallWoods State Natural Area, 9285 BeallWoods Ave., Mount Carmel, IL 62863,phone (618) 298-2442 or visit dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/r5/beall.htm.near Vincennes and New Harmony.Boat access to the river can befound at the public boat ramps on theIllinois and Indiana sides of theWabash. Public ramps on the Illinoisside can be found at Hutsonville, Westport,St. Francisville, Mt Carmel,Grayville, Brown’s Pond near Maunieand New Haven via a 2-mile stretch ofthe Little Wabash River (see sidebar).The uniqueness of the Wabash Riverand its diverse fishery will provide theangler with many rewarding experiencesthat cannot be found on otherIllinois waters.One of the largest islands in theWabash, Mink Island, nearMaunie in White County, providesa diverse fisheries habitat.Boundary river fishingOfficers of Illinois and Indiana willrecognize and accept valid sportfishing licenses of either state whenlegally possessed and used on theWabash River forming a commonboundary between Illinois and Indiana.Anglers shall not fish on water beyondthe natural and ordinary river banks ofthe state in which they are not licensedto fish. Anglers shall not fish from landattached to or taxed by the state inwhich they are not licensed or fish intributaries, bayous or backwaters of thatstate. Anglers must abide by the laws ofthe state in which they are fishing.Wabash River accessareas in IllinoisDarwin: Boaters may access the riverat the end of Franklin Street in Dawinfrom the ramp a farmer uses to ferryequipment across the river.Hutsonville: South of the Route 154bridge at Cherry and South WaterStreets are a paved boat ramp, parkinglot, picnic table and shelter.St. Francisville: This access site hasa paved boat ramp, dock, parking, picnictables, benches, shelter andportable restrooms.Mt. Carmel: Located south of 5thStreet, this access area has a paved,double boat ramp and gravel parkinglot.Grayville City Access Site andMemorial Park: These paved boatramps and parking areas are managedby the City of Grayville and provideaccess to the cut-off dead river. Directaccess to the Wabash is located underthe Interstate 64 bridge.8 / OutdoorIllinois March 2010