About 1.2 million anglers fished 37.8 million days in Illinois this past year, making fishing one of the most popular outdoor activities in the state. Sport fishermen contributed about $3.7 billion to the state's economy by pursuing their sport in Illinois. There are 1.6 million acres of surface water in Illinois, but due to pollution and other physical degradations, the supply of quality fishing waters is limited. Therefore, a comprehensive statewide fisheries management program has been implemented to preserve, manage and enhance Illinois fishery resources.

Early fish management efforts consisted of little more than a mix of regulations and fish stocking programs. But such practices did not address the problems of declining fish habitat and increasing user demands. Currently fisheries management involves sampling fish populations, conducting creel censuses and angler surveys, analyzing water quality, managing aquatic plants, manipulating water levels, managing watersheds, producing the proper sizes and species of fish for stocking purposes, and if necessary, eradicating undesirable fish populations.

LAKE MICHIGAN

Managing the unique sport and commercial fishery of Illinois' one million acre portion of Lake Michigan is a function of the Division of Fisheries. Although the sport fishery is primarily for yellow perch, smelt and several species of salmonids, smallmouth bass and rock bass are being caught with increasing frequency. In addition, a limited entry commercial fishery for bloater chubs can yield up to 125,000 pounds of fish annually. Beginning April 1, 1997 the commercial quota for perch was reduced to zero pounds in order to protect the low numbers of females and weaker year classes that have been entering the population since 1990. During fiscal 2000, special studies were conducted to assess populations of yellow perch, lake trout and other salmonids; a general fish population assessment; and assessment of non-salmonid sport fish in nearshore and harbor areas. In cooperation with the Illinois Natural History Survey, the creel census survey of sport fishing effort and catch success was continued during fiscal 2000. These studies provide the information needed to manage and regulate the fishery in a comprehensive manner and contribute to the information which guides the management of fish stocks throughout Lake Michigan under the Lake Committees of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

During fiscal 2000 there were 863,171 fish stocked into the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan, including 305,706 chinook salmon, 301,300 coho salmon, 60,500 lake trout, 93,000 rainbow trout, and 102,665 brown trout. Volunteers from Salmon Unlimited and local groups helped fin clip 101,500 chinook salmon and 93,000 rainbow trout. Recoveries of these fish will provide information on their growth, behavior and movements which will aid in management decisions.

Commercial catches of chubs were monitored by monthly reports, on-board observations, and subsamples of catches to obtain data on age, size, and sex. The charter boat sport fishing catch also was monitored through monthly reports from the 125 licensed operators in Illinois waters. Fish flesh samples were collected from 11 species of fish for contaminant analyses by state and federal laboratories.

Over a three-year period the feasibility of constructing an artificial reef in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan was evaluated; construction plans were developed; and funding for its placement was obtained. In November 1999, an 839 foot artificial reef was constructed about 1.5 miles off of the Chicago shoreline from granite previously donated to the Department.

RESERVOIRS

The Fisheries Division manages and regulates fishing activities on the three large U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' reservoirs in Illinois - Lake Shelbyville, Carlyle Lake, and Rend Lake. The total water surface of these reservoirs is nearly 55,000 acres. The reservoir fishery management program includes fish population surveys, supplemental stocking from hatchery production and nursery ponds, management of commercial fishing programs on Carlyle and Rend Lakes, habitat enhancement, coordination of cooperative fish management activities with the Corps of Engineers, and review of projects with potential impacts on the reservoirs' fisheries.

Three fish reproductive surveys were conducted; fall fish population surveys and crappie assessment surveys were made on each reservoir; and spring spawning initiation surveys were made at Lake Shelbyville and Carlyle Lake to determine status of the fish populations. These data provide the basis for cooperative fish management projects with the Corps of Engineers.

Rend Lake was opened to commercial fishing from January 31 to March 24, 2000. A total of 365,589 pounds of commercial species, primarily bigmouth buffalo, were harvested. Carlyle Lake was opened to commercial fishing from December 28, 1999 to January 28, 2000. A total of 109,519 pounds of commercial species were harvested.

During fiscal 2000, Lake Shelbyville was stocked with 11,289,750 walleye fry, 151,642 fingerling walleye, 25,923 fingerling largemouth bass, 54,255 fingerling muskie and 2,200 adult threadfin shad. Carlyle Lake received 30,907 fingerling largemouth bass, 12,299,000 sauger fry, 17,000 fingerling striped bass hybrids, 112,802 fingerling black crappie, and 4,950adult threadfin shad. Rend Lake received 16,538 fingerling largemouth bass, 86,206 fingerling striped bass hybrids, and 5,400 adult threadfin shad.

At Carlyle Lake, five nursery ponds were put into largemouth bass production. At Rend Lake, one nursery pond was used to produce striped bass hybrids in 1999 and largemouth bass in 2000. Another nursery pond was operated to produce largemouth bass in both calendar years. The nursery pond at Lake Shelbyville was used to produce fingerling largemouth bass in the fall of 1999 and fingerling walleye in the spring of 2000.

Fish habitat improvement in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers, various organizations, and other volunteers included: placement of 1,800 Christmas trees at various sites in all three reservoirs and installation of 71 fish habitat structures in Lake Shelbyville. Largemouth bass population estimates were made in two coves in Lake Shelbyville to evaluate the pilot tree felling project initiated last year.

IMPOUNDMENTS

Illinois has more than 91,000 impoundments totaling almost 263,900 acres, excluding Lake Michigan and the three Army Corps of Engineers' reservoirs. Most of these lakes and ponds are man-made, requiring intensive management to provide good fishing. Because the Department's priority is on waters that provide the greatest recreational opportunities, management emphasis is on state-owned waters, followed by publicly-owned waters, followed by privately-owned waters.

During fiscal 2000, fisheries biologists worked on 98,818 acres of state and public waters (526 lakes). Additionally, 297 biological surveys were conducted on 6,909 acres of private and organizational waters.

Applied management activities on state and public lakes included biological surveys on 317 lakes, vegetation control in 135 lakes, fish population control in 20 lakes, management of satellite rearing ponds to produce fish for supplemental stocking and 1,033 lakes stocked with fish. Other activities included the collection of fish flesh samples for contaminant analysis, providing technical advice to lake owners on management problems, conducting 46 farm pond demonstrations, and participating in 40 field exhibits or sport shows.

The Statewide Urban Fishing Program included 34 sites stocked with catchable-sized fish during fiscal 2000. About 1,656 structured fishing clinics were conducted involving 38,097 participants. Several other Aquatic Outreach events were conducted throughout the year at various locations involving 38,216 additional participants. The "Access to Fishing" rod and reel loaner program, in cooperation with various public libraries and park districts, was expanded to 127 locations statewide. Fishing equipment at these locations was loaned out a total of about 22,567 times. During fiscal 2000, the "Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs" program was conducted at 17 locations that had 1,817 participants in Grades 3 to 12.

STREAMS AND WATERSHEDS

About 26,443 miles of streams totaling 325,000 acres flow through Illinois. Although most of these streams continue to support diverse fisheries, many are limited by poor water quality and habitat degradation. Preservation and enhancement of watersheds and stream habitat are crucial to Illinois' stream fishery.

During fiscal year 2000, streams biologists reviewed 73 proposed construction projects that may alter the existing stream habitat to the detriment of fisheries resources. Staff continued

to play an important role in the Conservation-2000 Program with involvement in 10 partnerships through attending numerous meetings, project reviews and assessments, biological surveys and site inspections. The Department's Pilot Watershed Program continued with stream biologists serving as points of contact, assisting in developing watershed plans, and initiating project reviews in the Court, Hurricane, Sugar and Big Creek watershed projects. In addition, numerous meetings and field activities related to watershed management issues were conducted with various state, federal, and local agencies, as well as public and private organizations.

Stream biologists completed monitoring and biological surveys at 109 stations in the Green, Upper Illinois, Mississippi North Central, Mississippi South, Vermilion, Little Wabash and Cache River Basins. Sport fish restoration activities continued with additional stockings of walleye in the Fox and Kankakee Rivers and smallmouth bass in the Des Plaines and Vermilion Rivers. Streams biologists also collected fish contaminant samples, provided assistance with sport fishing tournaments, and participated in training sessions for the Department's Conservation Reserve and Enhancement Program (CREP) with the USDA-NRCS.

Staff expended significant time on new projects and areas of interest in streams during fiscal year 2000. Dam removal was an important issue, particularly in Northeast Illinois. Projects included evaluating removal options of the Yorkville Dam, working with the ACOE for funding a feasibility study on the Hoffman Dam, and involvement with the FERC consultation process for hydroelectric relicensing of the Dayton Dam. A flathead catfish study was initiated on the Rock River, and a special trap netting survey was conducted on five oxbow lakes along the Kaskaskia River to evaluate crappie populations as part of the Kaskaskia River Navigation Project.

Long-term monitoring activities on the Illinois River included 17 samples at nine locations. Sport fish monitoring was continued with the collection of 46 samples at 21 locations on the Illinois River. During the Masters Circuit Walleye Tournament held at Spring Valley, 1,386 walleye and sauger weighing 3,349 pounds were collected for hatchery production and subsequent restocking into the Illinois River. This past year marked the start of two major studies on the Illinois River, jointly sponsored by the Department and the ACOE: The Peoria Lakes Feasibility Study and the Illinois River Ecosystem Study. The Peoria Lakes Feasibility Study is an effort to remove silt from the River adjacent to and near Peoria while the Ecosystem Study is a broad effort to address environmental concerns in the entire Illinois River basin. Numerous professional coordination efforts were provided on a wide range on projects including: USGS on the National Water Quality Study; USFWS on the five-day Goby Roundup; IEPA on upgrading Secondary Contact water quality standards in the Upper Illinois River Basin; FERC reviews for Hydro Power projects at Lockport, Marseilles, and Peru; the Nature Conservancy on the Spunky Bottoms Project; Illinois River Task Force on the Integrated Management Plan; and Heartland Water Resources for the Governor's Conference on the Management of the Illinois River.

Fishery monitoring surveys were completed at 68 locations on the Mississippi, Ohio, and Wabash rivers. Additional monitoring of forage and young-of-the-year fish was conducted at 74 sites on the Mississippi. A radio telemetry study of flathead catfish in Pool 16 of the Mississippi was initiated with implantation of 30 transmitters. Movement information was collected at least once for 28 of the 30 fish, and several fish were found repeatedly. Fishing pressure is being assessed through returns from tagged fish; so far there have been 39 returns from 439 tagged fish. Assessment of harvest regulations on the Mississippi continued through fall sampling of walleye and sauger and cooperative surveys with adjacent states to assess largemouth bass. The interstate study of paddlefish distribution and abundance in the Mississippi and Wabash Rivers was continued. Boundary water staff continued to be actively involved in the Ohio River Fisheries Management Team, Management Review Committee, Quad-Cities Station Steering Committee, On-Site Inspection Team, Fish and Wildlife Interagency Committee, Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee, River and Streams Technical Committee, Environmental Management Plan Analysis Team, and many other Committees, Action Teams, Management Associations and Conservation Districts.

Commercial fishing activities were monitored and commercial catch data were collected. During calendar year 1999, commercial fishermen in all waters except Lake Michigan harvested 5.4 million pounds of fish valued at nearly $1.4 million. There was no reported mussel harvest due to a collapse of the export market for shells. The future of the mussel industry is uncertain, but it is expected to recover in the future.

During calendar year 1999, a total of 10 fish kills were investigated in which more than 578,271 fish were killed, valued at $93,995.

HATCHERIES

The kinds of fish to be stocked in Illinois waters depends upon their adaptability to the particular water and their ability to co-exist with the food supply and other fish. If the correct combination of fish is used good fishing will result.

During fiscal 2000, a total of 68,420,044 fish of 27 species were stocked into 165 state waters (34,574 acres), 265 public waters (38,346 acres), 603 private and organizational waters (1,637 acres), 19 streams, the Illinois portion of Lake Michigan (976,640 acres) and the 3 reservoirs (54,580 acres).

Four hatcheries comprise the Illinois Fish Hatchery System: Jake Wolf Memorial, Little Grassy, LaSalle, and the Spring Grove Fisheries Resource Center. Production at these facilities during fiscal 2000 totaled 67.8 million fish of 19 species. The fish produced by the state Hatchery system included: 112,802 black crappie, 118,563 blue catfish, 1,005,827 bluegill, 106,665 brown trout, 476,716 channel catfish, 301,300 coho salmon, 305,706 chinook salmon, 50,000 fathead minnows,

827,108 largemouth bass, 372,049 muskie, 382,188 northern pike, 112,760 rainbow trout, 646,597 redear sunfish, 22,076,082 sauger, 123,006 striped bass hybrids, 73,680 smallmouth bass, 35,000 striped bass, 40,553,943 walleye, and 120,430 walleye-sauger hybrids. Stockings completed by Division biologists from rearing or nursery ponds totaled 199,058 fish of 10 species.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hatcheries provided Illinois with 60,500 lake trout. Commonwealth Edison's Quad Cities Rearing Facility in conjunction with Southern Illinois University supplied 67,046 walleye and 4,275 striped bass hybrids. Fish purchased from commercial sources during fiscal 2000 included 66,914 bluegill hybrids, 36,569 channel catfish, 20 grass carp, 376 muskie, 62,892 rainbow trout, 17,000 striped bass hybrids, 4,000 threadfin shad, and 100,000 walleye. Trades with other states amounted to 972 muskie from Iowa.

The Fish Pathology Lab located at Jake Wolf Hatchery, handled 64 diagnostic cases and more than 250 telephone contacts involving fish diseases, mortalities, and culture techniques during fiscal 2000. The lab also monitored the hatchery's water quality and assisted in the hatching, raising and transporting of fish. Liaison was maintained between the Division of Fisheries and various other agencies concerning aquaculture activities within the state. About 130 aquaculture permits were issued. The Illinois State Comprehensive Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan was developed and submitted to the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force in Washington DC.

HAVANA FIELD HEADQUARTERS

The Havana field station provides support services to the Fisheries and Wildlife Divisions. These services include: assistance with fish sampling; repair, maintenance, and construction of field equipment; central receiving and distribution of equipment, furniture, commodities, and chemicals; storage and distribution of educational literature; storage, construction, maintenance and delivery of educational displays for special events; and the maintenance of a public use area on the Illinois River.