Lake Shelbyville is one of the most popular lakes in Illinois. It has 11,000 acres of water with an average depth of 16 feet and a maximum depth of 67 feet. There are 250 miles of shoreline with many creek arms that provide excellent cover for largemouth bass, muskie and northern pike.
There are also plenty of crappie, catfish, white bass, walleye and bluegill. The lake is known for producing trophy fish. Many largemouth bass are caught in the 5 to 7 pound range, muskie over 40 inches and catfish over 10 pounds. Bass fishing tournaments are popular on the lake and it usually takes 16 to 20 pounds to win a one-day 5 bass limit tournament.