Dave Schober holds a 41.5" musky which propelled him and teammate Mike Witowski to a 1st place finish at the 2008 F.R.V. Spring Challunge.

FISHERMEN, WATERFOWL HUNTERS, AND NATURALISTS

Young or old, fishermen, waterfowl hunters, civic groups, or anyone interested in the environment are needed to help introduce aquatic plants for fish habitat, waterfowl food, and water quality improvement at Lake Paradise and Lake Shelbyville.  A variety of plants will be planted to provide a diversity of habitat for several species of popular gamefish.  Aquatic plants play a significant role in improving the aesthetics of water bodies through greater water clarity by accumulation of nutrients.  Waterfowl will benefit as well through additional food resources.

For the Lake Paradise project,
volunteers should meet at the boat ramp lot on May 10, 2008 at 9 a.m. 

For the Lake Shelbyville project, volunteers should meet at the Dam West Recreation Area (9th Street) boat ramp on May 17, 2008 at 9 a.m. 

Volunteers should be dressed for the weather, and if possible, bring a pair of chest waders.  Small boats will be useful on Paradise and medium to large boats for Shelbyville.

Up to 300 sites on Lake Paradise and 100 sites on Lake Shelbyville will be planted.  The Lake Paradise project will be monitored by the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) to evaluate the aquatic plants’ impacts on the recruitment of largemouth bass fry.  This project is part of a multi-lake study of the factors affecting bass recruitment by the INHS.

A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided for the Lake Paradise project.  Please contact Illinois Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist, Mike Mounce, at 217-345-2420 if you are interested in participating either project.  Note that the Lake Shelbyville project will be dependent upon water levels and a contact list will be useful if conditions do not allow planting on the projected date.  The alternate date for Lake Shelbyville will be June 7th, 2008.

This project was initiated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and will be implemented in conjunction with the Illinois Natural History Survey, the City of Mattoon, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and volunteers.  Funds were provided through grants or matching funds by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the City of Mattoon, Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail, Lake Shelbyville Alliance, and the Illinois Bass Federation.

An additional planting of emergent vegetation will occur on both lakes in early July.  Bulrush and wild iris will be the primary species planted for fish and wildlife habitat and shoreline protection against erosion.

 For more info on projects that the IMTT is helping on check out our Projects section of the website.

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