largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)Illinois Range: statewide
Size: 10-20” long
Habitat: still or slow-moving water in rivers, ponds, lakes, swamps
Food: crayfish, insects, fishes
Best Lures: plastic worms, jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, minnows, crayfish, nightcrawlers, worms
smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)Illinois Range: statewide
Size: average 12” long
Habitat: clear water rivers with gravel or rock bottom
Food: crayfish, insects, fishes
Best Lures: fly fishing: dry or wet flies, streamers, buck tails, poppers, hairbugs; spin casting: rooster tails, small spoons, jigs, live bait (crayfish, frogs, minnows, hellgrammites), plastic worms
spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus)Illinois Range: east central and southeastern Illinois
Size: 10-17" long
Habitat: creeks, rivers
Food: crayfish, insects, fishes
Best Lures: plastic worms, jigs, spinnerbaits, crank baits, minnows, crayfish, nightcrawlers, worms
warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)Illinois Range: statewide
Size: average 5" long
Habitat: lakes, streams, oxbows, marshes
Food: fishes, insect larvae, crayfish, mollusks
Best Lures: small jigs and spinners, poppers, wet or dry flies
bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)Illinois Range: statewide
Size: 8-10" long
Habitat: creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, swamps
Food: crayfish, insects, snails, fishes
Best Lures: wax worms, red worms, red wigglers, crickets, nightcrawlers, small minnows, artificial flies, poppers
green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)Illinois Range: statewide
Size: average 9" long
Habitat: streams, lakes, ponds, ditches, other water bodies
Food: insects, fishes, crayfish
Best Lures: worms, grasshoppers
redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus)Illinois Range: statewide
Size: average 9" long
Habitat: ponds, swamps, lakes, rivers
Food: snails, insects, crayfish
Best Lures: crickets, red and wax worms, nightcrawlers
white crappie (Pomoxis annularis)Illinois Range: statewide
Size: average 8" long
Habitat: creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes
Food: crayfish, insects, fishes
Best Lures: minnows, jigs, spinners
