A break in the heat is igniting fishing at some lakes in the central portion of Illinois.

Denny Sands, co-owner of Lakeside Bait & Tackle, reports an angler had a labor of love when he reeled in a crappie weighing 2.35 pounds at Shabbona Lake this past Sunday. The monster was not enough to overturn the lake record of 2.8 pounds, but it was a trophy nonetheless.

"Any time you get a crappie over 2 pounds, that's a nice fish," Sands said.

The crappie, caught on a leech by a fisherman hunting smallmouth bass or walleyes, was just one of many crappies caught at the lake as water temperatures cool, he said. Shabbona also is seeing good catches of bluegills and catfish.

Crappie fishing also is turning on to the south of the Twin Cities at Sangchris Lake near Springfield, according to Sam Miloncus, owner of Joe's Stop and Go in Edinburg. Sangchris, a sweet spot for crappies over 12 inches, is still warm so fish are staying near brush in 15 feet of water. Anglers are jigging Road Runners and minnows. Use a split shot on the line to take the small baits down faster, he said. Expect the fish to move to the shallows if the cool trend continues, he said.

In other news, Cajun Bait & Tackle in Utica reports the boat ramps are open at Starved Rock State Park as water drops on the Illinois River. Catfish remain No. 1.

What's biting

Crappie - Good at Shabbona, Shelbyville; fair at Bloomington, Evergreen, Spring Lake, Banner Marsh.

Saugeye - Slow at Evergreen.

Sauger - Spotty at the Illinois River.

Walleye - Fair at Shelbyville, Clinton, Shabbona, Dawson.

Largemouth bass - Good at Shabbona, Sangchris, Dawson, Clinton; fair at Lake Bloomington, Evergreen.

Smallmouth bass - Fair at Powerton; rivers are tough due to high water.

Striped bass - Fair in spillway and on the main lake at Clinton; fair at Sangchris.

White bass - Very good at Decatur; good at Clinton, Shelbyville; spotty at the Illinois River.

Catfish - Good at Shabbona, LaSalle, Illinois River, Powerton, Sangchris; fair at Decatur, Dawson, Evergreen, Spring Lake, Weldon Springs.

Muskies - Fair at Shelbyville, Shabbona.

Bluegills - Good at LaSalle, Sangchris, Evergreen, Shabbona, Powerton; fair at Spring Lake.

Got a fish story, a hot spot, big fish or lots of them? Something funny happen? Phone Pantagraph outdoor editor Scott Richardson at (309) 820-3227 or e-mail srichardson@pantagraph.com . Read past fishing reports and outdoor columns and take part in online discussions at www.pantagraph.com/blogs.