Banner Marsh
Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area lies about 25 miles southwest of Peoria on U.S. Route 24 and is a former strip-mined site restored to freshwater marsh. Its deep lakes, such as Johnson Lake and Shovel Lake, hold largemouth bass, muskellunge and channel catfish per IDNR.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Very Good in Johnson and Shovel lakes
Muskellunge
42-inch minimum
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
Walleye
Johnson Lake
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Boat launches
3 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Bell's Landing (Shovel Lake)RampConcrete boat ramp, 25 vehicle/trailer parking, restroomsDirections ↗
- Johnson Lake boat rampRampConcrete ramp, 50 vehicle/trailer parking, accessible fishing pierDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the IDNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Banner Marsh are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Illinois Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Banner Marsh ↗Local tips
- Bass have a protected 12-18 inch slot with 3 per day on Johnson and Shovel lakes
- Live bait over 8 inches must be rigged with a quick set rig
- Fall waterfowl closure starts October 16; bank fishing allowed after 1 p.m.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Illinois lakes
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.