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BANNER MARSH-WHEEL LAKE
October 16 is the fall boat fishing closure date.
Lake Information
County: Peoria
Acreage: 45
Average Depth: 0.00 feet
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? 25HP, No wake over 25HP
Boat Ramps? No
Boat Rental? No
Skiing? No
Swimming? No
Picnicking? Yes
Camping? Yes
Click on area names for a more detailed map.
East End,
West End
Maps are not intended for navigation.
There are zebra mussels in this lake.
Fish Stocking | |||
Year |
Species |
Size |
Count |
2023 |
Channel Catfish |
Non-vulnerable 8 - 10" |
700 |
2024 |
Channel Catfish |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
700 |
2024 |
Muskellunge |
Adult |
352 |
Additional information for stocking on Wheel Lake - Banner Marsh
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
Poor | The bluegill and redear sunfish population were sampled in low numbers in 2023. The bluegill and redear populations continue to have poor size structure and body condition. The food and space competition with gizzard shad and common carp have continued the slow growth of the panfish. | |
Good | The channel catfish population was represented by 31 fish in the spring trap nets in 2023. These fish were in good body condition. There are indicates a population of large fish is present. 700 channel catfish were stocked in 2022 and 2023. | |
Fair | In 2023, 30 black crappies and 34 white crappies were sampled. Both crappie populations have seen a dramatic improvement in size indices since 2018. In 2018, the crappie harvest regulation changed to a harvest limit of 25 fish per day with only 10 fish over 10 inches allowed. Anglers should be able to concentrate on crappie with the flooded brush providing excellent habitat. | |
Fair | A brood stock introduction of Flathead Catfish was completed in 2000. 126 fish were stocked at an average weight of 4.9 pounds each. These fish should reproduce and maintain a low density population in the Marsh. Their diet has been shown to consist mainly of gizzard shad, bullheads, crawfish, carp, bluegill and crappie. 10 Flathead Catfish were collected by DC electrofishing in 2010, 1 in 2011, 4 in 2012, 9 in 2013, 1 in 2014, 8 in 2015 and 10 in 2016. In 2017, 6 fish from 20 to 46 inches were collected. In 2018, 3 fish from 22 to 32 inches were collected. In 2019, 6 fish from 18 to 37 inches were collected. And in 2020, 1 fish was collected at 19 inches in length. In 2022, 3 fish were collected from 26.3 to 40.6 inches in length. Natural reproduction and recruitment has been occurring in Wheel Lake. | |
Good | In 2023, The largemouth bass population was evaluated by 118 stock size bass from electrofishing with 64 minutes of effort. The largemouth bass population indices showed a high percentage of fish from 4 to 20 inches with good relative weight values. In 2000, the bass regulation for the Marsh was changed from a 14-inch minimum size limit and 1 fish per day - to a 12 to 18 inch protected slot length with a harvest of 3 fish under or over the slot per day. The 2023 electrofishing survey indicated a size structure that is continuing to maintain a good level and stability since 2001. The average body condition was good. The goal of the protected slot length limit is to create a high density bass population that is composed of fish large enough to be efficient predators upon the high density of slow growing panfish and the rough fish population. The benefit to bass anglers will be more fish surviving past 14 inches to catch, and for the anglers wanting to harvest bass will be the opportunity to harvest more fish. | |
Good | The muskie population was sampled by a total of 6 stock size muskie by the spring of 2023 trap net survey (.4 fish per net night). These fish ranged from 30.6 to 44.8 inches long. The body condition of these fish was good. Muskie had been stocked annually in Wheel Lake since the fall of 1996 at a rate of 1/acre. No muskie were stocked in 2015 or 2016. In 2017, 352 fish at 12.4 inches were stocked. No muskie stocking occurred in 2020 due to COVID production issues at Jake Wolf Hatchery. In 2021, 2,787 fish at 3 inches were stocked in June, and 423 fish at 13 inches were stocked in September. A triennial stocking is now scheduled to maintain a moderate density of healthy muskie. Illinois (Jake Wolf) muskie strain appear to be doing very good in this lake. | |
Fair | White bass have been collected since 2010 in IDNR surveys. They were probably an introduction by anglers from the Illinois River. In 2020, a total of 1 white bass was collected at 17 inches. In 2019, a total of 13 white bass were collected from 12.6 to 17.7 inches. In 2022, a total of 6 white bass were collected from 16.6 to 18.1 inches. In 2023, a total of 1 white bass was collected at 17.5 inches in length. The body condition was good. A low-density population will probably be maintained through natural reproduction and recruitment. | |
Location: Wheel Lake is located in Central Illinois in the 5,524 acre Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area, which lies adjacent to the Illinois River, 4 miles north of Banner, Illinois, along Route 24.
Description: Banner Marsh SFWA was characterized by narrow strip pits and upland ponds, but in 1994, the hydrology changed due to the intentional cessation of pumping operations in the levee district. The water level rose approximately 7 feet (435 M.S.L.) due mainly to groundwater recharge by seepage under the existing 1-100 year flood-tight levee with the Illinois River. The total surface water acreage for the site increased from 530 acres to approximately 2400 acres and created a large vegetated littoral zone.
Wheel Lake (approximately 350 acres) is a deep final cut lake which is connected to a large series of strip mine wheel cut lakes. The wheel cut portion contains points, islands, flooded brush and diverse aquatic vegetation, while the final cut portion has little littoral zone and gravel substrate. The maximum water depth is 60 feet. Water clarity averages 4 feet in the summer.
History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The former bottomland lake and marsh was leveed and drained for agricultural practice from 1910 through 1958. From 1958 to1974 approximately 90 percent of the site was strip-mined for coal. The strip-mined areas have since been reclaimed and purchased by the State of Illinois. Under the management of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (1978 - present) the primary objective for the site is to establish a freshwater marsh providing fish and wildlife habitat in the Illinois River Valley.
Additional Lake Information: The East Point access area has a concrete boat ramp, 50 vehicle and trailer parking lot, restrooms and a picnic pavilion. The lake has a 25 hp motor limit. The site is open 24 hours a day, except for the Central Zone Duck Season, at which time only shoreline fishing is allowed after 1:00 p.m. Two-pole and line fishing only, except carp can be taken by bow and arrow devices, gigs or spears during May through August.
Recreational Use Restrictions:
-All live bait > 8 inch must be rigged with a quick set rig
-Waterfowl refuge or hunting area
Site Regulations:
White, Black, or Hybrid Crappie: 25 fish daily limit with no more than 10 fish greater than or equal to 10 inches
Large or Smallmouth Bass: Protected slot length limit from 12 to 18 inches with 3 fish daily limit
Muskie: 42 inch minimum; 1 fish daily limit
Channel Catfish: 6 fish daily limit
Walleye: 14 inch minimum; 6 fish daily limit
Recreational Use Restrictions:
-All live bait > 8 inch must be rigged with a quick set rig
-Waterfowl refuge or hunting area
Contact Information: Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area 309-647-9184IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Rob Hilsabeck309-370-5296
Multiple day tournaments are listed with * end date.
Interested in participating in one of these public tournaments? Contact us with tournament ID for more information.
| 2024–2025 Approved or Pending Tournaments | ||||||||
| Start Date | ID | Approval | Ramp Location | Bank/Boat Hook/Bow |
Max Boats | Species | Youth? | Open to Public? |
| May-31 | 27573 | Pending | Banner Marsh Wheel Lake | boathook | 20 | Muskellunge | No | Yes |
| June-21 | 28146 | Pending | Banner Marsh Wheel Lake | boathook | 30 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| June-29 | 27719 | Pending | Banner Marsh Wheel Lake | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-03 | 27804 | Pending | Banner Marsh Wheel Lake | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-23 | 27459 | Pending | Banner Marsh Wheel Lake | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| September-14 | 28112 | Pending | Banner Marsh Wheel Lake | boathook | 35 | Largemouth Bass | Yes | Yes |
| September-27 | 27540 | Pending | Banner Marsh Wheel Lake | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| September-28 | 27559 | Pending | Banner Marsh Wheel Lake | boathook | 10 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
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