Guided Fishing Trip Openings
with Steve Welch

Book Your Trip Now!
fish@lakeshelbyvilleguide.com
Phone (217) 840-1221

Kentucky Lake Reminder

Spring will be here before you know it and those great Kentucky Lake Crappie spawn trips will be gone. Last year I took Lee Sharp down and went right to a shallow laydown in four-feet of water. Our first six fish were all blackened up males with spawn colors over 14in. long. He was hooked on Kentucky Lake from then on and jumps at it every time I say let’s go.

Their water temps run about ten degrees or more warmer than Shelbyville in the spring so I get a three to four week jump on the spawn. Love starting my season down there, very little crowds huge crappie some pushing 16in. plus well past two pounds pushing three. Just look at my picture folder on the website.

I have been fishing the lake for at least forty years and have over 4000 waypoints from the Blood River down to the Big Sandy and now many even further on the main river that I use in the summer.

As most of you know I start show season January 5th and will be giving a seminar on Kentucky Lake and will be pushing to fill my open spots. As of now they are April 1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11. That is not many but I do plan on returning in November for the great fall bite. These two periods are the best in my opinion. I love June and July but the fish are skinny and it is all main river fishing so running forty miles or more a day is the norm. I do see plenty of 16in. fish though.

Give me a call at 217-840-1221 or simply send me an e-mail from LakeShelbyvilleGuide.com. My openings for the 2024 season are posted as well.

Lake Shelbyville Fishing Guide Trips – Pricing & Information

Fishing Guide Rates

Crappie, Walleye & White Bass Guided Fishing Trips at Lake Shelbyville with Steve Welch

A guided fishing trip for crappie is $400 to split between 2 anglers. For walleye and white bass, it’s $400 to split between 2 anglers and $100 extra for a third person. All consist of a full 8-hour day out of a fully-rigged 20-foot Yar-craft walleye boat.

The fee includes fishing rod, tackle, bait, and the cleaning of your limit as long as the fish cleaning stations are open and operable. All you need to bring is something to eat, drink, rain gear if weather requires, and a valid Illinois Fishing License. This is for either the day or the weekend.

Take a fishing break and call Steve Welch at Lake Shelbyville Guide Service – (217) 840-1221. Don’t miss out on the year-round fishing fun!

Eight-hour trips only.
2-person trips are only available from March until the last week of April, and again from late October until the end of the season in early December.
3-person trips are available the last week of April through late October.
Walleye trips start May 13 and run through June 12. (Note: Walleye can be hard to find, so we also catch crappie and white bass.)

When you book your guided fishing trip on Lake Shelbyville…

Steve Welch will call or email 3-4 days before your trip to:

- - reconfirm your trip
  - discuss directions and a meeting location (differs depending on time of year, type of fish, and boat ramp location)

You will need to bring:

- - something to eat and/or drink
  - a rain suit, depending on weather conditions
  - a cooler to carry your fish home
  - a valid Illinois Fishing License
  - yourselves!

You need to know:

- - Steve Welch will clean your catch for you unless the fish cleaning stations are closed.
  - Fishing trips will go rain, shine, or snow but not freezing rain, as it’s too cold.
  - Fishing trips start at sunrise and end around 3 p.m. or at the client’s discretion if an earlier end time is desired.

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Guided Fishing Trips depart from the boat ramp at Forest Bo-Woods in Shelbyville, IL.

GPS N 39′ 33.058′ W 088′ 37.498′ or 39.550111, -88.624861

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