CRAB ORCHARD LAKE (WSIL) -- As concerns grow regarding COVID-19, lots of Illinois state parks and lakes are closed. Crab Orchard Lake is still open, and local fishermen, and even those out of state, drove on over so they could cast out a line. WSIL Sports hit the fishing banks and caught up with several fishermen. Crappie appeared to be the big catch.
“I love fishing and being out here by myself,� Jackson, Missouri native Terry Seabeaugh said. "I'm virus free, I hope."
So do you usually come out here to go fishing?
"Early in the spring when the crappie are biting here and not other lakes, and the other lakes I normally fish are closed.
What's the trick out here getting them to bite?
"Bobby Garland Monkey Milk Shad baits."
"We are catching a few," Marion's Fred Miller said.
"The water isn't warm enough yet. If it stays like this, in a couple of weeks they'll be coming in, and there will be some big ones right along the bank."
So what was the reason coming out here fishing today?
"So I could put them in my freezer, eat them, they're good."
So what brought you out here to fish today?
"My wife, she loves to fish," Herrin's Cecil Anderson said.
"I should be at the house painting, but I have to be out here babysitting her."
"Painting will wait, fishing can't."
"My wife would rather fish than eat, and I have to make sure she don't come out here and drown. She can't swim so I have to do my husbandly duty and take care of her. We've been married 58 years, and I don't want her to drown now."
"Some guys just showed you some fish, I'm the one that gave them those fish. Their cooler was full because I put them in there, and I gave away thirty good nice ones this morning to another fellow so don't let them fool you. I'm known as the crappie queen," Herrins Eunice Anderson said.
"I had a stroke last October. A bad one. I couldn't walk or talk. I was paralyzed on my left side but with the grace of God and Herrin Hospital, you see me. I'm out here. God's good. I'm a walking miracle, so I guess that's why he lets me catch all the fish."
