Sportfishes were collected throughout the waterway in during all five years of 

 this project (1994-1998), although catch rate in number and weight varied among 

 reaches. For channel catfish, we collected more individuals and pounds per hour in 

 the Alton Reach (lower river) than in the middle or upper river reaches (Tables 6-15). 

 The white bass, however, were most abundant and provided the highest CPUEw in 

 the middle river; CPUEm was typically highest in La Grange Reach. Centrarchids 

 such as black crappie were most abundant in the middle river reaches. Bluegill 

 CPUEn was greatest in the upper watenway, although CPUEwwas typically highest 

 in Peoria Reach of the middle river. Largemouth bass CPUEn has been greatest in 

 Peoria Reach of the middle river. As in previous years of project F-101-R sampling, 

 we collected only low numbers of smallmouth bass and sauger from the Illinois River 

 Waten/vay, probably due to the locations of our sites, mostly in relatively shallow side 

 channels behind islands. 



47 



