FISH FACTS

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- "More than 1.4 million anglers make about 40.3 million fishing trips in Illinois every year."

This was the findings of a statewide fishing survey, released this week by the Illinois Department of Conservation.

The survey measured the fishing activities of 5,053 anglers responding to a mail-in questionnaire during the 1989 licensing year, from April 1, 1989 to March 31, 1990.

Other findings of the survey show:

Only 57 percent of anglers in Illinois are licensed, with the remainder using such exemptions as age and disability.

Out-of-state anglers accounted for 4.2 percent of the 1.4 million anglers in Illinois.

28.2 percent of the anglers were seeking black bass, 20.6 percent were looking for catfish and 14 percent were seeking crappie.

Sunfish represented the most frequently caught fish (30.5 percent), followed by crappie (20.7 percent) and catfish (12.1 percent).

Anglers fished from the bank on 50.8 percent of the fishing trips.

About three percent of all fishing trips were for ice fishing.

The most common reason for fishing was for the enjoyment of the outdoors, followed by the thrill of catching fish, peace and solitude, food, and companionship of fellow anglers.