Driving directions: Happy Holler Conservation Area is composed of three tracts with the entrance to the lake four miles east of Savannah on Route E, then six miles north off Route D.
Annual Prospects Report
Happy Holler Lake, a 67-acre impoundment in Andrew County offers great potential for quality bluegill, redear sunfish, and crappie, as well as a good opportunity for fast action for largemouth bass. Electrofishing catch-rates for largemouth bass haven't changed much over the last couple of years. There are a lot of bass in the lake, and recent surveys show that 40 percent of the bass measured over 15 inches. Happy Holler lake gets very high fishing pressure, so anglers are only allowed to harvest two bass per day, and they must be over 18 inches. Quality-sized largemouth bass over 20 inches are also available. Black crappie have had great spawns in 2022 and 2023. Those year classes are steadily moving through the system, providing opportunities for crappie in the 8-10-inch range, with a few quality fish over 12 inches available. Anglers fishing for crappie should concentrate their efforts in the standing timber and over brush piles. Quality bluegill that average over 7 inches continue to be a large draw for anglers and will be found near any structure. Winter ice fishing for bluegill is extremely popular. Large redear sunfish are plentiful, but sometimes difficult to catch. They will range in size from 7-11 inches, with many fish available over 9 inches. Channel catfish continue to be stocked and all sizes are readily caught off the banks and rock jetties and through the ice during winter months.
The area is composed of three tracts. Lake entrance: from Savannah, take Route E east 4 miles, then Route D north 6 miles to the parking lot. Refer to map for directions to tracts 2 and 3.
