CLINTON LAKE
Site Information
Water Name: |
Clinton Lake |
Water Type: |
Inland Lake |
Water Size: |
5000 acres |
Location: |
3 mi. East of Clinton |
County: |
DeWitt |
Fishing Regulations: |
refer to regs
booklet |
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|
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Tackle-smashing tiger muskies and exciting hybrid striped bass had
east-central Illinois fishermen talking not long after Clinton Lake
opened to the public for fishing in August of 1979.
The 5,000-acre
reservoir, located in DeWitt County near Clinton, was created by
Illinois Power Company to serve as a cooling lake for their power
generating unit that is scheduled to open in the near future.
It also has
evolved into an excellent fishery that provides good, largemouth
bass, walleye, crappie, and channel cat fishing. An occasional smallmouth
bass and bluegill also are taken there.
More hybrid
stripers have been stocked since the original release of 200,000
fish in 1978, and anglers have caught them both in the main lake
and in the tailwaters below the spillway. These fish should reach
10 pounds or better at maturity.
Both artificial
lures and crawdads have been good in catching these hard-fighting
fish that run like a truck after being hooked. Three areas at the
lake generally produce these fish; stretches near the dam, an underwater
hump close to the West Side Access area, and breaklines near what
formerly was an old, gravel pit or quarry.
Bucktail spinners
are good for tiger muskies, some of which approach 20 pounds. Weedbeds
and underwater bars are good spots to probe for this great predatory
fish. Occasionally a relaxing, crappie fisherman receives a thrill
of a lifetime when a muskiefish grabs a minnow. Anglers casting
for bass also have a chance of hooking one of these fish, a cross
between a northern pike and a genuine muskellunge.
Largemouth bass
fishing has steadily improved at the lake since it opened with many
of the fish coming on spinner and crank baits or plastic worms from
points, coves, shoreline cover and areas of rip rap.
Excellent catches
of channel cat also have been made since the lake opened, but this
fishery often is overlooked by many anglers. The North Fork arm
channels, and flooded timber areas, have been good spots for this
fish. A variety of baits have been successful.
Like elsewhere,
spring and fall produce the best crappie action, especially during
April and May when the fish generally spawn at the lake. Areas of
flooded brush and timber are good for this popular panfish.
Flats, shoreline, rocky shelves, points and areas of rip rap have
yielded most of the walleys at the lake. Jigs, minnows and other
artificial lures have produced. Periodic releases of these fish
have been made since the original stocking. Occasionally they provide
good action for fishermen in the tailwaters below the dam.
Clinton Lake
contains 130 miles of shoreline and averages about 15 feet in depth.
The lake has two arms created by the North Fork on the west and
Salt Creek from the east.
The lake provides
a fish-holding underwater structure similar to many man-made lakes,
including rock rip rap areas, flooded timber, submerged fence rows
and old road beds and inundated, old, gravel pits. There is an underwater
dam not far from the visitor’s center which produces good
fishing at times.
Because it is
new, facilities are not yet complete. Campgrounds were open in the
summer of 1983 and an excellent, full-service marina, one of the
finest operations in Illinois, is found on the Salt Creek arm of
the dam on the east side of the lake.
Since it is
located near large population centers of Illinois, Clinton Lake
has had heavy use since it opened. In addition to the fishermen,
the lake and recreation area around it also attracts boaters, water
skiers, pleasure boaters, hunters, campers and swimmers.
Public Recreational Facilities
| |
yes |
Boat Rental |
yes |
Ramps |
yes |
Water Skiing |
unrestricted |
Motors |
yes |
Swimming |
yes |
Camp/Picnic |
yes |
Major access areas have bulletin boards with area rules, fish creel
and size limit regulations and other visitor information posted.
All state boating, hunting, fishing and park regulations remain
in full force where applicable. Various portions of the lake are
designated as no-wake, electric motor only, or no boat areas for
safety and security reasons. Areas closed to public access include:
the water intake area for the power plant, the spillway and dam
areas east of the spillway, and the bank of water surface of the
discharge flume (ditch).
Boats and fishermen
are not allowed in designated swimming areas when swimming is permitted.
Please pay special attention to such areas designated by the maps,
posted signs, and buoys. The entire portion of the lake between
the DeWitt County Highway 14 Bridge and the Illinois Route 48 Bridge
is designated as a fish and waterfowl refuge and is closed to all
public use for the period of October 10th. Through March 31. The
land portions of the site in this designated area will still be
open for authorized hunting activities (except waterfowl) during
this time period. As on all large lakes, Clinton Lake can become
very rough when the wind exceeds 15 m.p.h. All boaters are advised
to be aware of the weather. Although there is no horsepower or speed
limit on Clinton Lake, shallow areas and underwater hazards do exist
in numerous portions of the lake. Boaters should operate their craft
accordingly.
