Crab Orchard Lake
Location 6965 acres
Fishing Outlook
Bluegill
Good
The abundance of Crab Orchard Lake Bluegill in 2022 increased to a level not seen in 5 years, but the proportion of fish over 6 inches in length decreased from 62% to 38%. Abundance however still exceeded the management goal for the sixteenth year in a row. 12% of the Bluegill population was over 7 inches and Bluegill body condition remained excellent, indicating another good forecast for Bluegill anglers.
White Bass
Excellent
White Bass were collected at a rate of 47/hr during the fall 2022 survey, which represented the highest rate since 2004. The proportion over 10 inches (46%) was impressive. Fish in the sample ranged in size from 5 to 15 inches, and 28% were larger than 12 inches. White Bass body condition easily met the management plan goal.
Largemouth Bass
Very Good
The bass fishing forecast for Crab Orchard Lake is good to very good. In 2022, the percentage of bass larger than 16 inches decreased slightly (19%), likely related to the substantially higher number of young of year bass sampled. This is important to note because Crab Orchard Lake is normally plagued by weak bass spawns. Largemouth Bass abundance in the 2022 sample increased substantially (78/hr). Body condition of Largemouth Bass in Crab Orchard Lake has remained excellent. General good condition of the Crab Orchard Lake bass population in recent years can be at least partially attributed to a combination of more stringent harvest regulations, increased bass fingerling stocking, habitat enhancement (through fish attractor installation, hinge cutting of shoreline trees, and vegetation reestablishment), establishment of a spawning refuge area with artificial spawning substrates, and drawdown activities. The Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is also limiting each bass club to one fish-off event per year to reduce angling pressure and angler conflicts.
Crappie spp.
Excellent
Fall electrofishing and trapnetting surveys indicate strong Black and White crappie populations in Crab Orchard lake, with high numbers and phenomenal growth. Body condition of both white and black crappie has improved to within the management plan goal range.
Channel Catfish
Excellent
Crab Orchard Lake Channel Catfish quality and body condition, similar to previous years, was excellent, and 66% of the fish collected were larger than 22 inches in length.
| 2025 | Largemouth Bass | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 52951 |
| 2024 | Largemouth Bass | Fingerling (1 - 3") | 95410 |
| 2024 | Largemouth Bass | NonVulnerable (8 - 10") | 3125 |
| 2023 | Largemouth Bass | Adult | 247 |
| 2023 | Largemouth Bass | Advanced Fingerling (4 - 7") | 19350 |
Contact
618-997-3344
Description
The Crab Orchard Lake fishery is cooperatively managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A user permit is required to access the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. Information can be obtained by calling the refuge visitor center at 618-997-3344.Fishery History
No sampling was conducted in 2021 because of a 4-foot lake drawdown that began July 5, 2021 and maintained until early March 2022. This drawdown was necessary for much needed dam and boat ramp repairs. IDNR biologists and USFWS staff worked cooperatively to take advantage of this drawdown and conducted multiple habitat optimization projects beginning before the drawdown and continuing until the lake was returned to normal pool. Beginning in late 2020, approximately 175 snagless fish attractors were sunk in optimal locations for boat and bank anglers. These structures were built from recycled HDPE fiber optic cable conduit donated by Clearwave communications. Before and during the drawdown nearly 500 large sycamore, maple, birch and sweet gum trees were dropped in areas with optimal spawning or year round use habitat. During the peak of the drawdown 1,250 water willow plugs were planted in seven sites in an attempt to reestablish the massive water willow beds the lake was once known for. These sites were selected for varying depth, substrates, and prevailing wind patterns to determine optimal planting parameters for future planting projects. Additionally, 80 Largemouth Bass spawning bench structures were constructed in optimal bass spawning habitat. The efficacy of these efforts will be assessed in the coming years and it is my intention to continue habitat and population mitigation efforts as Crab Orchard continues to age and available habitat degrades at an ever-expediting rate. These efforts, in conjunction with sediment stabilization and nutrient reallocation associated with a large scale, long term drawdown are likely to contribute to a mini "new lake effect" in Crab Orchard over the next few years. The additional benefits of forage species concentration are likely to lead to improved growth and condition in sportfish species. The resulting change in size structure of forage species, especially Gizzard Shad, should lead to smaller individuals making up larger portions of these populations, thereby providing more forage of optimal size to a variety of important sportfish.Site Regulations
A user permit is required to access the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. Information can be obtained by calling the refuge visitor center at 618-997-3344.
Site-Specific Fishing Regulations:
- All Fish: 2 pole and line fishing only and each pole must not have more than 2 hooks or lures attached while fishing; trotlines, jugs, hand fishing and bow fishing are allowed with specific restrictions (see regulation booklet for details); bow fishing is allowed
- Large or Smallmouth Bass: 16 inch Minimum Length Limit; 3 Fish Daily Harvest Limit
Additional Information
Planning to eat your catch? Fish Consumption Advisory information can be found here: Fish Consumption Advisory PageBath Map
Fish Attractor Map
