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CITIZENS LAKE
Lake Information
County: Warren
Acreage: 26
Average Depth: 0.00 feet
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? Electric only
Boat Ramps? Yes
Boat Rental? No
Skiing? No
Swimming? No
Picnicking? Yes
Camping? Yes
Trout stocked in fall
There are no zebra mussels in this lake.
Fish Stocking | |||
Year |
Species |
Size |
Count |
2022 |
Channel Catfish |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
1200 |
2023 |
Channel Catfish |
Non-vulnerable 8 - 10" |
1200 |
Additional information for stocking on Citizen's Lake
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
Good | The bluegill population was sampled by 24 fish in the fall electrofishing surveys. Most of the sampled bluegill population is under 7.5 inches in length. The collection rate was very low at .8 fish per minute of electrofishing. This very high density from the 2022 survey was not observed in the 2023 survey. The annual fall drawdowns should be continued in the future. | |
Good | The channel catfish population was sampled by 48 fish in the fall of 2023 electrofishing survey. They ranged in size from 12.5 to 26.4 inches in length. They had a good body condition rating. An average of 1,200 channel catfish are stocked each fall into Citizens Lake. | |
Good | In 2023, 13 hybrid crappies were sampled in the fall electrofishing survey. They ranged from 8.4 to 12.9 inches in length. This experimental stocking of Blacknose x White Crappie hybrids in the fall of 2019 appears to have grown well. This population and any recruitment from future spawns will be evaluated. In 2023, 2 White Crappie and 2 Black Crappie were also collected. Most likely these are recent introductions by local anglers. | |
Good | In 2023, the largemouth bass population was evaluated by 70 stock size bass from the electrofishing survey. The largemouth bass population was represented by most of the fish from 5 to 18 inches in length, with a small number up to 20 inches in length. These fish were a combination of stocked and reproduced fish in the lake. They were in very good body condition. | |
Good | In 2023, approximately 450 pounds of rainbow trout were stocked. They ranged from 8 to 13 inches in length from the fall fish survey. | |
Good | The redear sunfish and redear x bluegill hybrid population was sampled by 17 fish from 6.8 to 7.6 inches in the fall electrofishing survey. These fish also had a good body condition rating. This population is also present in a low density with .5 fish collected per minute of electrofishing. | |
Location: Citizen’s Lake is located in Warren County at the west edge of Monmouth along U.S. Route 34.
Description: This small watershed impoundment of 26 acres is owned by the City of Monmouth and managed for fishing by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The lake has a south basin of 17.7 acres with a maximum depth of 33 feet and a north basin of 8.3 acres with maximum depth of 13 feet. The two basins are connected by a short channel that is spanned by a historic 1895 bridge. In 2016, the bridge was dedicated to Ken Russell the longtime IDNR District Fisheries biologist who helped relocate the bridge to Citizen’s Lake. Most of the 1.4 miles of shoreline is accessible to bank fishing. Boat ramps are available on both basins and a small trailer campground is situated near the north lake basin.
History and Status of the Sport Fishery: The lake and its sport fishery are evaluated annually by a fall electrofishing survey. This survey directs the fish stockings, fishing regulations and aquatic vegetation treatments. Since 1994, the water level at Citizen’s Lake has been drawn down 5.5 feet in early September as a major fish management practice. The annual fall drawndown increases the predation of small fish, which favors an increased rate of growth in both the predator and prey species.
In 2022, a fall D.C. electrofishing surveys was used to evaluate the fish population. A repeating fish kill occurred from September 2018 into the spring of 2019 at Citizen’s Lake. It was believed to have started as a low dissolved oxygen fish kill and then developed into a bacterial fish kill. The fish kill was severe on the south half of the lake and moderate on the north half of the lake. The kill appeared to remove all of the gizzard shad and black crappie populations and only left YOY largemouth bass, bluegill and green sunfish. In 2019, the lake was restocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish, redear sunfish, blacknose hybrid crappie and rainbow trout.
Additional Lake Information: All Fish - 2 pole and line fishing only.
Site Regulations:
Large or Smallmouth Bass: Protected Slot Length Limit with 1 fish greater than or equal to 15 inches and/or 5 fish less than 12 inches daily.
Bluegill or Redear Sunfish: 10 fish daily limit
Channel Catfish: 6 fish daily limit
Contact Information: City of Monmouth Clerk’s Office: 309-734-2141IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Rob Hilsabeck309-370-5296
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