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KINKAID LAKE
Lake Information
County: Jackson
Acreage: 2750
Average Depth: 25.00 feet
Shoreline Length: 82 miles
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? Unrestricted
Boat Ramps? Yes
Boat Rental? Yes
Skiing? Yes
Swimming? Yes
Picnicking? Yes
Camping? Yes
Click on area names for a more detailed map.
Fish & Wildlife Area,
Johnson Creek,
Marina,
Thompson Neck,
Wilson Schneider Bay
Maps are not intended for navigation.
There are no zebra mussels in this lake.
Fish Stocking | |||
Year |
Species |
Size |
Count |
2023 |
Blacknose Crappie |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
2000 |
2023 |
Muskellunge |
Adult |
2046 |
2023 |
Walleye |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
55274 |
2024 |
Muskellunge |
Adult |
2013 |
2024 |
Walleye |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
69283 |
Additional information for stocking on Kinkaid Lake
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
Poor | The bluegill population structure is poor. During the 2023 spring electrofishing survey, no bluegill over 8 inches were collected. | |
Average | Kinkaid Lake has an average channel catfish population. Six channel catfish (14-22 inches) were collected in 2023 survey. | |
Average | Kinkaid Lake is known for producing large crappie. In March 2017, a new state record hybrid crappie was caught at Kinkaid Lake. The crappie measured 18.1 inches in length and weighed 4.55 pounds. It is the largest documented crappie ever caught in Illinois. Fifteen percent of the crappie collected during the spring 2023 survey were over 10 inches. Twenty-six percent of the crappie collected were over 9 inches. As a result of the reduced number of larger crappie collected during the 2021 and 2022 surveys, a new crappie regulation went into effect on April 1, 2023. The new regulation is a 15 crappie per day creel limit of which only 10 can be over 10 inches in length. Site Regulation: White, black, hybrid crappie: there is no longer a minimum size limit on crappie at Kinkaid. You can keep any size combination of 15 crappie but only 10 can be over 10 inches. | |
Fair | Surveys indicate that a small number of flathead catfish are present. At least one flathead catfish has been collected in 5 of the last 6 surveys. The only flathead collected in the 2023 survey was 11 inches. | |
Very Good | Of the bass collected during the 2023 spring survey, 25% were over the minimum 16 inch size limit and 11% were over 18 inches. Six percent of all largemouth bass collected were between 15-16 inches. The largest bass collected in the 2023 survey was 5.5 pounds. Site Regulation: 3 fish daily limit; 16" minimum length limit. | |
Excellent | Kinkaid Lake is one of the premier muskie lakes in Illinois. Muskie are stocked annually and many are caught each year in excess of 40 inches. During the 2023 spring survey, 127 muskies were collected and the largest muskie measured 44 inches in length. Anglers are encouraged to NOT fish for muskie in the warmer summer months as angling mortality is believed to be very high, especially, for larger muskie. Please report tagged Muskie to IDNR Fish Biologist Shawn Hirst at 618-559-5009 or email at Shawn.Hirst@illinois.gov Anglers reporting a tagged muskie will receive information on the history of that fish. If the tag number is covered with algae, simply scrape the algae away with your fingernail or a knife. Please provide tag number (5 digits), length, and catch date. If possible, please do not remove the tag. Site Regulation: 1 fish daily limit; 48" minimum length limit. | |
Average | The redear population is average. A few redear sunfish over 8 inches are present. | |
Fair | IDNR annually stocks walleye into Kinkaid Lake, and fish up to 11 pounds have been collected in netting surveys. Walleye numbers are not high, but trophy-sized fish can be caught. The best areas are in front of the dam and spillway during spring high water events. Only one walleye (22 inches) was collected during 2023 trap netting survey. However, inclement weather and high water flows prevented IDNR from setting the most productive walleye trap net for 3 days out of the 4-day survey. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit; 14" minimum length limit. | |
Location: Kinkaid Lake is located in Jackson County three miles northwest of Murphysboro off of State Route 149.
Description: There are three public boat launching facilities around the Lake. Kinkaid Lake is 2750 acres in size, has a shoreline length of 82 miles, and a maximum depth of 80 feet. The NW portion of the Lake consists of a 3-mile no-wake zone.
Additional Lake Information: Kinkaid Lake receives a tremendous amount of recreational boat traffic during the hot summer months especially on the weekends and holidays. To avoid the crowd, anglers may consider fishing early in the morning and/or during the week. The upper NW portion of Kinkaid Lake is referred to as the Johnson Creek Area. About 3 miles of this area is a no-wake zone that gets very turbid for multiple days after heavy rain events. Threadfin shad are stocked into this lake when available as a supplemental forage base. All live bait in excess of 8" must be rigged with a quick-set rig.
Tagged Fish: Please report tagged muskie to the Department of Natural Resources at 618-559-5009. Please provide tag number, length of muskie, and catch date.
FISHING TOURNAMENTS: Any fishing tournament with 80 or more anglers or 40 or more boats must obtain a permit from the Kinkaid-Reed- Creek Conservancy District (618-687-1722) in addition to the tournament permit from the IDNR. No tournaments over 39 boats are allowed during June-July-August.
FISH ATTRACTORS: There is a link for the Kinkaid Lake fish attractor map at the top of this page. There were at least 10 PVC porcupine ball fish attractors placed at each of the 50 locations at Kinkaid Lake. There are also 2 Shelbyville Cube-style fish attractors at each of the 50 sites.
Site Regulations:
Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 3 fish daily limit; 16" minimum length limit
Muskie: 1 fish daily limit; 48" minimum length limit
White, Black, Hybrid Crappie: 15 fish daily limit; only 10 fish over 10"
Walleye: 6 fish daily limit; 14" minimum length limit
Contact Information: Kinkaid Lake Fish and Wildlife Area 618-684-2867IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Shawn Hirst618-559-5009
Multiple day tournaments are listed with * end date.
Interested in participating in one of these public tournaments? Contact us with tournament ID for more information.
| 2025 Approved or Pending Tournaments | ||||||||
| Start Date | ID | Approval | Ramp Location | Bank/Boat Hook/Bow |
Max Boats | Species | Youth? | Open to Public? |
| May-15 | 28192 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 22 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | Yes | No |
| May-17 | 27674 | Approved | Paul Ice (25 boat limit) | boathook | 19 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| May-17 | 27740 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| May-18 | 28270 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| May-19 | 29141 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 18 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | Yes | No |
| May-24 | 27433 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 60 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| May-24 | 27867 | Approved | Paul Ice (25 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| May-24 | 28735 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 30 | Largemouth Bass | Yes | No |
| May-31 | 28951 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-06 | 28786 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-14 | 27741 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-14 | 28176 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 25 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| June-15 | 28380 | Approved | Paul Ice (25 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| June-20 | 28787 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-21 | 27443 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-28 | 28158 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| June-28 | 28952 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-12 | 27742 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-13 | 28953 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-18 | 28788 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-26*July-27 | 27830 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-02 | 28736 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 30 | Largemouth Bass | Yes | No |
| August-08 | 28789 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-09 | 27853 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-17 | 27813 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-24 | 28292 | Approved | Paul Ice (25 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| September-13 | 27450 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 60 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| September-13 | 28235 | Approved | Paul Ice (25 boat limit) | boathook | 19 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| September-14 | 27526 | Approved | Paul Ice (25 boat limit) | boathook | 25 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| September-14 | 28404 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| September-20 | 29069 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Spotted Bass | No | Yes |
| September-21 | 27881 | Approved | Paul Ice (25 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| September-27*September-28 | 28519 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 30 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| September-27 | 28818 | Approved | Paul Ice (25 boat limit) | boathook | 19 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| September-28 | 28237 | Approved | Paul Ice (25 boat limit) | boathook | 19 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-04 | 27217 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 80 | Largemouth Bass | Yes | Yes |
| October-05 | 27259 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 80 | Largemouth Bass | Yes | Yes |
| October-11 | 27836 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-12 | 29070 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Spotted Bass | No | Yes |
| October-18 | 27474 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 60 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| October-18*October-19 | 27534 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 25 | Muskellunge | No | Yes |
| October-18 | 27838 | Approved | Paul Ice (25 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-19 | 27411 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 75 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | Yes | Yes |
| October-19 | 27504 | Approved | Paul Ice (25 boat limit) | boathook | 25 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| November-01*November-02 | 27609 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 20 | Muskellunge | No | Yes |
| November-15 | 29071 | Approved | Mt Joy/Main Ramp/Kinkaid Marina | boathook | 39 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Spotted Bass | No | Yes |
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