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DEVILS KITCHEN LAKE
Lake Information
County: Williamson
Acreage: 810
Recreational Amenities
Boat Fishing? 10hp
Boat Ramps? Yes
Boat Rental? No
Skiing? No
Swimming? No
Picnicking? Yes
Camping? Yes
Trout stocked in fall
Click on area names for a more detailed map.
Central,
Dam,
East Arm,
West Arms
Maps are not intended for navigation.
There are no zebra mussels in this lake.
Fish Stocking | |||
Year |
Species |
Size |
Count |
2021 |
Rainbow Trout |
Adult |
11200 |
2021 |
Yellow Perch |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
52735 |
2022 |
Rainbow Trout |
Adult |
9646 |
2022 |
Yellow Perch |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
30148 |
Additional information for stocking on Devils Kitchen Lake
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
Very Good | As usual, bluegill were less abundant than bass during the 2022 Devils Kitchen Lake survey. The bluegill catch rate was 45 per hour of electrofishing. Quality of the bluegill population continued to climb above management goals, as demonstrated by 77% over 6 inches and 11% larger than 8 inches. Site Regulation: 25 per day creel limit (in aggregate). | |
Fair | Devils Kitchen Lake has historically contained a bass population consisting of abundant small fish and a few giants, without much in between. Largemouth bass were collected at a rate of 188 per hour in 2022 and 9% were larger than 12 inches, while 2% were larger than 15 inches. Although most bass are generally 9 to 13 inches in length, it is not unusual for bass in the 5 to 10-pound range to show up in spring electrofishing samples and/or tournament weigh-ins. Anglers are encouraged to harvest small bass to boost the average size of fish in the population Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit. | |
Very Good | Rainbow trout are stocked in Devils Kitchen Lake each fall to maintain the population, and there is no closed season. The Devils Kitchen trout fishery is very popular with the angling public. Possession of an inland trout stamp is required for harvesting rainbow trout. Site Regulation: Rainbow trout – no length limit, 5 per day creel limit. | |
Very Good | : The Devils Kitchen redear population remained fairly impressive in spring 2022. Redear abundance was was good, as measured by a catch rate of 63 per hour, and average size of these fish was much larger. Seventy-one percent of redear were larger than 7 inches and 36% exceeded 8 inches. Site Regulation: 25 per day creel limit (in aggregate). | |
Developing | Yellow perch were “officially” stocked in Devils Kitchen Lake in 2014 for the first time in the lake’s history, and additional stockings were completed through 2022. A small population of perch (of unknown origin) already existed, and was popular, but few fish ever entered anglers’ creels. Four perch were sampled in 2023, 7 to 11 inches long. The goal of the yellow perch stocking program is to produce a viable, self-sustaining fishery, and additional fish will be stocked in 2023. | |
Location: Devils Kitchen Lake is a deep, clear, 810-acre impoundment located in the south portion of the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge between Marion and Carbondale in Williamson County, Illinois.
Description: The Devils Kitchen Lake fishery is cooperatively managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The lake is mostly surrounded by forest and has three boat ramps. The southern half of Devils Kitchen contains abundant standing timber, and a portion of the lake's southeast end is reserved for electric motors and paddling only.
Additional Lake Information: A ten horsepower outboard motor limit is in effect. A user pass must be purchased prior to accessing Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge waters. The refuge visitor center can be reached by calling 618-997-3344.
Site Regulations:
Largemouth bass – no length limit, 6 per day creel limit.
Bluegill and Redear– 25 per day creel limit (in aggregate).
Rainbow trout – no length limit, 5 per day creel limit.
Contact Information: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge: 618-997-3344IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Luke Nelson618-985-1112
There were 5 tournaments held on this waterbody in 2022.
| Species | Total Fish Caught |
| Largemouth Bass | 189 |
Top 5 Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2022 tournaments:
| 1 6.24 lbs | 2 6.12 lbs | 3 5.01 lbs | 4 4.74 lbs | 5 4.36 lbs |
Top 5 Total Tournament Weight of Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2022 tournaments:
| 1 | 59.43 lbs |
| 2 | 51.42 lbs |
| 3 | 31.13 lbs |
| 4 | 24.66 lbs |
| 5 | 17.75 lbs |
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.
| 2023 Approved or Pending Tournaments | ||||||||
| Start Date | ID | Approval | Ramp Location | Bank/Boat Hook/Bow |
Max Boats | Species | Youth? | Open to Public? |
| June-03 | 23985 | Approved | North Ramp | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| June-24 | 24264 | Approved | North Ramp | boathook | 5 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-12 | 22474 | Approved | Tacoma Lake Lake Ramp (Line 13) | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| September-23 | 23883 | Approved | West Ramp (Line 6) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
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