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REND LAKE
Lake Information
County: Franklin
Acreage: 18900
Average Depth: 14.99 feet
Shoreline Length: 162 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.
Dam West,
Gun Creek,
Ina Access,
Marcum Access,
Nason Access,
North Marina,
Turnip Patch
Maps are not intended for navigation.
There are no zebra mussels in this lake.
Fish Stocking | |||
Year |
Species |
Size |
Count |
2021 |
Largemouth Bass |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
16520 |
2021 |
Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
19500 |
2021 |
Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
37924 |
2022 |
Largemouth Bass |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
48876 |
2022 |
Largemouth Bass |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
45379 |
Additional information for stocking on Rend Lake
Fishing Outlook ( Full PDF Report )
Click here for a list of all reports.
Species |
Rank |
Fish Status |
Good | The size structure of the bluegill population remained stable. Bluegill will be abundant in the coming year with most keepers 6.5"- 8" in length and averaging 1/3 lb or less with a few larger fish reaching 1/2 lb. With above average growth rates and excellent body condition, the population should continue to provide good fishing in the coming year. | |
Excellent | The fishing prospects for channel catfish remain excellent for 2022. Natural reproduction and recruitment continue to be very strong, and are responsible for maintaining the large population of fish in the lake. The condition of these fish is fair and growth rates are good. In the coming year, channel catfish from 1 – 3.5 pounds should be abundant with larger fish up to 6 pounds common. This lake remains one of the premier channel catfish waters in southern Illinois, and should remain on your list of places to fish for channels in 2022. | |
Good | Fall 2021 sampling indicated that the portion of the crappie population comprised of fish over 10” in length is 13%. For 2022, crappie 9"-11" in length and averaging 1/2 to 1+ pound will should provide some quality angling opportunities. The number of crappie over 12” in length remains stable and relatively low. The condition of all sizes of crappie is very good. Site Regulation: White, Black or Hybrid Crappie: 25 daily limit, not more than 10 exceeding 10". | |
Good | Twenty-six flathead catfish were collected in the 2021 survey ranging in size from 8-40 inches in length with the largest weighing 32 pounds. | |
Fair | Eleven striped bass hybrids were collected in the 2021 fall survey. The hybrids collected were 5-23 inches in length. Site Regulation: 20 daily limit, not more than 3 exceeding 17" | |
Improving | The bass population for 2022 will be good. Two above average spawns in 2018-2019 will result in more bass reaching the 14 inch size limit in 2022. Based on the 2021 fall survey, the percentage of the population exceeding the 14" minimum length limit was 26%. Another 20% of the bass population were between 12-14 inches or just below the 14 inch length limit. The number of larger bass over 18" in length remains stable but low. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit, 14" minimum length limit. | |
Good | The number of white bass collected in the fall 2021 electrofishing survey was above the 5-year average. White bass fishing should be good in 2022. Anglers can expect the catchable population to be largely comprised of fish 10”- 15” in length and weighing 0.5 – 1.5 pounds. Site Regulation: 20 daily limit, not more than 3 exceeding 17". | |
Fishing Report
WEEK |
FISH |
FISHING CONDITIONS |
9-28-2022 |
CRAPPIE |
Good using medium minnows, qtr oz pink/white jigs with various artificial jigs. Fishing is good just off route 154. Try drop-offs near river channels. Try the Christmas trees and new fish cube structures. GPS coordinates can be found online. |
9-28-2022 |
LARGEMOUTH BASS |
Fair using worms, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, rattletraps & other surface baits. Fish around bridges and along the rocks. Mouths of bays and in 6-10 feet of water with some cover. |
9-28-2022 |
BLUEGILL |
Good using small jigs, worms, meal worms, wax worms & crickets. From shore try Sailboat Harbor and Mine 21 Road. Fish shallow with crickets, worms or small jigs. Set bait at half of water depth. |
9-28-2022 |
CHANNEL CATFISH |
Good using large minnows, leeches, dip bait, shad, nightcrawlers & Sonnys stink bait. Try leeches in moving water. Drift fish the flats. Try the Waltonville Dam, Turnip Patch, and N Sandusky day-use area. All creeks and middle-back of coves. |
9-28-2022 |
WHITE BASS |
Fair using inline spinners, jig and curly tail grubs. Reports of fish being caught around the 154 bridges. Fish along the rocks and drop-offs. Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. |
Location: Rend Lake is located in Franklin and Jefferson counties along IL Interstate 57 approximately 15 miles south of Mt. Vernon and just northwest of Benton.
Description: Rend Lake was completed in 1971 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The lake was formed by constructing a 2-mile-long dam across the Big Muddy River floodplain. At normal pool, Rend Lake has a surface area of 20,633 acres, a maximum depth of 35 feet, and a mean depth of 10 feet. The lake is thirteen miles long and three miles wide and has 162 miles of shoreline. It is the second largest impoundment in Illinois.
History and Status of the Sport Fishery: There are more than 38 species of fish in Rend Lake. In addition to traditional sport fish, Rend Lake also contains large populations of carp, buffalo, gar, drum, and shad. The fish population is surveyed annually.
Additional Lake Information: Site Regulations:
Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted Bass: 6 fish daily limit, 14" minimum length limit
White, Black or Hybrid Crappie: 25 daily limit, not more than 10 exceeding 10"
White, Yellow or Hybrid Striped Bass: 20 daily limit, not more than 3 exceeding 17"
Contact Information: Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park 618-629-2320IDNR Fisheries Biologist, Shawn Hirst 618-559-5009Rend Lake COE 618-724-249
There were 76 tournaments held on this waterbody in 2021.
| Species | Total Fish Caught |
| Channel Catfish | 105 |
| Crappie | 488 |
| Largemouth Bass | 3666 |
Top 5 Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2021 tournaments:
| 1 6.80 lbs | 2 6.70 lbs | 3 6.58 lbs | 4 6.56 lbs | 5 6.52 lbs |
Top 5 Total Tournament Weight of Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2021 tournaments:
| 1 | 551.38 lbs |
| 2 | 517.38 lbs |
| 3 | 434.06 lbs |
| 4 | 384.63 lbs |
| 5 | 342.87 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.
| 2022 Approved or Pending Tournaments | ||||||||
| Start Date | ID | Approval | Ramp Location | Bank/Boat Hook/Bow |
Max Boats | Species | Youth? | Open to Public? |
| October-08*October-09 | 22267 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| October-15*October-16 | 20581 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 6 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-16 | 21290 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 10 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-22*October-23 | 21097 | Approved | Ina (30 boat limit) | boathook | 25 | Crappie | No | No |
| October-23 | 22402 | Approved | Ina (30 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Crappie | No | No |
| November-05 | 22206 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
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