Choose another lake
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" |
70339 |
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 measuring 6- 7" in length and weighing up to 1/4 lb. | |
Excellent | The fishing prospects for channel catfish remain excellent for 2023. Natural reproduction and recruitment continue to be very strong, and are responsible for maintaining the large population of fish in the lake. In the coming year, channel catfish from 1 – 3.5 pounds should be abundant with larger fish up to 5 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 2023. | |
Good | Fall 2022 sampling indicated that the portion of the crappie population comprised of fish over 10” in length is 12%. For 2023, 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 good. Site Regulation: White, Black or Hybrid Crappie: 25 daily limit, not more than 10 exceeding 10". | |
Good | Eleven flathead catfish were collected in the 2022 survey ranging in size from 12-29 inches in length with the largest weighing 11 pounds. | |
Fair | Four striped bass hybrids were collected in the 2022 fall survey. The hybrids collected were 12-13 inches in length. Site Regulation: 20 daily limit, not more than 3 exceeding 17" | |
Good | The bass population for 2023 will be good. Based on the 2022 fall survey, the percentage of the population exceeding the 14" minimum length limit was 35%. Another 17% 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 2022 electrofishing survey was above the 5-year average. White bass fishing should be good in 2023. 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 |
5-19-2023 |
WHITE BASS |
Good using inline spinners, , slab spoons & 3/16 jigs with minnow like soft baits. Reports of fish being caught around the 154 bridges. Fish along the rocks and dropoffs. Find schools of shad in 10 to 14 inches of water. |
5-19-2023 |
BLUEGILL |
Excellent using Small jigs, worms, meal worms, wax worms & crickets. From shore try Sailboat Harbor and Mine 21 Road. Fish shallow with crickets, small jigs, or worms. Set bait at half of water depth. Jackie Branch has reports of success. |
5-19-2023 |
CHANNEL CATFISH |
Fair using large minnows, leeches, dip bait, shad & night crawlers. 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. |
5-19-2023 |
CRAPPIE |
Excellent using medium minnows, 1/8 and 3/16 ounce pink/white & black jigs heads with various artificial jigs. Try the Christmas trees and new fish cube structures. GPS coordinates can be found online. Fishing around wood structure has been successful as well. Reports the north end of the lake has been more successful fishing. |
5-19-2023 |
LARGEMOUTH BASS |
Good using plastic baits in 2 to 4 feet of water. Try flipping into water around wood structures. Fish around bridges and along the rocks. Fishing is best around wood structure. Try fishing the rocks from highway 154 bridge. Also try along the rocks at Dam west boat ramp. |
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 69 tournaments held on this waterbody in 2022.
| Species | Total Fish Caught |
| Channel Catfish | 165 |
| Crappie | 987 |
| Flathead Catfish | 1 |
| Largemouth Bass | 3797 |
Top 5 Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2022 tournaments:
| 1 9.31 lbs | 2 8.25 lbs | 3 7.40 lbs | 4 6.74 lbs | 5 6.69 lbs |
Top 5 Total Tournament Weight of Largemouth Bass caught on this waterbody in 2022 tournaments:
| 1 | 681.38 lbs |
| 2 | 538.01 lbs |
| 3 | 477.25 lbs |
| 4 | 455.67 lbs |
| 5 | 409.06 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 | 24554 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 75 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-10 | 22665 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 75 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-10 | 23651 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| June-11 | 22691 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| June-11 | 23509 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| June-17 | 23192 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 125 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-17 | 23582 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 25 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| June-17 | 23986 | Approved | Jackie Branch (25 boat limit) | boathook | 24 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| June-18 | 23390 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| June-18 | 23789 | Approved | Jackie Branch (25 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| June-18 | 24555 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 75 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-20 | 24386 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 12 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-24 | 23511 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 70 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-25 | 23322 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 60 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| June-25 | 23508 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| July-08*July-09 | 22910 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 18 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| July-08 | 24556 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 75 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-15 | 23512 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 70 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-16 | 22708 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| July-16 | 24032 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-18 | 24387 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 12 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-22 | 23373 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| July-22 | 23621 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| July-22 | 23937 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | Yes | No |
| July-23 | 23323 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 60 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-29 | 23513 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 70 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-30 | 24390 | Approved | Jackie Branch (25 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-06 | 23515 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 60 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-12 | 23514 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 70 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-15 | 24388 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 12 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-19 | 22766 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| August-19 | 24744 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 75 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-20 | 22554 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-20 | 23442 | Approved | Ina (30 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Crappie | No | No |
| August-20 | 24557 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 75 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-26 | 24539 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 100 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| September-10 | 22779 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| September-10 | 23141 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 130 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| September-12 | 24389 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 12 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| September-14 | 24743 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 150 | Largemouth Bass | Yes | Yes |
| September-16 | 24641 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| September-17 | 23324 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 60 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| October-07*October-08 | 23498 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| October-08 | 22758 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-14 | 22798 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| October-21*October-22 | 24086 | Approved | Ina (30 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Crappie | No | No |
| October-21 | 24558 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 75 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| October-28*October-29 | 23238 | Approved | Ina (30 boat limit) | boathook | 25 | Crappie | No | No |
 |
 |
|
|
