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REND LAKE
Lake Information
County: Franklin
Acreage: 18900
Average Depth: 15.00 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 |
2023 |
Largemouth Bass |
Advanced Fingerling 4 - 7" |
12536 |
2023 |
Largemouth Bass |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
274044 |
2023 |
Striped Bass x White Bass (Wiper) |
Fingerling 1 - 3" |
21951 |
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 remains stable. Bluegill will be abundant in the coming year with most keepers measuring 7- 8" in length and weighing up to 1/3 lb. A few bluegill over 8 inches were collected in the 2024 survey. | |
Excellent | The fishing prospects for channel catfish remain excellent for 2025. 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 channel catfish in 2025. | |
Good | Fall 2024 sampling indicated that the portion of the crappie population comprised of fish over 10” in length is 17%. Another 19% of the crappie collected were between 9-10 inches. The number of crappie over 12” in length remains stable and relatively low. Two percent of the crappie collected in the 2024 survey were over 12 inches. Site Regulation: White, Black or Hybrid Crappie: 25 daily limit, not more than 10 exceeding 10". | |
Good | Seven flathead catfish were collected in the 2024 survey ranging in size from 5-18 inches in length with the largest weighing 2.6 pounds. | |
Fair | Six striped bass hybrids were collected in the 2024 fall survey. The hybrids collected were 13-14 inches in length. Anglers can also target these hybrid stripers in the spillway area in the spring. Site Regulation: 20 daily limit, not more than 3 exceeding 17" | |
Good | The bass population for 2024 will be good. Based on the 2024 fall survey, the percentage of the population exceeding the 14" minimum length limit was 24%. Another 8% 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. Six percent of the bass collected in the 2024 survey were over 18 inches. The largest bass collected was 6.3 pounds. Site Regulation: 6 fish daily limit, 14" minimum length limit. | |
Good | During the 2024 survey, white bass were collected at a rate of 12 fish/hr which was equal to the 5-year average. White bass fishing should be good in 2025. 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". | |
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: 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 ACOE 618-724-2493
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? |
| July-12 | 27495 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| July-12 | 28313 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 60 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| July-15 | 28657 | Approved | Rend Lake Conservancy District Ramp (25 Boat Limit) | boathook | 10 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-19 | 27428 | Approved | Rend Lake Conservancy District Ramp (25 Boat Limit) | boathook | 120 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-19 | 28177 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 25 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| July-19 | 28233 | Approved | Jackie Branch (25 boat limit) | boathook | 19 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| July-19 | 28738 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 30 | Largemouth Bass | Yes | No |
| July-20 | 28381 | Approved | Jackie Branch (25 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| July-20 | 28406 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| July-26 | 28160 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| July-26 | 28314 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 60 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| July-26 | 28744 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 40 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-02 | 27500 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-03 | 27936 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 60 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| August-09 | 28315 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 60 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| August-09 | 29178 | Approved | Jackie Branch (25 boat limit) | boathook | 25 | Channel Catfish | No | No |
| August-12 | 28658 | Approved | Rend Lake Conservancy District Ramp (25 Boat Limit) | boathook | 10 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| September-06 | 27506 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| September-06*September-07 | 27543 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| September-12 | 28644 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass | No | No |
| September-14 | 28423 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 150 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| September-20 | 28349 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 75 | Channel Catfish | No | Yes |
| September-21 | 28350 | Approved | South Sandusky (75 boat limit) | boathook | 75 | Channel Catfish | No | Yes |
| September-28 | 27510 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 15 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| September-28 | 27948 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-04 | 27512 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-04*October-05 | 28148 | Approved | Sailboat Harbor ( Harbor Oaks - 150 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-05 | 28156 | Approved | Gun Creek South (Golf Course Ramp - 50 boat limit) | boathook | 20 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-11 | 28821 | Approved | Jackie Branch (25 boat limit) | boathook | 19 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
| October-18*October-19 | 28470 | Approved | Rend Lake Conservancy District Ramp (25 Boat Limit) | boathook | 10 | Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Spotted Bass | No | No |
| October-18 | 28745 | Approved | Ina (30 boat limit) | boathook | 30 | Largemouth Bass | No | Yes |
| November-02 | 29102 | Approved | North Marcum (50 boat limit) | boathook | 50 | Largemouth Bass | No | No |
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